QUIZ – 2020: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 24 May 2021

Solution: d)

Researchers have reported that Pleistocene-era rock paintings dating back to 45,000-20,000 years ago in cave sites in southern Sulawesi, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, are weathering at an alarming rate.

The artwork made with pigments was decaying due to a process known as haloclasty, which is triggered by the growth of salt crystals due to repeated changes in temperature and humidity, caused by alternating wet and dry weather in the region.

Source

Solution: c)

Gas hydrates are ice-like crystalline minerals that form when low molecular weight gas (such as methane, ethane, or carbon dioxide) combines with water and freezes into a solid under low temperature and moderate pressure conditions.

• Most gas hydrates are formed from methane (CH4), which has led to the terms “gas hydrate” and “methane hydrate” often being used interchangeably.
• On Earth, gas hydrates occur naturally in some marine sediments and within and beneath permafrost. They are also speculated to form on other planets.

Hydrate deposits are important for a variety of reasons:

• Gas hydrate deposits may contain roughly twice the carbon contained in all reserves of coal, oil, and conventional natural gas combined, making them a potentially valuable energy resource.
• Their decomposition can release large amounts of methane, which is a greenhouse gas that could impact Earth’s climate.
• Sudden release of pressurized methane gas may cause submarine landslides, which in turn can trigger tsunamis.

Solution: c)

The 6th Edition of Raisina Dialogue was held virtually. The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. It is held annually since 2016. It is jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation. The theme for the 2021 Edition is “#ViralWorld: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control”.

Solution: d)

With effect from July 1, 2020, the revisions in the MSME definition were three-fold. First, the distinction between manufacturing and services sector MMSEs was removed; second, an additional criterion of turnover was introduced; and third, investment thresholds were revised upwards.

Source

Solution: b)

BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs; all are members of G20.

The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states. The initial subscribed capital of the bank was equally distributed among the founding members. The Agreement on the NDB specifies that every member will have one vote no one would have any veto powers.