[Mission 2024] Current Affairs Quiz , 31 July 2023

Solution: a)

Only statement 1 is correct.

Ethanol yields from grains are actually higher than from molasses. One tonne of rice can produce 450-480 litres of ethanol, while it is 450-460 litres from broken/damaged grains, 380-400 litres from maize, 385-400 litres from jowar (sorghum) and 365-380 litres from bajra and other millets. The yields are linked to starch content: 68-72% in rice, 58-62% in maize and jowar, and 56-58% in other millets.

However, though more ethanol can be produced from grains than molasses, the process is longer. The starch in the grain has to first be converted into sucrose and simpler sugars (glucose and fructose), before their fermentation into ethanol by using yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae). Molasses already contains sucrose, glucose and fructose.

India’s ethanol programme is no longer reliant on a single feedstock or crop. Earlier, it was molasses and cane. Today, it’s also rice, maize and other grains. Diversification of feedstocks will minimise supply fluctuations and price volatility on account of any one crop.

Source

Solution: d)

Both are related to the categorisation of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).

Source

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Biogas contains about 55-65 per cent methane, 35-44 per cent of carbon dioxide and traces of other gases such as hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and nitrogen.

In its raw form, biogas can be used as a clean cooking fuel like LPG for lighting, motive power and electricity generation.

Further, biogas can be purified and upgraded up to 98 per cent of purity to make it suitable to be used as a green fuel for transportation or filling of cylinders. The process relies on a high pressure of circa 250 bar and hence is called compressed biogas (CBG).

The Sustainable Alternatives Towards Affordable Transporation (SATAT) scheme by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) encourages entrepreneurs to set up CBG plants, produce and supply CBG to oil and gas marketing companies (OGC/OMC) for selling it as automotive and industrial fuels.

Solution: c)

On Jan 8, 2014, a fireball from space blazed through Earth’s atmosphere and crashed into the sea, north of Manus Island off the northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea.

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Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

A fundamental right under Article 19/21 can be enforced even against persons other than the State or its instrumentalities,” said the 4-1 majority ruling by the Constitution Bench.

What is Article 19?

— Article 19 is a part of the Fundamental Rights (Part III) of the Indian Constitution.

— Article 19 which guarantees freedom of speech and expression is a right invoked against the state. Some fundamental rights such as those prohibiting untouchability, trafficking and bonded labour are explicitly against both the state and other individuals.

— It is available only to citizens and not to foreigners.

Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech:

(1) All citizens shall have the right

(a) to freedom of speech and expression;

(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;

(c) to form associations or unions;

(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;

(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and

(f) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business