[MISSION 2023] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 24 Feb 2023

Ans:(a)

Explanation: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):

• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, also known asLaw of the Sea divides marine areas into five main zones namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.
• UNCLOS is the only international convention which stipulates a framework for state jurisdiction in maritime spaces. It provides a different legal status to different maritime zones.
• It provides the backbone for offshore governance by coastal states and those navigating the oceans. It not only zones coastal states’ offshore areas but also provides specific guidance for states’ rights and responsibilities in the five concentric zones.
• India ratified the UNCLOS in 1995
• The United Nations has no direct operational role in the implementation of the Convention.While the Secretary-General of the United Nations receives instruments of ratification and accession and the UN provides support for meetings of states party to the Convention.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/how-to-save-our-high-seas-from-overfishing-and-pollution/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Also referred to as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean’, the treaty to deal with Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction has been under discussion for several years.
• The proposed treaty concerns the ocean existing beyond the Exclusive Economic Zones that lie from the coast of a country to about 200 nautical miles or 370 km into the sea, till where it has special rights for exploration. Waters beyond that are known as open seas or high seas.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/how-to-save-our-high-seas-from-overfishing-and-pollution/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• 30×30: It is a global initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth’s land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/india-can-become-a-biodiversity-champion/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The concept of a biodiversity hotspot was put forward by Norman Myers in 1988.
• The criteria which are necessary for a region to be categorized as a biodiversity hotspot include:
• Species endemism – it must contain at least 1500 species of vascular plants, which is more than 0.5 percent of the world’s total plant population, as endemic species.
• Degree of threat – it must have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat due to human interventions.
• Biodiversity hotspots in South Asia
  • Eastern Himalaya
  • Indo-Burma and Myanmar
  • Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/india-can-become-a-biodiversity-champion/

Ans: (a )

Explanation:

• The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairperson and the head of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• It is an apex Body of Government of India, with a mandate to lay down policies for disaster management. NDMA was established through the Disaster Management Act enacted by the Government of India on 23 December 2005.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/new-policy-to-help-indian-communities-displaced-by-annual-river-coastal-erosion-drafted/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Privacy is a constitutionally protected right which emerges primarily from the guarantee of life and personal liberty in Article 21 of the Constitution. Elements of privacy also arise in varying contexts from the other facets of freedom and dignity recognized and guaranteed by the fundamental rights contained in Part III.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-february-2023/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The Constitution does not define the criteria for recognition of Scheduled Tribes.
• However, Article 366(25) of the Constitution only provides process to define Scheduled Tribes: “Scheduled Tribes means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution.”
• Article 342(1): The President may with respect to any State or Union Territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor, by a public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribe in relation to that State or Union Territory.
• S2: The Constitution empowers the President to specify the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in various states and union territories. Further, it permits Parliament to modify this list of notified STs.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-february-2023/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: It is one of the ingredients. http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/regulations/us-laws/lead-in-lipstick/
• Statement 2: Brominated vegetable oil is used primarily to help emulsify citrus-flavored soft drinks, preventing them from separating during distribution.
• Statement 3: This was found in Maggi.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-february-2023/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Phosphogypsum (PG) is the calcium sulfate hydrate formed as a by-product of the production of fertilizer from phosphate rock. It is mainly composed of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O).
• Although gypsum is a widely used material in the construction industry, phosphogypsum is usually not used, but is stored indefinitely because of its weak radioactivity caused by the presence of naturally occurring uranium (U) and thorium (Th), and their daughter isotopes radium (Ra), radon (Rn) and polonium (Po). The long-range storage of phosphogypsum is controversial.
• Context: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers are going to take up field trials on NHAI projects for use of Phosphor-Gypsum (Phosphogypsum) in National Highway construction to achieve a circular economy in the use of Gypsum.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-february-2023/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Presently it is a three member body, one CEC and two other ECs.
• Statement 2: ECI decides this schedule.
• Statement 3: Splits, mergers and alliances have frequently disrupted the compositions of political parties.
• This has led to a number of disputes over which section of a divided party gets to keep the party symbol, and how to classify the resulting parties in terms of national and state parties.
• The Election Commission has to resolve these disputes, although its decisions can be challenged in the courts.
• http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/the_function.aspx#splitsandmergersf

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/02/23/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-february-2023/