[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 23 January 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• About the Idate Commission (officially known as the National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes):
  • It was formed in 2014 with Bhiku Ramji Idate as its head. Its primary objectives included creating a comprehensive state-wide catalogue of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), identifying those not listed under SCs/STs or OBC categories, and proposing welfare measures for their benefit.
• A National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was constituted in 2006 by the then government. It was headed by Balkrishna Sidram Renke and submitted its report in June 2008, in which it said, “It is an irony that these tribes somehow escaped the attention of our Constitution makers and thus got deprived of the Constitutional support unlike Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.”

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/national-human-rights-commission-nhrc-and-idate-commission-report/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
• The commission has been established by law as autonomous of the government, and not by the constitution.
• The NHRC cannot by itself punish the guilty. That is the responsibility of courts. The NHRC is there to make independent and credible inquiries into any case of violation of human rights. Thus, its recommendations are not binding on neither the courts nor the government.
• Any citizen of India can write a letter to the NHRC to complain against the violation of human rights. There is no fee or any formal procedure to approach the NHRC.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/national-human-rights-commission-nhrc-and-idate-commission-report/

Ans: (d )

Explanation:

• Context: The Chakaliya community in the remote colony of Kookanam, near Karivellur grama panchayat in Kannur, is facing the imminent extinction of its unique language, Madhika.
  • The language, has no script and is a blend of Telugu, Tulu, Kannada, and Malayalam, will be lost soon.
  • Despite its diverse influences, Madhika is losing ground among the younger generation, who prefer mainstream languages like Malayalam.
  • The Chakaliya community, considered untouchables in the past, faced social stigma, contributing to the neglect of their language.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/national-human-rights-commission-nhrc-and-idate-commission-report/

Ans: (d )

Explanation:

• Sri RanganathaSwamy Temple, also known as Srirangam Temple, is a Hindu temple in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu. The temple is considered the first and most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples.
• It is constructed in Dravidian style and the temple Complex has 21 sculpted Gopurams, 50 sub-shrines, and 9 sacred pools (tanks).
• Situated on the island of Srirangam bounded by Cauvery and Kollidam (tributary of Cauvery) Rivers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/srirangam-temple/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1 is FALSE: Lasers do not use radio waves, but rather highly concentrated beams of light, making them a different technology altogether.
• S2 is FALSE: Even concentrated energy cannot exceed the speed of light, which is a fundamental physical constant.
• S3 is TRUE: Water vapor in the atmosphere can absorb and scatter laser beams, impacting signal strength and quality.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/laser-communication-with-chandrayaan-3-lander/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: The Mpemba effect, named after Tanzanian student Erasto Mpemba, describes the counterintuitive phenomenon where hot water can freeze faster than cold water in similar conditions.
• Although noticed by historical figures like Aristotle, Francis Bacon, and René Descartes, the effect gained attention after Mpemba highlighted it in 1969.
• Despite various experiments, scientists have not reached a consensus on the exact causes of the Mpemba effect.
  • Several factors are considered, such as microbubbles promoting convection and heat transfer in heated water, increased evaporation in warmer water, and the insulating effect of frost in cold water.
  • Compounds like calcium carbonate in water may also play a role.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/mpemba-effect/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Two new mammalian species, the elusive binturong (bearcat) and the small-clawed otter, have been added to Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
• S1: The Assam forest department has denied allegations of “manipulation” of rhino census data at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) – a UNESCO world heritage site, flagged by an RTI activist who accused the park authorities of jacking up the total rhino count from 2,042 to 2,634.
• S2: The binturong, the largest civet in India, was photographed during a migratory bird count, while the small-clawed otter was spotted after a training program.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/elusive-binturong-and-the-small-clawed-otter/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It is among the world’s oldest fold mountains and is situated in northwest India across states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana, as well as the Union Territory of Delhi. Extending from southwest to northeast, the highest peak is Guru Shikhar near Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Rivers like Banas and Sahibi (Yamuna tributaries) and Luni River originate from the Aravalli region, serving as a water divide between the Indus and Ganga Basins. Known for rich mineral deposits including zinc, gold, silver, copper, dolomite, and marble, the Aravalli Hills hold significance in geological and ecological contexts.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/01/23/aravali-range/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Lajpat Rai adopted Mazzini as his own guru after reading Surendranath’s Speeches. In 1896, he wrote a series of books in Urdu, which he named the ‘Great Men of the World’. The first great man he chose was his Italian guru Giuseppe Mazzini, and then Garibaldi, along with Sivaji, Dayananda and Sri Krishna.
• His purpose in selecting Mazzini and Garibaldi was to infuse patriotic sentiment in the youth of Punjab, who had no access to books in English.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• National Financial Switch (NFS) is the largest network of shared automated teller machines (ATMs) in India. It was designed, developed and deployed by the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) in 2004, with the goal of interconnecting the ATMs in the country and facilitating convenience banking.
• National Financial Switch (NFS) ATM network having 3.7 members and connecting about 50,000 ATMs was taken over by NPCI from Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) on December 14, 2009.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018