28th December 2024

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. MVD was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, and is primarily transmitted from fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) to humans. Statement 3 is incorrect; the average case fatality rate is approximately 50%, not 25%, varying from 24% to 88% depending on the virus strain and case management. Statement 4 is incorrect; there are currently no approved vaccines for MVD, although promising candidates are under development and in clinical trials.

Explanation: The correct statement is that Ocean Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a) began 119.5 million years ago and lasted for approximately 1.1 million years. This timing has been confirmed through isotopic analysis of volcanic tuffs from Japan's Hokkaido Island. The event occurred during the Cretaceous Period, not the Jurassic, and was triggered by massive volcanic eruptions, not asteroid impacts. It led to oxygen depletion in oceans, not increased oxygen levels.

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. UNDOF was indeed established by UN Security Council Resolution 350 (1974) on May 31, 1974, immediately following the disengagement of forces agreement between Israel and Syria. Statement 2 is incorrect. The mandate of the mission is renewed every six months, not annually.

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. The total number of migrants in India actually declined by 11.78% from 2011 to 2023, not increased. The number of migrants reduced from 45.57 crore in 2011 to 40.20 crore in 2023. Statement 2 is correct. The migration rate indeed dropped from 37.64% in 2011 to 28.88% in 2023, reflecting a significant slowdown in domestic migration.

Explanation: Statement a is incorrect as the Supreme Court declared the Electoral Bonds scheme unconstitutional in 2024. Statement b is correct; the Places of Worship Act, 1991, is indeed under constitutional challenge. Statement c is correct; the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code, effective January 2025, mandates registration of live-in relationships. Statement d is incorrect; the Supreme Court has barred fresh district court cases on ownership of religious sites.