[Mission 2023] QUED ( Questions from Editorials ) 22 December 2022

Solution: a)

A warming planet is resulting in the loss of the Earth’s cryosphere — parts of the planet where water is permanently frozen such as glaciers and ice sheets, and this could be resurrecting trapped pathogens, giving rise to potential public health threats, find a new study.

Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years straight. These permanently frozen grounds are most common in regions with high mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes—near the North and South Poles.

Permafrost covers large regions of the Earth. Almost a quarter of the land area in the Northern Hemisphere has permafrost underneath. Although the ground is frozen, permafrost regions are not always covered in snow.

Most permafrost is located in high latitudes (in and around the Arctic and Antarctic regions), but at lower latitudes alpine permafrost occurs at higher elevations.

It can also be located in the Southern Hemisphere, just on mountain tops. Permafrost frequently occurs in ground ice, but it also can be presented in non-porous bedrock. Permafrost is formed from ice holding all different sorts of soil, sand, and rock combination together.

There is approximately twice as much carbon in permafrost than is currently in the Earth’s atmosphere.

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Solution: b)

‘Operation Vijay’ — the military action in 1961 by which India liberated the territories of Goa, Daman and Diu from Portuguese rule.

Goa came under Portugal rule when the major part of the country was ruled by the Mughals.

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Solution: d)

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Solution: b)

One of the key issues before the court was to examine whether the 1992 landmark ruling in Indra Sawhney v Union of India had to be revisited. The ruling by a nine-judge Bench, in which the Mandal Commission report was upheld, laid down two important precedents. First, it said that the criteria for a group to qualify for reservation is “social and educational backwardness”. Second, it reiterated the 50% limit to vertical quotas reasoning that it was needed to ensure “efficiency” in administration. However, the court said that this 50% limit will apply unless in “exceptional circumstances.”

Solution: c)

About Pangong Tso Lake:

• Pangong Tso literally translates into a “conclave lake”. Pangong means conclave in Ladakhi and Tso means a lake in Tibetan language.
• The Pangong Tso Lake is a long deep narrow lake that is situated at a height of 4,350 metres in the Ladakh region.
• It is a brackish water lake.
• It is not a part of the Indus River basin. (It has a land-locked basin separated from the Indus River basin by a small elevated ridge)
• It is formed from Tethys geosyncline.