[MISSION 2023] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 1 Mar 2023

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Inter-state council:

• The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body to facilitate coordination between states and the centre.
• The Council is a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects, in which some or all of the states or the union government have a common interest. Recommendations are not binding in nature.
• Article 263 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Council.
• It considers recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action, and also matters of general interest to the states.
• The inter-state council is not a permanent constitutional body for coordination between the states and union government. It can be established ‘at any time’ if it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of such a council.
• The Prime minister is the chairman.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/5-yrs-after-punchhi-panel-work-completed-centre-set-to-invite-state-views-again/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Germany shares its 3,767-kilometre land border with Denmark to the north; the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France to the west; Switzerland and Austria to the south; and the Czech Republic and Poland to the east.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/india-germany-relations/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) released the annual Methane Global Tracker report in 2023.
• Background: The report has come after energy giants (Shell, BP, ExxonMobil) reported record profits last year as the Russia-Ukraine war drove up oil and natural gas prices.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/fossil-fuels-firms-failed-to-curb-methane-emission-what-ieas-annual-report-says/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S 1 and S 2: Large but poorly known amounts of methane are trapped in the sediments beneath the sea floor,  frozen into a form of water ice called methane hydrate.
• At low temperatures the methane hydrates on the sea floor are stable, but if the water and the sea floor become warmer, then the hydrates can break down. Because microorganisms then oxidize the resulting methane gas to form the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), methane hydrates have recently become a topic of intense discussion within the context of climate change. See https://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-1/energy/methane-hydrates/
• S 3: Methane is relatively short-lived in the atmosphere; a molecule of methane is oxidized to water and carbon dioxide within a decade or so, mainly by reaction with another trace gas, the hydroxyl radical OH-. Thus, unlike the case of carbon dioxide (which stays in the atmosphere longer than methane), a concerted effort to reduce methane emissions would have almost immediate results in terms of reduction of greenhouse effect. See http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange1/03_3.shtml

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/fossil-fuels-firms-failed-to-curb-methane-emission-what-ieas-annual-report-says/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Air Quality Index doesn’t include carbon dioxide and methane.
• Eight pollutants namely particulate matter (PM) 10, PM2.5, Ozone (O3), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb) and ammonia (NH3) act as major parameters in deriving the AQI of an area

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/fossil-fuels-firms-failed-to-curb-methane-emission-what-ieas-annual-report-says/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• It was constructed in the 12th centuryby King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
• Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.
• It was called the “White Pagoda”and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-01-march-2023/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: This is obviously incorrect, they occur in upper atmospheres of both hemispheres.
• S2: Correct. Extra-tropical cyclones may not always have an eye, whereas mostly mature storms have well developed eye. Rapidly intensifying storms may develop an extremely small, clear, and circular eye, sometimes referred to as a pinhole eye.
• S3: It is warmer and not colder for a tropical cyclone. The warmer temperature is what drives the storm.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-01-march-2023/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The power under Article 161 is exercisable in relation to matters to which the executive power of the state extends. While the Governor is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers (Article 163), the binding nature of such advice will depend on the constitutionality of the same.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-01-march-2023/

Ans: (c )

Explanation: About Anti-Defection Law:

• Introduced through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 – inserted in the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• It lays down the process of disqualification on grounds of defection.
• The presiding officer has the authority to disqualify a member on proven grounds of defection.
• To prevent the legislators from changing their political affiliations during their tenure in office.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/01/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-01-march-2023/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• It is a Sanskrit play by Kalidasa. It is based on some events of the reign of Pushyamitra Shunga.
• The play tells the story of the love of Agnimitra, the Shunga Emperor at Vidisha, for the beautiful hand-maiden of his chief queen.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81lavik%C4%81gnimitram

Refer: UPSC 2016