🚨 This story is part of our special initiative for UPSC and other competitive exams. Look out for UPSC KEY on weekdays and UPSC Essentials everyday, Weekly news express with MCQs, Key Terms of the past week, quizzes as well as The Indian Express 360° Upsc Debate, Society & Social Justice, UPSC Mains Practice, Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik, UPSC Ethics Simplified, Experts Talk, and more. 🚨 UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. UPSC Daily Subject Quiz covers all topics under the UPSC Civil Services syllabus, including Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment, Science and Technology, International Relations, and more. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. 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 Economy Quiz. Dear Aspirants, Thank you for joining us for LIVE sessions. You will be happy to know that we will be LIVE every week on Wednesdays, take up your queries, provide you with cues from the news, and discuss relevant themes revolving around news and UPSC preparation in general. This week’s theme: EDITORIALS- How to read and make notes? We will take up more questions too. You can send your queries to manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com or join Telegram: The Indian Express UPSC Hub or ask me Live! at 8 PM on August 2. QUESTION 1 With reference to Sickle Cell Disease, consider the following statements: 1. It is a genetic blood disease. 2. In this disease, the white blood cells become distorted and take on a sickle-like shape. 3. India is committed to eliminate the disease before 2030. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None QUESTION 2 "Ketoprofen" and "Aceclofenac" were in the news recently. They are: (a) Disinfectants (b) Antiseptic (c) Anti Depression Medicines (d) Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs QUESTION 3 With reference to the Desiccation-tolerant vascular (DT) plants, consider the following statements: 1. These plants are able to withstand extreme dehydration losing up to 95 per cent of their water content. 2. In India, these plants are found only in the deserts of Rajasthan. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 QUESTION 4 “Batagaika Crater” was in the news due to an alarming indicator of the implications of global warming. It is located in: (a) China (b) Russia (c) Finland (d) Denmark QUESTION 5 Consider the following statements about the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme: 1. It is a sub-component of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. 2. It aims to support domestic manufacturing of electrolysers. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS TO MCQs 1. (a) FYI: — Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disease that affects the whole life of an affected patient. It is more common in the tribal population of India but occurs in non-tribals too. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — It is a genetic disorder in which a person’s red blood cells become distorted and take on a sickle-like shape. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — It not only causes anemia but also pain crises, reduced growth, and affects many organs like lungs, heart, kidneys, eyes, bones and the brain. — Sickle cell disease is a serious health challenge in India’s tribal population. — In India, there are approximately 706 different tribal communities, which constitute 8.6 per cent of the total population. — The Government of India is fully committed to the health and development of the tribal population as a national priority, taking into account their ethical values, traditions, socio-economic conditions, and tribal organisations. The government is committed to eliminate the disease before India celebrates it’s Amrit Kaal in 2047. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Other Source: sickle.nhm.gov.in) 2. (d) FYI: — In a plea on the declining vulture population due to the veterinary use of certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the Centre informed the Delhi High Court that it has released an action plan for vulture conservation and has undertaken measures in addition to steps already taken to strengthen the conservation of Vultures. — It also sought a ban on two “Vulture Toxic drugs”–namely, ‘Aceclofenac’ and ‘Ketoprofen’, which have been found to be toxic to vultures, and a recommendation to ban these drugs for veterinary use. — There are four species of vultures, namely, Gyps indicus, Gyps bengalensis, Gyps tenulrostris and Gypaetus barbatus, which are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. 3. (a) FYI: — A team of researchers from the Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute has discovered on the Western Ghats more than 30 new plant species capable of surviving extreme dehydration and arid conditions. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — Desiccation-tolerant vascular (DT) plants are able to withstand extreme dehydration, losing up to 95 per cent of their water content, and they revive themselves once water is available again. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — These plants lower their metabolism rate and break down the chlorophyll during the periods when there is no water availability post the year’s southwest monsoon season lasting for four months. — This unique ability allows them to survive in harsh, arid environments that would be uninhabitable for most other plants. Therefore, option (a) is the correct (Other Source: pib.gov.in) 4. (b) FYI: — Batagaika Crater is a widening chasm in Siberia and the world’s largest permafrost crater located in Russia. — Batagaika Crater has formed as rising temperatures have thawed the permafrost. Warmer summers and shorter winters are causing the frozen layer cake of ice and soil to collapse (or “slump”) and erode away in much of the Arctic. — Each exposed layer of the crater wall is like a snapshot in time, helping scientists understand the past climate. Layers of permafrost exposed at the bottom might be up to 650,000 years old. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov) 5. (c) FYI: — The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme is a sub-component of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The programme consists of two distinct financial incentive mechanisms: (i) To support domestic manufacturing of electrolysers. Hence, statement 2 is correct. (ii) Production of Green Hydrogen. — The objective of the programme is to: (i) Maximize the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives in India (ii) Enhance cost competitiveness of green hydrogen and its derivatives. (iii) Encourage large-scale utilization of green hydrogen and its derivatives. — It shall be implemented by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. (Sources: pib.gov.in, mnre.gov.in) Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 17) Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 17) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 16) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 16) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 16) (The UPSC Essentials Indian Express is now on Telegram- Indian Express UPSC Hub. Click here to join our YouTube channel and stay updated with the latest updates. Note: Catch the UPSC Weekly Quiz every Saturday evening and brush up on your current affairs knowledge.)
