June 19-2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Environmental flows (E-flows) Monitoring System has been developed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, an arm of the Jal Shakti Ministry.

Statement 2 is correct

• It allows real-time analysis of the water quality of the Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries.
• It also allows monitoring of the Namami Gange programme activities at the central level.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Every proceeding of the House is presided by a Speaker.
• The Office of the Speaker becomes vacant immediately before the first meeting of a new Lok Sabha.
• Therefore, a temporary speaker, known as the pro-tem Speaker, is chosen from among the newly elected MPs.
• The President appoints the senior member of the Lok Sabha (in terms of the number of years as a member) as the Pro-Tem Speaker to perform the duties of the Speaker until a new Speaker is elected.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Constitution does not mention the post.
• However, the official ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ speaks about the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem.

Statement 3 is correct

• The pro-tem Speaker administers oath/affirmation to the newly elected members and also presides over the sitting in which the new Speaker is elected.
• The office of the pro-tem Speaker ceases to exist when the new Speaker is elected.

Answer: (c) 1,2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is adopting a holistic approach to maximise impact and transform the rural economy through the creation of ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
• The Lakhpati Didi Initiative aims to empower women to establish micro-enterprises in their villages by training two crore women, particularly those in SHGs.
• It is to generate a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum per household.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program (KSCP) aims to transform rural India by empowering rural women as Krishi Sakhi by imparting training and certification of Krishi Sakhi as Para-extension Workers.
• The KSCP is a key component of the broader ‘Lakhpati Didi’ program.
• This initiative aims to create three crore Lakhpati Didis by training and certifying women as Krishi Sakhis, thereby enhancing their agricultural skills and providing new employment opportunities.
• This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development, aims to improve rural livelihoods and standards of living.

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

Explanation

• Direct seeding of rice (DSR) method, instead of the transplanting method, cuts down the massive water consumption of paddy.
• It is particularly helpful in weak monsoon years. Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), also called the ‘broadcasting seed technique’, is a water-saving paddy cultivation method.
• In this method, the fields are levelled, pre-sowing irrigation is done, and seeds are directly sown into the fields.
• Advantages of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR):
  • DSR technique can help save 15% to 25% water as it requires less irrigation rounds.
  • It requires less labour. So, it cuts down labour costs and solve labour shortage problems.
  • It helps in replenishment of ground water because the hard crust that forms beneath the plough layer in the transplanted method which prevents water percolation is not formed in the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) method.
  • It helps control the stubble burning problem (which causes air pollution) because crops grown by the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) method mature earlier than transplanted crops, giving more time for paddy straw management.
  • It saves up to 27% energy as pumping energy for field preparation and irrigation is required less.
  • It enhances fertiliser use efficiency because of fertiliser use in the root zone.
  • It reduces methane emissions as there is no need to flood the paddy field.
  • It causes less disturbance to soil structure.
• Disadvantages of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
  • It is difficult to control weeds in Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) due to the severe weed infestation caused by the lack of a standing water layer during plant growth.
  • It requires large amounts of seeds.
  • It needs laser land levelling, which is costly.
  • It is very sensitive to rain. Seeding must be completed before the monsoon’s arrival, and sudden rain immediately after seeding has a negative impact.
  • It uses largescale herbicides for weed control, leading to herbicide resistance in some weeds.
  • Aerobic soil (presence of oxygen) conditions in Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) methods leads to higher nitrous oxide emissions (Nitrous oxide is the most important greenhouse gas after methane and carbon dioxide).
  • Uneven cropping may lead to failure in achieving the potential yield in this method.

Answer: (c) Only four; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Answer: (a) Oxygen (O)- Silicon (Si)- Aluminium (Al)- Iron (Fe); Difficulty Level: Medium