[Mission 2024] QUED ( Questions from Editorials ) 12 December 2023

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• Bioremediation is a branch of biotechnology that employs the use of living organisms, like microbes and bacteria to decontaminate affected areas.
• It is used in the removal of contaminants, pollutants, and toxins from soil, water, and other environments.
• Bioremediation is used to clean up oil spills or contaminated groundwater.
• Bioremediation may be done “in situ”–at the site of the contamination–or “ex situ”–away from the site. 

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs):

• Typically, an ETF mirrors a particular index, which means the group of stocks in the ETF would be similar to those in the index that it is benchmarked to.
• They are traded on stock exchanges like shares.
• Usually, ETFs are passive funds where the fund manager doesn’t select stocks on your behalf. Instead, the ETF simply copies an index and endeavours to accurately reflect its performance.
• In an ETF, one can buy and sell units at prevailing market price on a real time basis during market hours.

Solution: b)

Mangalajodi area is located on the banks of Chilika lake — an important bird area (IBA).

Mangalajodi is recognised as globally important for the conservation of bird population. The area is used for roosting and nesting by migratory birds. The area is 8.3 square km of marshy land with emergent vegetation.

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

‘Zero Shadow Day’ is experienced when vertical objects appear to cast no shadow.

For every point on Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, there are two Zero Shadow Days a year.

The Zero Shadow Day is restricted to locations between the tropics, and so places north of Ranchi in India are out of it.

“One falls during the Uttarayan when the Sun moves northwards, and the other is during Dakshinayan when the Sun moves southwards”.

Uttarayan (movement of the Sun from south to north from winter solstice to summer solstice) and Dakshinayan (back from north to south) happen because Earth’s rotation axis is tilted at an angle of roughly 23.5° to the axis of revolution around the Sun.

Solution: c)

Some initiatives by the Government of India on better production include Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, which promotes organic farming; Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, which focuses on more crops per drop for improved water use, and Soil Health Management which fosters Integrated Nutrient Management under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.

For improving food access, especially for vulnerable populations, the Government of India drives programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (PM POSHAN Scheme), and take-home rations.