UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 2 April 2024

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: The Kerala Kalamandalam, a prestigious cultural institution, has announced a significant policy change allowing male dancers to learn Mohiniyattam, a classical dance form previously reserved exclusively for women.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/mohiniyattam-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• From Indian Express: “…from then through September, protesters sat in front of the barricades, fasting and singing patriotic songs. Leaders such as Periyar, who was arrested multiple times, and C Rajagopalachari came to Vaikom to offer support and lead the protesters. At the same time, counter-agitations raged on, and the satyagrahis often faced violence and intimidation from caste Hindus.”

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/100-years-of-vaikom-satyagraha/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: The 1 Million Youth Actions Challenge (1MYAC) by the UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) aims to mobilize youth aged 10 to 30 to take concrete actions for a sustainable future, with a goal of reaching 1,000,000 youth actions.
  • It focuses on promoting four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and life on land.
  • 1MYAC was founded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the RéSEAU.
• The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) is a collaborative initiative of more than 30 multilateral organizations that support countries in designing and implementing climate change. UN CC:Learn offers information on climate change and free online courses.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/1myac-one-million-youth-actions-challenge/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1 is incorrect: Interest rates generally rise with increasing inflation to compensate lenders for the diminishing value of money over time.
• S2 is incorrect: Lower interest rates typically encourage borrowing and spending by making it cheaper to finance purchases, while they discourage saving by offering lower returns on savings accounts and investments.
• S3 is correct. Central banks, such as the Federal Reserve in the United States, use monetary policy tools, including adjusting interest rates, to influence the money supply in the economy. By raising or lowering interest rates, central banks can influence borrowing, spending, and investment, which in turn affects economic activity and inflation.
• S4 is incorrect: Rising interest rates usually have a dampening effect on the housing market as higher mortgage rates make it more expensive for individuals to borrow money for home purchases, potentially reducing demand for homes and slowing down housing market activity.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/impact-of-ai-boom-on-interest-rates/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Addressing energy inefficiency in residential buildings is crucial, with initiatives like Eco-Niwas Samhita (ENS) introducing the Residential Envelope Transmittance Value (RETV) to measure heat transfer.
• What is RETV?
  • The Residential Envelope Transmittance Value (RETV) is a metric used to measure heat transfer through a building’s envelope. It indicates the thermal efficiency of a building, with lower RETV values corresponding to cooler indoor environments and decreased energy usage.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/energy-inefficiency-in-residential-buildings/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About Afar Triangle:

• It is part of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa and is a geological depression known for its significance in human evolution. It overlaps Eritrea, Djibouti, and the Afar Region of Ethiopia and contains Lake Assal, Africa’s lowest point. The region experiences extreme heat and drought, with some of the hottest temperatures on Earth. It is bordered by the Ethiopian Plateau, the Danakil block, the Somali Plateau, and the Ali-Sabieh block. Fossil sites in the Afar region, such as Hadar and Dikika, have yielded important discoveries related to early hominins and human tool culture.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/africas-afar-triangle/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months
• The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is an act of the Indian Parliament that gives the military special powers to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
• The act came into effect in 1958 and applies to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/the-armed-forces-special-powers-act-afspa/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: A new species of cicada, informally named the “Butterfly Cicada,” has been discovered in Meghalaya, marking the first-ever record of the genus Becquartina in India.
• The genus Becquartina is represented by six species found distributed in China, Thailand, and Vietnam, often referred to as “Butterfly cicadas” due to their colourful wings.
  • Cicadas are insects that are part of the superfamily Cicadoidea and the order Hemiptera.
  • They are stout, green or brown in colour with black markings, and have four clear wings that resemble a fly.
  • Cicadas can be found in urban and rural areas with hardwood trees. They are harmless to people, plants, and property.
• The cicada nymphs’ emergence from their underground homes is tied primarily to temperature. After their 17 years are up, the cicadas wait for the perfect temperature before making the journey to the surface—when the soil about 8 inches (20 cm) underground reaches 64 °F, or 18 °C.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/butterfly-cicada/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/mohiniyattam-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only the first pair is correctly matched.
• Mohiniattam: The Lasya aspect (beauty, grace) of dance is dominant in a Mohiniattam recital. Hence, it is mainly performed by female dancers.
• Manipuri Dance: The drum – pung – is an intricate element of the recital. Flute, Khartals (wood clapper), dhols etc also accompany music.
• Kuchipudi: Apart from group performances, there are some popular solo elements in Kuchipudi as well. Some of them are:
  • Manduk shabdam – Tells the story of a frog.
  • Tarangam – The dancer performs with his/her feet on the edges of a brass plate and balancing a pot of water on the head or a set of diyas.
  • Jala Chitra Nrityam – In this item, the dancer draws pictures on the floor with his or her toes.
• Odissi: Odissi dance form is unique in its representation of gracefulness, sensuality and beauty. The dancers create intricate geometrical shapes and patterns with her body. Hence, it is known as ‘mobile sculpture’.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/04/01/mohiniyattam-2/