[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 4 August 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Vultures not only keep our environment free of carcasses but also help control disease outbreak.
• India has nine species of vultures. Many are critically endangered. The main reason for the decline in the vulture population is the use of the drug, diclofenac. Diclofenac, which relieves cattle of pain, is toxic to vultures even in small doses and causes kidney failure and death.
• India banned diclofenac for veterinary use in 2006. Five States are to get vulture breeding centres under the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation for 2020-2025.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/indias-first-captive-breeding-success-story-in-assam-zoo/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Time-of-Day (ToD) tariff is an electricity pricing system that adjusts prices based on demand, with higher rates during peak hours and lower rates during off-peak hours. The goal is to encourage consumers to use electricity when demand is lower, helping to manage energy consumption and grid load.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/time-of-day-tod-tariff/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It is a statutory corporation set up under the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962.
• The objectives of NCDC are planning and promoting programmes for production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of agricultural produce, foodstuffs, industrial goods, livestock and certain other notified commodities and services on cooperative principles.
• NCDC is a major financial institution for cooperatives, and has started Mission Sahakar 22, which aims to double farmers’ income by 2022.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/269061/

Ans: (a)

Explanation

• S1: It is developed by using three genes viz., barnase, barstar and bar from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for hybrid seed production.
• The barnase gene confers male sterility to a plant in which it is inserted and barstar gene restore the fertility to produce fertile hybrid plants and seeds.
• The third gene bar synthesize an enzyme call PAT, which is responsible for tolerance to glufosinate in the plant. Glufosinate is a broad spectrum herbicide, which indiscriminately eliminates weeds and any plant that does not have the bar gene.
• Glufosinate herbicides contain the active ingredient phosphinothricin, which kills plants by blocking the enzyme responsible for nitrogen metabolism and for detoxifying ammonia, a by-product of plant metabolism.
• S2: It has mainly two genes (‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’) that allow for cross-pollination and hybridisation in mustard, which is largely a self-pollinating plant because of its individual flowers containing both female and male reproductive organs. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• S3: GM mustard was developed by scientists at Delhi University and the project was part-funded by the Department of Biotechnology, a division of the Science Ministry.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/smart-corn-gmo/

Ans: (c)

Explanation

• Plant genetic engineering methods were developed over 30 years ago, and since then, genetically modified (GM) crops or transgenic crops have become commercially available and widely adopted in many countries.
• The first-generation GM crops have improved traits like Herbicide-resistant crops (soybeans and maize), Pest resistance (Cotton and corn). Second-generation GM crops involve enhanced quality traits, such as higher nutrient content.
• “Golden Rice,” one of the very first GM crops, is biofortified to address vitamin A deficiency. Other biofortification projects include corn, sorghum, cassava, and banana plants, with enhanced minerals and vitamins. Crops can also be modified to ward off plant viruses or fungi.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/smart-corn-gmo/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• India does not permit the commercial cultivation of GM rice, but research groups are testing varieties of such rice in trial plots.
• Though the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is the apex regulator of GM crops, it is mandated that trials of GM crops obtain permission from States.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/smart-corn-gmo/

Ans: (b)

Explanation

• Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years. NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration. In case of failure to apply for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired, and the NGO is no longer entitled to receive foreign funds or utilise its existing funds without permission from the ministry.
• According to the MHA, NGOs failing to apply before the due date can petition the ministry with cogent reasons within four months of the expiry of registration, following which their applications can be reconsidered.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/bal-raksha-bharatloses-fcra-permit/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• the list of countries that share a border with South Africa:
  • Namibia
  • Botswana
  • Zimbabwe
  • Mozambique
  • Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland)
  • Lesotho

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/04/johannesburg-south-africa/

Ans: (a )

Explanation:

• The correct answer is (a). Vishti was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people. It was not totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire, and the forced labourers were not entitled to weekly wages. The eldest son of the labourer was not necessarily sent as the forced labourer. So the answer is (a).

Refer: UPSC CSE 2019

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Columbian exchange, also known as the Columbian interchange, named for Christopher Columbus, was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. It also relates to European colonization and trade following Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage. Invasive species, including communicable diseases, were a byproduct of the Exchange.
• You can find a list of the items here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_exchange#Organism_examples

Refer: UPSC CSE 2019