UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 4 January 2025

Solution: a)

Geostationary satellites, positioned approximately 36,000 km above Earth, experience significant signal latency, making real-time communication slower compared to terrestrial systems. Other factors like compatibility and data compression are secondary concerns.

About In-Flight Internet:

• What it is:In-flight Wi-Fi provides passengers with Internet connectivity during flights, enabling access to online services like browsing, streaming, and messaging.

How it works:

• Technology used:Two primary systems – Air-to-Ground (ATG) and Satellite-Based Connectivity.
• ATG:Uses antennae under the aircraft to connect with ground cellular towers. Suitable for regions with dense tower networks.
• Satellite-Based:Uses antennae on top of the aircraft to communicate with satellites, ensuring wider coverage, especially over oceans and remote areas.

Signal Transmission:

• Devices connect to in-cabin Wi-Fi antennae.
• Signals pass through an onboard server.
• For satellite systems, signals move from the server to satellites, then to ground stations, and back via the same route.
• For ATG systems, signals travel directly between the aircraft and ground cellular towers.

Features and Benefits:

• Enhanced Passenger Experience:Browsing, streaming, and connecting with the world mid-air.
• Convenience:Integration with existing airline portals for seamless connectivity.
• Flexibility:Compatibility with multiple devices.

Limitations of In-Flight Wi-Fi:

• Slower Speeds:Typically, slower than ground-based Internet due to technological constraints.
• High Costs:Expensive equipment installation and maintenance for airlines, with potential charges for passengers.
• Limited Coverage:ATG technology struggles over large water bodies or remote areas.

Solution: b)

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Sree Narayana Guru supported reforms like inter-caste marriages and the Vaikom Satyagraha.

Statement 3 is incorrect as he did not advocate for the abolition of religious practices but rather for reforms in them.

About Sree Narayana Guru:

• Born at:Chempazhanthy, near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on August 22, 1856.
• Community:Belonged to the Ezhava caste, a marginalized group subjected to caste-based discrimination.

History and Background:

• Known as ‘Avarna,’he cherished solitude and spent time in meditation from a young age.
• His revolutionary act of installing a Shivalinga at Aruvippuram in 1888symbolized the rejection of caste-based restrictions in temple practices.

Contributions:

• SNDP Movement:Founded the Shree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam in 1903 to address issues like education, government service access, and temple entry for Ezhavas.
• Philosophy:Coined the famous slogan, “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All” (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu).
• Advocated for equality without provoking social unrest or forced conversions.
• Opposed animal sacrifices and promoted non-violence.

Literary Work:

• Authored devotional hymns and philosophical texts that emphasized universal brotherhood and spiritual enlightenment.
• Wrote the Atmopadesa Satakam and other works inspiring moral and spiritual values.

Solution: b)

Project VISTAAR primarily aims to digitalize agricultural extension services, addressing gaps in the timely and accurate dissemination of critical information to farmers, enhancing their decision-making and productivity.

About Project VISTAAR:

• What it is:A digital platform designed to enhance agricultural extension services, making critical information and start-up innovations accessible to farmers.
• Ministry involved:Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in collaboration with IIT Madras.

Objectives:

• Digitalise the agricultural extension systemto improve efficiency and outreach.
• Provide farmers access to start-up-driven innovations and technologiesin agriculture and allied sectors.
• Enhance adoption of sustainable and climate-resilientfarming practices.

Key Features:

• Integration of data on over 12,000 Agri-startupsthrough IIT Madras’ startup information platform and it incubate, YNOS Venture Engine.
• Advisory services covering crop production, marketing, value addition, and supply chain management.
• Easy access to government schemes related to agriculture and rural development.
• Delivery of accurate, timely, and contextual information to farmers to improve decision-making.

Solution: c)

The ODK platform is renowned for its offline data collection capability, which allows users to gather data in areas without internet connectivity. Other features, like real-time GPS tracking, are secondary.

About the CAG Toolkit:

• What it is: A digital platform based on Open Data Kit (ODK) technology for designing, collecting, and managing audit-related data.
• Launched by:Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

Objectives:

• Enhance transparency in public spending.
• Improve accountability in the delivery of government schemes.
• Collect real-time beneficiary feedback for informed audit planning.

