UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 15 February 2025

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect: The CRI only assesses vulnerability based on extreme weather events, not anthropogenic disasters such as pollution-related deaths or industrial accidents.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The CRI is published by Germanwatch, not the WMO.

Statement 3 is correct: The CRI methodology considers absolute economic losses and relative losses (as a percentage of GDP) to account for differences between high-income and low-income nations.

• What is the Climate Risk Index?
  • The Climate Risk Index(CRI) ranks countries based on their vulnerability to extreme weather events.
  • It assesses the human and economic lossesdue to climate-induced disasters.
• Released by and Frequency:
  • Published by Germanwatch, an environmental think tank.
  • Annual publication since 2006, with data covering the past 30 years.
• Aim of CRI:
  • To provide a comparative analysisof the impact of extreme weather events.
  • To guide global climate policies and risk mitigationefforts.
  • To highlight the most affected nationsand emphasize the urgency of climate resilience.
• CRI Methodology and Criteria:

The CRI ranks countries based on:

• Fatalities(direct and indirect deaths due to extreme weather).
• Affected population(injured, displaced, and impacted people).
• Economic losses(damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and GDP).
• Number of extreme weather events(floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, etc.).
• Long-term impact assessment (1993-2022)and short-term impact (2022 alone).

Solution: d)

HPAI strains (e.g., H5N1, H7N9) cause severe disease and high mortality in poultry.

LPAI strains (e.g., H9N2) are less severe but can mutate into HPAI.

HPAI does not spread easily among humans, but when it does, it has a high fatality rate.

Solution: b)

The U.S.-India COMPACT Initiative does not include a Space Cooperation Council (option b is incorrect).

• What is the U.S.-India COMPACT Initiative?
  • The -India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Centuryis a strategic framework launched to enhance defense, trade, and technology cooperation between India and the United States.
• Nations Involved: India & United States of America (USA)
• Aim of the Initiative:
  • To strengthen the S.-IndiaComprehensive Global Strategic Partnership across key sectors.
  • To deepen defense collaboration, co-production, and technology exchange.
  • To expand bilateral trade, aiming for $500 billion by 2030 (Mission-500).
  • To advance innovation and technological cooperation, especially in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and space exploration.
• Key Features & Functions:
  • Defense & Security Cooperation:Establishes a 10-year U.S.-India Defense Partnership Framework (2025-2035), including reciprocal defense procurement, technology transfer, and military exercises.
  • Economic & Trade Expansion:Mission-500 aims to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, supported by a multi-sector trade agreement by 2025.
  • Technology & Innovation:Launch of the TRUST Initiative to boost AI, space, quantum computing, and semiconductor manufacturing.
  • Energy & Climate Action:Collaboration in nuclear energy, LNG trade, and clean hydrogen projects to enhance energy security.
  • Strategic Geopolitical Engagement:Enhances Indo-Pacific security, counterterrorism efforts, and economic corridors like IMEEC.

Solution: d)

IMEEC does not establish a free trade zone between India and Europe.

About India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC):

• What is IMEEC?
  • A multimodal connectivity initiativelinking India, the Middle East, and Europe through sea and land routes.
  • Alternative trade routebypassing the Suez Canal and reducing dependency on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• Participating Nations:India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union.
• Launched In:
  • Announced duringthe G20 Summit in New Delhi in September, 2023.
  • Intergovernmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) signed between India and UAEon February, 2024.
• Aim & Objectives:
  • Boost trade efficiencyby reducing transport time between Asia and Europe.
  • Enhance connectivityacross key economic hubs in the Middle East and Europe.
  • Strengthen supply chain securityby offering an alternative route to global trade.
  • Support clean energy initiativesby facilitating green hydrogen and renewable energy trade.
  • Promote digital integrationthrough secure high-speed data connectivity.
• Key Features & Functions:
  • Two Corridors:
    • Eastern Corridor:Connects India to the Gulf (UAE & Saudi Arabia) via sea.
    • Northern Corridor:Links the Gulf to Europe (France, Germany, Italy) via rail and sea.
  • Digital & Logistics Integration:A logistics platform will manage trade, containers, bulk cargo, and digital transactions.
  • $600 Billion Mobilization:Target by 2027 to address infrastructure gaps.
  • Trade RouteDiversification: Bypasses geopolitical risks, including conflicts affecting the Suez Canal and Red Sea region.

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect: The PAC was introduced in 1921, after the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act, 1919), not in 1935.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Chairman of the PAC is from the Opposition, not the ruling party, by parliamentary convention since 1967.

Statement 3 is correct: The PAC examines Appropriation Accounts, Finance Accounts, and CAG Reports, ensuring public expenditure accountability.

