UPSC Essentials: Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 1)

Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the weekly current affairs quiz and MCQs on the Economy on Monday.. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

QUESTION 1

Consider the following statements about Global Methane Pledge – 

1. It was launched at the Conference of Parties (COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 

2. The aim is to cut down methane emissions by 30 per cent from 2020 levels by the year 2030.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below – 

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 2

The term cryptojacking is related to:

(a) Cryptocurrency trading.

(b) Spyware which affects android and ios.

(c) It is a cyber attack wherein a computing device is hijacked and controlled by the attacker.

(d) Transfer of cryptocurrency

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements about Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-54 rocket:

1. It has launched the second generation satellite in the Oceansat series.

2. It has launched India-Bhutan satellite which will provide high resolution images to Bhutan for their natural resources management.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below –

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 4

Which organisation has formulated the plan of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism?

(a) United Nation Environment Programme

(b) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(c) International Solar Alliance

(d) European Union

QUESTION 5

Consider the following pollutants – 

1. Sulphur dioxide

2. PM 2.5

3. Ozone

4. Carbon dioxide

5. Carbon monoxide

Which of the following pollutants are covered under the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3, and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

QUESTION 6

Consider the following statements about Bharat Stage VI emission norms as compared to Bharat Stage IV emission norms – 

1. The emission of sulphur is estimated to come down by 80 per cent.

2. The emission of nitrogen oxides is estimated to come down by 70 percent in diesel vehicles and 25 per cent in petrol vehicles.

Select the correct answer using the codes given – 

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 7

SWAS, STAR and SAFAL were often heard in news corresponds to which of the following?

(a) Green Crackers

(b) Water Convention

(c) Bio-decomposer

(d) Air Quality Management

QUESTION 8

Consider the following statements about State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2021-22 –

1. The index is released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of States/UTs on various parameters of Food Safety.

2. The index is released bi-annually.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below – 

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWERS TO MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— Methane is a powerful but short-lived climate pollutant. Methane gas is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, after carbon dioxide.

— The Global Methane Pledge was launched at COP26 in November 2021 to catalyse action to reduce methane emissions. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The pledge was led by the United States and European Union. As of now, there are 111 country participants.

— The participants joining the Pledge agree to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Sources: http://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2022/the-global-methane-pledge, http://www.globalmethanepledge.org/)

2. (c)

FYI:

— Cryptojacking is a cyber attack wherein a computing device is hijacked and controlled by the attacker, and its resources are used to illicitly mine cryptocurrency.

—  Coin mining is a legitimate, competitive process used to release new crypto coins into circulation or to verify new transactions.

— It involves solving complex computational problems to generate blocks of verified transactions that get added to the blockchain

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

3. (b)

FYI:

— ISRO’s workhorse PSLV-C54 has successfully launched EOS-06 satellite along with Eight Nano-satellites, including India-Bhutan satellite. The mission was accomplished from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR on November 26, 2022.

— EOS-06 is the third generation satellite in the Oceansat series. The satellite onboard carries four important payloads viz. Ocean Color Monitor (OCM-3), Sea Surface Temperature Monitor (SSTM), Ku-Band Scatterometer (SCAT-3), ARGOS. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The primary satellite, Earth Observation Satellite, is built by ISRO for use by departments and ministries in the Government of India.

— The Ministry of External Affairs, India assisted in training Bhutanese engineers in satellite building and testing, as well as on processing and analysing satellite data.The India-Bhutan satellite will provide high resolution images to Bhutan for their natural resources management. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.isro.gov.in/mission_PSLV_C54.html)

4. (d)

FYI:

— The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is a plan from the European Union (EU) to tax carbon-intensive products, such as iron and steel, cement, fertiliser, aluminium and electricity generation, from 2026.

— The carbon border tax involves imposing an import duty on a product manufactured in a country with more lax climate rules than the one buying it.

— The EU came up with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in 2021 and it has been designed in compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and other international obligations of the EU.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— The colour-coded AQI index was launched in India in 2014, and it helps the public and the government to understand the condition of the air.

— The AQI transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and colour.

— The pollutants measured include PM 10, PM 2.5, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Carbon monoxide, Ammonia and Sulphur dioxide. 

— There are six categories of AQI, namely ‘Good’ (0-50), ‘Satisfactory’ (50-100), ‘Moderately polluted’ (100-200), ‘Poor’ (200-300), ‘Very Poor’ (300-400), and ‘Severe’ (400-500).

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: app.cpcbccr.com/AQI_India/ )

6. (c)

FYI:

— The Bharat Stage emission standards are standards instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicles.

— In 2016, the Centre had announced that the country will skip the BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020.

— The BS-VI fuel is estimated to bring around an 80 per cent reduction of sulphur, from 50 parts per million to 10 ppm. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The emission of NOx (nitrogen oxides) from diesel cars is also expected to come down by nearly 70 per cent and 25 per cent from cars with petrol engines. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

7. (a)

FYI:

— CSIR-NEERI developed new formulations for reduced emission light and sound emitting crackers (SWAS, SAFAL, STAR) with 30% reduction in particulate matter using Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) as oxidant.

— SWAS is a safe water releaser, which suppresses the dust released by releasing water vapour in the air. It does not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur while the particulate dust released will  be reduced approximately by 30 per cent.

— STAR is the safe thermite cracker, which does not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur, emits reduced particulate matter disposal and reduced sound intensity.

— SAFAL is safe minimal aluminium which has minimum usage of aluminium, and used magnesium instead. It ensures reduction in sound in comparison to traditional crackers.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.neeri.res.in/contents/banner_details/green-crackers/5d81cbedbc313#googtrans(en|en))

8. (a)

FYI:

— The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed the State Food Safety Index to measure the performance of states on various parameters of Food Safety. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— This was the fourth edition of the SFSI since its inception in 2018-19. The report is released annually for a financial year. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— This index is based on performance of State/ UT on five significant parameters, namely, Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.

— The states and Union Territories are segregated into three categories — large states, small states and UTs— and assessed separately within their respective categories, based on their performance on the selected food safety parameters.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Sources: www.fssai.gov.in)

Previous Quizzes:

Polity and Governance,

History, Culture, and Social Issues

Tomorrow’s Quiz: UPSC Weekly Quiz (Current Affairs)

Monday’s Quiz: Economy 

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