[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 4 January 2024

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. To the north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez.
• The six countries bordering the Red Sea are: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/bab-el-mandeb-strait/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• The Bab-el-Mandeb or Mandeb Strait is a strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
• The Lombok Strait, connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean, and is located between the islands of Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. The Gili Islands are on the Lombok side
• Strait of Malacca, waterway connecting the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean). link

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/bab-el-mandeb-strait/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.
• Important Straits of the World are:

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/bab-el-mandeb-strait/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) – an intergovernmental organization headquartered in the UK.
• SKAO will consist of one global observatory, operating two telescopes, across three sites. Two SKA telescopes will be at radio-quiet sites in South Africa and Australia. They will operate as one large unit.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/square-kilometre-array-ska-project/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: The India-UAE Joint Military Exercise, named ‘DESERT CYCLONE,’ has commenced in Mahajan, Rajasthan, and is scheduled from 2nd to 15th January 2024.
• India has also been a regular participant at the biennial International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi.
• Exercise Name Objectives
  • DESERT CYCLONE Enhance interoperability in Sub-conventional Operations
  • DESERT FLAG Joint air exercises and training
  • Zayed Talwar The bilateral naval exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ aims to enhance the interoperability and synergy between the Indian Navy and UAE Navy.
  • INDE-UAE BILATERAL EXERCISE Focus on counter-terrorism and strategic cooperation

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/desert-cyclone/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Option A: This statement is incorrect. Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) typically use a combination of uranium-235 and plutonium-239 as fuel. The inclusion of plutonium-239 is crucial for the breeding of fissile material.
• Option B: This statement is partially incorrect. While FBRs generate electricity through controlled fission reactions, the primary purpose is not the fission of uranium-238. Instead, FBRs are designed to convert non-fissile isotopes, such as uranium-238, into fissile isotopes, like plutonium-239, through a process known as breeding.
• Option C: This statement is correct. One of the distinctive features of Fast Breeder Reactors is their ability to produce more fissile material than they consume. Through the breeding process, fertile material (such as uranium-238) is transformed into fissile material (such as plutonium-239), which can then be used as fuel. This makes FBRs potentially more efficient in terms of fuel utilization.
• Option D: This statement is incorrect. Fast Breeder Reactors are so named because they use fast neutrons to sustain the chain reaction, leading to efficient breeding of fissile material. They are not known for slow reaction rates, and their primary purpose is not experimental but practical, aiming for enhanced fuel utilization in power generation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/kalpakkam-atomic-power-station-tamil-nadu/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Liquid sodium is a commonly used coolant in Fast Breeder Reactors due to its excellent heat transfer properties. It remains liquid at the high operating temperatures of FBRs and efficiently carries away the heat generated during the fission process.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/04/kalpakkam-atomic-power-station-tamil-nadu/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only statement 1 is correct.
• The purpose of a fuel cell is to produce an electrical current that can be directed outside the cell to do work, such as powering an electric motor or illuminating a light bulb or a city.
• One great appeal of fuel cells is that they generate electricity with very little pollution–much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combines to form a harmless byproduct, namely water alongwith releasing heat.
• A single fuel cell generates a tiny amount of direct current (DC) electricity. In practice, many fuel cells are usually assembled into a stack.
• If alternating current (AC) is needed, the DC output of the fuel cell must be routed through a conversion device called an inverter.
• Source: http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm
• http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell1.htm

Refer: UPSC CSE 2015

Ans:(b)

Explanation:

• A village, wherein trained group of fanners are involved (generally in a self-help group) in production of seeds of various crops and cater to the needs of themselves, fellow fanners of the village and fanners of neighboring villages in appropriate time and at affordable cost is called “a seed village”.
• Source: http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/seed_certification/seed_tech_Seed%20Village.html

Refer: UPSC CSE 2015

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The eight Core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage (presently): Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural gas> Cement> Fertilizers.
• Previously, Electricity had the highest weightage. Currently, Refinery Products has the highest weightage.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2015