Key Features:

• Integrated with CAG’s own Operating System (OIOS).
• End-to-end encryption for secure data management.
• Multi-language support for beneficiary surveys.
• User-friendly interface for designing and managing data collection processes.

How it works:

• Surveys are designed on the ODK platform and deployed to beneficiaries.
• Data is collected in real-time, analyzed using the OIOS system, and used as audit evidence.
• Beneficiary feedback helps identify problem areas and improve scheme delivery.

Solution: a)

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Satellite-based systems ensure wide coverage, especially over oceans, making them ideal for long-haul flights. Statement 2 is incorrect as signals are routed through onboard servers, not directly to passenger devices.

Solution: b)

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Injectable hydrogels release drugs in response to internal triggers, like high GSH levels or pH changes, improving bioavailability. Statement 3 is incorrect because the release is autonomous and does not require continuous external stimuli.

About the Hydrogel:

• What it is:A water-based polymer network designed to release anti-cancer drugs precisely at the tumour site, sparing healthy cells.
• Developed by:Researchers from IIT-Guwahati and Bose Institute, Kolkata.

Features:

• Localised Drug Delivery:Precisely targets cancer cells without affecting healthy cells.
• Responsive Design:Reacts to elevated glutathione (GSH) levels abundant in tumour cells.
• Biocompatibility:Mimics living tissues for seamless integration with the biological environment.
• Stability:Remains insoluble in biological fluids, ensuring localization at the injection site.

Significance:

• Reduces harmful side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy.
• Enhances precision in cancer therapy, particularly for breast cancer.
• Represents a step forward in personalized and localized cancer treatments.

Solution: a)

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Project VISTAAR includes services related to government schemes and promotes sustainable farming practices. Statement 3 is incorrect because it is implemented in collaboration with IIT Madras, highlighting multi-stakeholder participation.

Solution: c)

The Ramesh Chand Committee was established to revise the WPI and explore the feasibility of transitioning to the PPI, a system more aligned with international standards.

The Indian government has formed an 18-member expert panel, led by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, to revise the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and explore a transition to a Producers’ Price Index (PPI).

About Wholesale Price Index (WPI):

• What it is:WPI measures changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk at the wholesale level. It is a key indicator of inflationary trends in the economy.
• Released by:The Office of Economic Advisor, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Aim:

• Track supply and demand dynamics in industries.
• Provide a measure of wholesale inflationin the economy.
• Align with other economic indicators like GDP.

Key Features:

• Base Year:Updated to 2011-12 in the current series, under revision to 2022-23.
• Number of Items:Tracks prices of 697 items, including 117 primary items, 16 fuel and power items, and 564 manufactured products.
• Excludes: Services sector (unlike CPI, which includes both goods and services).

Solution: d)

PPI measures price changes at the producer level and does not focus on consumer purchasing power, which is covered by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

About Producer Price Index (PPI):

• What it is:The Producer Price Index (PPI) measures the average change in prices received by producers for goods and services, either sold domestically or exported.

Types:

• Output PPI:Tracks prices of goods and services as they leave production sites.
• Input PPI:Monitors prices of goods and services entering production processes.

Advantages of PPI Over WPI:

• Industry-Centric Inflation Measurement:Captures price changes from the perspective of producers, providing an early signal of inflation trends.
• Focus on Production Stages:Reflects price shifts before goods and services reach consumers, aiding better policy decisions.
• International Alignment:Adheres to the System of National Accounts (SNA), making it more suitable for global economic comparisons.
• Broader Scope:Includes services, unlike WPI, which is restricted to goods.
• Global Adoption: Has replaced WPI in many countries as a more precise tool for measuring economic activity.

Solution: d)

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties ensured the transfer of full control of the Panama Canal to Panama by December 31, 1999. The treaties did not aim to end U.S. military presence completely or make the canal a tax-free trade zone.

About Torrijos-Carter Treaties:

• Nations involved:The treaties were signed between the United States and Panama.
• Signed in:September 7, 1977, by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panama’s General Omar Torrijos.
• Objectives:
• Panama Canal Treaty:Transferred control of the canal from the U.S. to Panama by December 31, 1999, ensuring Panamanian sovereignty over the canal.
• Permanent Neutrality Treaty:Declared the canal a neutral waterway open to vessels of all nations, with the U.S. retaining the right to defend its neutrality and ensuring priority passage in military emergencies.