QUIZ – 2016: Insights Current Affairs Quiz- 109

Solution: d.

“A total of 241 persons out of the 385 death row inmates in India are first time offenders, new findings contained in the “Death Penalty India Report” released on Friday said. The study found that around 60 per cent of the prisoners did not complete secondary education and nearly 75 per cent belong to economically vulnerable sections. Further, three fourth of the prisoners sentenced to death belong to backward classes and religious minorities. While this finding does not imply direct discrimination, it reflects structural concerns which disempowers the marginalised.”

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/poverty-and-the-death-row/article8573130.ece

Solution: c.

“Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull on Sunday announced fresh elections on July 2, a date that is several months ahead of schedule. Turnbull met with the Governor-General (akin to the President in the Indian system), Peter Cosgrove, and proposed a “double dissolution” of Parliament. Once the proposal is accepted, both Houses of Parliament would stand dissolved on Monday morning.”

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/malcom-turnbull-double-dissolution-in-australia-elections-how-it-compares-with-the-indian-experience-2791086/

Solution: c.

The tooth-to-tail ratio, referred to as T3R in the Army, is the ratio of fighting arms, which wage the actual battle such as infantry and armoured wings, to support services, such as logistics, signals and ordnance.

An army’s tooth-to-tail ratio is often inversely related to its technological capabilities and subsequently its overall power. While an army with a high tooth-to-tail ratio will have more personnel devoted to combat, these soldiers will lack the support provided by the tail. Such support includes the supply and communication infrastructure on which modern armies depend. An army with a higher tooth-to-tail ratio may have more combat troops, but each will be less effective.

The introduction of computer technology has made automation of the tail a possibility. With automation, increasing the tooth-to-tail ratio (reducing the amount of logistics and support personnel necessary in proportion to combat personnel without reducing combat effectiveness) would be the objective.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-chief-orders-rightsizing-study/article8573231.ece

Solution: c.

The tooth-to-tail ratio, referred to as T3R in the Army, is the ratio of fighting arms, which wage the actual battle such as infantry and armoured wings, to support services, such as logistics, signals and ordnance.

An army’s tooth-to-tail ratio is often inversely related to its technological capabilities and subsequently its overall power. While an army with a high tooth-to-tail ratio will have more personnel devoted to combat, these soldiers will lack the support provided by the tail. Such support includes the supply and communication infrastructure on which modern armies depend. An army with a higher tooth-to-tail ratio may have more combat troops, but each will be less effective.

The introduction of computer technology has made automation of the tail a possibility. With automation, increasing the tooth-to-tail ratio (reducing the amount of logistics and support personnel necessary in proportion to combat personnel without reducing combat effectiveness) would be the objective.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-chief-orders-rightsizing-study/article8573231.ece

Solution: a.

According to the data presented in Parliament, Rs.61,824.32 crore was transferred to 30.8 crore beneficiaries in 59 schemes. Out of this, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) payments made up Rs.25,800 crore, or 42 per cent of total DBT schemes.

This also means that 85 per cent of the MGNREGA payments made in 2015-16 were done directly into the beneficiary’s bank accounts.

The second largest head under which DBT transfers were made was the PAHAL scheme for the electronic transfer of LPG subsidies. The government transferred Rs.21,400 crore under the PAHAL scheme in 2015-16, which is 35 per cent of the total amount transferred through DBT.

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/digital-dbt-aids-rural-job-schemes/article8573140.ece

Solution: a.

“Studying a nearby star has given scientists a fascinating insight into how the Sun may have behaved billions of years ago. Found in the northern constellation of Andromeda, the star showed signs of “starspots” the equivalent of sunspots found within our own solar system. The pattern of these spots differs significantly from those found on the Sun.”

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/starspots-on-nearby-star-give-fresh-insight-into-suns-infancy/article8570009.ece

Solution: d.

Trapped air is a good heat insulator. So if statement 1 is true, statement 2 is true. If statement 1 is false, so will statement 2. You are left with options a and d.

The yet to be christened product, the hydrophobic silica aero gel as it is known now, is supposed to have low thermal conductivity and density and high specific surface area and can be applied on any surface.

With its “exotic properties,” silica aero gels are attractive candidates for many unique thermal, optical, acoustic, catalytic and chemical applications and are best known for their “super-insulating property.” Silica aero gels can be made in chunks (granular), beads, powder and tape or sheet form, and may be used as the application demands, according to VSSC.

As air fills the gel up to 95 per cent of its size, it comes as super lightweight material. The air molecules trapped inside the gel would act as insulators, and its heat conductivity is close to zero. They could be used for coating the windows of houses and vehicles as they would let in 95 per cent of the light that falls on the surface and fully deflect the heat.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sci-tech-and-agri/exotic-heatresistant-gel-a-spinoff-from-isro/article8572328.ece