December 10 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 3 is correct

• Researchers have found two genetically different groups of Indian star tortoises, indicating that releasing seized tortoises without proper planning could harm conservation efforts.
• Star Pattern: The Indian star tortoise’s shell is adorned with unique, star-shaped patterns that provide it with camouflage in the dappled light of its natural habitat.
• Size: They are relatively small compared to other tortoises, with adult females typically larger than males.

Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect

• Habitat: These tortoises are adaptable to various habitats, including dry forests, scrublands, & grass-lands.
• Geographic Range: They are native to India, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of north-west and southern India and parts of Sri Lanka.
• Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination: The sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated; higher temperatures tend to produce females, while lower temperatures produce males.
• Protection: Listed in Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable.

Answer: (d) 3 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Indian Railways has implemented Linen Inspection and Sorting Assistant (LISA).
• It is an advanced AI-based automation machine designed to ensure 100% quality inspection of bed sheets used in trains, introduced as a pilot project at Ghorpadi Integrated Coaching Complex (GICC).
• It can quickly process large volumes of linens, significantly improving operational efficiency.

Answer: (c) Indian Railways; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Buddha Nullah is a seasonal water stream that runs through the Malwa region of Punjab and drains into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River.
• Farmers in Punjab and Rajasthan protest against pollution in Buddha Nullah caused by untreated factory waste, affecting public health and agriculture.
• The pollution issue has been ongoing for years, with the National Green Tribunal urging central and state pollution boards to take action against polluting units.

Statement 2 is correct

• It passes through the industrial city of Ludhiana before it finally drains into the Sutlej.
• Its pollution has been associated with the “cancer belt” in Punjab, particularly in the Malwa region.
• Impacts: Contamination affects agricultural productivity due to using polluted water for irrigation. The local fishing economy has suffered as aquatic life in the nullah has been nearly destroyed.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Right to Disconnect law allows employees to ignore communications after hours if they choose to, without fear of being punished by their bosses.
• The law does not ban employers from contacting workers after hours. Instead, it gives staff the right not to reply unless their refusal is deemed unreasonable.

Statement 2 is correct

• Article 38 and Article 39(e) promote welfare and workers’ health.

Statement 3 is correct

• Vishakha judgment emphasized workplace dignity but did not address the Right to Disconnect.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• Such laws are absent in India, leaving employees vulnerable to after-hours work pressure.

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct

• The World Bank highlights the twin crises of food and energy insecurity as critical challenges for global stability, necessitating a reimagined approach to agriculture.
• Causative Factors for Food and Energy Insecurity:
  • High Energy Dependence: Agriculture uses fossil fuels for machinery, irrigation, fertiliser production and transport, contributing over 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Food Insecurity: Between 2020-2023, 11.8% of the global population faced severe food insecurity, projected to reach 956 million by 2028.
  • Energy Inequity: Low-income nations, consuming a fraction of global energy, face disproportionate impacts from supply disruptions and price volatility.
  • Climate Vulnerability: Extreme weather damages infrastructure, disrupting supply chains.
  • Biofuel Competition: Agriculture’s dual role of food production and biofuel supply strains resources, raising moral concerns about prioritisation.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Renewable energy adoption benefits vulnerable regions, addressing structural barriers and affordability.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Coastal hardening refers to the creation of rigid, semi-impermeable structures by humans that alter natural landscapes. These can obstruct the shoreline retreat and landward translation of sandy beaches.
• Examples: These include seawalls, harbours, roads, highways, buildings, railway revetments etc.

Statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is incorrect

• Purpose of Coastal Hardening:  Primary aim of these structures is to protect coastal areas from erosion and flooding, especially given the rapid increase in population migration towards coasts since the 1950s.

• Advantages of Coatal Hardening:
  • Protection from Erosion and Flooding: Coastal hardening structures, such as seawalls and breakwaters, provide critical protection against coastal erosion and flooding. They shield infrastructure, homes, and communities from the destructive force of waves and storms.
  • Economic Stability: These structures help protect valuable coastal properties and investments by preventing coastal erosion. This, in turn, maintains the economic stability of coastal regions, especially those reliant on tourism and fisheries.
• Challenges of Coatal Hardening:
  • Environmental Degradation: Coastal hardening can lead to the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity. The rigid structures often disrupt the natural coastal processes, impacting marine and coastal ecosystems.
  • Beach Erosion: While protecting the immediate area, coastal hardening can exacerbate erosion in adjacent areas. The deflected wave energy can erode nearby unprotected beaches.
  • High Costs: The construction & maintenance of coastal hardening structures are expensive. Continuous investment is required to repair & upgrade these structures, which can strain local and national budgets.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Options 1 and 2 are correct

• The 10th World Soil Day, themed “Caring for Soils – Measure, Monitor, and Manage,” underscored the critical issues of soil degradation and nutrient imbalances in India.
• Need for Healthy Soils:
  • Topsoil Formation: Requires 1,000 years to form 2-3 cm; essential as 95% of food depends on it.
  • Nutrient Deficiency in Indian Soils
    1. Nitrogen (N): Adequate in <5% of soils.
    2. Phosphate (P): Sufficient in 40%.
    3. Potash (K): Sufficient in 32%.
    4. Organic Carbon: Found in 20%.
    5. Micronutrients: Deficiencies in sulphur, iron, zinc, and boron range from moderate to severe.
• Challenges in Agriculture Due to Sick Soil:
  • Impact on Productivity: Imbalanced fertilisers create greener crops but reduce grain yields.
  • Environmental Hazards: Nitrogen emissions harm the atmosphere and deplete soil quality.
  • Farmer Profitability: Suboptimal yields lower financial returns.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Imbalanced fertilizer use typically leads to a deficiency or neglect of micronutrients rather than their wide use.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy