UPSC Editorials Quiz : 14 August 2024

Solution: b)

Climate change is responsible for the increase in lightning activity in Odisha. According to research published by the Indian Meteorological Department in 2021, there is a direct correlation between long-term warming and lightning activity. Specifically, for every one degree Celsius increase in long-term warming, there is a nearly 10% increase in lightning activity. This relationship demonstrates how global climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of lightning strikes in the region.

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Solution: c)

The Loo is a strong, dusty, gusty, hot and dry summer wind from the west which blows over the Indo-Gangetic Plain region of North India and Pakistan.

Nor’westers are local thunderstorms in Bengal, Assam, and neighboring regions during pre-monsoon season.

Aandhi refers to strong dust storms observed over northwestern and central India before monsoon season.

• Solution: c)

The income threshold for determining the creamy layer has remained stagnant at Rs 8 lakh since 2017 due to a lack of progress in the review process. In March 2019, the union government constituted a committee headed by former DoPT secretary B P Sharma to review the creamy layer criteria. However, no advancements have been made in this regard. This situation highlights the complexities involved in revising such socio-economic parameters, which require careful consideration of various factors including inflation, changing economic conditions, and the potential impact on different segments of society. The delay in revision can potentially affect the effectiveness of the reservation policy in addressing current socio-economic realities.

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Solution: c)

About White phosphorus:

• It is a highly toxic, wax-like substance known for its ability to burn at extremely high temperatures, exceeding 800 degrees Celsius (1,500 degrees Fahrenheit).
• It can melt metal and is often used by militaries to create smokescreensdue to its fast-spreading fires and thick smoke production that can last for about seven minutes.
• White phosphorus is harmful to humans and can cause severe burns, penetrating down to the bone.The chemicals can be absorbed by the body, leading to dysfunction in multiple organs, including the liver, kidneys, and heart
• White phosphorus munitions can be delivered through artillery shells, bombs, rockets, or grenades. This substance is colourless, white, or yellow and emits a garlic-like odour.

While white phosphorus is not banned by international conventions, it is not categorized as an “incendiary weapon” intended to cause fires or burns.

Instead, it is considered a multipurpose munition. Protocol III of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons prohibits incendiaries or the use of other substances to attack civilian populations, but it allows militaries to argue that white phosphorus is used only as a smokescreen, signal, or to illuminate a target.

• Solution: d)

Circulating testosterone is considered the primary factor responsible for athletic performance differences between men and women. Testosterone has been shown to increase muscle mass and strength, bone size and density, and circulating hemoglobin levels. These physiological changes contribute significantly to athletic performance advantages. While other factors like bone density and muscle fiber type are influenced by testosterone, they are secondary effects rather than the primary cause. The hormone’s direct impact on multiple physiological systems makes it the key differentiator in athletic performance between sexes.

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