August 08-2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-km-long border, including 2,217 km in West Bengal.
• The Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura stretches of the border are 262 km, 318 km, and 856 km respectively.
• While Meghalaya share 443 km border with Bangladesh.

Credits: Maps of India

Answer: (d) All five; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) uses long-term precipitation records to develop a probability distribution of precipitation.
• The index can be positive for wet conditions and negative for dry conditions and includes time scales of 1,2,3,6,9,12,24,36,48,60 and 72 months (about 6 years).
• It uses only precipitation data, making it less complex than the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI).
• It requires high-quality, reliable data with a minimum of 30-50 years of data for accurate calculation.
• The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) is a meteorological index used to measure the severity of drought conditions based on precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture data.
• Developed by Wayne Palmer in the 1960s, it considers both water supply and demand, making it a comprehensive tool for drought assessment.

Option (a) is incorrect

• PDSI is not a measure of precipitation deficit over a short-term period. Instead, it focuses on assessing drought severity through precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture.

Option (c) is incorrect

• While the PDSI can indirectly affect agricultural productivity by indicating drought severity, it is not an economic indicator.

Option (d) is incorrect

• The PDSI is not limited to temperature variations; it also considers precipitation and soil moisture. It provides a more comprehensive assessment of drought conditions by integrating multiple factors, not just temperature.

Answer: (b) A meteorological index to assess drought severity using precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture data; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Bhoj Wetland consists of two artificial lakes, Bhojtal (Upper Lake) and the Lower Lake.
  • Raja Bhoj of Malwa built Bhojtal by constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans River.
  • The Lower Lake was constructed nearly 200 years ago, largely from leakage from the Upper.
• Other Ramsar sites in MP include Sirpur Wetland, Sakhya Sagar, and Yaswant Sagar.

Statement 2 is correct

• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA):
  • NPCA is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by MoEF&CC.
  • It aims to restore and protect wetlands, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, integrate wetlands into development plans, and support States with management, capacity building, and research.
  • It uses a four-pronged approach, including the creation of a Wetland Brief Document, a Wetland Health Card, Wetlands Mitras for collaboration, and a Wetland Integrated Management Plan.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The State of Rural Youth Employment Report is released by Development Intelligence Unit (DIU).
• The opportunity youth (unemployed/underemployed), which accounted for about 70% of all rural youth across 21 states were surveyed.
• Report reveals that 70-85% of employed rural youth want to change their jobs.

Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect

• The majority prefer small businesses (manufacturing, retail, trading) or salaried jobs in public/private sectors.
• The majority of the youth do not find agriculture aspirational due to low productivity and insufficient profits.
• Over 60% of males and 70% of females prefer work near their villages, even with lower income.
• 90% of males and 50% of females need support in accessing seed capital, and only 10% need full training courses.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Danube river is the second-largest river in Europe after Russia’s Volga.
• It flows from Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea.
• It passes through four capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgradeor) and ten countries.
• It is connected to the North Sea via the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.
• Sturgeon Fish is found in freshwaters and saltwater’s of Eurasia and North America.

Option (b) is incorrect

• The Rhine River of western Europe flows from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. The Rhine is about 765 miles (1230 kilometers) long.
• This transboundary river drains an area of about 185,000 square kilometers and flows through six countries; Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and the Netherlands.

Option (c) is incorrect

• Elbe river has its source in the Krkonoše Mountains in the Czech Republic and its mouth opening into the German side of the North Sea, the Elbe River embodies all that has shaped Central Europe over many centuries.

Option (d) is incorrect

• The Dnipro is born in the bogs of the Valdai Hills of Western Russia, near the city of Smolensk (240 kilometers/150 miles West of Moscow), at an elevation of approximately 220 meters (720 feet).
• The roughly 2,200-kilometer (1,367 miles) river flows in a predominantly Southern direction, passing through 480 kilometers (300 miles) of Russia’s Smolensk Oblast, 600 kilometers (370 miles) of Eastern Belarus, before cutting through the central part of Ukraine, for approximately 1,095 kilometers (680 miles) and emptying into the Northwestern Black Sea.

Answer: (a) Danube River; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct

• Rising tensions between Iran and Israel over Hamas Leader killing may impact some initiatives like I2U2 initiative (West Asian Quad).
• I2U2 is established in 2021, it is a strategic partnership between India, Israel, UAE and US.
• Its aim is to mobilize private sector capital and expertise to achieve a variety of goals, including modernizing infrastructure, advancing low carbon development pathways, and improving public health.

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