UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 31 August 2024

Solution: b)

• The recent expansion of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) by the Union Cabinet now includes specific financial support for Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs), making option b correct. The expansion aims to enhance the financial security and creditworthiness of FPOs, thereby making the scheme more attractive and inclusive for these critical agricultural collectives.
• The AIF continues to focus on a broad range of agricultural infrastructure projects, not fewer, so option c is incorrect. The total outlay of the AIF remains ₹1 lakh crore, not ₹2 lakh crore, making option d incorrect.

This expansion is expected to foster a more robust agricultural infrastructure ecosystem, driving growth, improving productivity, and boosting farm incomes across the country.

Solution: b)

• Quasars are among the brightest and most energetic objects in the universe, known for their extreme luminosity. They are the highly luminous cores of distant galaxies, making statement 1 correct.
• Quasars are powered by supermassive black holes at their centers, which accrete matter from their surroundings, producing immense energy, making statement 2 correct.
• However, the light emitted by quasars is not due to nuclear fusion occurring in their outer layers, but rather due to the intense gravitational energy released as matter is accreted by the supermassive black hole, making statement 3 incorrect.
• Quasars are important for understanding the early universe and the formation and growth of supermassive black holes.

Solution: d)

• The Chandipura virus is known to cause acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), making option c correct. The current outbreak has primarily affected Gujarat, with some cases in Rajasthan, which are not in the southern states of India, making option a incorrect.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended travel or trade restrictions due to the outbreak, making option b incorrect. There is currently no vaccine available for the Chandipura virus, making option d incorrect.
• The outbreak highlights the importance of enhanced surveillance in high-risk areas and the need for early and intensive care to improve survival rates.

Solution: a)

• The northern bald ibis was indeed once extinct in Europe due to extensive hunting, making statement 1 correct.
• Through dedicated breeding and rewilding efforts, the species has been successfully revived in certain areas, which makes statement 2 correct.
• However, the northern bald ibis is classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN, not “Critically Endangered,” making statement 3 incorrect.
• This bird species, historically found in the European Alps, Northern Africa, and the Middle East, is a symbol of successful conservation efforts, although it remains at risk and continues to require protection to ensure its survival.

Solution: d)

The parabolic concentrator in Solar Paraboloid Technology is designed to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a specific point, known as the receiver. This concentration can amplify the sunlight by up to 1000 times, generating very high temperatures, typically used for producing electricity or providing heat for industrial processes. Unlike photovoltaic cells that directly convert light into electricity, this technology relies on the intense heat produced by concentrated sunlight.

Solution: c)

• The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) approved by the Indian Union Cabinet is specifically designed to support the equity participation of North-Eastern state governments in viable hydroelectric projects.
• It does not fund 100% of the equity; rather, it covers up to 24% of the state government’s equity, with a cap of ₹750 crore per project, but only for projects that are economically and technically viable.
• The CFA is also exclusively available for projects in the North Eastern Region (NER), reflecting a targeted approach to boost the region’s hydroelectric capacity.
• This policy is part of the government’s broader initiative to promote sustainable development and energy security in the NER, recognizing the region’s untapped hydroelectric potential and the need for state support to overcome financial challenges in project execution.

Solution: a)

• The Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) includes the establishment of a central police development hub in Brisbane, Australia, making statement 1 correct.
• The initiative is primarily funded by Australia but is driven by the Pacific Island countries, which makes statement 2 correct as well.
• However, the PPI represents a shift towards a Pacific-led approach to security, contrasting with past initiatives that were often led by external powers without fully aligning with regional priorities. This makes statement 3 incorrect.
• The PPI highlights a new era of regionalism where Pacific Island nations are taking a leading role in shaping their security architecture, supported by but not dominated by external resources, particularly from Australia.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect because the BioE3 Policy does not exclusively focus on healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing; it also addresses other sectors like agriculture, environmental conservation, and industrial biotechnology.

Statement 2 is correct as the policy includes provisions for capacity building, such as internships for school students and fellowships for graduate and post-graduate research.

Statement 3 is correct since marine and space research are indeed among the six thematic sectors covered under the policy. The comprehensive approach of the BioE3 Policy ensures a broad impact across various sectors of the biotechnology industry in India.

Solution: a)

The National Pension Scheme (NPS) replaced the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees who joined service after January 1, 2004. Unlike OPS, which provided an assured pension based on the last drawn salary, NPS is a contributory, market-linked scheme without any guaranteed pension amount. The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), set to be effective from April 2025, aims to combine features from both the OPS and NPS.

Solution: c)

The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a financial initiative that forms part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, which aims to make India more self-reliant, making option c correct. The AIF is not limited to post-harvest infrastructure; it covers a wide range of agricultural infrastructure needs, including warehousing, cold storage, and supply chain logistics, so option a is incorrect. The AIF provides loans and credit facilities, not just grants, so option b is incorrect. Additionally, the AIF does include financial provisions for Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs), making option d incorrect. The fund aims to promote infrastructure development at all levels of agriculture to enhance productivity and reduce losses.