Day-480 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

Answer: D
Explanation:
Recently, scientists in China created the world’s first cloned wild Arctic wolf ‘Maya’.
● Statement 1 is correct: The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the original, is referred to as a clone. The cloning of animals has been used in a number of different applications. Animals have been cloned to have gene mutations that help scientists study diseases that develop in the animals.
● Statement 2 is correct: Cloning can be used to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth or giant panda.
● Statement 3 is correct: The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity. Researchers have cloned a wide range of biological materials, including genes, cells, tissues and even entire organisms, such as a sheep.
There are three different types of cloning:
● Gene cloning, which creates copies of genes or segments of DNA
● Reproductive cloning, which creates copies of whole animals
● Therapeutic cloning, which creates embryonic stem cells. Researchers hope to use these cells to grow healthy tissue to replace injured or diseased tissues in the human body.

Answer: C
Explanation:
In the face of enhanced ransomware attacks globally, the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) has decided to deepen its institutional collaboration to enhance “collective resilience” to ransomware, disrupt attacks and pursue responsible actors.
● Statement 1 is incorrect: It is an US-led Counter Ransomware Initiative.The White House brought together 36 countries, and the EU, for the Second International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) Summit October 31-November 1, 2022. Throughout the Summit, CRI and private sector partners discussed and developed concrete, cooperative actions to counter the spread and impact of ransomware around the globe. Combating illicit financial and digital asset transactions is discussed at the International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit. Private sector companies will also participate in the summit, fulfilling a key measure to implement into many of its technology policies.
● Statement 2 is correct: It seeks to enhance international cooperation to combat the growth of ransomware.
● Statement 3 is correct: CRI is a grouping of 36 countries (including India) and the European Union that aims to disrupt ransomware attacks and strengthen the international cybersecurity agenda.

Answer: D
Explanation:
Context: Within Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, the six hamlets of Bhok, Shado, Punguk, Khuldo, Naga and Tibetan Refugee habitations together form a cluster or an area which has been officially notified as the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve.
● Statement 1 is correct: Dark Sky Reserve is a place that has policies to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference. A dark sky reserve is an area where light pollution is monitored. Basically, there are several restrictions around the reserve where humans are not allowed to have any loud source of light.
● Statement 2 is correct: In astronomy, Bortle scale which measures the night sky’s brightness of a location on a nine-level numerical scale. The lesser the numerical scale it qualifies for a better dark sky location. For example, Hanle skies would qualify as Bortle one skies, Talacauvery, Karnataka as Bortle two, and Bengaluru as Bortle nine.
● Statement 3 is correct: Department of Science & Technology has announced setting up of India’s first dark sky reserve at Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. It will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.

Answer: D
Explanation:
All the five statements are correct. They are considered the five minimum requirements for becoming a NATO member.
Minimum Requirements for NATO Membership: NATO membership is potentially open to all of Europe’s emerging democracies that share the alliance’s values and are ready to meet the obligations of membership.
At a minimum, candidates for membership must meet the following five requirements:
● New members must uphold democracy, including tolerating diversity.
● New members must be making progress toward a market economy.
● Their military forces must be under firm civilian control.
● They must be good neighbours and respect sovereignty outside their borders.
● They must be working toward compatibility with NATO forces.
Again, while these criteria are essential, they do not constitute a checklist leading automatically to NATO membership. The process to become member of NATO is as follows:
● The key determinant for any invitation to new members is related to the five principles of Washington Treaty
● NATO’s “open door policy” is based upon Article 10 of the Washington Treaty 1949, which states that membership is open to any “European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area”.
● New members must be invited by a consensus of current members. Decisions to invite new members must take into account the required ratification process in the member states.
● In the case of the United States, decisions are made in consultation with Congress.
● Once all NATO member countries ratify accession protocols of the North Atlantic Treaty, the Secretary General invites the new countries to accede to the Treaty.
The enlargement of the Alliance is an ongoing and dynamic process. Since the Alliance was created in 1949, its membership has grown from the 12 founding members to today’s 31 members through nine rounds of enlargement in 1952, 1955, 1982, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020 and 2023.
Recently, Finland has become a member of NATO. In May 2022, Finland and Sweden declared their intent to join NATO. On 5 July, Allies signed the Accession Protocols for Finland and Sweden, which then became Invitees, attending NATO meetings under that title until all Allies ratified the Accession Protocols according to their national procedures. Following the ratification of Finland’s Accession Protocol by all NATO Allies, the country was formally invited to accede to the Washington Treaty (also known as the North Atlantic Treaty) 1949, and joined the Alliance on 4 April 2023. After Sweden’s Accession Protocol is ratified by all NATO member countries according to national procedures, the country will also become a NATO Ally.
NATO’s door remains open to any European country in a position to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership, and contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Since 1949, NATO’s membership has increased from 12 to 31 countries through nine rounds of enlargement. Finland became the latest country to join the Alliance on 4 April 2023. Currently, four partner countries have declared their aspirations to NATO membership: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Sweden and Ukraine.

Answer: C
Explanation:
Recently, the Government of India amended the rules regulating online real money gaming.
● Statement 1 is incorrect: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is formally in charge of making rules related to online gaming while the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is in charge of e-sports. The central government notified these changes to the Allocation of Business Rules on December 26, 2022.
● Statement 2 is correct: The IT Ministry’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 require real money gaming platforms to register with a self-regulatory body (SRB) that will determine whether or not the game is “permissible”.
● Statement 3 is correct: Platforms can’t engage in betting on the outcome of games.