April 21-22 2024 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Correct

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched

• Iron Dome
  • It is Israel’s indigenous short-range air defence system.
  • The Iron Dome has three main systems that work together to provide a shield over the area where it is deployed, handling multiple threats. These are:
    • Detection and tracking radar to spot any incoming threats,
    • A battle management and weapon control system (BMC), and
    • A missile firing unit.
  • The BMC basically liaises between the radar and the interceptor missile.
  • It is capable of being used in all weather conditions, including during the day and night.
  • There is something in each missile called proximity fuse which is a laser-controlled fuse.
  • When passing within ten metres of the target, this activates and blasts the missile with shrapnel that destroys the target.
  • The warhead is exploded in such a way that it caters for the velocity of the missile and the target.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched

• The David’s Sling (or Stunner)
  • It is Israel’s medium-range air defence system, which can intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and aircraft.
  • It also has an advanced phased-array radar for easier detection with a range of 300 kilometres.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched

• Iron Beam
  • Israel is developing it to intercept incoming threats with laser technology.
  • Iron Beam uses a fiber laser to generate a laser beam to destroy an airborne target.
  • Whether acting as a stand-alone system or with external cueing as part of an air-defense system, a threat is detected by a surveillance system and tracked by vehicle platforms in order to engage.
  • It is yet to be fully operational.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The name Pahariya is believed to have been derived from the word Pahar meaning hills.
• History – Pahariya tribes are the original inhabitants of the Rajmahal Hills, now known as the Santal Parganas.
• They finds mentioned in Megasthenes’ book as well as Hiuen Tsang’s travelogue.
• Habitat – They live mainly in the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• There are also scattered groups of them in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.
• Cultivation – They practise Jhum or shifting cultivation.
• Language – They predominantly speak Malto language, Dravidian language.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe by the governments of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Indelible ink contains silver nitrate.
• It is a colourless compound which becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight.
• The higher silver nitrate’s concentration, say around 20%, the higher will be the ink’s quality.
• It can remain resistant to soap, liquids, home-cleansing, detergents, etc for up to 72 hours after application.
• This water-based ink also contains a solvent like alcohol to allow its faster drying.
• The indelible ink was first manufactured at the Election Commission’s request by the government’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
• Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd. has been licensed to manufacture the ink and has been in the business since 1962.
• It is exported to more than 25 countries that include Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nepal, South Africa and the Maldives.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Once a voter has his/her credentials checked at the polling booth, and before he/she casts his/her vote by pressing a button on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), the indelible ink is applied on his/her finger.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

• X (formerly Twitter) recently announced that it withheld some posts on the orders of the Election Commission of India as it had agreed to the ‘Voluntary Code of Ethics’ for social media platforms.
• Election commission (EC) set up a committee under Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha in 2019.
• The committee suggested changes to the Representation of People Act (RPA), 1951 (deals with conduct of Lok Sabha and state assembly elections) to cover social media posts in the 48-hour period (silence period) before polling, when conventional campaigning is banned.
• The Internet and Mobile Association of India, along with social media platforms, would go on to present code of ethics to the Election Commission in March 2019.
• After that the code extended to all elections in the future.
• The code says social media platforms will voluntarily undertake information, education and communication campaigns to spread awareness about elections, including about electoral laws.

Answer: (b) Voluntary code of Ethics; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• NOTTO is a national level organization set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• It has following two divisions:
  • National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network:
  • It would function as the apex centre for all India activities of coordination and networking for the procurement and distribution of Organs and Tissues and registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country.
  • National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank):
  • The main thrust and objective of establishing the centre is to fill up the gap between ‘Demand’ and ‘Supply’ as well as ‘Quality Assurance’ in the availability of various tissues.
  • Activities: Coordination for tissue procurement and distribution; Donor Tissue Screening; Removal of Tissues and Storage; Preservations of Tissue; Laboratory screening etc.

