December 17 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The INCOIS, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has developed a newer version of its own Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT).
• It was launched in 2016 under the Make in India program.
• It facilitates search and rescue operations at sea by quickly locating individuals or vessels in distress.
• The tool is based on model currents derived from the high-resolution Regional Ocean Modelling System, operated on High-Performance Computers at INCOIS.

Statement 2 is correct

• Object Selection: Users can select up to 60 missing objects based on shape and buoyancy.
• Language Support: All requests and responses are provided in the languages of the coastal states, enabling local fishermen to search for their fellow fishermen in distress immediately.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Interactive Mapping: Users can select a specific point where the object was last seen using an interactive map, or they can choose a coastal location, distance travelled, and bearing angle to estimate the last known location of the missing object.
• Results and Notifications: The generated results are displayed on an interactive map showing the probable search area. Results are also sent as text messages to emails and mobile phones.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• A little bunting bird was spotted for the first time in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
• Habitat: The Little Bunting breeds in northern Europe and Asia’s taiga and tundra regions. It migrates to spend winters in South Asia, including parts of India.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Migration: Little Buntings are long-distance migrants. They travel thousands of kilometres between their breeding and wintering grounds. Their migration paths are still being studied, but it’s known they can cover extensive distances.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Due to threats from Syria, Israel plans to double the population in the Golan Heights.
• It is bounded by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee on the west, Mount Hermon on the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād River on the east, and the Yarmūk River on the south.
• Golan Heights was captured from Syria by Israel during the Six-Day Middle-East War of 1967.
• Syria tried to retake golan heights during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, after which both countries signed an armistice in 1974.
• A UN observer force has been on the ceasefire line since 1974.
• Israel unilaterally annexed the golan heights in 1981, which was not recognised internationally.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Since 1967, the UN has recognised Golan Heights as Syrian territory under an Israeli military occupation.

Statement 3 is correct

• Strategic Importance:
  • The area is a key source of water for an arid region. Its land is also very fertile, which is good for farming.
  • The Syrian capital, Damascus, can be clearly seen from the top of the Golan Hills.
  • It overlooks northern Israel’s Galilee region and the Sea of Galilee and dominates the route to Damascus on the Syrian-controlled side.

Statement 4 is correct

• The U.S. was the first country to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan, which the rest of the international community regards as Israeli-occupied.

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

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Indian Railways has exported unused diesel locomotives to African countries as part of its electrification push.
• Benefits of Electrification:
  • Energy Efficiency: Provides an eco-friendly and modernised railway system.
  • Seamless Operations: Enables end-to-end train operations on electric traction.
  • Enhanced Connectivity: Improves high-density, high-utilization and last-mile connectivity routes.
  • Increased Speed: Supports “Mission Raftaar” by doubling freight train speeds and increasing superfast train speeds by 25 km/h.
  • Greater Freight Movement: Enables heavier freight and longer passenger trains at higher speeds.
  • Financial Savings: Expected annual fuel cost savings of ₹26,400 crore.
  • Employment Creation: 5.5 lakh man-years of employment during execution.
  • Reduced Forex Bill: Lowers crude oil imports.
  • Pollution Reduction: Promotes renewable energy use like solar and wind.

Answer: (a) Doubling the average speed of freight trains and increasing superfast train speeds; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect

• Santa Ana winds are strong, dry winds that blow from inland deserts toward the coast, affecting Southern California’s weather.
• It occurs when high pressure builds over the Great Basin, creating a difference in pressure with the low pressure over California’s coast.

Statement 3 is correct

• As these winds descend the mountains, they compress, heat up, & their humidity drops. These winds have been known to exacerbate wildfires by drying out & heating vegetation, making it highly flammable.
• Santa Ana winds typically blow from October to January, coinciding with winter weather patterns that create high pressure over the Great Basin.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Union government has launched the “Jalvahak Scheme” to promote long-haul cargo transportation via inland waterways.
• The Nodal Ministry for the scheme is Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
• It is jointly implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL).

Statement 2 is correct

• The scheme aims to incentivise cargo movement via inland waterways, promoting sustainable and cost-effective transportation across NW-1 (Ganga), NW-2 (Brahmaputra), and NW-16 (Barak River).
• Cargo owners transporting goods over distances exceeding 300 km via waterways will receive up to 35 per cent reimbursement on operating costs.
  • The scheme is valid for an initial period of 3 years.

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

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It separates the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea in the west from the Taman Peninsula of Russia’s Krasnodar Krai in the east.
• It is the only direct link between Russia and Crimea. It is important to supply Crimea with fuel, food, and other essential goods.

Option (a) is incorrect

• Bosphorus Strait connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

Option (b) is incorrect

• Dardanelles Strait connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegen Sea.

Option (d) is incorrect

• The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa.

Answer: (c) Kerch Strait; Difficulty Level: Medium