Ans: D

Exp:

Today, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the U.S. It affects about 1 million Americans and more than 10 million people worldwide.

About Parkinson’s Disease: 

• Statement 1 is Correct: About: It is a common neurodegenerative movement disorder that progresses relentlessly.
  • Statement 2 is Correct:  It gradually impairs a person’s ability to function until they ultimately become immobile and often develop dementia. 
• Contributing Factors: Many factors may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s, both environmental and genetic. 
• Lack of Adequate Treatment: There is currently no treatment to slow or halt Parkinson’s disease. Available drugs don’t slow disease progression and can treat only certain symptoms. 
• Causes: The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not fully known yet, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
  • Statement 3 is Correct: It is primarily characterised by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms.

Ans: A

Exp:

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister launched AgriSURE Fund & Krishi Nivesh Portal recently at PUSA, New Delhi. 

About Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises (AgriSURE):

• Statement 1 is Correct: The Government launched the AgriSURE to support start-ups and agripreneurs through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), as well as direct equity support to start-ups working in Agriculture and allied sectors 
  • This initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in India’s agricultural sector through the establishment of a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). 
  • The fund will offer both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high- impact activities in the agriculture value chain.
• Statement 2 is Incorrect: Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• NABVENTURES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NABARD, will be the Fund manager of AgriSURE. 
  • The fund is designed to operate for 10 years, extendable by two or more years.

Ans: B

Exp:

In a bid to catch wolves that are targeting children and villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich, the forest department has initiated an innovative effort ‘Project Bhediya’ to catch the wolves.

About ‘Project Bhediya’:

• The Bahraich region has been plagued by a series of attacks by man-eating wolves, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to launch ‘Project Bhediya’ to catch the wolves.
  • Use colourful teddy dolls soaked in children’s urine as bait to capture them.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) published four sets of draft rules under the Indian Telecommunications Act, 2023.

About Telecom industry in India:

• The Telecom industry in India is the second largest in the world with a subscriber base of 1.096 Bn as of Jun 2024 (wireless + wireline subscribers). 
  • India has an overall tele-density of 85.95%, of which, the tele-density of the rural market, which is largely untapped, stands at 59.65% while the tele-density of the urban market is 133.46%.

Telecommunication Act 2023: 

• It aims to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith. 
• The Telecommunication Act 2023 also seeks to repeals existing legislative framework like Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraph Act 1933 owing to huge technical advancements in the telecom sector and technologies.

Salient features of the sections that have been brought into force recently are:

• Optimal utilization of spectrum: The Act provides a legal framework for efficient utilization of scarce spectrum through processes such as secondary assignment, sharing, trading, leasing and surrender of spectrum. 
  • It also enables the utilisation of spectrum in a flexible, liberalised and technologically neutral manner. 
  • It also empowers the Central Government to establish an enforcement and monitoring mechanism for the purpose.
• Statement 1 is Correct:  Prohibition of use of equipment which block telecommunications – The Acts prescribes, with immediate effect, the use of any equipment which blocks telecommunication, unless permitted by the Central Government.
• Criteria for appointment as Chairperson and Members of TRAI: Section 59(b) of the Act will amend section 4 of the TRAI Act 1997 and prescribes criteria for appointment of Chairperson and Members of TRAI.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):

• It was established with effect from 20th February 1997 by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• Statement 2 is Correct:  Composition: TRAI consists of a chairperson and not more than two whole-time Members and not more than two part-time Members.

Ans: D

Exp: 

In a short span of three years since its launch, eShram has registered more than 30 crore unorganised workers showcasing its rapid and widespread adoption among the unorganised workers

About e-Shram:

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: e-Shram is a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Labour & Employment. 
  • Its primary purpose is to facilitate delivery of welfare benefits and social security measures to unorganised sector workers across the country. 
  • The platform aims to register and provide identity cards to unorganised workers, enabling them to access various government schemes, benefits, and services more efficiently.
• Unorganised worker: Any worker who is a home-based worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker working in the unorganised sector and not a member of ESIC or EPFO, is called an unorganised worker.
• Unorganised sector: It comprises establishment/ units which are engaged in the production/ sale of goods/ services and employs less than 10 workers. These units are not covered under ESIC & EPFO
• Statement 2 is Incorrect: UAN or Universal Account Number is a 12 digit number uniquely assigned to each unorganised worker after registration on e-Shram portal. 
  • UAN is a permanent number i.e., once assigned, it will remain unchanged for any worker.