Statement 2 is correct

• It functions as the apex centre for all India activities of coordination and networking for:
  • procurement and distribution of organs and tissues; and
  • registry of Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation in the country.
• The Union Health Ministry has issued the directive to eliminate commercial dealings in organs, especially those involving foreign citizens.
• All cases of organ transplants will be allocated a unique National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)-ID for both the donor and the recipient, according to a recent directive by the Union Health Ministry.
• NOTTO-ID is mandatory for considering allocation of organs in the case of a deceased donor transplant; this ID in the case of a living donor transplant shall also be generated at the earliest, maximum within 48 hours after the transplant surgery is done.
• NOTTO-ID must be generated by the hospital from the NOTTO website.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

• Mount Erebus
• It is the most southerly active volcano on Earth.
• Location: It is situated on Ross Island, Antarctica.
• It’s a stratovolcano, characterized by a conical shape and layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.
• Mount Erebus is known for its persistent lava lake.
• The lake has been active since at least 1972 and is one of only a few long-lived lava lakes on Earth.
• It constantly churns and occasionally spews bombs of molten rock in Strombolian eruptions.
  • Strombolian eruptions are moderately explosive eruptions of basaltic magma with moderate gas content.
  • Strombolian eruptions consist of intermittent, discrete explosive bursts which eject pyroclasts as high as hundreds of feet into the air in firework-like incandescent rooster-tails.
  • The discrete blasts in this eruption style are caused by vesiculation of the lava at the vent. A sustained eruptive column is not developed.
  • Strombolian eruptions are louder than Hawaiian eruptions, and generally are of more viscous magma.

Answer: (c) Antarctica; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• It is a long-range, supersonic, air-to-ground, seekerless, precision strikemissile.
• It was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Israeli Military Industries Systems.
• It has been developed for use in missions aimed at destroying high-quality, well-protected targets, such as communication and command centers, air force bases, maintenance centers, and infrastructure.

Statement 2 is correct

• Features:
  • It is 4.7m (15.4ft) long and has a total weight of 570kg.
  • It travels at supersonic speeds, making it difficult to identify and intercept with air defense systems.
  • It has a range of over 190 miles.
  • It can carry 150 kg of explosives.
  • It has a blast fragmentation or general-purpose warhead.
  • It can be fired from an aircraftor as a stand-alone system and uses GPS/INS guidance navigation and anti-jamming capabilities.
  • It can also adjust its path mid-flight, to precisely hit the target it was programmed to hit.
  • It can operate in any weather conditions, day or night.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Kashan style is associated with Persian rugs, which are renowned for their beauty, craftsmanship, and intricate designs.
• Kashan rugs typically feature a central medallion pattern, floral motifs, and intricate details, with a palette dominated by rich reds and blues.
• They are made from high-quality wool or silk, and the exceptional weaving techniques result in durable and luxurious pieces.

  

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Kashan style, which originated in Iran, has also influenced the craftsmanship of Kashmiri carpets in the Kashmir region of India.
• The Kashmiri artisans adopted and adapted the techniques and designs from Kashan, creating a unique blend of Persian and Indian influences in their carpets.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Genomic surveillance plays a vital role in tracking the genetic changes and evolutionary patterns of viruses, allowing researchers to identify emerging strains, monitor transmission dynamics, and detect potential adaptations to new hosts.
• By studying viral genomes, scientists can develop strategies for prevention, control, and treatment.

Statement 2 is correct

• Like other viruses, mpox can undergo genetic changes through various mechanisms, such as gene duplication, mutation accumulation, or gene deletion.
• These changes can result in variations in the virus’s genome, potentially affecting its virulence, host range, or transmission dynamics.
• Understanding these genomic changes is essential for monitoring the evolution of mpox and other viruses and developing effective strategies to control their spread.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Monkeypox (mpox) is a DNA virus, not an RNA virus.
• It belongs to the Poxviridae family and the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes other poxviruses such as smallpox (variola virus) and cowpox virus.
• Mpox has a double-stranded DNA genome.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

• Agrivoltaics is a term used to describe the combination of solar energy generation with traditional farming on the same land.
• This approach allows for dual land use, where crops are grown underneath or between solar panels, leading to improved resource efficiency and potential benefits for both agriculture and energy production.

  

• The three basic types are:
  • Interleaved arrays and crops,
  • Arrays elevated above crops/livestock, and
  • Arrays on greenhouses.
• All three systems have several variables used to maximize solar energy absorbed in both the panels and the crops.
• The main variable taken into account for agrivoltaic systems is the tilt angle of the solar panels.
• Other variables taken into account for choosing the location of the agrivoltaic system are the crops chosen, panel heights, solar irradiance and climate of the area.

Answer: (c) Agrivoltaics; Difficulty Level: Medium