[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 11 July 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: While CO2 emissions are the problem, a circular economy could be the solution, at least a partial one.
• Why are CO2 emissions the problem?
  • As we continue to burn fossil fuels and destroy natural habitats, CO2 continues to accumulate in the atmosphere.
  • Heat reflected by the earth doesn’t all escape to space, some of it is trapped by atmospheric CO2 and other GHGs.
  • This leads to warmer land and oceans, accelerating ice melt, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events and triggers food shortages, disease, loss of lives and property, forced migrations, etc.
• The concept of a circular economy is best described by option B. A circular economy is a system that aims to minimize waste, promote resource efficiency, and maximize the lifespan of products. It is an alternative to the traditional linear model (option A) where resources are extracted, used, and disposed of. In a circular economy, there is an emphasis on recycling, reusing, and repairing products to keep materials in circulation for as long as possible. This approach helps to reduce the extraction of new resources and minimize environmental impact. Option C is incorrect because a circular economy discourages excessive consumption and the use of disposable products. Option D is also incorrect as it suggests limiting production and consumption, whereas a circular economy focuses on sustainable practices and closing the loop of resources.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/carbon-circular-economy-promise-and-challenges/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The purpose of a fuel cell is to produce an electrical current that can be directed outside the cell to do work, such as powering an electric motor or illuminating a light bulb or a city.
• One great appeal of fuel cells is that they generate electricity with very little pollution–much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combines to form a harmless byproduct, namely water alongwith releasing heat.
• A single fuel cell generates a tiny amount of direct current (DC) electricity. In practice, many fuel cells are usually assembled into a stack.
• If alternating current (AC) is needed, the DC output of the fuel cell must be routed through a conversion device called an inverter.
• Source: http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm
• http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell1.htm

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/the-problem-with-battery-electric-vehicles/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• A fuel-cell electric vehicle is essentially a hybrid electric vehicle wherein, the internal combustion engine is replaced with a fuel-cell stack. The onboard sources of power include hydrogen as well as an
• advanced battery system.
  • The fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate an electric current, water being the only byproduct.
  • Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical process.
• And, there are no moving parts in the fuel cell, so they are more efficient and reliable by comparison.
• How is it different from an electric vehicle (EV)?
  • Unlike a battery-electricity vehicle, it does not store energy and, instead, relies on a constant supply of fuel and oxygen — in the same way that an internal combustion engine relies on a constant supply of petrol or diesel, and oxygen.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/the-problem-with-battery-electric-vehicles/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• PSLV is the most reliable rocket used by ISRO to date. Its first launch was in 1994, and it has been ISRO’s main rocket ever since.
• Apart from Indian satellites, it also carries satellites from other nations into space, like in the current mission, where it carried payloads from Singapore. The reason for this is that apart from being reliable, the PSLV is also more affordable than the launch vehicles of many other countries.
• The vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft, Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013, that later travelled to Moon and Mars respectively.
• PSLV has four parts — PS1, a solid rocket motor augmented by 6 solid strap-on boosters; PS2, a storable liquid rocket engine, known as the Vikas engine; PS3, a solid rocket motor that provides the upper stages high thrust after the atmospheric phase of the launch; and PS4, the uppermost stage consisting of two Earth storable liquid engines.
• As technology evolves, the effort is to make the various parts of a rocket reusable. PSLV’s PS4 has been able to achieve this.
• As part of POEM, PS4, instead of being discarded, is now utilised as a “stabilised platform” to perform experiments.
• What is POEM?
  • The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module is a platform that will help perform in-orbit experiments using the final, and otherwise discarded, stage of ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/chandrayaan-3-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Archaeologists conducting excavations at Porpanaikottai in Tamil Nadu, India, have discovered several artefacts, including a gold stud, a bone point, and a carnelian bead.
• The Tamils of the Sangam age had trading contacts with the Mediterranean world (Greece and Rome), Egypt, China, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.
• The literary works like Silappadikaram, Manimekalai and Pattinappalai frequently refer to the contact with the Greek and Roman traders. This period marked the height of the Indo-Roman trade.
• The Sangam texts mention prominently only the ports of Musiri, Puhar (Kaveripattinam) and Korkai, the three great ports of the three great rulers of the times.
• However, the Periplus (foreign accounts) refers to the ports of Tondi, Musiri and Comari (Cape Comorin / Kanyakumari), Colchi (Korkai), Poduke (Arikamedu) and Sopatma.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/sangam-age-stud-bead-unearthed-in-tamil-nadu/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• There were many different tribal groups in Medieval India. Some were hunter-gatherer nomads.
• One such type of nomadic group was that of the banjaras.
• They were the most important trader-nomads during the medieval period.
• Their caravan was called tanda. Sultan Alauddin Khaljls market regulation system could become successful pnmanly because of the fact that he relied heavily on the banjaras to transport grains to the city markets.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/lambani-art/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), under the Ministry of Education, has released the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) combined report for 2020-21 and 2021-22.
• This index assesses the performance of the school education system at the district level by creating a comprehensive analysis.
• PGI is aligned with new initiatives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to monitor indicators relating to Goal 4 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/performance-grading-index-for-districts-pgi-d-2-0/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: India has accepted an invitation from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to join the Champions Group of the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG).
• About GCRG
  • The GCRG was established (in 2022) by the UN Secretary-General to address urgent global issues related to food security, energy, and finance, and to coordinate a global response.
  • It is overseen by the Champions Group consisting of heads of state or government from Bangladesh, Barbados, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/india-joins-the-champions-group-of-the-global-crisis-response-group/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Germanium is a semi-metal which makes it a good element for use as semiconductors. It is used in a variety of applications, including fiber optics, infrared optics (night vision goggles), and solar cell technologies, and infrared sensors. It is particularly used in the production of transistors and other semiconductor devices. Germanium has also been found to have some medicinal uses and is sometimes used as a dietary supplement.
• Gallium is a soft, silvery metal that is in a liquid state near room temperature. It has a low melting point which helps in the production of semiconductors and electronic components. It is used in the manufacture of integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and solar cells. There are some Gallium-based compounds which also have medical applications, including the treatment of certain types of cancers.
• China is the world’s leading producer of both germanium and gallium. As per the Critical Raw Minerals Alliance, China is responsible for production of 60 per cent of the world’s germanium and 80 per cent of the world’s gallium.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/export-control/

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• Context: Scientists have used data from the Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica to obtain the first view of the Milky Way galaxy through the lens of neutrino particles.
  • This breakthrough provides researchers with a new perspective on the cosmos, as neutrinos offer a different way to study cosmic rays.
  • Neutrinos, which are low-mass particles that interact weakly with matter, are emitted when cosmic rays collide with interstellar matter.
• The Milky Way is the galaxy that includes the Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy’s appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/11/first-ever-view-of-the-milky-way/