Ans: A
Exp: 

The United States, Japan and South Korea on October 25, 2024 announced the launch of a new framework that furthers their collaboration with the Indian private sector to support digital infrastructure in India.

• The DiGi (Digital Cooperation for Indo-Pacific Growth) Framework is an initiative aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and technological cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, with India as a key partner. 
• It is a collaboration between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). 
• The goal is to pool resources, expertise, and strategic investments in India’s digital economy. These three countries aim to work closely with India to advance shared priorities in digital infrastructure, covering sectors such as 5G, quantum technology, and e-commerce.
•  Australia, however, is not listed as a partner in this specific framework.

Ans: A
Exp:

• The Primeminister cautions people against ‘digital arrest’ scam by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program.
• Digital arrest refers to a fraud where impostors impersonating law enforcement officers deceive the victims into believing that their bank account, SIM card, Aadhaar card, or other cards linked to their bank account has been used unlawfully. Option (a) is correct.

• The cyber frauds make the victim believe that they will be arrested soon, if they do not agree to be interrogated over video call.
• The fraudsters then virtually restrain the victims from moving out of the house and coerce them into paying them money.
  • Cyber frauds ask not to disclose any information to anyone in the name of “national security

Ans: D

Exp:

Last month (September 2024), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released draft Guidelines for the Withdrawal of Life Support in Terminally Ill Patients to operationalise the Supreme Court’s 2018 and 2023 orders on the right to die with dignity for all Indians. 

• The Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment in Common Cause vs Union of India recognized the right to die with dignity as part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. 
• This allows individuals to refuse life-sustaining treatments and provides a legal pathway for terminally ill patients to avoid prolonged suffering through the withdrawal of medical interventions that no longer serve a beneficial purpose.
• The guidelines provide a pathway for state governments and hospitals to put in place key mechanisms required by the Supreme Court’s order. These include:
  • Setting up of Primary and Secondary Medical Boards at the level of the hospital, which will determine when further medical treatment may not be beneficial to a terminally ill patient;
  • Nomination of doctors by the district Chief Medical Officer or equivalent to hospital-level Secondary Medical Boards, which will confirm or reject the opinion of the Primary Medical Boards.
• There is no dedicated legislation in India on withholding/ withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. But the Supreme Court’s judgement, and now the draft guidelines published by the Ministry, make it clear that withholding/ withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is legal in India under a defined framework.

Ans: B 

Exp:

Context: Apex public policy think tank NITI Aayog’s recent office memorandum has raised questions about the necessity of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) installations in India’s thermal power plants (TPP).

About Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD):

• It is scrubbing techniques are used to remove Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from exhaust gases of fossil-fueled power stations or coal-fired power plants. 
• This process is essential in reducing SO₂ emissions to prevent acid rain and other environmental impacts associated with sulphur compounds.
• The FGD process typically uses alkaline reagents like sodium or calcium-based compounds to neutralize and remove sulfur dioxide from the flue gas. 
• These reagents react with SO₂ to form compounds that can be safely disposed of or repurposed, significantly reducing sulfur emissions.
• Flue gas also called as exhaust gas/stack gas emanates from combustion plants and contains particulate matter (dust), sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide etc.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Union Government has introduced the ‘Guidelines for Import of Live Seaweeds into India’ to streamline the import of high-quality seaweed seed materials and support coastal livelihoods.

• Seaweeds are a type of marine algae found in oceans and seas.
• They vary in colour (green, red, and brown) and are rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, making them valuable for multiple industries including food, agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels.
• Pair 1 is correctly matched: Gelidiella acerosa is a form of redweed. It is a source of agar, used in food processing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology.
• Pair 2  is correctly matched: Ulva lactuca (Sea Lettuce) is a form of green weed and is used as food source, animal feed (high protein content)
• Pair 3  is correctly matched: Sargassum spp is a form of brown seaweed. It is used in agriculture (natural fertiliser), production of alginate (thickening agent)