[Mission 2023] Current Affairs Quiz , 25 February 2023

Solution: c)

Organic mulches also improve the condition of the soil. As these mulches slowly decompose, they provide organic matter which helps keep the soil loose.

This improves root growth, increases the infiltration of water, and also improves the water-holding capacity of the soil.

Organic matter is a source of plant nutrients and provides an ideal environment for earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms.

Solution: b)

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. It occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.

Woolsorter’s disease was also once known as ragpicker’s disease; its most common form in humans is cutaneous infection via the injured skin or mucous membranes of agricultural or industrial workers associated with infected animals or animal products.

Sorter’s job is risky – anthrax is a fatal blood disease. Anthrax does not spread directly from one infected animal or person to another; it is spread by spores. These spores can be transported by clothing or shoes.

Solution: b)

• The G7 countries have officially launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment in the Leaders’ Summit in Germany.
• The G7 countries are the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, and Japan.
• The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) is a joint initiative to fund infrastructure projects in developing countries.
• The PGII was first announced in G7 Summit in the UK in 2021.
• Back then, the US President Joe Biden had called it the Build Back Better World (B3W) framework.
• Collectively, the PGII aims to mobilise nearly $600 billion from the G7 by 2027 to invest in critical infrastructure that improves lives and delivers real gains for all of our people.
• The project is being seen as the G7 bloc’s counter to China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative.

Solution: d)

Unlike Flood Method of irrigation (FMI), the drip method (DMI) supplies water directly to the root zone of a crop through a network of pipes and emitters. Since it supplies water directly to the crop, rather than the land around, water losses occurring through evaporation and distribution are significantly reduced. The on-farm efficiency of the drip irrigation system is estimated to be over 90 per cent.

Drip irrigation is most suitable for row crops (vegetables, soft fruit), tree and vine crops where one or more emitters can be provided for each plant.

In addition, drip irrigation:

• Prevents disease by minimizing water contact with the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants.
• Allows the rows between plants to remain dry, improving access and reducing weed growth.
• Saves time, money, and water because the system is so efficient.
• Decreases labor.
• Increases effectiveness on uneven ground.
• Reduces leaching of water and nutrients below the root zone.

Solution: a)

• OMOs are conducted by the RBI by way of sale or purchase of government securities (g-secs) to adjust money supply conditions.
• RBI carries out the OMO through commercial banks and does not directly deal with the public.
• The central bank sells g-secs to suck out liquidity from the system and buys back g-secs to infuse liquidity into the system.
• These operations are often conducted on a day-to-day basis in a manner that balances inflation while helping banks continue to lend.
• The RBI uses OMO along with other monetary policy tools such as repo rate, cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio to adjust the quantum and price of money in the system.
• When the RBI wants to increase the money supply in the economy, it purchases the government securities from the market and it sells government securities to suck out liquidity from the system.