UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 20 to August 26, 2023

2. It can be seen only in the Pacific Ocean.

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 2

BRICS consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Recently, at the 15th summit in Johannesburg, the group invited six more countries to join the alliance whose membership will begin on January 1, 2024. Which of the following countries is not among the invited countries?

(a) Libya

(b) Iran

(c) Argentina

(d) United Arab Emirates

QUESTION 3

Consider the following pairs:

(Region in News)                         (Location)

1. Fukushima Daiichi

Nuclear Power Plant                   Russia

2. Demchok                                     Bhutan

3. Depsang Plains                          India 

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Consider the following:

1. Corals

2. Seagrasses

3. Jellyfish

4. Sponges

How many of the above are worst affected by the marine heat waves?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Bharat NCAP testing protocol, consider the following statements:

1. It has different protocols and does not align with global crash test protocols.

2. A higher NCAP score refers to a safer car.

3. The test will be conducted based only on the frontal impact test.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 6

With reference to the Chandrayaan 3, consider the following statements:

1. Chandrayaan-3 lander made a successful soft landing on the surface of the Moon making India the first country to reach close to the lunar south pole.

2. The objective of the mission is to demonstrate a Rover roving on the Moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

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 7

With reference to the State of India’s Birds, 2023 report, consider the following statements:

1. Peafowl is one of the most rapidly increasing species in the country.

2. The number of Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis has decreased.

3. Ducks are rapidly increasing in India.

4. White-rumped vultures have suffered the maximum long-term declines.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 8

The Gond Painting was recently in the news recently. Consider the following statements about Gond Paintings:

1. It is created by dots and lines.

2. Chhatisgarh has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Gond paintings.

3. Paintings have been a part of pictorial art on walls and floors of the Gond community.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (d)

FYI:

— The United States west coast recently witnessed Hurricane Hilary (a sub-tropical storm by the time it hit the US), prompting the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) to issue its first-ever tropical storm watch for parts of Southern California.

— As per the National Weather Service (NWS), when two hurricanes (or cyclones, depending on where you live), spinning in the same direction, are brought close together, they begin ‘an intense dance around their common center’ – this interaction between two cyclones is called the Fujiwhara effect. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are not correct.

— If the strength of one hurricane exceeds that of the other, the smaller one will orbit it and finally smash into its vortex, where it will be consumed. If two storms of comparable power pass each other, they may drift towards each other until they reach a common centre and combine, or they may just spin each other about for a while before flying off on their respective routes.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

— The five-member BRICS invited six more countries to join the alliance which can strengthen its claim of being a ‘voice of the Global South’ on one hand, while raising concerns about China’s increasing dominance on the other.

— BRICS consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

— In its ongoing summit (15th summit) at Johannesburg, South Africa, it has invited Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Their membership will begin in January 2024.

— The formation of BRICS in 2009 was driven by the idea that the four emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China would be the future economic powerhouses of the world. South Africa was added a year later.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

3. (a)

FYI:

Region in News	Location
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant	Japan
Demchok	Ladakh, India
Depsang Plains	Ladakh, India

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

— Extreme heat has plagued the Mediterranean Sea and wildfires raged across at least nine countries in the region from Algeria to Greece. But these soaring temperatures are not only a danger for people and ecosystems on land, they’re also harming marine life.

— In a warming world, marine creatures are in danger of suffocating. Gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolve better at colder temperatures, so that means the warmer the water, the less oxygen is available to breathe.

— According to Diego Kersting, a marine scientist with Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC), the rise in temperature accelerates metabolism, and the organisms need more food to maintain this metabolic rate.

— Algal blooms are more common in hot waters and such blooms can further deplete oxygen levels and produce toxins harmful for fish, marine mammals and birds.

— High water temperatures are most harmful for animals living at the bottom of oceans, lakes or rivers. These benthic species include corals, mussels, sponges, starfish and plants like sea grasses, and are often attached to rock or solid ground. They can’t migrate when it gets too hot.

— Many benthic animals play critical roles in the marine ecology. By consuming dead organisms, they filter the water and keep oceans, rivers, and lakes clean. Some species are vital food sources for other animals, while others are gathered by humans. Some of the most important ocean habitats are provided by benthic organisms such as soft corals, seaweed, and seagrasses.

