[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 28 July 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The PESA Act was enacted in 1996 “to provide for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas”.
• Under the Act, Scheduled Areas are those referred to in Article 244(1), which says that the provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The Fifth Schedule provides for a range of special provisions for these areas.
• The PESA Act was enacted to ensure self-governance through Gram Sabhas (village assemblies) for people living in the Scheduled Areas. It recognises the right of tribal communities, who are residents of the Scheduled Areas, to govern themselves through their own systems of self-government.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/28/jharkhand-issues-pesa-draft-rules-for-consultations/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• PESA empowers gram sabhas to play a key role in approving development plans and controlling all social sectors. This includes the processes and personnel who implement policies, exercising control over minor (non-timber) forest resources, minor water bodies and minor minerals, managing local markets, preventing land alienation and regulating intoxicants among other things.
• The gram sabha would have the powers to monitor and prohibit the manufacturing, transport, sale and consumption of intoxicants within their village limits.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/28/jharkhand-issues-pesa-draft-rules-for-consultations/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: Bengaluru has become the first Indian city to join the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF), an organization founded in 2012 by the office of the Mayor of London.
• With 40 member cities already in its portfolio, Bengaluru becomes the 41st member of the forum. The city’s inclusion was attributed to its dedication to an inclusive and globalized culture.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/28/bengaluru-1st-an-indian-city-to-be-a-member-of-the-cultural-forum/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: The 169-year-old Byculla railway station in Mumbai, which has been restored to its original glory, received the prestigious UNESCO Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage award.
• The Byculla railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in India still in use. Additionally, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Stepwells of Golconda (Hyderabad) and Domakonda Fort (Telangana) also won the highest award of excellence in the UNESCO Asia Pacific awards in 2022 in different categories.
• The first train was run by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (now Central Railway) between Bori Bunder (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Thane, a distance of 34 km (21 mi), on 16 April 1853.
• The first locomotive was brought to Mumbai in 1852 through street of Byculla and around 200 laborers pulled it. This Locomotive, named Lord Falkland (after Bombay’s then governor) was stationed on a grove near Byculla bought by the GIPR from a landlord, William Phipps at a cost of ₹4000. The engine was used for shunting operations, and had its first run on 18th February, 1852, from Byculla to Parel.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/28/byculla-railway-station-mumbai/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Basmati exports are mainly to the Persian Gulf countries and, to some extent, the US and UK. Non-basmati shipments are more diversified, with the destinations spread across Asia (Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, UAE and Iraq) and Africa (from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Benin to Somalia and Madagascar). It’s non-basmati that has made India the biggest rice exporter, ahead of Thailand.
• Cultivation of genetically-modified Bt cotton and high global prices had enabled India to become the world’s top producer (ahead of China) and No. 2 exporter (after the US) of the natural fibre.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/28/indias-rice-export-ban/

Ans: (b )

Explanation: What is INDIAai?

• It is a joint venture between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), and NASSCOM. It is a knowledge portal, research organization, and ecosystem-building initiative focused on preparing the nation for an AI-driven future.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/07/28/indiaai/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• These are Endemic plants where Cultivation of specified plants without licence is prohibited.
• From the Wildlife protection Act: (1) No person shall cultivate a specified plant except under and in accordance with a licence granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden or any other officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf: Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent a person, who immediately before the commencement of the Wild Life (Protection) (Amendment) Act, 1991 (44 of 1991), was cultivating a specified plant from carrying on such cultivation for a period of six months from such commencement or where he has made an application within that period for the grant of a licence to him, until the licence is granted to him or he is informed in writing that a licence cannot be granted to him.
• See Chapter IIIA 17C http://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A1972-53_0.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: (a)

Explanation:

• The interest coverage ratio is a debt ratio and profitability ratio used to determine how easily a company can pay interest on its outstanding debt. The interest coverage ratio may be calculated by dividing a company’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) during a given period by the company’s interest payments due within the same period.
• A higher coverage ratio is better, although the ideal ratio may vary by industry.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2020