UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 20 September 2024

Solution: c)

The 21 soldiers who fought in the Battle of Saragarhi were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, which was the highest gallantry award for Indian soldiers at that time, equivalent to today’s Param Vir Chakra.

Queen Victoria recognized their bravery for defending the communication post between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan against overwhelming odds.

Solution: a)

The Naga king chilli, also known as raja mircha, is famous for being one of the hottest chillies in the world, with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) exceeding 1 million. It holds significant cultural and economic value in Nagaland, where it is central to Naga cuisine. The chilli has been certified by Guinness World Records and is granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Solution: b)

The Ministry of Petroleum aims to blend 15% methanol into diesel to reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil (Statement 1 is correct).

This blending can also help reduce fuel costs for consumers (Statement 2 is correct).

However, methanol is not exclusively produced from CO2 captured from agricultural sources—it can be produced from CO2 captured from a variety of industrial sectors, including thermal power plants (Statement 3 is incorrect).

Solution: a)

Kleptoparasitism involves birds, such as frigatebirds and skuas, forcing other birds to regurgitate prey, thereby stealing their food (Statement 1 is correct).

It is not commonly observed in terrestrial birds like sparrows and finches (Statement 2 is incorrect).

This behavior can spread diseases like avian influenza, especially when saliva-coated food is involved (Statement 3 is correct).

Solution: d)

The new well-preserved coelacanth fossil was discovered in Australia’s Gogo Formation, which dates back to the Devonian period. This discovery has led scientists to reassess the evolutionary influence of Earth’s geology, revealing that tectonic plate activity, rather than ocean conditions, played a significant role in the emergence of new species.

Solution: b)

India’s first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant in Pune is focused on advancing carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies. This initiative aims to convert CO2 emissions into methanol, contributing to India’s climate goals by reducing carbon emissions. It also plays a role in the government’s effort to reduce crude oil imports by blending methanol in fuels like diesel. This project supports industrial decarbonisation, particularly for coal-based thermal power sectors.

Solution: b)

Asteroid 2024 PT5 is temporarily captured by Earth’s gravity, following a horseshoe-shaped path, rather than completing a full orbit. Such occurrences, known as “mini-moons,” provide valuable opportunities for scientists to study near-Earth objects. 2024 PT5 was discovered by NASA’s ATLAS program, and it hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt.

Solution: d)

All the statements are incorrect. The Battle of Saragarhi was fought between the 36th Sikh regiment under British command and Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants, not Mughals (Statement 1).

The battle lasted approximately seven hours, not 7 days (Statement 2).

It took place in the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan), not the eastern frontier (Statement 3).

• Saragarhi Day, observed on September 12, commemorates the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi, one of the most remarkable last stands in military history.
• Saragarhi was a key communication post between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan in the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan).

About Battle of Saragarhi:

• On this day, 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikhs regiment, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, defended the fort against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants for seven hours.
• The bravery of the soldiers was recognized with posthumous honors, including the Indian Order of Merit, awarded by Queen Victoria.
• In 2017, the Punjab government declared Saragarhi Day a holiday.
• The battle has since been immortalized in various ways, including memorials, a film (Kesari), and remembrance events in both India and Pakistan.

Solution: a)

CCU technologies aim to capture CO2 and convert it into useful chemicals like methanol rather than storing it permanently underground (Statement 1 is incorrect).

The pilot plant in Pune focuses on this conversion process (Statement 2 is correct).

The coal-based thermal power sector contributes to around 30% of India’s carbon emissions, making it a key target for CCU technologies (Statement 3 is incorrect).

Solution: c)

The Law Commission of India, in its 170th and 79th reports, recommended the idea of simultaneous elections to avoid frequent disruptions in governance and to reduce the financial burden on the state exchequer. The proposal of ONOE, aims to ensure that governance is not hampered by continuous election cycles and frequent implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.