[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 20 February 2024

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: The Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 14) concluded on February 17, 2024 (in Samarkand, Uzbekistan) with parties agreeing to adopt listing proposals for 14 migratory species and several other resolutions for global wildlife conservation.
• 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/2024/02/20/convention-on-the-conservation-of-migratory-species-of-wild-animals-cms-cop-14/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
• IUCN is a voluntary organization, not an agency of the United Nations. Even if you knew this much, you could eliminate all other options to select B. Some facts about IUCN:
• Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organisation
• Today the largest professional global conservation network
• A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development
• More than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-government organizations
• A neutral forum for governments, NGOs, scientists, business and local communities to find practical solutions to conservation and development challenges
• Thousands of field projects and activities around the world
• CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). States (countries) adhere voluntarily to the agreement.
• States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention (‘joined’ CITES) are known as Parties.
• Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/convention-on-the-conservation-of-migratory-species-of-wild-animals-cms-cop-14/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:’

• The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) is a flyway covering a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic
• Ocean and the Indian Ocean and the associated island chains.
• The CAF comprises several important migration routes of waterbirds, most of which extend from the northernmost breeding grounds in Siberia to the southernmost non-breeding wintering grounds in West Asia, India, the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/convention-on-the-conservation-of-migratory-species-of-wild-animals-cms-cop-14/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Efforts are underway to secure UNESCO recognition for the annual ‘Paruveta’ (mock hunting festival) held at the Sri Narasimha Swamy temple in Ahobilam as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’.
• Legend has it that Lord Vishnu, in his incarnation as Narasimha, married a tribal girl named Chenchulakshmi, and the festival commemorates this union.
• Participants observe ‘Narasimha Deeksha’ by wearing yellow robes and ‘Tulasi Mala’ and practicing celibacy.
• The festival highlights the absence of caste discrimination, with temple staff residing in tribal hamlets throughout the event.
• The ceremony involves tribals shooting arrows at the deity’s palanquin as a sign of reverence and protection.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/paruveta-utsavam/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only statement 2 is correct.
• Context: Renowned poet and lyricist Gulzar, along with Sanskrit scholar Swami Rambhadracharya, has been honoured with the prestigious Jnanpith Award.
  • The award recognizes their exceptional contributions to literature.
  • Gulzar is celebrated for his impactful poetry and timeless lyrics in Bollywood, while Swami Rambhadracharya is acknowledged for his scholarly works in Sanskrit.
• S1: Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their “outstanding contribution towards literature”. Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and English,[a] with no posthumous conferral.
  • Bharatiya Jnanpith a literary and research organization, based in New Delhi, India, was founded on February 18, 1944 by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain of the Sahu Jain family and his wife Rama Jain to undertake systematic research and publication of Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali and Apabhramsha texts and covering subjects like religion, philosophy, logic, ethics, grammar, astrology, poetics, etc.
• S2: The Award is open for only Indian citizens and is given annually.
• S3: The first recipient of the award was the Malayalam writer Sankara Kurup who received the award in 1965 for his collection of poems, Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute), published in 1950.
  • Kuvempu was the first Kannada writer to receive the Jnanpith Award.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/jnanpith-award/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: A statue of U Tirot Sing, a Khasi freedom fighter who rebelled against British colonialism around 200 years ago, was unveiled at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka.
• About Tirot Sing:
  • Tirot Sing, also known as ‘the Hero of the Khasi Hills,’ led an attack against British forces in 1829, resisting their attempts to control the Khasi Hills.
  • Captured after the Anglo-Khasi War, he died as a political prisoner in Dhaka in 1835.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/u-tirot-sing/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was a 80/20 joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to construct and maintain an airborne observatory.
• SOFIA is the world’s largest airborne astronomical observatory. It’s a Boeing 747SP jetliner modified to carry a 106-inch (2.7-meter) reflecting telescope. SOFIA can fly for up to 10 hours, with flight paths chosen to keep ahead of sunrise and maximize darkness.
• SOFIA’s instruments include:
  • FORCAST mid-infrared camera and spectrograph
  • GREAT heterodyne spectrometer
  • FIFI-LS far-infrared spectrometer
  • EXES echelle spectrograph
  • FPI+ focal plane imager

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/water-on-the-surface-of-an-asteroid/

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• Context: The sale of cotton candy (panju mittai) has been banned in Tamil Nadu due to the presence of cancer-causing chemicals, specifically Rhodamine-B, found in samples collected from stalls in Chennai.
  • This chemical is considered substandard and unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
  • The immediate and long-term health hazards associated with Rhodamine-B consumption include stomach issues, breathing problems, organ damage, and an increased risk of cancer.
• Rhodamine-B is indeed a synthetic dye belonging to the rhodamine family. It is widely used in various applications due to its fluorescent properties, making it valuable in microscopy, flow cytometry, and as a tracer dye.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/rhodamine-b/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/02/20/munich-germany/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: Article 176(1) of the Constitution of India enjoins that the Governor shall Address both the Houses assembled together at the commencement of the first Session after each general election to the Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year and inform the Legislature of the causes of its Summons. See https://aplegislature.org/web/aplegislature/governors-address
• S2: As per Article 208 of the Constitution: Rules of procedure
  • “(1) A House of the Legislature of a State may make rules for regulating subject to the provisions of this Constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business
  • (2) Until rules are made under clause ( 1 ), the rules of procedure and standing orders in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution with respect to the Legislature for the corresponding Province shall have effect in relation to the Legislature of the State subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, or the Chairman of the Legislative Council, as the case may be”
  • This implies that state legislature does not follow Lok Sabha rules, no such provision exists.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2019