UPSC Editorials Quiz : 24 March 2025

Solution: a)

• Presbyopia is a common age-related visual condition that reduces the eye’s ability to focus on close objects. This occurs due to the gradual loss of elasticity in the eye’s crystalline lens, which affects accommodation—the process by which the lens adjusts its shape to focus.
• Statement 1 is correct as this loss directly impairs near vision.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because presbyopia does not typically affect young adults nor does it progress rapidly. It is a slow, age-related change that usually begins around the age of 40 and progresses over time. It is part of the natural aging process rather than a sudden or early-onset condition.
• Statement 3 is correct since multifocal lenses, including bifocals and progressive lenses, are commonly prescribed to provide correction at multiple distances, helping manage presbyopia effectively.

Solution: a)

• Siddha medicine is one of the oldest traditional systems of healing, primarily practiced in South India. It is deeply rooted in the concept that human beings are made up of five basic elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—and maintaining the balance among these is essential for health.
• Statement 1 is correct, as this elemental theory forms the core of Siddha diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because while herbs are extensively used, Siddha medicine also utilizes a wide range of metals, minerals, and animal products—processed carefully through traditional purification methods—to enhance efficacy and longevity of treatments.
• Statement 3 is also incorrect because Siddha is a holistic system; it addresses not just physical illnesses but also emphasizes mental and spiritual well-being, aiming for a balanced lifestyle that integrates yoga and meditation practices.

Solution: d)

• In a move aimed at streamlining the investment process and aligning it with the mechanisms already in place for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), SEBI has delegated the registration of Foreign Venture Capital Investors (FVCIs) to Designated Depository Participants (DDPs).
• Earlier, FVCI registration was handled directly by SEBI, which often involved longer processing times. With this reform, DDPs—who are already authorized intermediaries for FPI registrations—will not only register FVCIs but also manage their post-registration compliance and administrative formalities.
• This change is part of SEBI’s broader objective to simplify the regulatory architecture for foreign investors, enhance ease of doing business, and attract more capital into the Indian startup and innovation ecosystem.
• By aligning the FVCI process with that of FPIs, SEBI aims to provide a more seamless, investor-friendly experience.

Solution: b)

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer and the founder of modern nursing. She gained recognition during the Crimean War (not the First World War) for organizing care for wounded soldiers. After the war, she established the first scientifically-based nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, which laid the foundation for modern nursing education. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect.

Solution: b)

• Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind. This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen without releasing greenhouse gases, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods.
• Statement 1 is correct, as the clean production process is central to green hydrogen.
• Statement 2 is also correct, as green hydrogen significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to grey hydrogen, which is typically derived from natural gas and releases substantial CO₂ emissions—around 10 kg of CO₂ per kg of hydrogen—while green hydrogen emissions can be as low as 1–2 kg or even negligible, depending on the energy source.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is not under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy but rather under the Ministry of Power. The MNRE plays a key role in renewable energy initiatives, but BEE’s administrative control lies elsewhere.