UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 8 August 2024

Solution: c)

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the apex anti-smuggling agency of India, working under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is tasked with detecting and curbing smuggling of contraband, including drug trafficking and illicit international trade in wildlife and environmentally sensitive items, as well as combating commercial frauds related to international trade and evasion of Customs duty.

• Solution: c)

The widespread adoption of geothermal energy in India faces significant challenges due to high upfront costs and limited technical expertise. Geothermal projects require substantial initial investments for drilling wells and installing infrastructure, which can be prohibitively expensive. Additionally, there is a shortage of professionals with experience in geothermal exploration and development, which further complicates the implementation of such projects. These factors combined create a significant barrier to the expansion of geothermal energy in the country, despite its potential benefits as a renewable energy source.

Solution: c)

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has established India’s first Geothermal field development project in Puga village, Ladakh. This pioneering project marks a significant milestone in India’s geothermal energy sector. ONGC, being India’s largest oil and gas exploration and production company, has leveraged its expertise in drilling and resource extraction to venture into geothermal energy. The choice of Ladakh for this project is strategic, as the region has significant geothermal potential due to its geological characteristics. This initiative not only demonstrates India’s commitment to diversifying its renewable energy portfolio but also showcases the potential for geothermal energy in remote and challenging terrains.

Solution: a)

There are three types of geothermal power plants where we can harness the heat of the earth to produce electricity.

• Dry steam powerplant
• Flash steam power plant
• Binary cycle power plant

Dry steam power plants use steam or hot water reservoirs beneath the Earth’s surface.

Flash steam power plants require a high enthalpy range and cannot be used in India.

A 20 kW pilot binary cycle power plant has been commissioned in Telangana by Singareni Collieries Company Limited.

Solution: a)

Only Statement 2 is correct.

• Solution: b)

Methylocucumis oryzae, like other methanotrophs, is efficient in oxidizing methane to CO₂ and water. This characteristic is particularly interesting for environmental applications because methane is a potent greenhouse gas. By converting methane to less harmful substances, these bacteria can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. Their natural ability to reduce methane levels makes them valuable for potential bioremediation strategies in areas with high methane emissions, such as landfills, rice paddies, or natural wetlands.

Solution: a)

Atomic Clocks are used for precision timing and navigation, Supercomputers are high-performance computing systems, Blockchain is a distributed digital ledger technology, Classical Computing uses traditional transistors, and Magnetometry involves the development of sensitive measurement devices.

Solution: d)

India has discovered and isolated indigenous methanotrophs, bacteria that naturally mitigate methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

• Researchers have identified novel methanotrophs from rice fields and wetlands in Western India, including a new genus and species named Methylocucumis oryzae.
• These bacteria are efficient in oxidizing methane, converting it to CO₂ and water.
• Methylocucumis oryzae is notable for its large size, unique oval shape, and strict temperature requirements, as it cannot grow above 37°C.

This methanotroph has also been found to enhance rice plant growth, promoting earlier flowering and increased grain yield.

Solution: a)

White Rabbit (WR) is a technology developed at CERN to provide the LHC accelerator chain with deterministic data transfer, sub-nanosecond accuracy and a synchronisation precision of a few picoseconds. First used in 2012, the technology has since then expanded its applications outside the field of particle physics and is now deployed in numerous scientific infrastructures worldwide. It has shown its innovative potential by being commercialised and introduced into different industries, including telecommunications, financial markets, smart grids, the space industry and quantum computing.

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services.

FRT is used for security and surveillance, and ATTA is used for radiometric dating.

Solution: b)

Only statement 1 is correct.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

World Trade Organization, as an institution, was established in 1995. It replaced General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) which was in place since 1946.

• The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994.
• India has been a member of GATT since 1948; hence it was party to Uruguay Round and a founding member of WTO.
• While WTO came in to existence in 1995, GATT didn’t cease to exist. It continues as WTO’s umbrella treaty for trade in goods.