12th April 2025

Regarding recent advancements in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) treatment:

1. CRISPR-Cas9-based therapies modify hematopoietic stem cells to produce fetal hemoglobin.
2. The UK has approved autologous gene therapy requiring matched sibling donors.
3. India’s electro-fluidic screening device can differentiate between SCD and beta-thalassemia.
4. Bone marrow transplants remain the only curative option with a 100% success rate in adults.

Which statements are correct?

Which of the following correctly describes a bear market?

1. It is characterized by a 15% decline in stock prices over a two-week period.
2. Investor sentiment during such phases is typically driven by expectations of prolonged economic expansion.
3. The S&P 500 entered bear territory in 2025 due to inverted yield curves and declining corporate bond ratings.
4. Bear markets are often correlated with contractionary monetary policies and high unemployment rates.

The RBI’s April 2025 repo rate cut to 6% is influenced by which of the following factors?

1. A sharp decline in crude oil prices due to reduced global demand.
2. The need to counterbalance deflationary pressures in the Indian economy.
3. Projections of a slowdown in agricultural output following erratic monsoon patterns.
4. Anticipated disruptions to India’s export sector from reciprocal US tariffs.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

In the context of the 2025 US-China trade war, consider the following:

1. The US has imposed a 125% tariff exclusively on Chinese electronics and rare earth exports.
2. China’s retaliatory measures include export restrictions on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) critical to US drug manufacturing.
3. The EU and India have invoked WTO safeguards to prevent Chinese goods from being dumped in their markets due to redirected exports.
4. The US trade deficit with China has reduced to 0.5% of its GDP as a direct consequence of the tariffs.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

How does the 2025 Bill address the "primacy" of the Cape Town Convention over Indian law?