[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 16 February 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional, relying on several grounds in its verdict.
• Article 19 (1)(a) in the Constitution of India guarantees all citizens the “right to freedom of speech and expression”. Under this, an Indian citizen has been granted the right to freely express his/her opinions, ideas and thoughts.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/sc-strikes-down-electoral-bonds-scheme/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Levels of Biodiversity
  • Biodiversity is the term popularized by the socio-biologist Edward Wilson to describe the combined diversity at all the levels of biological organisation.
• The most important of them are–
  • (i) Genetic diversity: A single species might show high diversity at the genetic level over its distributional range. India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice, and 1,000 varieties of mango.
  • (ii) Species diversity: The diversity at the species level, for example, the Western Ghats has greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.
  • (iii) Ecological diversity: At the ecosystem level, India, for instance, with its deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries, and alpine meadows has greater ecosystem diversity than a Scandinavian country like Norway.
• India hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-​Burma region and the Sundaland (Includes Nicobar group of Islands).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/terai-arc-landscape-tal/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative earns UN recognition for ecosystem restoration, boosting hopes despite challenges like infrastructure expansion and human-wildlife conflict.
• What is Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)?
  • It is a transboundary biodiversity hotspot launched in 2001. It aims to conserve critical habitats for tigers, rhinos, elephants, etc., covering ecosystems of the Terai and Churia hills. Spanning over 900 km from the Bagmati River (Nepal) to the Yamuna River (India), it extends across 5 million hectares and supports over seven million people.
• What is the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative?
  • The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative is a pioneering landscape-level ecosystem restoration project in Nepal aimed at creating dispersal space for tigers and reversing ecosystem degradation. It was launched in 2004 and has restored 66,800 hectares of forest, significantly boosting the Bengal tiger population in the region. The initiative connects different ecologically critical protected areas in Nepal and India, fostering transboundary conservation efforts.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/terai-arc-landscape-tal/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: About UN World Restoration Flagships (commenced in 2022)

• These are initiatives recognized by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). The flagship is led by UNEP and FAO, aiming to counteract ecosystem degradation globally. The award offers technical and financial assistance, global attention, and inclusion in UN publications and campaigns. It’s part of the UN’s commitment to restore one billion hectares of ecosystems. Progress is monitored through the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/terai-arc-landscape-tal/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: The Consumer Affairs Department has integrated artificial intelligence in the ‘e-Jagriti’ portal, aiming to reduce pending cases in consumer courts.
• What is ‘E-Jagriti’ Portal?
  • The e-Jagriti portal, an initiative by the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, aims to streamline consumer dispute resolution. It integrates various consumer grievance platforms and offers features like case filing, online fee payment, and AI-powered smart search. The portal also includes a Virtual court facility for resolving complaints conveniently.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/e-jagriti-portal/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:About the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC):

• It was established in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act and is a quasi-judicial body with jurisdiction over complaints exceeding two crores. It is headquartered in New Delhi and headed by a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of a High Court.
• Appeals against NCDRC orders can be made to the Supreme Court within 30 days.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/e-jagriti-portal/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The International Energy Agency (IEA) is set to commence discussions with India on its request for full membership, recognizing India’s strategic importance in addressing global energy and climate challenges.
• India joined the IEA as an associate member in 2017 and applied for full membership in 2023. Criteria for IEA membership include
  • OECD membership
  • Crude oil reserves are equivalent to 90 days of the previous year’s net import (India currently has strategic oil reserves equivalent to only 9.5 days of its needs, but when combined with storage at refineries and depots, it reaches a total of 66 days, still below the IEA requirement.)
  • Demand restraint programs (to reduce national oil consumption by up to 10%), and Legislative measures (to ensure that all oil companies under its jurisdiction report information upon request).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/indias-request-for-full-membership-of-iea/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: European researchers at the Joint European Torus (JET) in the UK achieved a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion, generating a record-breaking 69 megajoules of energy from just 0.2 milligrams of fuel. This achievement marks the largest amount of energy ever produced in a fusion experiment.
• Option A: Tokamaks are not used for fission reactions but for fusion reactions. Fusion reactions involve combining atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy. Fission reactions, on the other hand, involve splitting atomic nuclei, also releasing energy. Tokamaks are specifically designed for fusion reactions, not fission.
• Option B: This statement correctly describes the principle behind tokamaks. Tokamaks use a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) magnetic field to confine and control hot plasma, which is the fuel for nuclear fusion reactions. The magnetic field prevents the plasma from contacting the walls of the reactor, allowing it to reach the temperatures and pressures required for fusion.
• Option C: Tokamaks do not rely on mirrors to contain plasma. While some fusion devices, such as stellarators, do use a system of magnetic mirrors, tokamaks use a different magnetic confinement method known as magnetic toroidal confinement.
• Option D: Tokamaks do heat hydrogen gas to extreme temperatures, but this is not their primary mode of operation. The primary mechanism for confining and heating the plasma in a tokamak is through the use of magnetic fields, specifically by inducing a current in the plasma to heat it up.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/nuclear-fusion-joint-european-torus-jet/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: An invasive weed, Cuscuta dodder, originally from North America, is threatening the Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Chennai.
• About Cuscuta dodder:
  • This parasitic vine lacks roots and covers trees, strangling and killing them. The forest department is manually removing it, but it’s spreading rapidly. It’s classified as a noxious weed in 25 countries, including the United States, due to its long-lived seeds that can survive for up to 50 years. Unlike root parasites, Cuscuta seeds don’t need a specific stimulant for germination.
• About Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
  • It is the oldest water bird sanctuary in the country, established in 1798 by the British government. It hosts various migratory bird species including pintail, garganey, grey wagtail, blue-winged teal, and common sandpiper.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/cuscuta-dodder/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: One of the worst methane leaks ever recorded happened in Kazakhstan, releasing an estimated 127,000 tonnes of methane over six months. Satellite data verified the magnitude of the leak, prompting concerns about methane emissions.
• Kazakhstan is a large landlocked country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. It shares borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, with access to the Caspian Sea. Astana is the capital, while Almaty serves as the largest city and main cultural centre. Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Economically, it dominates Central Asia due to its oil, gas, and mineral resources, boasting the highest Human Development Index in the region. Despite being a republic, in theory, it operates under an authoritarian regime. Kazakhstan has the Caspian Sea’s largest recoverable crude oil reserves. Kazakhstan has pledged to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/16/kazakhstan/