UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 13 January 2024

Solution: d)

Earthquakes can result in Tsunamis if a large amount of water gets displaced. 

Tectonic events with a strong vertical slip element are more likely to raise or lower the water column compared to horizontal slip elements”. “Thus, knowing the slip type at the early stages of the assessment can reduce false alarms and enhance the reliability of the warning systems.

Relying on seismographs and buoys attached by bottom-pressure sensors is not always the right method, as all earthquakes do not result in Tsunamis, and the buoys can detect Tsunamis only when one passes them, leaving less time to react and evacuate. In such cases, time is of the essence.

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

In a ‘narco’ or narco analysis test, a drug called sodium pentothal is injected into the body of the accused, which transports them to a hypnotic or sedated state in which their imagination is neutralised. In this hypnotic state, the accused is understood as being incapable of lying and is expected to divulge information that is true.

Because the drug is believed to weaken the subject’s resolve to lie, it is sometimes referred to as a “truth serum”.

However, narco tests must not be confused with polygraph tests, which, although having the same truth-decoding motive, work differently.

Solution: c)

(The European Commission’s website describes the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) as giving “developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance”, in return for which “the EU cuts its import duties to zero on more than two thirds of the tariff lines of their exports”.)

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

There are three All India Services – the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service – which are selected by the central government with officers allotted to various state cadres. The Centre then gets a certain percentage of officers from each state on central deputation. These bureaucrats work directly for the Centre. All India Services are governed by Article 312 of the Constitution of India.

Other services are called Central Civil Services. These services are under the central government itself with no state cadre system. They include services such as the Indian Foreign Service, the Indian Revenue Service, Customs and Central Excise Service and several others.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

The Dancing Girl figurine was discovered in Mohenjodaro in 1926.

Even though Mohenjodaro and Harappa became part of Pakistani territory after the Partition, the Dancing Girl remained in India as part of an agreement. Today, the bronze figurine sits in the National Museum of India.

The Dancing Girl is evidence of the civilisation’s knowledge of metal blending and lost-wax casting – a complicated process by which a duplicate sculpture is cast from an original sculpture to create highly detailed metallic artefacts.