[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 29 September 2023

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (MS Swaminathan) (1925 to 2023) who passed away recently, played a crucial role in heralding the Green Revolution that helped India combat food insecurity

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/dr-m-s-swaminathan-father-of-indias-green-revolution/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Green Revolution was not confined to only HYV seeds and fertilizers, but also encompassed every technique to boost agricultural productivity in the nation.
• Briefly, some of the important components of the green revolution in India are as follows:
• High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of seeds; 2. Irrigation (a) surface and (b) ground; 3. Use of fertilizers (chemical); 4. Use of Insecticides and Pesticides.
• Command Area Development (CAD); 6. Consolidation of holdings; 7. Land reforms.
• Supply of agricultural credit; 9. Rural electrification; 10. Rural Roads and Marketing; 11. Farm Mechanisation; 12. Agricultural Universities.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/green-revolution-m-s-swaminathan/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Conventional computers store and process information in bits. A bit is the smallest unit of data that computers can handle. It can take just two values — 0 or 1 — but only one of these at a time. A zero would result in a certain set of instructions to be carried out, while a one would lead to a different set of instructions. All data in computers, including text, pictures and videos, are broken down into a sequence of zeros and ones for purposes of storage and processing, and can be reconstructed from these.
• A two-bit system in a conventional computer can have four states — (0,0), (0,1), (1,0) and (1,1) — but again only one at a time. To go through each of these four states, the computer has to take four steps. A more powerful computer can speed up the process, but it would still have to go through the four steps.
• This is where the quantum computer starts to do things differently. Superposition makes it possible for the quantum bit, or a qubit as it is called, to exist in both 0 and 1 state simultaneously. Counter-intuitive as it may appear, it can be 60 per cent 0 and 40 per cent 1 at the same time, or any other combination. Similarly, the two-qubit system can be in all four states at the same time — some part (0,0), some part (0,1), some part (1,0) and remaining (1,1). What it means is that a quantum computer can go through these four states in one step, unlike the conventional computer that requires four steps.
• As more qubits are added, the processing capability of the quantum computer increases exponentially. With just a few qubits, say 50, quantum computers can outpace traditional computers that perform a couple of billion operations per second.
• Apart from the challenges in building a quantum computer — requirements of very cold temperatures and extreme isolation — there is a significant risk of errors. The parallel processing happening in superposition states all lead to different results, only one of which is correct or desirable. In other situations, when the superposition breaks down, the final outcome is randomly selected from the range of possibilities.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/qubit-circuit/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Quantum Supremacy describes the point where quantum computers can do things that classical computers cannot.
• Google has announced in 2019 that they achieved quantum supremacy in computing through Sycamore. They have developed a processor that took 200 seconds to do a calculation that would have taken a classical computer 10,000 years.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/qubit-circuit/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: Quantum computers use qubits (quantum bits) to store and process information. Unlike classical computers that use classical bits (0s and 1s), qubits can exist in a superposition of states, allowing quantum computers to perform multiple calculations simultaneously.
• S2: This statement is incorrect. Quantum computers can perform calculations in various bases, not just binary. They can work with quantum gates that manipulate qubits’ superpositions and entanglement to perform complex computations.
• S3: This statement is incorrect. Quantum computers are particularly well-suited for solving optimization problems. They can efficiently solve certain types of optimization problems through quantum annealing and other quantum algorithms, potentially outperforming classical computers in these scenarios.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/qubit-circuit/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. It can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if it’s not treated. There is currently no effective cure, but with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled
• HIV is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV
• HIV attacks the white blood cells called CD4 cells. This makes a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. As the immune system weakens, the person is at risk of getting life-threatening infections and cancers

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/273780/

Ans: (b)

Explanation About Atal Pension Yojana (APY):

• APY is a contributory scheme aimed at establishing a universal social security system for workers in the unorganised sector. Currently, subscribers aged 18 to 40 contribute and receive a fixed pension amount ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 after reaching 60.
• About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
  • The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a statutory body that regulates India’s pension sector. It was established in 2013 by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/pension-fund-regulatory-and-development-authority-pfrda/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: Recently, the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tamil Nadu, India, successfully received and handled Green Ammonia Containers from Egypt.
• Green ammonia is ammonia that is produced using renewable energy and hydrogen from water electrolysis. This makes green ammonia production virtually carbon dioxide-free.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/green-ammonia/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: Lithium-ion battery fires, although relatively rare, can be intense and long-lasting.
• They are mainly caused by a phenomenon called “thermal runaway,” triggered by factors like internal failures (such as short circuits) or external damage. This can lead to a battery catching fire or even exploding.
• Using water to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires is counterproductive as it can fuel the fire by reacting with lithium, producing flammable hydrogen ga Water also conducts electricity, posing additional risks of electrical shocks or short-circuits.
• To combat these fires, experts recommend using specialized fire extinguishers, such as Class D fire extinguishers designed for lithium-metal fires or dry chemical fire extinguishers suitable for electrical fires.
• Aftermath of these fires includes the release of toxic gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, and hydrogen chloride, which can be hazardous when inhaled in significant quantities, especially in confined spaces.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/lithium-ion-battery-fires/

Ans: (b)

Explanation

• The number of Royal Bengal Tigers in West Bengal’s Sundarbans has risen to 96, up by eight, according to the latest census.
• The Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
• Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/09/29/sundarbans/