[MISSION 2023] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 8 May 2023

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• A cyclone, commonly known as a low, is an area of low pressure where air masses meet and rise. An anticyclone, commonly known as a high, is an area of high pressure where air moves apart and sinks.
• Cyclone typically indicates bad weather, like rain and clouds whereas anticyclone indicates fair weather.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/08/cyclones-how-are-cyclones-formed-and-named/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Most cyclones are forced to weaken post landfall as they detach from the sea.
• Cyclones are formed between the tropics while western disturbances are formed in the mid-latitudes. When the two interact, they influence each other. When cyclones come under the influence of western disturbances, it can retain its intensity even after entering land.
• Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 came under the influence of western disturbances, it slowed down as it was crossing over to land. This slow progress over the coast ensured that the cyclone continued to get sufficient moisture supply from the sea. Hence it did not weaken, but rather retained its intensity even 24 hours after coming over land.
• The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea generate only 7 per cent of the world’s cyclones. However, their impact are huge as some of the most densely populated regions of the world, including some mega-cities, are susceptible.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/08/cyclones-how-are-cyclones-formed-and-named/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• A cyclone is a low pressure system that forms over warm waters. Essentially, it is a system of high speed winds rotating around a low-pressure area, with the winds blowing counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
• According to the World Meteorological Organization, “Tropical cyclones are one of the biggest threats to life and property even in the formative stages of their development. They include a number of different hazards that can individually cause significant impacts on life and property, such as storm surge, flooding, extreme winds, tornadoes and lighting.
• How are cyclones named?
  • Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
  • As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, after following a standard procedure. The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/08/cyclones-how-are-cyclones-formed-and-named/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure centre.
• On Earth, the pressures recorded at the centres of tropical cyclones are among the lowest ever observed at sea level.
• At the centre of a mature tropical cyclone, air sinks rather than rises. For a sufficiently strong storm, air may sink over a layer deep enough to suppress cloud formation, thereby creating a clear “eye”.
• If the air pressure is high at the centre and low at the edges, an anti-cyclone is formed.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/08/cyclones-how-are-cyclones-formed-and-named/

Ans: (c )

Explanation: General factors responsible for the origin of Cyclones in Bay of Bengal region are:

• Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C
• Presence of the Coriolis force is enough to create a cyclonic vortex.
• Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
• A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
• Upper divergence above the sea level system.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/08/cyclones-how-are-cyclones-formed-and-named/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The official website and the Press Information Bureau declared that donations to the PM CARES Fund “would qualify for 80G benefits for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Donations to PM CARES Fund will also qualify to be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013. PM CARES Fund has also got exemption under the FCRA [Foreign Contribution Regulation Act] and a separate account for receiving foreign donations has been opened”.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/08/pm-cares-fund/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: This is correct, pulses are grown in all three seasons – kharif, rabi and zaid.
• S2: Incorrect. Gram is the most dominant pulse but only with a share of around 40 per cent in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20 per cent and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at around 8-10 per cent each.
• S3: Reverse is true, see Table 1.1 here http://dpd.gov.in/Reterospects%20and%20Prospects%202017.pdf
• India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world. Pulses account for around 20 per cent of the area under foodgrains and contribute around 7-10 per cent of the total foodgrains production in the country. Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production.
• Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are the top five pulses producing States. Productivity of pulses is 764 kg/ha. See https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/pulses/pulses-in-india
• http://dpd.gov.in/Technical%20Paper%20on%20Pulses%20JNKVV.pdf

Refer: UPSC CSE 2020

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• They can be used to run them all. The most common pump mechanics in Solar power pumps used are centrifugal pumps, multistage pumps, borehole pumps, and helical pumps.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2020

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: UPSC CSE 2020

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• RBI does not issue CDs to corporations, so S2 is wrong.
• S4 is incorrect too. Zero Coupon Bonds are G-secs that are issued at a discount and redeemed at par. No interest payment is made on such bonds at periodic intervals before maturity.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2020