UPSC Editorials Quiz : 23 December 2024

Solution: a)

Arctic warming has significant global implications due to the feedback loop it initiates. As temperatures in the Arctic increase, permafrost—frozen ground that stores vast amounts of carbon—begins to thaw. When permafrost thaws, it releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere, which are potent contributors to the global greenhouse effect. These emissions enhance the warming process, creating a self-reinforcing cycle: higher temperatures lead to more permafrost thaw, which, in turn, releases more greenhouse gases.

Statement-I correctly highlights the role of increased Arctic surface air temperatures in amplifying the global greenhouse effect.

Statement-II accurately describes the feedback loop caused by the thawing of permafrost. Moreover, Statement-II provides a detailed mechanism that explains Statement-I, establishing it as the correct explanation.

Solution: b)

Rising temperatures in the Arctic have significantly increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires. These fires release stored carbon in the form of CO2 and CH4 while also accelerating permafrost thaw, exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions.

Solution: c)

The Golan Heights is geographically enclosed by the Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Mount Hermon, Wadi Al-Ruqqād, and Yarmūk River.

Solution: d)

Never events are serious, preventable incidents in healthcare, such as wrong-site surgeries or severe medication errors, that should not occur if proper safety protocols are followed.

About Never Events:

• What it is:Serious, preventable incidents in healthcare that result in severe consequences, such as wrong-site surgeries or medication errors.
• Coined in:Introduced in 2002 by the National Quality Forum (NQF), USA, and adopted in other nations like the U.K. and Canada.

Significance:

• Enhances focus on implementing stringent safety protocols.
• Promotes accountability in healthcare systems.
• Reduces patient harm and medical negligence cases.

Solution: d)

The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) is an initiative to create a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing. However, the statements provided are all incorrect for the following reasons:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: CCTNS does not use AI algorithms for predictive policing. Its primary focus is on facilitating the tracking of crimes and criminals across the country and ensuring improved coordination among police stations.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Although CCTNS provides citizen-centric services, such as filing complaints and accessing FIR status via its portal, it does not grant direct access to police station records to the general public. Access is restricted to authorized personnel to maintain confidentiality and security.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: While CCTNS aims to minimize manual processes by enabling electronic crime reporting and record-keeping, manual reporting has not been entirely eliminated due to varying levels of digitization and implementation across states.