April 25 2024 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Tiwa community, primarily found in the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya, celebrates the Yangli festival.
• This festival is celebrated once every five years by the members of the community.
• Rice is one of the main crops of the region and the sowing of seeds for paddy starts soon after the completion of this festival.

Statement 2 is correct

• This festival is related to agriculture, which is the primary source of income for the Tiwas, hence called as Lakshmi Puja also.
• During Yangli, the community performs traditional dances and offers prayers for a successful harvest, seeking protection for their crops from pests and natural calamities.
• Ceremonious sacrifices of animals including poultry and goats are done on the eve of the puja to welcome the goddess to the “NoBaro” or the granary of the Tiwa people.
• And as per the traditions of the community, the Rongkhi and Amchi people have to sacrifice one goat more than what is being offered by the other groups.

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

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The primary functions of NBWL include:
  • Framing policies and advising the central government on promoting conservation and development of wildlife and forests,
  • Making recommendations for the effective implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,
  • Reviewing and approving projects in and around protected areas that may have an impact on wildlife and their habitats, and
  • Advising on matters relating to the protection and management of wildlife and its habitats, including the establishment and management of sanctuaries and national parks.
• However, managing wildlife corridors between protected areas is not one of the primary functions of NBWL.

Statement 2 is correct

• The National Board for Wildlife has 47 members with the Prime Minister in the Chair.
• The Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in GOI is the Vice-Chairperson.
• The Additional Director General of Forests (WL) & Director, Wildlife Preservation is the Member-Secretary to the Board.
• Other members include:
  • three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha),
  • five NGOs and
  • 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.

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

Correct

Explanation

• Wet bulb temperature (WBT) is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at a constant pressure.
• WBT is a limit that considers heat and humidity beyond which humans can not tolerate high temperatures.
• The Wet Bulb temperature is the temperature of adiabatic saturation.
  • This is the temperature indicated by a moistened thermometer bulb exposed to the air flow.
  • An adiabatic process is one in which no heat is gained or lost by the system.
• Wet Bulb temperature can be measured by using a thermometer with the bulb wrapped in wet muslin.
• The adiabatic evaporation of water from the thermometer and the cooling effect is indicated by a “wet bulb temperature” lower than the “dry bulb temperature” in the air.
• The rate of evaporation from the wet bandage on the bulb, and the temperature difference between the dry bulb and wet bulb, depends on the humidity of the air.
  • The evaporation is reduced when the air contains more water vapour.
• The wet bulb temperature is always lower than the dry bulb temperature but will be identical with 100% relative humidity (the air is at the saturation line).
• A wet-bulb temperature of 31°C is exceedingly harmful to humans, while a temperature of 35°C is unsurvivable for more than 6 hours.

Answer: (c) Evaporation; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India.

  

• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1987 and covers 38.85 square kilometers.
• It harbors the highest density of Rhino in the world and the second highest concentration of Rhino in Assam after Kaziranga National Park.
• It is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ because of the similar landscape and the sizeable population of the one-horned rhino.

  

• Fauna: Leopard, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Jungle cat, Feral Buffalo, Wild pigs, Chinese pangolins, etc.
• Flora: Its maximum consists of the wet savannah of Arundo donax and Saccharum. The remaining area is covered by water bodies.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The comparison to Bharatpur, also known as Keoladeo National Park, highlights the rich avifauna found in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Much like Bharatpur, Pobitora is home to a wide variety of bird species, including many migratory birds, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers and ornithologists.
• The sanctuary is also mentioned as ‘Bharatpur of the East’ due to high density of birds.
• The species count exceeds 2000 migratory birds.
• Several residents and migratory birds such as the Indian pied hornbill, osprey, hill myna, kalij pheasant, etc can be found in the range.
  

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

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) was launched in 2014 to focus on sanitation and waste management in India.
• One of its key goals is making India open defecation-free (ODF) by building toilets and encouraging better sanitation practices.
• The program also aims to increase awareness of menstrual health management.
• It is a restructured version of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by Congress in 2009 that failed to achieve its intended targets due to rampant corruption and indecisive leadership.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The EPI ranks countries based on environmental performance indicators across categories such as climate change performance, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality.
• The Environment Performance Index (EPI) is a ranking system that evaluates a country’s performance on environmental health.
• It’s a biennial report developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Sustainability in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network.

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

Correct

Explanation

• India has kickstarted the process of unifying its 4 airspace regions into one spanning the entire nation.

