UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Lithium, space anaemia and more (Week 73)

1. Nitrogen

2. Zinc

3. Boron

4. Phosphorous

5. Manganese

Which of the above nutrients constitutes the macronutrient of the soil health card?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 2 and 5 only

Explanation

— The soil health card informs farmers about the nutritional state of their soil and recommends the right nutrient dosage to improve its health and fertility.

— The adoption of a soil health card has helped farmers significantly cut production costs while increasing yield.

— The soil health card depicts the soil’s macronutrient and micronutrient levels.

— Macronutrients include nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, whereas micronutrients include boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc.

— The soil’s physical properties include organic carbon (OC) and electrical conductivity (EC).

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: soilhealth.dac.gov.in)

QUESTION 2

With reference to Lithium, consider the following statements:

1. It is also known as grey gold.

2. It is produced by a process in which salt-rich water is pumped to the surface and into a series of evaporation ponds.

3. It is used in rechargeable batteries.

4. India does not have Lithium mining sites.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— According to a new study, Chile’s Atacama salt flat is sinking at a pace of 1 to 2 cm per year as a result of lithium brine extraction, a process in which salt-rich water is pumped to the surface and into a series of evaporation ponds to extract lithium. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— One of the most sought-after metals on the planet is lithium, sometimes known as “white gold“. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— It is used in rechargeable batteries that power not only laptops and mobile phones, but also electric cars – an important component of the world’s climate change strategy. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Chemicals used in lithium extraction, such as sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide, pollute soil and water, damaging ecosystems and putting species at risk.

— The Ministry of Mines cancelled the sale for the block in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi area, putting India’s lithium ambitions in jeopardy.

— India’s aspirations to expand domestic lithium mining made progress in Korba district, with a successful auction of one block and promising exploratory results from surrounding blocks. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following effects:

1. Reduction in blood volume

2. Increase in haemoglobin

3. Increase in red blood cell count

How many of the above effects are caused due to space anaemia?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— NASA has revealed that astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who were flown to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, will have to spend an extended period of time in orbit.

— Space anaemia is a disorder that astronauts experience during and after long-term space missions. According to Dr Singhla, space anaemia is mostly caused by the body’s adaptation to the unique environment of space, as opposed to anaemia on Earth, which is frequently caused by nutritional inadequacies or chronic disorders.

— Space anaemia, which is defined by a decrease in red blood cells and haemoglobin levels, presents particular challenges for astronauts on long-duration missions. Hence, 2 and 3 are not correct.

— According to Dr Singhla, space anaemia arises as a consequence of these fluid shifts. In a microgravity environment, the body’s physiological mechanisms adjust to the new fluid distribution, leading to a reduction in the overall blood volume. Hence, 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

The government has banned 156 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs because:

1. They have more than one active ingredient — chemical compounds in medicines that have an effect on the body.

2. They contain ingredients that are not needed by patients to be taken together.

3. To control pricing on essential medicines.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 2 only

Explanation

— The government has prohibited 156 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs, including well-known medications like Cheston Cold and Foracet, which are used to treat colds, fevers, and pain, respectively.

— The ban is the most comprehensive assault on FDCs, which are mixtures of two or more known medications in single-dose form.

— FDCs are medicines that include more than one active ingredient (chemical compounds in medicines that affect the body) in a single pill, capsule, or injection. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— These “irrational” combinations have been outlawed because they contain medicines that do not perform well together or are unnecessary for patients to take together. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Another reason for the ban is the price control for critical drugs. The government sets the ceiling prices for certain medications based on average market prices. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— FDCs are intended for people suffering from illnesses such as tuberculosis and diabetes, who require many medications on a regular basis. FDCs lower the number of pills the patient needs to take each day while also improving medication adherence.

Some examples of FDCs

— Combinations of anti-allergic medicines such as levocetirizine with nasal decongestant, syrups that break down mucus, and paracetamol;

— Combination of a migraine medicine with one to prevent nausea;

— Combination of the drug mefenamic acid — usually used for menstrual cramps — with anti-fibrotic medicine tranexamic acid.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

1. It is a newly formed Ramsar site based on the name of the river.

2. The reservoir near the site is a massive wintering ground for migratory birds.

3. It provides irrigation water to farmlands and drinking water to local communities of southern Madhya Pradesh.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Hirakud Reservoir

(b) Harike wetland

(c) Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

(d) Tawa Reservoir

Explanation

— Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav declared three new Ramsar sites in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh earlier this month, bringing the total number of such sites in India to 85. The new additions are the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, as well as the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

— Wetlands are defined as all lakes, rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, marshes, and other large water bodies. Wetlands help manage climate conditions by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Wetland plant communities and soil trap carbon rather of releasing it into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which is a primary cause of global warming.

Tawa Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh)

— The Tawa Reservoir, created by damming the Tawa River in Madhya Pradesh is also integral in regional water management.

— The reservoir became a massive wintering ground for migratory birds.

— Tawa provides irrigation water to farmlands, drinking water to local communities, and sustains the nearby fisheries.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 73)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 73)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 72)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 72)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 71)

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