QUIZ – 2020: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 21 October 2020

Solution: b)

For the first time in four years India’s sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions recorded a significant decline of approximately 6% in 2019 compared to 2018, the steepest drop in four years, according to a report from Greenpeace India and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

However, India continues to occupy the top spot among emitters for the fifth consecutive year.

In 2019, India emitted 21% of global anthropogenic (human-made) SO2 emissions — or about 5,953 kilotons a year — nearly double that of second-ranked global emitter, Russia at 3,362 kt/year. China occupied the third position at 2,156 kt per annum.

As per the report, the biggest emission hotspots in India, are thermal power stations (or clusters of power stations) at Singrauli, Neyveli, Sipat, Mundra, Korba, Bonda, Tamnar, Talcher, Jharsuguda, Kutch, Surat, Chennai, Ramagundam, Chandrapur, Visakhapatnam and Koradi.

Source

Solution: d)

Natural sources (volcanoes, fires, phytoplankton) produce sulphur dioxide, but burning sulphur-rich fossil fuels—primarily coal, oil, and petroleum—is the main source of the gas. Smelter ovens, which are used to concentrate metals found in ore, also produce it.

In addition to harming human health, Sulphur dioxide reacts with water vapour to produce acid rain. Sulphur dioxide also can react in the atmosphere to form aerosol particles, which can contribute to outbreaks of haze and influence the climate.

Source

Solution: a)

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) recently released Animal Discoveries 2019 and Plant Discoveries 2019.

Along with conventional taxonomy, the ZSI has introduced modern methods such as DNA barcoding, entire genome sequencing, and X-rays for the identification of new species.

Plant Discoveries 2019 lists 180 new plant species and 73 new records discovered from the country.

New records in a country refer to animal or plant species discovered in other parts of the world and recorded for the first time in the country.

The number of plant species found in India accounts roughly for 12% of all flora species in the world.

Both the ZSI and BSI have been releasing Animal Discoveries and Plant Discoveries since 2007, and this is the 13th publication in the series.

Data provided by the BSI stated that 28% of all plant discoveries in 2018 were made from the Western Ghats during 2019; followed by the eastern Himalayas (21%); the east coast (11%); and eastern plains (10%). The west coast has contributed 7% of the total discoveries, while the western Himalayas have contributed 6% of the discoveries. “Maximum (flora) discoveries were made from the State of Kerala, followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Arunachal Pradesh.

Source

Solution: b)

Narora Atomic Power Plant is located in Uttar Pradesh.

Solution: d)

Source