[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 15 February 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S3: The 17th Lok Sabha held only 274 sittings, the lowest among full-term Lok Sabhas.
  • Compared to the first Lok Sabha, the average annual sitting days in the 17th Lok Sabha decreased significantly (from 135 to 55)
• S1&S2: The Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of parliament, is constituted under Article 79 of the Indian Constitution. It comprises representatives elected through direct adult suffrage, with a maximum strength of 552 seats (Currently, there are 543 seats filled by elected representatives) The Lok Sabha’s term is five years from the date of its first meeting, unless dissolved earlier.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/prs-report-on-the-functioning-of-17th-lok-sabha/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: Prime Minister launched the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ to provide up to 300 units of free electricity per month to one crore households.
• Option C is the correct answer because solar power generates electricity without emitting pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides, leading to a reduction in air pollution and its associated health and environmental impacts.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/pm-surya-ghar-muft-bijli-yojana/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar cells, are the essential components of solar panels responsible for converting sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. When sunlight strikes these cells, they generate an electric current by absorbing photons and releasing electrons, thereby producing electricity.
• Phototubes are gas-filled or vacuum tubes which can be used as photodetectors.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/pm-surya-ghar-muft-bijli-yojana/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• “Silicon” is the most commonly used material for manufacturing photovoltaic cells in solar panels. Silicon possesses properties that make it suitable for converting sunlight into electricity efficiently. Other materials such as cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) are also used in some types of solar panels, but silicon remains the predominant choice.
• Titanium is one of the most common metals on earth, but it does not occur naturally in this elemental form. TiO2, also known as titanium (IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring compound created when titanium reacts with the oxygen in the air. As an oxide, titanium is found in minerals in the earth’s crust.
  • Titanium is used in solar cell manufacturing in two main ways:
    • As titanium dioxide (TiO2): TiO2 is a semiconductor material that is commonly used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs are a type of thin-film solar cell that uses a dye to absorb light and convert it into electricity. TiO2 acts as the electron transport layer in DSSCs, and its properties are important for the efficiency of the cell.
    • As a component of electrodes: Titanium can also be used as a component of electrodes in some types of solar cells. For example, it can be used as a backing for the anode or cathode in perovskite solar cells.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/pm-surya-ghar-muft-bijli-yojana/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• PM WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) is a scheme meant to increase Wi-fi access throughout the country.
• The move is aimed at helping accelerate the uptake of broadband Internet services.
• It was first recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2017.
• The WANI framework contains the following components:
• Public Data Office (PDO):
  • It will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers.
• Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA):
  • It will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to Authorization and Accounting.
• App Provider:
  • It will develop an App to register users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service.
• Central Registry:
  • It will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by C-DoT.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/smart-gram-panchayat-revolution-towards-digitization-of-gram-panchayat/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Weimar Triangle is a diplomatic initiative formed in 1991 involving Germany, France, and Poland. It was established to promote cooperation and dialogue among the three countries, particularly with regards to Central and Eastern Europe.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/weimar-triangle/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: Micellar water is a popular product for removing makeup and sunscreen due to its effective cleansing properties.
• It contains micelles, clusters of molecules that are adept at removing oily substances.
• How does it work?
  • Micelles are formed by surfactants, molecules with both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-hating)
  • When applied to a cotton pad, the hydrophilic heads of the micelles are attracted to the wet surface while the hydrophobic tails bind to contaminants on the skin, effectively removing them.
  • Unlike harsh detergents, micellar water contains mild surfactants suitable for skin use.
• S3: While marketed for all skin types, sensitive skin should always do a patch test first to ensure no irritation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/micellar-water/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: The first-ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report, launched by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), reveals concerning trends.
• 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/2024/02/15/state-of-the-worlds-migratory-species-report/

Ans: (b)

Explanation

• Statement 3 is not correct.
• “Biodiversity Heritage Sites” (BHS) are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the following components: richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories, high endemism, presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, species of evolutionary significance, wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties, past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them.
• Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA) the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify in the official gazette, areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).
• Once the BHS is notified by the State Government, the NBA may support the initial establishment of BHS financially by allocating adequate funding support as seed money through State Biodiversity Boards (SBB). Simultaneously, the financial requirement of BHS may be included in the annual budget of the local body(ies). The State Government may also allocate adequate seed money to each BHS on its notification through SBB.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/15/gupteswar-forest-in-koraput-district-odisha/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers of the world, has its origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake.
• The source of the Sutlej is west of the catchment area of Lake Rakshastal in Tibet, as springs in an ephemeral stream.
• S2: It descends rapidly from Tibet, forming a grand canyon, flowing 1,000 km first Eastward, then takes a horse shoe bend westward near Namche Barwa in Sadiya in the State of Arunachal Pradesh in the Pemakop region.
• S3: Lohit River is a river in Arunachal Pradesh in India. It is a tributary to the Brahmaputra River. It originates in eastern Tibet, in the Zayal Chu range and surges through Arunachal Pradsh for 200 kim, before reaching in the plains of Assam.

Refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_River