UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 17 March 2025

Solution: B

• India’s role in forming the Green Group alliance of 72 like-minded developing countries during the first Conference of Parties (COP) under the UNFCCC was primarily aimed at countering the demands from developed countries.
• These demands sought to place stringent climate-related commitments on developing nations, without considering their varied development levels and historical contributions to global emissions.
• The coalition helped ensure that the interests of the Global South were adequately represented, emphasizing that developing countries should not be subjected to the same obligations as developed nations in global climate negotiations.

Solution: D

• The Digital Agriculture Mission is focused on modernizing Indian agriculture by leveraging digital technologies such as data analytics, geospatial information, and artificial intelligence (AI).
• The aim is to improve farm management, increase productivity, and offer better services to farmers by integrating various data sets and technologies.
• It is not about eliminating human intervention but rather about making agriculture more efficient and informed through data-driven decisions.

Solution: A

Statement 1 is correct as methane often escapes during oil and gas production, transportation, and storage due to leaks and equipment failure.

Statement 3 is also correct; flaring and venting processes in the energy sector release methane.

Statement 2 is incorrect because methane leaks occur more frequently in natural gas production than in coal extraction.

Solution: A

Statement 2 is correct. The SEC can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds prescribed for a High Court judge, ensuring their independence.

Statement 1 is incorrect because the tenure of the SEC is determined by the Governor, not the Election Commission of India.

Statement 3 is incorrect because the conditions of the SEC’s service cannot be varied to their disadvantage after their appointment.

Solution: C

While AgriSURE focuses on innovation in agriculture, farm mechanization, and technology-driven start-ups, it does not emphasize traditional irrigation methods, which are not part of its high-impact focus areas.

Solution: B

The formation of the BASIC Group by Brazil, South Africa, India, and China was a strategic move to safeguard developmental and poverty reduction objectives during climate negotiations in the 2000s. These countries recognized the need to balance their environmental responsibilities with their developmental needs, and they worked collectively to ensure that the global climate frameworks, such as the Kyoto Protocol, did not impose obligations that could hinder their economic growth and poverty alleviation efforts.

Solution: C

The Great Red Spot is a notable feature of Jupiter, a giant storm that has been ongoing for centuries. Saturn, on the other hand, is known for its spectacular ring system with seven rings, and it also has the large moon Titan. Saturn has a longer orbital period of 29.5 Earth years compared to Jupiter’s 11.9 years.

Solution: D

Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) offers cloud-based infrastructure and tools that enable businesses and developers to build, deploy, and manage blockchain applications without the need for creating or maintaining the blockchain infrastructure themselves. Microsoft Azure’s BaaS is an example, allowing businesses to quickly set up blockchain applications.

Solution: B

Statement 1 is correct as both Jupiter and Saturn have many moons due to their large size and strong gravitational influence.

Statement 2 is incorrect because Saturn has more moons than Jupiter, with 145 moons compared to Jupiter’s 95.

Statement 3 is correct, as Titan is the largest moon of Saturn.

Solution: D

The recall guidelines announced by the DCGI are intended to safeguard public health by ensuring that drugs which fail quality tests in government laboratories are swiftly removed from the market. This step is critical in preventing harmful drugs from being consumed by the public, thus reducing the risk of adverse health effects and ensuring that only safe and effective medications are available to patients. The guidelines are a proactive measure to enhance drug safety standards in India.