[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 1 December 2023

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• Context: A recent FAO report (The State of Food and Agriculture 2023) exposes the hidden costs of unsustainable global agrifood systems, exceeding $10 trillion and constituting 11% of GDP in middle-income countries like India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/global-agrifood-systems/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Ahead of COP28, UNESCO’s first-ever report on the Ethics of Climate Engineering emphasizes the risks and opportunities of climate manipulation technologies.
• Climate Engineering, also known as geoengineering, involves deliberate modification of the Earth’s environment using various techniques. These interventions aim to mitigate climate change effects, such as reducing global warming or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/ethical-risks-of-climate-engineering/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, also known as Sam Bahadur, was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of field marshal.
• Sam Manekshaw’s life exemplified ethical values, including:
  • Integrity: He faced inquiry but maintained his integrity, eventually being cleared of all charges.
  • Compassion: After the 1971 war, he personally ensured the well-being of Pakistani Prisoners of War, providing a Quran upon request.
  • Loyalty: Despite facing challenges, he displayed loyalty to the Army, rising above personal vendettas when he attained higher ranks.
  • Courage: Throughout his military career, Sam displayed courage on the battlefield and in facing political pressures during his service.
  • Respect: Fluent in Punjabi, he showed respect to soldiers by conversing in their native language, fostering a connection with troops from different backgrounds.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/sam-manekshaw/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) dedicated to expediting justice in cases of sexual offences for an additional three years, extending up to March 31, 2026.
• S1: This statement is incorrect. The POCSO Act applies to both male and female children. It recognizes that sexual offenses can be committed against children of any gender.
• S2: This statement is incorrect. The POCSO Act is designed to protect children and does not focus on punishing the child victims. Instead, it emphasizes the legal consequences for the perpetrators of sexual offenses against children.
• S3: This statement is incorrect. The POCSO Act applies to all cases of sexual offenses against children, regardless of whether the perpetrator is a child or an adult. It recognizes that children can be both victims and perpetrators and provides for different procedures in such cases.
  • If a kid commits an offence, the POCSO Act will still apply, but the procedure will be governed by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
• S4: This statement is correct. The POCSO Act, enacted in India, defines various forms of sexual offenses against children and lays down legal provisions for the reporting, trial, and punishment of such offenses. Additionally, the Act emphasizes the need for the protection and rehabilitation of child victims, recognizing the sensitive nature of these cases and the long-term impact on the well-being of the child.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/fast-track-courts/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The Union Cabinet, has approved a Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
• The scheme aims to empower 15,000 selected Women SHGs by offering drone rental services to farmers for agricultural purposes.
• Drones equipped with various sensors and cameras can survey large agricultural fields rapidly, providing valuable data on crop health, pest infestations, and other factors, aiding in precision farming.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/drones-to-the-women-self-help-groups-shgs/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The Union Cabinet, has approved a Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
• GPS technology is commonly used in drones for navigation and positioning. It allows for accurate location tracking, waypoint navigation, and automated flight paths.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/drones-to-the-women-self-help-groups-shgs/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: The Union Cabinet, has approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN)
• Key Components– Provision of pucca houses – Connecting roads – Water supply projects – Mobile medical units – Hostels – Vocational education – Anganwadi Centers – Multipurpose centres – Electrification – Solar off-grid systems – Solar lighting – Setting up Village Development Knowledge Centers (VDVKs) – Installation of mobile towers

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/pradhan-mantri-janjati-adivasi-nyaya-maha-abhiyan-pm-janman/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Climate change is causing a significant global phenomenon known as tropicalisation, where tropical species in the ocean are moving towards the poles, while temperate species are retreating.
• This mass movement of marine life is driven by rising sea temperatures and marine heat waves due to climate change.
• The trend is observed in areas with strong currents away from the equator, leading to consequences for ecosystems, biodiversity, and potential impacts on the global economy.
• The socio-economic impacts vary by region, influencing global fisheries, carbon storage, and tourism.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/tropicalisation/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: India’s pressmud, a byproduct in the sugar industry, can be a valuable resource for compressed biogas (CBG) production.
• What is Pressmud and how it is produced?
  • Pressmud, also known as filter cake or press cake, is a residual byproduct in the sugar industry. It is produced during the sugar extraction process from sugarcane. The sugarcane is crushed to extract juice, and pressmud is the solid residue left behind after squeezing out the juice. Other by-products are: Bagasse, molasses
• Applications:
  • It has the potential use in generating compressed biogas (CBG) through anaerobic digestion and subsequent purification. With the potential to generate 460,000 tonnes of CBG valued at Rs 2,484 crore, pressmud offers advantages like a simplified supply chain, concentrated sourcing, and cost-effectiveness.
  • However, challenges include rising pressmud prices, competition for alternative uses, and storage issues. To fully exploit this resource, interventions such as streamlined bioenergy policies, price control mechanisms, and research on storage technologies are essential.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/pressmud/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: Pampore, a picturesque town close to Srinagar, is famous for its saffron fields, known as the centre of the country’s saffron (referred to as “red gold”) cultivation has seen a decline in productivity.
• About Saffron:
  • Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus”. The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/01/pampore-saffron-production-in-india/