• Currently, Indian airspace is divided into 4 flight information regions (FIRs) – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai and a sub-FIR at Guwahati, each managed separately.
• ISHAN – Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management at Nagpur.
• Aim:
• All coordination for domestic flights flying in upper airspace (above 25,000 ft) will be handled by air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in Nagpur.
• It is expected to make air traffic operations more efficient, safer and seamless, enabling it to handle more capacity.
• The move is also expected to benefit the passengers by reducing congestion and flying times.
• FIRs are controlled by a single authority, which is responsible for providing air traffic services as well as alerting services.
• The air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in every region would only be required to guide the flights approaching or taking off from an airport until they enter the upper space.
• Benefits:
  • Flexibility in flight routes
  • Reduced Travel time
  • Lower fuel consumption
  • Reduce carbon footprint

Answer: (c) One Nation, One airspace; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

• NABARD’s Climate strategy 2030

• On Earth Day, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) unveiled its Climate Strategy 2030 document, which aims to address India’s need for green financing.
• Key pillars
  • Accelerating green lending across sectors,
  • Playing a broader market-making role,
  • Internal green transformation and
  • Strategic resource mobilisation.
• India’s need for green financing
  • India requires approx. $170 billion annually to reach a cumulative total of over $2.5 trillion by 2030.
  • As of 2019-20, India garnered only about $49 billion in green financing.
  • The majority focused on mitigation; only $5 billion was allocated towards adaptation and resilience.
  • Minimal private sector engagement in adaptation and resilience due to challenges in bankability and commercial viability was observed.
• The initiative reinforces NABARD’s commitment to environmental stewardship and positions it as a pivotal player in India’s transition towards a resilient and sustainable economy.

Answer: (d) All Four; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• World Energy Council (WEC) is a global body established in 1923, with the aim of promoting sustainable supply and use of energy.
• Headquarters – London.
• The idea for the foundation of the Council came from Daniel Nicol Dunlop in the 1920s.
• It is an UN-accredited global energy body that has convened diverse interests from across the full energy ecosystem for a century.
• It has over 3,000 member organisations and a presence in nearly 100 countries.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• India is one of the earliest country members of World Energy Council, having joined the Council in 1924.
• WEC India functions under the patronage of Ministry of Power, Government of India and with the support of the Ministries of Coal, New & Renewable Energy, Petroleum & Natural Gas and External Affairs.

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

Correct

Explanation

• Scientist Dr Aparna Sureshchandra Kalawate recently introduced a new species of beetles named Omorgus (Afromorgus) Moreshwar.
• After an organism died, blowflies were amongst the first to arrive in the early stages of decomposition.
• The final stage saw the arrival of the newly discovered beetle which fed on the corpse.
• The species is named after the Moreshwar temple, an ashtavinayak pilgrimage site in Pune.
• Family – The new beetle belonged to the subgenus Afromorgus of the Trogidae family, which now had 10 species from India.
• The new species of beetles is extremely rare and can be found only during monsoon.
• Prey – The beetle is necrophagous (fed on dead bodies) in the last stages of decomposition and also called keratin beetle.
• The beetle is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time of death of an animal or human.
• Characteristics – The beetles of this group are sometimes called ‘hide beetles’ as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.
• They are not photogenic, beetles are usually black or grey and encrusted in dirt.
• Appearance – Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.

  

Answer: (d) A new species of Beetles discovered in Pune which can be found only during the monsoon; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• GRFC is produced annually by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and launched by the Global Network Against Food Crises, a multi stake holder initiative that includes United Nations agencies, the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development, and non-governmental agencies working to tackle food crises.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Sudan is facing one of the worst food crises in the world, with almost a third of the population in need of emergency food aid.
• Meanwhile, weather extremes were the main driver for 18 countries, with over 72 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity because of such extreme weather events.
• The 10 countries with the world’s largest food crisis in 2023 were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Yemen, the Syrian Arab Republic, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar.
• On a positive note, the situation improved in 17 countries in 2023, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.

Statement 3 is correct

• Highlights of GRFC 2024:
• The report analyzed a population of 1.3 billion in 2023 across 59 countries.
• 2023 was the fifth consecutive year of rises in the number of people suffering acute food insecurity, defined as when populations face food deprivation that threatens lives or livelihoods, regardless of the causes or length of time.
• Nearly 282 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 59 countries in 2023.
• The report identifies conflicts, extreme weather events, and economic shocks as the three main drivers behind the exacerbation of food crises in the world.
• With food crisis escalating alarmingly in conflict hotspots in 2023, notably Palestine (Gaza Strip) and Sudan, conflict / insecurity became the primary driver in 20 countries, directly affecting 135 million people.
• The Gaza Strip became the area with the most severe food crisis in the last eight years of GRFC reporting.

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