About Public Accounts Committee (PAC):

• Establishment:
  • Introduced in 1921after the Government of India Act, 1919 (Montford Reforms).
  • Constituted annually under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
• Composition and Membership:
  • Comprises 22 members:
    • 15 members elected from Lok Sabhaby the Speaker.
    • 7 members elected from Rajya Sabhaby the Chairman.
  • Tenure: One year.
  • Ministers are not eligibleto be members.
• Appointment of Chairman:
  • Appointed by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
  • By convention, the chairman belongs to the opposition party.
• Functions and Responsibilities:
  • Examines government expendituresto ensure funds allocated by Parliament are used within the approved scope of demand.
  • Scrutinizes:
    • Appropriation accounts and finance accountsof the government.
    • CAG Reportson revenue, expenditure, and autonomous bodies.
  • Evaluates cases of overspending, misallocation, and financial irregularities.
  • Holds the executive accountablefor financial discipline.

Solution: c)

Matsya 6000 aims to explore mineral resources, survey hydrothermal vents, and study marine biodiversity.

Underwater satellites (option c) do not exist—submersibles like Matsya 6000 are not used for satellite launches.

• What is Matsya 6000?
  • Matsya 6000is a deep-sea manned submersible designed for underwater exploration.
  • Developed under the Samudrayaan Project, part of the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).
  • Built by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
• Ministry and Budget:
  • Implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • Part of the ₹4,077 croreDeep Ocean Mission aimed at deep-sea exploration.
• Aim and Objectives:
  • Explore deep-sea biodiversityand marine ecosystems.
  • Survey mineral resourcessuch as cobalt, manganese, and copper.
  • Support oceanic researchand promote marine tourism and literacy.
  • Enhance India’s technological capabilitiesin manned deep-sea exploration.

Key Features of Matsya 6000:

• Deep-sea Capability:
  • Designed to operate at 6,000 meters depth for up to 12-16 hours.
  • Emergency endurance of 96 hours for crew safety.
• Structural Design:
  • 2.1m diameter titanium sphere to house three crew members.
  • Constructed from 80mm thick titanium alloy for high-pressure resistance.
• Advanced Navigation & Communication Systems:
  • Equipped with Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) Acoustic Positioning System for real-time tracking.
  • Voice and data communication systems to stay connected with the surface ship.
• Safety and Redundancy:
  • Triple redundancy in buoyancy, power, and life support systems.
  • Syntactic foam flotation device ensures automatic resurfacing.

Functions of Matsya 6000:

• Deep-sea Exploration:
  • Survey hydrothermal vents and methane seeps for chemosynthetic biodiversity.
  • Investigate seafloor composition and marine ecosystem health.
• Resource Assessment:
  • Identify deep-sea mineral resources like cobalt, manganese, and rare earth elements.
  • Assess the feasibility of deep-sea mining and sustainable extraction.
• Scientific Research and Technological Advancement:
  • Aid in marine archaeology and underwater engineering innovations.
  • Provide insights into climate change impact on marine biodiversity.

Solution: c)

Heatwaves accounted for the highest fatalities worldwide over the past three decades.

In countries like India and Pakistan, severe heatwaves have killed thousands.

Floods affected the most people but did not cause the highest fatalities.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is correct: It will be used for underwater archaeology and wreck exploration.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Matsya 6000 is not nuclear-powered; it relies on battery-operated systems.

Statement 3 is correct: It will aid in climate change research by studying deep-sea carbon storage mechanisms.

Statement 4 is correct: India will join an elite group of nations (US, China, France, Russia, Japan) with manned deep-sea submersible technology.

Solution: b)

Kilauea has the longest recorded history of continuous eruptions in Hawaii, lasting from 1983 to 2018.

Mauna Loa is the tallest volcano in Hawaii (option c is incorrect).

Lo‘ihi Seamount, not Kilauea, is the only submarine volcano in Hawaii (option d is incorrect).

About Kilauea Volcano:

• Location of Kilauea Volcano:
  • Situated on the southeastern shore of Hawaii’s Big Island, approximately 200 miles southeast of Honolulu.
  • Part of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain, formed by the Hawaiian hotspot.
• Features of Kilauea Volcano
  • Type:Shield volcano, known for effusive lava flows rather than explosive eruptions.
  • Age:Estimated to be 210,000 to 280,000 years old, emerging above sea level around 100,000 years ago.
  • Structure:
    • Large caldera (Halemaʻumaʻu Crater) at its summit.

Other Major Volcanoes in the Hawaiian Region:

• Mauna Loa:
  • Largest active volcano on Earthby volume.
  • Shares magma plumbing system with Kilauea.
  • Last erupted in November 2022after a 38-year dormancy.
• Mauna Kea:
  • Tallest mountain (from base to peak) in the worldat 33,500 feet (10,210 m).
  • Considered dormant, with its last eruption around 4,500 years ago.
• Hualālai:
  • Third most active volcano on HawaiianBig Island.
  • Last erupted in 1801, with future eruptions predicted.
• Lo‘ihi Seamount:
  • Underwater volcanosoutheast of Big Island, emerging as the next Hawaiian island in the coming millennia.

Solution: c)

Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct:

IMEEC supports high-speed data connectivity for secure trade transactions.
A blockchain-based trade management system will streamline supply chains.
Logistics integration will enhance customs processing and efficiency.

Statement 4 is incorrect: IMEEC does not include a hyperloop project; it focuses on rail and sea connectivity.