UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 17 December 2024

Solution: b)

The high-pressure system responsible for Santa Ana winds forms over the Great Basin, not the Pacific Ocean, making Statement 1 incorrect.

Statement 2 is correct, as the winds accelerate when funneled through mountain passes.

Statement 3 is also correct; the dry and gusty conditions created by Santa Ana winds can rapidly intensify and spread wildfires.

What Are Santa Ana Winds?

• Definition:Santa Ana winds are strong, dry winds that blow from inland deserts toward the coast, significantly affecting Southern California’s weather.
• Seasonality:These winds typically occur during fall but can also happen in winter.

How Are Santa Ana Winds Formed?

• High-Pressure Systems:A high-pressure system forms over the Great Basin (northeast of California), creating a strong pressure gradient.
• Airflow Dynamics:The high-pressure forces cooler, north-to-northeasterly winds to flow toward the lower-pressure coastal regions.
• Downslope Effect:As winds descend through mountain passes, the air compresses, warms, and dries out, reducing relative humidity and intensifying the gusts.
• Wind Speed:Gusts can reach up to 80 mph, creating hazardous conditions.

Solution: d)

Statement 1 is incorrect. The POSH Act applies to all women, including permanent, temporary, contractual employees, interns, and volunteers, in both public and private organizations.

Statement 2 is correct. Section 3(1) prohibits sexual harassment at the workplace.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Complaints must be filed within three months of the incident under Section 9, not six months.

Statement 4 is correct. A Local Complaints Committee (LCC) is formed at the district level for workplaces that do not have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

What is POSH Act?

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.
• Objective: Protect women from sexual harassment at workplaces and ensure a mechanism for redressal.
• Important Sections of the Act:

Section 3(1): Prohibits sexual harassment at the workplace.

• Section 4: Mandates the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee(ICC) in every workplace.
• Section 9: Details the procedure for filing a complaint within three months of the incident.
• Section 13: Discusses the inquiry procedure and actions against the accused if found guilty.

Who is Covered Under the Act?

• Employees: Includes permanent, temporary, contract workers, interns, and volunteers.
• Workplace: Includes offices, public and private institutions, houses, hospitals, transport, and places visited during employment.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect: Solid phase alloying eliminates the need for melting, functioning entirely in the solid state.

Statement 2 is correct: The process is sustainable, upcycling scrap metal into high-performance alloys.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Alloys produced through solid phase alloying have properties comparable to or better than those made from primary metals.

What is Solid Phase Alloying?

• Definition: Solid phase alloying is a technique to create metal alloys directly from scrap without melting, enhancing their properties.
• Purpose: Upcycles metal scrap into high-performance alloys for various industrial applications.

Science Behind Solid Phase Alloying

• The process operates entirely in the solid state, eliminating the need for bulk melting.
• Utilizes friction and heat generated through high-speed rotation to blend and disperse metals uniformly.

The Process:

• Material Input: Aluminiumscrap is mixed with copper, zinc, and magnesium.
• Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion (ShAPE):
• A rotating die creates frictional heat, combining the metals into a uniform alloy.
• Outcome: The final alloy matches the strength and performance of products made from primary aluminium.

Benefits of Solid Phase Alloying:

• Energy Efficiency: Eliminates energy-intensive melting, reducing manufacturing costs.
• Sustainability: Reduces waste by recycling industrial aluminium scrap.
• Improved Properties:Produces durable, high-strength alloys comparable to new materials.
• Versatility:Enables the creation of new alloys for 3D printing technologies.
• Cost-Effectiveness:Low-cost feedstock from scrap leads to affordable high-performance materials.

Solution: d)

What is Haemophilia A?

• Definition:A hereditary bleeding disorder caused by the deficiency of clotting Factor VIII.
• Genetic Cause:It arises due to a defective gene on the X chromosome.
• Prevalence:More common in males; females are typically carriers.

Symptoms

• Prolonged Bleeding:Following injury or surgery.
• Spontaneous Bleeding:Internal bleeding in joints and muscles without apparent cause.
• Bruising:Unusual or frequent bruises.
• Hemarthrosis:Bleeding into joints, causing pain and swelling.

Solution: d)

What is Apiculture?

• Definition:Apiculture, or beekeeping, involves the maintenance of bee colonies in artificial hives for honey, beeswax, and pollination services.
• Purpose:It supports sustainable agriculture and the production of honey and related products.

Types of Bees in Apiculture:

• Apis mellifera (European Honeybee):Widely used for commercial honey production due to high yield.
• Apis dorsata (Rock Bee):Known for large honeycombs; found in the wild.
• Apis cerana (Asian Honeybee):Indigenous to South and Southeast Asia; suited for small-scale farming.
• Trigona (Stingless Bee):Produces medicinal honey; used for niche markets.

Impact of Beekeeping on Agriculture:

• Improved Pollination:Bees facilitate cross-pollination, boosting crop yields for mustard, mango, coconut, and lychee.
• Enhanced Crop Quality:Pollination improves the size, taste, and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.
• Biodiversity Conservation:Bees support wild plant reproduction, maintaining healthy ecosystems.
• Economic Benefits:Beekeepers earn through honey production and indirectly increase farmers’ income via higher yields.

Solution: a)

Morocco holds unique geographical significance as it is the only African nation with coastlines along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic location gives it control over the Strait of Gibraltar, an essential maritime link connecting the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Option b is incorrect because Morocco shares borders with Algeria and Western Sahara, not Libya.

Option c is incorrect as Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and commercial hub, but Rabat is the capital city.

Option d is incorrect because Morocco lies to the west of Algeria, not east.

Solution: c)

The POSH Act mandates that every workplace with 10 or more employees must form an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). The ICC must include:

• A Presiding Officer who is a senior woman employee of the workplace.
• At least one external member with experience or expertise in addressing sexual harassment issues.
• At least one-half of the ICC members must be women.

There is no requirement for a retired judge to serve as the mandatory chairperson. The inclusion of an external member ensures impartiality and expertise. Therefore, option c is incorrect.

Solution: a)

Olive Ridley turtles are omnivorous, feeding on algae, sea grass, crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. The other options accurately describe their nesting behavior, rookery, and legal protection.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect as the Jalvahak initiative is focused on cargo, not passenger travel. Statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct as they reflect the partnership between IWAI and ICSL, its environmental benefits, and focus on long-haul freight transportation.

About the Jalvahak Initiative:

• What It Is:Jalvahak is a cargo promotion scheme designed to incentivize the movement of long-haul cargo through India’s national waterways.
• Ministry Involved:Launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
• Implementing Agency:The initiative is implemented jointly by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL).

Aim:

• Promote environmentally sustainable cargo transportation.
• Decongest roads and railways by shifting freight movement to waterways.
• Foster economic growth through efficient logistics.

Solution: c)

Regions Affected by Santa Ana Winds:

• Primary Impact Area:Southern California, particularly areas around Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ventura counties.
• Secondary Impact:Parts of Baja California and other coastal regions may also experience similar conditions.

Impacts of Santa Ana Winds:

• Wildfire Risk:The hot, dry winds rapidly dry vegetation, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread.
• Structural Damage:High wind speeds can damage buildings, power lines, and trees.
• Health Effects:Dust and allergens stirred by the winds can worsen respiratory conditions.
• Power Disruptions:Utility companies may implement precautionary power outages to prevent wildfire ignition from downed lines.