QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 13 April 2018

Solution: c.

This committee marked the first external review of the DRDO, set up in 2007, and whose recommendations were implemented by DRDO in 2015.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/focus-will-be-on-tie-ups-drdo-chief/article23505642.ece;

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Solution: a.

A significant shift in the system of ocean currents that helps keep parts of Europe warm could send temperatures in the UK lower, scientists have found.

• They say the Atlantic Ocean circulation system is weaker now than it has been for more than 1,000 years – and has changed significantly in the past 150. The study, in the journal Nature, says it may be a response to increased melting ice and is likely to continue.
• Researchers say that could have an impact on Atlantic ecosystems. They say changes to the conveyor-belt-like system – also known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) – could cool the North Atlantic and north-west Europe and transform some deep-ocean ecosystems.
• Scientists believe the pattern is a response to fresh water from melting ice sheets being added to surface ocean water, meaning those surface waters “can’t get very dense and sink”.

About the Atlas programme: Large-scale ocean observation is needed to improve our understanding of how deep ocean ecosystems function, their roles as reservoirs of biodiversity and genetic resources, and their health under future scenarios of climate change and human use. The ATLAS project is striving to improve our understanding of complex deep-sea ecosystems (specifically, of the Atlantic Ocean) and their associated species, including those that are new to science. Researchers are looking to predict future changes to these ecosystems and species and their vulnerabilities in the face of climate change.

https://www.eu-atlas.org;

Improvisation: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43713719;

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Solution: a.

We had provided information regarding this initiative in the solution to the 2^nd question of the 10^th April quiz (http://www.insightsonindia.com/2018/04/10/quiz-2017-insights-current-affairs-quiz-10-april-2018/).

Gebco and the Nippon Foundation announced in 2017 the Seabed 2030, a project that aims to map the entire sea floor by the year 2030 using data gathered from vessels around the world.

Solution: b.

Built jointly by the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) and the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in 2010 under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this permafrost seed bank is the second largest in the world.

• Perched at at a height of 17,300 feet above sea level, India’s doomsday vault (the Svalbard Seed Vault in Norway is referred to as the world’s doomsday vault) lies in Chang La (a high-altitude mountain pass in Ladakh) and is the ultimate insurance policy for the country’s food supply.
• Also, Chang La’s natural permafrost conditions offer an affordable and energy-efficient alternative to cryopreservation. Presently, the only other facility in India for long-term storage of seeds is the one set up by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi but it generates an enormous electricity bill thanks to the energy demands of cryopreservation.
• The Chang La seed vault’s sealed ‘black box’ design prevents disputes over intellectual property rights. According to this arrangement, the vault does not claim ownership over the deposited samples. Thus, the ownership remains with the depositor, who has the sole right of access to the respective samples in the seed vault.
• With the aim of rivalling the Svalbard Seed Vault, India has made storing of viable seeds at Chang La free of cost for all government departments and research organisations.
• It also plans to open the facility to the international scientific community but for that, it will have to install a high-tech cooling system for 15-20 days when the temperature at the mountain pass peaks to -4 degrees.

From March: https://www.thebetterindia.com/132661/chang-la-ladakh-doomsday-vault-india/;

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Solution: d.

GTCI is an annual benchmarking report compiled by international business school INSEAD with The Adecco Group and Tata Communications. The latest (2018) report measures and ranks 119 countries (India is ranked 81^st) and 90 cities (Mumbai and Delhi are ranked 89^th and 90^th – well, at least, they’re on the list) based on their ability to grow, attract and retain talent.

The study measures the performance of countries using six pillars: “Enable”, “Attract”, “Grow”, “Retain”, “Vocational and Technical Skills” and “Global Knowledge Skills”.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/these-are-the-best-countries-and-cities-for-attracting-and-developing-talent/;

https://www.insead.edu/global-indices/gtci;

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/building-indias-talent-base/article23505879.ece;

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Solution: c.

“The Copenhagen Consensus Center focuses on cost-effective solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. We create a framework to prioritize solutions, with the goal of achieving the most good for people and the planet. Our analyses take into account not just the economic, but also health, social and environmental benefits.. It was conceived to address a fundamental, but overlooked topic in international development: In a world with limited budgets and attention spans, we need to find effective ways to do the most good for the most people.”

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/building-indias-talent-base/article23505879.ece;

http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/our-story;