[Mission 2023] Current Affairs Quiz , 26 September 2022

Solution: a)

The periodic warming and cooling of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean — a phenomenon described as El Niño Southern Oscillations, or ENSO — is known to trigger widespread changes in atmospheric conditions, and has a major influence on global weather patterns, including the Indian monsoon. La Niña refers to the ENSO phase in which sea-surface temperatures are cooler than normal. The warmer phase is known as El Niño. A result of interactions between ocean and wind systems, El Niño and La Niña have almost opposite impacts on weather events.

Source

Solution: d)

The UN General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ, was created in 1945. It meets from September to December every year, and then again between January and August.

Each of the 193 member states of the UN has an equal vote in the General Assembly.

At the beginning of each regular session in September, the Assembly holds its main event — the general debate, where representatives of each member state are provided the opportunity to raise any issues that concern them.

Source

Solution: d)

Coalbed methane (CBM) is an unconventional form of natural gas found in coal deposits or coal seams.

CMB is formed during the process of coalification, the transformation of plant material into coal.

CBM can be used

• In Power generation.
• As Compressed natural gas (CNG) auto fuel.
• As feedstock for fertilisers.
• Industrial uses such as in cement production, rolling mills, steel plants, and for methanol production.

CBM production behaviour is complex and difficult to predict in the early stages of recovery.

Another concern is the effect water discharges from CBM development could potentially have on downstream water sources.

Disposal of the highly salinized water that must be removed in order to release the methane creates a challenge, as its introduction into freshwater ecosystems could have adverse effects.

Solution: d)

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are cylindrical molecules consisting of rolled-up sheets of single-layer carbon atoms, namely, graphene. Carbon nanotubes are used in applications that require high strength, electrical conductivity, durability, lightweight properties, and thermal conductivity as compared to the other conventional materials. Rapid demand for CNT in integrated circuits, lithium batteries, fuel cells, drug delivery, solar PV cells, hydrogen storage, and field emission displays is contributing to market growth.

Solution: b)

Public debt is the total amount, including total liabilities, borrowed by the government to meet its development budget. It has to be paid from the Consolidated Fund of India. The term is also used to refer to overall liabilities of central and state governments, but the Union government clearly distinguishes its debt liabilities from the states’.

Internal debt constitutes over 90 per cent of the overall public debt.

The sources of public debt are dated government securities (G-Secs), treasury bills, external assistance, and short-term borrowings.

According to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the RBI is both the banker and public debt manager for the government.