[Mission 2022] QUIZ – 2021: Insights Current Affairs Quiz , 24 December 2021

Solution: d)

Farmers are using the waste kinnow fruit to improve the pH level and soil fertility of their land by making Bio-enzymes from this waste fruit.

Spraying Bio-enzymes works as pest repellent and also improves the photosynthesis process of the crops.

Source

Solution: a)

When human beings feel hot, they cool themselves by sweating. However, if the humidity is too high, sweating no longer works and one risks dangerous overheating.
In this case, “wet-bulb” temperature is used to measure both heat and humidity, helping estimate whether conditions are safe for humans or not.
Measured on a different scale compared with normal temperatures, where 35 degrees Celsius is the maximum or threshold limit, wet-bulb temperature of 32 degrees can mean that even fit, acclimatised people will not be able to work easily.

With climate change, the number of such potentially dangerous days, where high heat and humidity combine, are also increasing.

At present, most of India experiences 12 to 66 days annually of this potentially deadly heat and high humidity combination with hotspots along the east coast.

A humid heatwave was a lot more dangerous compared with a dry heatwave.

While the human skin has a temperature of around 35 degrees Celsius, a wet-bulb with the same heat means sweat can no longer be used to cool the body.

Wet-bulb temperature is measured by wrapping a wet cloth around the bulb of a thermometer. It represents the lowest temperature air can reach by evaporation of water. Internationally, the wet-bulb globe temperature is calculated by using a globe thermometer and additionally accounting for solar radiation and wind speed.

Source

Solution: b)

The bipartisan fight between U.S. Democrats and Republicans over the ceiling on U.S. Government debt has thrown up an interesting idea. Some in the Democratic camp have suggested that a $1 trillion platinum coin may be issued to bypass the debt ceiling if Republicans refuse to raise it.

The $1 trillion platinum coin is a token coin with a face value of $1 trillion that can be issued by the U.S. Treasury and deposited at the U.S. Federal Reserve, America’s central bank. It will help the U.S. Government to get from the Fed the money that it needs to fund its spending programmes without increasing its overall liabilities.

Source

Solution: d)

Nanomicelles is an emerging platform for drug delivery to the eye. Conventionally nanoparticles are said to be hydrophobic and hence unsuitable for delivering water-soluble drugs. However, this has been overcome by development of nanomicelles which are capable of delivering poorly water-soluble drug.

DNA Origami is a process of making 2-D and 3-D nanostructures out of DNA. Since the DNA has the property of self-assembly, combination of DNA nanostructures can be used to make drug delivery systems. Given the small size of DNA-nanostructures, they can deliver drugs at cell level.

Researchers have developed a technique to trap and move nano-sized particles using light called as ‘nanotweezers technology’. This technique uses a focused laser beam to trap and manoeuvre nanoparticles and would enable non-invasive manipulation of fragile biological specimens such as bacteria, viruses and proteins.

Solution: b)

The Indra Sawhney vs Union of India— also known as the Mandal verdict — capped reservations at 50 percent.

The judgment also laid down that the extent of reservation should not cross the 50 percent limit, unless a special case was made out for extraordinary situations and peculiar conditions to relax the rule. 

Article 342A introduced by the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act (2018), requires presidential (Centre’s) assent for states notifying changes to OBC categories.