Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims - 25 April 2023

Welcome to the RAYACADEMY Daily Current Affairs MCQs! Our focus is to provide you with engaging and informative questions that primarily revolve around current affairs, derived from reliable sources such as 'The Hindu', 'Indian Express', and 'PIB'. Our MCQs test your understanding of factual and conceptual knowledge, which is essential for cracking the UPSC IAS and State PCS prelim exams. Below are some of Today's Current Affairs MCQs. We hope you make the most of this initiative and wish you all the best in your preparation.

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Q1.Which of the following African countries lies on the Tropic of Cancer?

a) Tunisia, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia

b) Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

c) Western Sahara, Niger, Algeria, Mauritania, Egypt, Libya, and Mali

d) Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Congo

Answer: c)

Explanation: The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line that runs through the northern hemisphere at 23.5 degrees north of the equator. Among the options, the African countries on the Tropic of Cancer are Western Sahara, Niger, Algeria, Mauritania, Egypt, Libya, and Mali.

Q2.Which of the following instruments is used to measure humidity?

a) Anemometer

b) Barometer

c) Hygrometer

d) Thermometer

Answer: c)

Explanation: Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air around us.

Absolute humidity is the mass of water vapour in a given volume of air and water vapour mixture, expressed as kg/m3.

The specific humidity equals the moisture mass divided by the air mass.

Relative humidity is the amount of vapour air can hold at different temperatures.

The instrument that is used to measure humidity is called a hygrometer.

An anemometer is an instrument that measures wind speed.

A barometer is an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure.

A thermometer is an instrument that measures temperature.

Q3.Which of the following statements is/are true in the context of World Malaria Day?

I. The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the rollout of the first malaria vaccine called RTS,S in high-transmission African countries.

II. P. vivax is the most common species of Plasmodium that causes malaria in Africa.

III. 95% of all cases of P. falciparum occur in the African region and are associated with severe disease and disease-associated mortality.

a) Only statement I is true

b) Only statement II is true

c) Only statements I and III are true

d) Statements I, II, and III are true

Answer: (c)

Explanation: World Malaria Day is observed each year on the 25th of April to raise awareness about malaria's global burden and promote efforts to control and eliminate the disease.

The theme for World Malaria Day 2023, per the WHO, is "Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement."

Statement I is true. The WHO has given the go-ahead for the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, to be rolled out in high-transmission African countries. It is also known as Mosquirix.

Statement II is false. P. vivax is not the most common species of Plasmodium that causes malaria in Africa. Amongst the human-infecting species of Plasmodium, P. falciparum is the most prevalent in Africa and is associated with severe disease and disease-associated mortality.

Statement III is true. 95% of all cases of P. falciparum occur in Africa, and it is associated with severe disease and disease-associated mortality. P. falciparum is responsible for the majority of malaria-related deaths worldwide.

Q4. Which of the following statements is/are true in the context of Nagorno-Karabakh?

I. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous area located in the South Caucasus.

II. The Caucasus Mountains are situated at the intersection of Asia and Europe.

III. The Black and Caspian Seas are the two water bodies between which the Caucasus Mountains stretch.

a) Only statement I is true

b) Only statement II is true

c) Only statement III is true

d) Statements I, II, and III are true

Answer: d) Statements I, II, and III are true

Explanation: Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked mountainous area in the South Caucasus region. The region has been a subject of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both countries claiming sovereignty over the area.

Statement I is true. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous area located in the South Caucasus region. It is situated between Armenia and Azerbaijan and is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. However, it has been under the control of Armenian forces since a war in the 1990s.

Statement II is true. The Caucasus Mountains are a mountain range located at the intersection of Asia and Europe. They are situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

Statement III is true. The Caucasus Mountains stretch between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The Black Sea is located to the west of the mountains, and the Caspian Sea is located to the east of the mountains.

Q5.Why does the Government of India promote the f Neem-coated Urea' in agriculture?

(a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms

(b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil

(c) Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into the atmosphere by crop fields

(d) It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

(i)Spraying urea with Neem oil slows the release of nitrogen by about 10 to 15 per cent, concomitantly reducing fertiliser consumption. Many research studies in India have conclusively established that Neem oil acts as an effective nitrification inhibitor if coated onto urea.

(ii) Spraying urea with neem oil slows the release of nitrogen by about 10 to 15 per cent, concomitantly reducing fertiliser consumption.