[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 18 October 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan just over a week after a series of strong quakes and aftershocks devastated the same region.
• Shallow earthquakes are generally more devastating because they carry greater energy when they emerge on the surface. Deeper earthquakes lose much of their energy by the time they come to the surface. The deeper quakes spread farther — the seismic waves move radially upwards to the surface — even as they lose energy while travelling greater distances, and hence cause less damage.
• The earthquake magnitude scale gives a measure of the energy released, although the reading in itself is not of energy. Rather, it takes into account amplitude or ‘size’ of the seismic waves released, and variations in distance between various seismographs and the earthquake epicenter. Thus, it is a dimensionless number — with no physical units.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/recent-earthquakes-in-afghanistan/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan just over a week after a series of strong quakes and aftershocks devastated the same region.
• Seismic waves are the vibrations from earthquakes that travel through the Earth; they are recorded on instruments called seismographs. Seismographs record a zig-zag trace that shows the varying amplitude of ground oscillations beneath the instrument. Sensitive seismographs, which greatly magnify these ground motions, can detect strong earthquakes from sources anywhere in the world. The time, location, and magnitude of an earthquake can be determined from the data recorded by seismograph stations.
• S waves shadow zone extend from 105⁰. P wave shadow zone extends between 105⁰ to 145⁰. Beyond 145⁰ only P waves are received
• At seismic station first waves to arrive are P waves. Then S waves and in the last the surface waves.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/recent-earthquakes-in-afghanistan/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan just over a week after a series of strong quakes and aftershocks devastated the same region.
• All natural earthquakes take place in the lithosphere.
• Earthquake waves are basically of two types — body waves and surface waves. Body waves are generated due to the release of energy at the focus and move in all directions travelling through the body of the earth. The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate new set of waves called surface waves. These waves move along the surface. The velocity of waves changes as
• they travel through materials with different densities. The denser the material, the higher is the velocity.
• The surface waves are the last to report on seismograph. These waves are more destructive. They cause displacement of rocks, and hence, the collapse of structures occurs.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/recent-earthquakes-in-afghanistan/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• It is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The theme for World Food Day in 2023 is “Water is life, water is food”.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/world-food-day-wwfs-report-the-high-cost-of-cheap-water/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The World Wide Fund for Nature is a Swiss-based (HQ: Gland) international non-governmental organization founded in 1961.
• It’s the world’s largest conservation organization that focuses on preserving the environment and aims to halt its degradation. WWF runs campaigns like Earth Hour. WWF is part of the Foundations Platform F20
• IUCN was involved in establishing the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/world-food-day-wwfs-report-the-high-cost-of-cheap-water/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 2 is wrong
• The following statements about Sir Syed Ahmad Khan are correct:
  • He argued that India was a federation of ethnic communities based on common descent.
  • The curriculum at the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College blended Muslim theology and European empiricism.
  • Therefore, the answer is (b).
• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a Muslim reformer and educator who believed in the importance of modern education and social progress for Muslims in India. He was also a strong advocate for Hindu-Muslim unity. He argued that India was a nation of diverse communities, and that Muslims should work with Hindus to build a united and prosperous country.
• The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875, was a pioneering institution that blended Muslim theology and European empiricism. The curriculum included courses in English, mathematics, science, and history, as well as Islamic studies. The college produced many prominent Muslim leaders and intellectuals, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/sir-syed-ahmed-khan/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1 and S2: : Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. The bonds are available for purchase by any person (who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each in the months of January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government.
• The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
• State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance.
• These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party.
• A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
• S3: Donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/electoral-bonds-4/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The electoral bonds were introduced with the Finance Bill, 2017.
• S4: SBI deposits bonds that a political party hasn’t enchased within 15 days into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/electoral-bonds-4/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only statement 3 is correct.
• Before the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) act of 1971, abortions were criminalised under the Indian Penal Code. The MTP changed that but still imposed heavy restrictions, especially pertaining to unmarried women. As per the 2021 amendment, the act allows abortion in a number of circumstances, most based on the health and safety of the woman.
• The law allows abortion during the first 20 weeks, with approval from a medical practitioner and from the 20 to 24 weeks with authorisation by two medical practitioners. In cases involving a severe foetal anomaly after the 24-week mark, a three-person medical board must confirm the diagnosis with the final decision resting with a judge.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/supreme-court-upholds-rights-of-the-unborn-child/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a parasitic infection caused by filarial worms transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The parasites primarily affect the lymphatic system, leading to a range of symptoms, including swelling of the limbs and other body parts.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/18/lymphatic-filariasis-2/