Ans: B

Exp:

A new low-cost sensor made of metal oxide nanoparticles–reduced graphene oxide composite can detect formalin adulteration in fishes at room temperature in a non-invasive way. The sensor shows long-term stability with a low detection limit.

Statement 1 is correct: Food adulteration is the practice of adding illegal or harmful substances to food to make it appear more appealing or to increase its shelf life. Formaldehyde is a colourless, pungent gas that is used in a variety of industrial processes, including as a preservative in some foods, commonly in fish in developing countries. 

Statement 2 is correct: The use of formaldehyde in food is illegal in many countries, as it is a known carcinogen. Example- In 2016, the use of formalin as a food preservative was banned in the European Union due to its potential as a carcinogen.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Commercial formalin sensors for fish are primarily electrochemical-based or colorimetric-based. Electrochemical sensors are extensively used but are expensive. On the other hand, calorimetric sensors are less expensive. But both methods are invasive in nature. Moreover, low-level detection and selective detection are two major issues with these sensors. 

The development of 2D materials-based gas sensors has created a new avenue of effective detection of toxic vapours at room temperature. These sensors have the potential to detect the formalin evaporated from adulterated food products. The crucial importance of this work is the non-invasive detection of formalin.

Ans: A

Exp:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi applauded the  artists performing at Madhya Pradesh’s Tansen Festival for entering the Guinness Book of World Records.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Tansen Samaroh or Tansen Sangeet Samaroh is celebrated every year in the month of December in Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh. 

It is a 5 day musical extravaganza. Artists and music lovers from all over the world gather here to pay tribute to the Great Indian Musical Maestro Tansen. The event is organised near the tomb of Tansen by the Academy of the department of culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh. Artists from all over India are invited to deliver vocal and instrumental performances.

Tansen Samaroh is organised jointly by Ustad Alauddin Khan Kala Evam Sangeet Academy and Department Of Culture, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh.

Statement 2 is correct: This is the 99th edition of Tansen Festival and it celebrates the ‘City Of Music’ tag given to Gwalior by UNESCO.

The city of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh was added to UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) on November 1 for its “strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity”.

Ans: B

Exp:

India, Russia sign pacts on future units of Kudankulam plant.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Kudankulam nuclear power plant, India’s largest, is being built in Tamil Nadu with the technical assistance of Russia. 

The construction began in March 2002. Since February 2016, the first power unit of the Kudankulam NPP has been steadily operating at its design capacity of 1,000 MW. The plant is expected to start operating at full capacity in 2027.

Statement 2 is correct:  In his address to the Indian community, Mr. Jaishankar described Russia as a “special partner” in a few areas such as defence, nuclear power and space.

Mr. Jaishankar also said that the two sides agreed that their negotiating teams would meet by the end of January to start in-person negotiations on the free trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Zone.

Ans: B

Exp:

Fresh formal jobs creation falls 10% to 9.06 mn in 2023: EPFO data

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) payroll data does not reflect a clear picture of employment generation in the country as it forms only a minuscule proportion of the labour force in the country. 

“EPFO data only shows the extent of formalisation of the workforce, which in turn means as many people (under the EPFO) will be getting social security benefits.” 

Statement 2 is correct: 

The objective of The Periodic labour force survey PLFS is primarily twofold:

• to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
• to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory to all intermediaries, ensuring compliance with the existing IT rules. The directive specifically targets the growing concerns around misinformation powered by AI – Deepfakes.

Statement 1 is correct: Content not permitted under the IT Rules, in particular those listed under Rule 3(1)(b) must be clearly communicated to the users. Rule 3(1)(b) within the due diligence section of the IT rules mandates intermediaries to communicate their rules, regulations, privacy policy, and user agreement in the user’s preferred language. They are also obliged to ensure reasonable efforts to prevent users from hosting, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, transmitting, storing, updating, or sharing any information related to the 11 listed user harms or content prohibited on digital intermediaries. This rule aims to ensure platforms identify and promptly remove misinformation, false or misleading content, and material impersonating others, including deep fakes.

Statement 2 is correct: Rule 3(1)(b)(v) prohibits misinformation and patently false information. Consequently, all intermediaries were asked by the MeitY to exercise due diligence in promptly removing such content from their platforms. The platforms have been duly informed about the legal consequences associated with any violations under the IT rules.