[MISSION 2023] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 21 Mar 2023

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Human Development Report is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/the-wide-disparities-in-human-development/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: What is the Kirit Parikh committee?

• The committee was constituted last year (2022) to review the existing pricing formula for domestically produced natural gas in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/oilmin-accepts-all-major-kirit-parikh-panel-recommendations-on-gas-pricing/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Conventional method of sugarcane planting requires 7 to 8 tonnes of seed cane per hectare and this is the main reason for slow rate of seed and varietal replacement. Sugarcane being a long duration crop and heavy biomass producer requires about 1500 to 2500 mm water.
• Keeping in mind the likely to be faced situations in future, the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI) has developed an integrated sugarcane cultivation model called Settling Transplanting Technology (STT). Components of the model are listed below:
  • High yielding and better quality varieties
  • Raising and transplanting of settlings derived from single bud setts/ bud chips
  • Sub-surface drip irrigation and fertigation
  • Wider row planting
  • Intercropping
  • Trash mulching
  • Multiple ratooning
  • Mechanization
• S1: Transplanting sugarcane single-bud/ bud-chip settlings can save seed cane requirement up to 80 per cent besides providing healthy plants and good field establishment. It is less expensive and labour saving in comparison with conventional sett planting.
• Other options are spaced transplanting (STP) and polybag / pro-tray nursery.
• S2 and S3: Reverse is true. See here http://www.iisr.nic.in/download/publications/ijst-December-2011.pdf
• S4: Yes, tissue culture or vegetative propagation (a subset of TC), can be used to germinate and grow these settlings which can be transplanted in the field later.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/how-indias-sugar-shipments-to-the-world-are-surging/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with State Governments and other stake-holders.
• S2: The amended provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966provides for fixation of FRP of sugarcane.
• S3: the State Advised Prices (SAP) are announced by key sugarcane producing states which are generally higher than FRP.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/how-indias-sugar-shipments-to-the-world-are-surging/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Sugarcane, (Saccharum officinarum), perennial grass of the family Poaceae, primarily cultivated for its juice from which sugar is processed. Most of the world’s sugarcane is grown in subtropical and tropical areas. The plant is also grown for biofuel production, especially in Brazil, as the canes can be used directly to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/how-indias-sugar-shipments-to-the-world-are-surging/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). IPCC reports are also a key input into international climate change negotiations.
• The IPCC is an organization of governments that are members of the United Nations or WMO. Thousands of people from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC. The IPCC does not conduct its own research.
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the United Nations to provide the public scientific information on climate change.
• The IPCC had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, an acknowledgement of its efforts in creating awareness for the fight against climate change.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/synthesis-report-of-ipcc-ar6/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• There were tolls and customs on goods taken from one place to another, various kinds of professional taxes, dues levied on ceremonial occasions like marriages and judicial fines. Moreover, the land revenue department was well organized. It was called puravuvarithinaikkalam.
• The residential portion of the village was called ur nattam. These and other lands such as the lands belonging to temples were exempted from tax.
• Chola kings undertook royal tours to increase the efficiency of the administration. There were regular drills with officials.
• During the hard times, there were remission of taxes and Kulottunga I became famous by abolishing tolls and earned the title—Sungam Tavirtta Cholan. The main items of government expenditure were the king and his court, army and navy, roads, irrigation tanks and canals.

Refer: Facts for Prelims (FFP): https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-march-2023/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS):

• Union Agriculture Ministry’s PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards.
• The certification is in the form of a documented logo or a statement.
• According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Bonn-based global umbrella organisation for the organic agriculture movement, PGSs are “locally focused quality assurance systems” that “certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange”.
• Stat2: PGS, according to this definition, is “a process in which people in similar situations (in this case small holder producers) assess, inspect and verify the production practices of each other and take decisions on organic certification”
• However, the operational manual also identifies some limitations of PGS:
• PGS certification is only for farmers or communities that can organise and perform as a group within a village or a cluster of continguous villages, and is applicable only to farm activities such as crop production, processing, and livestock rearing, and off-farm processing “by PGS farmers of their direct products”.
• Individual farmers or group of farmers smaller than five members are not covered under PGS. They either have to opt for third party certification or join the existing PGS local group.

Refer: Facts for Prelims (FFP): https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/03/21/mission-2023-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-march-2023/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has identified six basins as potentially shale gas bearing. These are Cambay, Assam-Arakan, Gondwana, Krishna-Godavari, Kaveri, and the Indo-Gangetic plain.
• http://www.teriin.org/policybrief/docs/Shale_gas.pdf

Refer: UPSC CSE 2016

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: A special category of land Eripatti or tank land, was known only in south India, This was land donated by individuals, the revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of’ the village tank, which indicates the dependence of the village on the tank for irrigation. You can see here http://tinyurl.com/hprtzyu
• Statement 2: Taniyurs were distinct revenue units under Cholas. You can see here http://tinyurl.com/zchz6ue
• Statement 3: In South India centres of higher learning were known as Ghatikas. There was a famous Ghatika at Kanchi, drawing students from far and near. These Ghatikas were run in temples.
• http://tinyurl.com/h5acpfv

Refer: UPSC CSE 2016