UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 25 December 2024

Solution: d)

Critical minerals are those minerals which are essential for economic development and national security, the lack of availability of these minerals or even concentration of existence, extraction or processing of these minerals in few geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerability and disruption.

Importance of Critical Minerals:

• Economic Development:Support industries like electronics, energy storage, and renewable energy.
• National Security:Essential for aerospace, defence, and telecommunication sectors.
• Sustainability:Vital for achieving global Net Zero emissions commitments through clean energy technologies.
• Technological Edge:Power critical sectors like semiconductors, EVs, and high-tech manufacturing.
• Global Transition:Underpin the shift to a low-carbon economy, fostering renewable energy adoption.

Solution: c)

Statement 1 is incorrect as the NHRC is a statutory body, not a constitutional body.

Statement 2 is incorrect because the NHRC assesses both domestic laws and international treaties for human rights compliance.

Statement 3 is correct as per the requirements outlined in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):

• Established:
• Formed on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (PHRA).
• Created in accordance with the Paris Principles, 1991, endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.
• Statutory:Statutory body established by the PHRA Act, 1993.

Aim:

• To promote and protect human rights as defined under Section 2(1)(d) of PHRA, including rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution.

Composition:

• Chairperson:A former Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge.
• Members:
• One former or sitting Supreme Court judge.
• One former or sitting Chief Justice of a High Court.
• Three members, at least one woman, with experience in human rights matters.
• Ex-Officio Members:Chairpersons of various National Commissions (e.g., SC/ST, Women, Minorities, etc.) and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

Solution: a)

Cephalopods are cold-blooded marine invertebrates with unique W-shaped pupils that provide excellent vision, aiding in hunting and camouflage.

About Cephalopods:

Classification:

• Belong to the class Cephalopoda in the phylum Mollusca.
• Includes species like Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis, and Architeuthis dux (giant squid).

What they are:

• Marine invertebrates with soft bodies and distinct features like tentacles, beak-like jaws, and highly developed nervous systems.

Features:

• Blood Type: Cold-blooded (ectothermic).

Biological Traits:

• Chromatophores for skin colour change (camouflage and communication).
• Unique W-shaped pupils for enhanced vision.

Physical Characteristics:

• Tentacles with suction cups or hooks for grasping prey.
• Arm “mini-brains” with distributed neurons.

Various species:

• Octopuses: E.g., Octopus vulgaris (common octopus), Octopus cyanea (day octopus).
• Cuttlefish: E.g., Sepia officinalis (common cuttlefish).
• Squids: E.g., Architeuthis dux (giant squid).
• Nautilus: Chambered mollusc with external shell.

Special features:

Learning Abilities:

• Associative learning and memory comparable to vertebrates.
• Ability to delay gratification (e.g., choosing a preferred snack over immediate lesser options).
• Problem-Solving: Uses tools and strategies to escape enclosures or hunt.
• Camouflage Skills: Advanced use of chromatophores for disguise and communication.

Solution: c)

What is GenCast?

• GenCast is a diffusion-type AI model designed for probabilistic weather forecasting, predicting weather conditions using machine learning techniques.
• Parent Company:Developed by Google DeepMind.

How it works:

• Uses ensemble forecasting: Generates multiple predictions by combining historical data with noisy inputs and refining them iteratively through neural networks.
• Trained on 40 years of reanalysis data (1979-2019).
• Produces forecasts for up to 15 days with a spatial resolution of 0.25° x 0.25° and temporal resolution of 12 hours.

Existing forecast models:

• Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP):Relies on solving physical equations but requires high computational power and provides deterministic forecasts.
• Huawei’s Pangu-Weather:Predicts weekly weather faster than NWP models.

Superiority of GenCast:

• Probabilistic Forecasts:Better at predicting extreme weather and providing longer lead times for disaster preparation.
• Efficiency:Faster and more resource-efficient than NWP models.
• Extreme Event Prediction:Superior in tracking tropical cyclones and wind power production.

Solution: c)

The 2019 amendment to the Right to Education Act allows states to hold back students in Classes 5 and 8 based on their academic performance, reversing the earlier provision of automatic promotion under the no-detention policy.