— Jellyfish, on the other hand, are thriving because of higher temperatures, as well as nutrient run-off from farms and sewage.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— India has launched its own crash test rating assessment system, joining half a dozen other countries and geographies that have these norms.

— A crash test is a collision of a vehicle in a controlled environment to assess its safety parameters. The new norms under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme or Bharat NCAP, will come into effect from October 1.

— The standards will offer customers an objective metric to compare the crash safety of vehicle models before buying, and will nudge manufacturers to progressively improve the safety ratings of models.

— The Bharat NCAP testing protocol is aligned with global crash test protocols and will have ratings from 1 star to 5. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The higher the NCAP score (stars) the safer the car. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The evaluation will cover:

(i) Adult Occupant Protection (AOP),

(ii) Child Occupant Protection (COP), and

(iii) Fitment of Safety Assist Technologies.

— For this, three tests will be conducted: a frontal impact test, a side impact test, and a side pole impact test. Based on the vehicle’s performance in these tests, the model will be offered separate star ratings for AOP and COP. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

6. (c)

FYI:

— The Chandrayaan-3 lander made a successful soft landing on the surface of the Moon making India the first country to reach close to the lunar south pole. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— India has also become the fourth nation in history to land on the lunar surface, after the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union, and China.

— According to ISRO, the mission’s three objectives were to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, to demonstrate a Rover roving on the Moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The landing site is near the south pole of the moon at 70 degrees latitude.

— All of the previous spacecraft to have landed on the Moon have landed in the region near the Moon’s equator, firstly because it is easier and safer here. The terrain and temperature are more conducive for a long and sustained operation of instruments.

— The polar regions of the Moon are different. Many parts lie in a completely dark region without sunlight, and temperatures can go below 230 degrees Celsius.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

7. (b)

FYI:

— The State of India’s Birds, 2023 report says there is a general decline in the numbers in most bird species in the country.

— The State of India’s Birds, 2023 report, also says that several bird species such as the Indian Peafowl, Rock Pigeon, Asian Koel and House Crow are not only healthy in both abundance and distribution but showing an “increasing trend”.

— The Peafowl, India’s national bird, is one of the most rapidly increasing species in the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Among the bird species that have been doing well, compared to their pre-2000 baseline, the Asian Koel has shown a rapid increase in abundance of 75 per cent, with an annual current increase of 2.7 per cent per year.

— The report has found that birds that feed on invertebrates, including insects, are declining rapidly, which is in keeping with the worldwide trends of decrease in insect populations.

— White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, and Red-headed Vulture have suffered the maximum long-term declines (98 per cent, 95 per cent, and 91 per cent, respectively). Hence, statement 4 is correct.

— Birds that are endemic to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot have rapidly declined in India.

— Ducks are also rapidly declining in India. India hosts eight resident and 35 migratory species, which occupy a range of habitats, including inland lakes and tanks, submerged paddy fields, rivers, forest pools, and coastal lagoons. Large congregations of ducks occur in Chilika, Pulicat, Rann of Kachchh, Maguri, Loktak, Sambhar, and Keoladeo. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Riverine sandbar-nesting birds are also showing a decline due to widespread pressures on rivers from irrigation schemes, transportation, human disturbance, domestic use, and pollution from agricultural and industrial chemicals, variations in the water level and sand mining.

— The Glossy Ibis and Black-headed Ibis have increased dramatically in abundance over the past three decades, by over 130 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

8. (b)

FYI:

— Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi presented a pair of ‘surahi’ from Telangana to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Nagaland shawl to his wife and the first lady of the host country of the BRICS Summit.

— Naga shawls are known for their vibrant colours, intricate designs, and the use of traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down from generation to generation. These exquisite forms of textile art have been woven for centuries by the tribes in Nagaland in the northeastern part of India.

— He gifted gond painting from Madhya Pradesh to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

— Gond paintings are one of the most admired tribal art form and are created by dots and lines. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— They have been a part of pictorial art on walls and floors of the Gond community. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh‘ is a unique art form developed in due course of time replicating the association of mankind with nature. It has been granted a GI tag under Sub-section (1) of Section 13 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— It is an art form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India the Gond who are predominantly in Madhya Pradesh.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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