UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 20th October 2021

Solution (d)

RTS,S/AS01 is a recombinant protein-based vaccine that acts against Plasmodium falciparum, believed to be the deadliest malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa. It reportedly offers no protection against Plasmodium vivax malaria, found in many countries outside Africa. 

The development of the vaccine was led by pharma major GSK over 30 years ago. In 2001, GSK began collaborating with PATH’s Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI). A five-year Phase 3 efficacy and safety trial that concluded in 2014 was implemented through a partnership between GSK and MVI, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a network of African research centres. 

Pilots were launched in Malawi, Ghana, and Kenya over 2019. 

In India Bharat Biotech has entered into a partnership with GSK for technology transfer and production. 

Article Link:

https://www.malariavaccine.org/malaria-and-vaccines/rtss

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/vaccine-for-malaria/article37033988.ece

Solution (b)

Protest in Sri Lanka demanding implementation of laws against bottom trawling

Bottom trawling is trawling (towing a trawl, which is a fishing net) along the seafloor. It is also referred to as “dragging”.

The scientific community divides bottom trawling into benthic trawling and demersal trawling. 

Benthic trawling is towing a net at the very bottom of the ocean and demersal trawling is towing a net just above the benthic zone

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/implement-laws-against-bottom-trawling-say-sri-lankan-fishers/article37047273.ece

Solution (c)

The Gandhamardan Loading and Transporting Cooperative Society were created to take care of villages situated around the mines. An amount is set aside for the society for every truck that rolls out with iron ore from the mines. According to local people, the cooperative society has recently started paying Rs. 5,000 per month for each family affected by the mining activities.

The people are directly affected by pollution caused by iron ore mining. The waste water flows through their village and during summer, the dust blankets the whole village.

Gandhamardan Iron Ore Mines is located at Odisha

Another problem the villagers face is their caste identity. “We are from the Nahra community. Going by our social conditions and descriptions in the gazette, we should be included in the Scheduled Tribes list.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/mining-affected-villagers-in-odisha-denied-relief/article37034029.ece

Solution (c)

Only USA Russia and China are developing hypersonic glide vehicles, that are launched on rockets and then orbit the earth on their own speed. They are difficult to track because unlike ballistic missiles, they “do not follow the fixed parabolic trajectory”.

China tested ‘nuclear capable hypersonic missile’, test would post a big challenge to U.S. missile defence systems because “the weapon could, in theory, fly over the South Pole.” “That would pose a big challenge for the U.S. military because its missiles defence systems are focused on the northern polar route,” 

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/china-tested-nuclear-capable-hypersonic-missile-says-report/article37046959.ece

Solution (b)

The 17th edition of the India – USA. bilateral exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2021, got under way at the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, U.S., with the two sides set to hone their skills in counter-terror operations in mountainous terrain and cold climate conditions.

Interestingly, this is the only India-U.S. service exercise continuing in bilateral format.

The 14-day training schedule includes activities on joint training in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism environment under the U.N. mandate, the Army said.

“This will help them in undertaking joint operations at the battalion level in mountainous terrain with cold climatic conditions under the ambit of the U.N.”

Exercise Yudh Abhyas is the largest running joint military training and defence cooperation endeavour between the two countries, the Army said.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/india-us-militaries-match-skills-in-alaska/article37046965.ece