UPSC QUIZ 7.03.2024

Explanation:

• Scientists in Goa have created gold nanoparticles using granular forms of 'Rhone Olmi' mushroom.
• This research was done under the supervision of Dr. Sujata Dabolkar and Dr. Nandkumar Kamat.
• Out of 104 species and subspecies of mushrooms, 35 species are found in Goa.
• Mushroom pellets are used to synthesize gold nanoparticles.
• Gold nanoparticles are used in various fields in biomedical and biotechnological sciences such as medicine, medical imaging and electronics manufacturing.
• It is especially used in anti-cancer drugs. This discovery is important for the economic and bio-industrial development of Goa.

Explanation:

• According to a new global study published in The Lancet on February 29, 2024, the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled among adults and quadrupled among children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years since 1990.
• The number of people who are underweight has been declining since 1990, and obesity has become the most common form of undernutrition in most countries.
• The study provides a comprehensive picture of global trends in both forms of undernutrition over the past 33 years.
• Researchers analyzed the weight and height of more than 220 million people aged five and older, representing more than 190 countries. More than 1,500 researchers contributed to the study.
• The body mass index (BMI) analyzed how the incidence of obesity and underweight has changed worldwide between 1990 and 2022.
• The study found that the incidence of obesity globally between 1990 and 2022 The rate has more than quadrupled in girls and boys and this trend has been seen in almost all countries.

Explanation:

• Researchers at Stanford University have made a surprising discovery of life, which they have named "Obelisk". These obelisks bridge the gap between viruses and viroids in terms of complexity, thereby expanding the existing spectrum of life forms.
• A new category is added. Obelisk was identified through comprehensive analysis of RNA sequences from bacteria in the human gut, using next generation sequencing (NGS) technology.
• NGS is a deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing technique that uses parallel sequencing to determine the sequence of many short fragments of DNA.
• It is used to determine the sequence of nucleotides in an entire genome or in targeted regions of DNA or RNA.
• Nucleotides are organic molecules that are the basic building blocks of the nucleic acids DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Explanation:

• Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched Project ODISERV.
• Project ODISERV has been launched in Sambhalpur.
• It has been launched to prepare Odisha’s young graduates for employment opportunities in the financial services sector.
• Union Minister of Education said that Project ODISERV will empower the youth of the country.
• He said it will make them more employable and meet their aspirations.
• According to the Union Minister of Education, 1100 students in Odisha have already been trained under Project ODISERV.
• He said Project ODISERV is a perfect example of industry-academia collaboration.
• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Bajaj Finserv Ltd. launched their 1st skill development initiative, Project ODISERV at Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur, Odisha.
• It is the first skill development initiative after the partnership announced by NSDC and Bajaj Finserv in December 2023.
• Under the project, knowledge and skills will be imparted to graduates, in particular first-generation graduates.
• The knowledge and skills will be imparted through Bajaj Finserv’s Certificate Programme for Banking Finance & Insurance (CPBFI) programme.
• It is a 100-hour comprehensive training programme. It prepares youth from tier-II and tier-III cities for employment in financial services sector.
• The goal of Project ODISERV is to introduce the CPBFI program in 60 institutions located in 10 districts and 11 cities throughout Odisha.
• These districts include Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Khordha, Balasore and Puri.
• In just two months, CPBFI has already been implemented at 30 colleges. 1100 students have been enrolled and 25,000 hours of training have been provided.
• The CPBFI initiative will be launched by NSDC and Bajaj Finserv in 22 states around India, encompassing more than 400 colleges.
• Through the CPBFI program, the partnership intends to first enhance the skills of 20,000 candidates.

Explanation:

• Shehbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the second time.
• He will lead a coalition government after winning a majority in the newly-elected Parliament.
• The unanimous candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Shahbaz received 201 votes in the 336-member House.
• The opponent of Mr. Shehbaz, Omar Ayub Khan of jailed former PM Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) got 92 votes.
• On March 4, Mr Shahbaz administered the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Aiwan-e-Sadr.
• Previously, Shahbaz had served as prime minister of the coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.