[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 13 December 2023

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: In December 1983, India established its first permanent base in Antarctica, Dakshin Gangotri, during the Project Gangotri mission.
  • Led by Harsh Gupta, the expedition faced challenges, including a helicopter accident. Despite setbacks, the team, comprising defence personnel and scientists, achieved the goal of setting up the permanent base within 60 days. The base, equipped with laboratories, living quarters, and recreational facilities, marked India’s year-round presence in Antarctica. The mission showcased India’s commitment to scientific exploration and the challenges overcome to establish a permanent foothold in the icy continent.
• India has three research stations in Antarctica, namely Bharati, Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/40-years-of-indias-presence-in-antarctica/

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa-an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (it manages India’s Antarctic program)

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/40-years-of-indias-presence-in-antarctica/

Ans: (b)

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/global-river-cities-alliance-grca-at-cop28/

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• Statement 3 is not correct.
• The meeting of the National Ganga Council will be held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
• The Council is the apex authority responsible for cleaning the river and includes the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as members. The Council also includes several Union ministers, including the Finance Minister, Rural Development Minister and Power Minister.
• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has proposed making urban river management plans (URMPs) and river sensitive master planning mandatory for river cities.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/global-river-cities-alliance-grca-at-cop28/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• What is the Aspirational Block Programme (ABP)?

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/delta-ranking-of-aspirational-blocks-programme-abp/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in the process of setting up a cloud facility for the financial sector in India, aiming to bolster the security, integrity, and privacy of financial sector data.
• Option A: This statement is incorrect. Cloud hosting doesn’t necessarily rely on physical servers in a single data center. Instead, it involves the use of virtualized servers and resources that can be distributed across multiple data centers and locations.
• Option B: This statement is correct. Scalability is a key advantage of cloud hosting. Users can easily scale their resources up or down based on their requirements. This flexibility allows for efficient resource utilization and cost management.
• Option C: This statement is incorrect. Cloud hosting is not limited to a specific geographic location. It provides the ability to host applications and data on servers located in various regions worldwide, offering global accessibility and reducing latency.
• Option D: This statement is incorrect. In cloud hosting, users do not have complete control over the underlying hardware infrastructure. The infrastructure is managed by the cloud service provider, and users interact with virtualized resources. This abstracts the hardware layer, providing ease of use and scalability but limiting direct control over physical servers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/cloud-facility-for-the-financial-sector-in-india/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in the process of setting up a cloud facility for the financial sector in India, aiming to bolster the security, integrity, and privacy of financial sector data.
• Option A:This statement is incorrect. Cloud Computing often involves virtualization, allowing multiple virtual instances to run on a single physical server. Virtualization is a key technology that enables the efficient use of resources in the cloud.
• Option B: This statement is incorrect. The primary benefits of Cloud Computing include reduced upfront costs (as it eliminates the need for significant initial investments in hardware) and increased scalability (allowing resources to be easily scaled up or down based on demand).
• Option C:This statement is correct. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure. Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers software applications over the internet, eliminating the need for users to install, run, and maintain the software locally.
• Option D: This statement is incorrect. Cloud Computing encompasses a broad range of services, including computation (through IaaS and PaaS), networking, storage, databases, machine learning, and more. It is not limited to data storage alone.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/cloud-facility-for-the-financial-sector-in-india/

Ans: (C )

Explanation:

• Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has introduced the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme to encourage sustainable forest management and agroforestry practices in India.
• What is sustainable forest management and agroforestry?
  • Sustainable Forest management involves the responsible and balanced use of forest resources to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  • Agroforestry is a land-use system that integrates trees or shrubs with crops or livestock on the same piece of land. It combines agricultural and forestry practices to achieve environmental, economic, and social benefits
• Sustainable forest management aims to balance the use of forest resources with the preservation of forest health and biodiversity for future generations.
  • Selective logging and controlled burns promote the diversity of tree ages and species, creating a more resilient ecosystem.
  • Monoculture plantations prioritize short-term economic gain but can lead to soil degradation, reduced biodiversity, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases. Hence Option 3 is not a core principle of sustainable forest management.
  • Soil conservation practices are crucial for maintaining the long-term productivity of the forest and preventing environmental damage.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/indian-forest-wood-certification-scheme-ifwcs/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: The “Climate Change & Migratory Species: A Review of Impacts, Conservation Actions, indicators and Ecosystem Services” report has been released by the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
• Only statement 3 is correct.
• S1: The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, also known as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) or the Bonn Convention, is an international agreement that aims to conserve migratory species throughout their ranges.
• S2: The Agreement was signed under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme and is concerned with conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale.
• S3: The CMS is the only global, and United Nations-based, intergovernmental organization established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/climate-change-and-migratory-species/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Madras has developed the ‘AMRIT’ technology for removing arsenic and metal ions from water
• What is AMRIT Technology?
  • It has been developed by IIT-Madras, and focuses on removing arsenic and metal ions from water to address water quality issues. Using nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, it selectively eliminates arsenic when water passes through it. This technology is suitable for both domestic and community-level water purification, aligning with the objectives of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
  • The ‘Standing Committee’ of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has recommended AMRIT for consideration in addressing water and sanitation challenges.
• What is Arsenic?
  • Arsenic is a chemical element (symbol: As) that occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust. Arsenic can be found in various forms, including inorganic and organic compounds. Inorganic arsenic is often considered toxic and can pose serious health risks to humans when present in drinking water, leading to issues like arsenic poisoning.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/13/amrit-technology/