The Central Government has recently amended the Right to Education Act, 2009, scrapping the no-detention policy in schools governed by it.

It includs Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and other institutions under the Ministry of Defence and Tribal Affairs.

About No Detention Policy (NDP):

What is the No-Detention Policy?

• Introduced under Section 16 of the Right to Education Act, 2009 to prohibit the detention of students until Class 8.
• Aimed to ensure minimum education levels for all children by promoting automatic promotion.

Key Clause in RTE Act, 2009:

• Section 16: No child shall be detained in any class until the completion of elementary education (Classes 1-8).
• Amended in 2019: Allowed States to hold back students in Classes 5 and 8 based on academic performance.
• At present, 14 states and UTs are continuing the no-detention policy.

Solution: d)

The SpaDeX mission’s primary objective is to demonstrate the docking, undocking, and other related operations of two spacecraft in low Earth orbit, marking a technological milestone for ISRO.

About SpaDeX Mission:

• What it is: SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) is a cost-effective technology demonstrator by ISROfor in-space docking of two small spacecraft.
• Launch vehicle: PSLV-C60 will carry two spacecraft (Chaser: SDX01 and Target: SDX02) into low Earth orbit (470 km).

Objectives:

Primary:

• Demonstrate rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two spacecraft.

Secondary:

• Transfer electric power between docked spacecraft for future robotic applications.
• Composite spacecraft control and post-docking payload operations.

New Technologies:

• Docking Mechanism: Low-impact androgynous docking system with two motors.
• Sensor Suite: Advanced sensors like Laser Range Finder (LRF), Proximity and Docking Sensor (PDS), and video monitors for precise docking.
• RODP Processor: GNSS-based system for accurate inter-satellite position and velocity determination.
• ISL Communication: Autonomous inter-satellite link for communication and real-time state sharing.

Significance of Mission:

• Technological Milestone: Positions India as the fourth country to develop space docking technology.
• Space Exploration: Paves the way for Chandrayaan-4, space stations, and sample return missions.
• Cost-Effective Innovation: Develops indigenous, scalable solutions for complex space operations.
• Global Collaboration: Adopts standards similar to the International Docking System, fostering future international cooperation.

Solution: c)

The Torrijos-Carter Treaty (1977) was signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos, enabling the transfer of control of the Panama Canal to Panama on December 31, 1999.

About Panama Canal:

• Location and Connection:
• Situated in Panama, Central America, the canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

History:

• Initial Efforts: Spanish colonizers envisioned the canal in the 16th century, with the French starting construction in 1878, which ultimately failed.
• S. Construction: Post-Panama’s independence in 1903, the U.S. built the canal (1914), overcoming engineering challenges but witnessing over 5,000 worker deaths.
• Transfer to Panama: In 1977, a treaty under U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos paved the way for Panama’s full control, effective from December 31, 1999.

Present Ownership:

• The Panama Canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority, a government entity of Panama.

Features:

• Spanning 82 km (51 miles), it uses interconnecting locks to lift ships 26 meters (85 feet) above sea level via Gatun Lake.

Working of the Canal:

• Ships are transported through a lock system that balances water levels to move vessels efficiently between the two oceans, saving around 8,000 miles of travel.

Solution: b)

China is a major supplier of cobalt, germanium, strontium, and several other critical minerals. This reflects its strategic control over mineral supply chains globally.

Solution: b)

The Cirus reactor significantly contributed to the production of isotopes used in various fields, including medicine and agriculture, advancing India’s technological capabilities.

About Cirus Reactor:

Uses of Cirus Reactor:

• Isotope Production: Supplied isotopes for medicine, agriculture, and industry.
• Neutron Beam Research: Advanced condensed matter studies.
• Reactor R&D: Helped develop Indian Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor(PHWR) systems.
• Training: Platform for training engineers and scientists.
• Fuel Development: Testing and innovation in fuel assemblies.
• Neutron Activation Analysis: Used for material analysis and research.

Solution: b)

KABIL focuses on securing overseas assets, not domestic reserves, making statement 1 incorrect. The Geological Survey of India actively promotes exploration of critical minerals, and India is part of the Critical Raw Materials Club, fostering global partnerships.