13 & 14 DEC CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Survey of India

1. It is the oldest scientific department of the Government of India, established in 1767.
2. It is the National Survey and Mapping Organisation of the country under the Ministry of Statics and Program Implementation. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Survey of India
• National Survey and Mapping Organisation: Of the country under the Department of Science and Technology.
• Oldest scientific department: Of the Government of India, established in 1767.
• Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• Function: Acts as an adviser to the Government of India on all survey matters, viz o Geodesy: It is the science of accurately measuring and understanding the Earth’s geometric shape, orientation in space and gravity field.
o Photogrammetry: It is the science of making measurements from photographs.
o Mapping and Map Reproduction. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q2. Consider the following African countries

1. Algeria
2. Morocco
3. Western Sahara
4. Tunisia
   Which of the above shares border with the Mediterranean Sea?
   a) 2 and 4 only
   b) 1 and 2 only
   c) 1 and 4 only
   d) 1, 2 and 4

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. The vegetation that grows in Shola forests is evergreen.
2. The trees are stunted and have many branches.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
The Shola forests of South India
• Classified as ‘Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forest’ the Sholas are found in the upper reaches of the Nilgiris, Anamalais, Palni hills, Kalakadu, Mundanthurai and Kanyakumari in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• These forests are found sheltered in valleys with sufficient moisture and proper drainage, at an altitude of more than 1,500 metres.
• The upper reaches are covered with grasslands, known as Shola grasslands.
• The vegetation that grows in Shola forests is evergreen.
• The trees are stunted and have many branches. Their rounded and dense canopies appear in different colours.
• Generally, the leaves are small in size and leathery.
• Red-coloured young leaves turning into different colours on maturity is a prominent characteristic of the Shola forests.
• Epiphytes like lichens, ferns and bryophytes usually grow on the trees.
• The climate is often referred to as ‘temperate’ because of the low mean annual temperatures compared to the surrounding plains. The region is characterized by greater diurnal variation of temperature than seasonal variation.
• TMG are high elevation grasslands forming only 2% of all grasslands in the world.
• Among their functions is regulating the global carbon cycle and serving as a source of water to downstream communities. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. The National Institution for Transforming India, also called NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Parliament.
2. NITI Aayog provides relevant technical advice to the Centre only. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
NITI Aayog
The National Institution for Transforming India, also called NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015. 1 is incorrect.
Role: NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs.
While designing strategic and long term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States. 2 is incorrect.
Composition of NITI Aayog:
• The Governing Council of NITI, with The Prime Minister as its Chairman, comprises Chief Ministers of all States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories (UTs).
• Chairperson: Prime Minister of India as the Chairperson.
• Governing Council comprising the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
• Regional Councils will be formed to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or a region. These will be formed for a specified tenure.
• The Regional Councils will be convened by the Prime Minister and will comprise the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the region. These will be chaired by the Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his nominee.
Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q5. With reference to the HD106906 b, consider the following statements:

1. It appears in archival images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2004.
2. Planet Nine is an elusive, distant planet in our own Solar System. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
A strange exoplanet, orbiting a double-star 336 light years away, has caught the interest of astronomers. The oddball behaviour of the planet, HD106906 b, provide clues about our own mysterious Planet Nine — if it exists.
• HD106906 b is not a new discovery: It appears in archival images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2004.
• Planet Nine is an elusive, distant planet in our own Solar System. Although it has not been found yet, it has been predicted by a series of studies over the last few years, and has been described by astronomers as “hiding in plain sight”. If it exists, Planet Nine is 10 times as massive as Earth.
• Both planets (assuming Planet Nine is real) reside far out in their respective stellar systems. Both orbit their respective stars at an extreme tilt. And both are massive enough to influence the behaviour of other objects in their respective regions.
• The authors of a recent research paper investigated how HD106906 b could have reached such a distance from its star, and raised the question whether something similar happened with Planet Nine.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. Government has exempted handicraft and GI Toys from Quality Control Order.
2. The Amendment Order also exempts products registered as Geographical Indications from following Indian Toy Standards and compulsory use of Standard Mark licence. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
Government has exempted handicraft and GI Toys from Quality Control Order.
• Taking steps towards the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a global manufacturing hub for sale and export of toys, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT has devised a comprehensive action plan.
• Quality Control order has been issued by the Department for standardization and quality adherence of Toys. The order will come into effect from 1st January next year.
• Now, DPIIT has released Toys (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2020.
• It exempts goods manufactured and sold by artisans registered with Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), from use of Standard Mark under licence from Bureau of Indian Standards.
• The Amendment Order also exempts products registered as Geographical Indications from following Indian Toy Standards and compulsory use of Standard Mark licence. Hence both statements are correct.

Q7. With reference to the Climate Ambition Summit 2020, consider the following statements:

1. India hosted the Climate Ambition Summit 2020, held virtually, on December 12.
2. It marked the five years of the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
The United Nations, United Kingdom and France co-hosted the Climate Ambition Summit 2020, held virtually, on December 12.
• The Climate Ambition Summit, held virtually, marked the five years of the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
• PM Modi, while addressing the summit said that India is not only on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but to exceed them beyond expectations.
• India has reduced emission intensity by 21% over 2005 levels. Solar capacity has grown from 2.63 GigaWatts in 2014 to 36 GigaWatts in 2020. Renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world.
• It will reach 175 GigaWatts before 2022. India has set an even more ambitious target now – 450 GigaWatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
• And, on the world stage, India has pioneered two major initiatives: o The International Solar Alliance, and o Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Q8. With reference to the Western Sahara, consider the following statements:

1. The region first came under Spanish control in 1884, and was made a province called ‘Spanish Sahara’ by the European country in 1934.
2. Since 1975 Sudan has controlled around 80 per cent of Western Sahara, including its phosphate reserves.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Morocco agreed to become the fourth Arab nation to normalise relations with Israel in as many months, as part of a deal in which the US agreed to recognise its claim over the disputed Western Sahara region.
• A former Spanish colony, Western Sahara is a vast, arid region in northwest Africa.
• It is mineral rich: home to abundant reserves of phosphate, a key ingredient in the manufacturing of synthetic fertilisers. It has also lucrative fish resources and is believed to have off-shore oil.
• The region first came under Spanish control in 1884, and was made a province called ‘Spanish Sahara’ by the European country in 1934. Then in 1957, its northern neighbour Morocco, which had become independent from French rule just a year before, staked its claim over the entire territory, reasserting a centuries-old position.
• Then in 1975, ten years after the UN called for its decolonisation, Spain withdrew from Western Sahara, partitioning the region between Morocco, which received the region’s northern two-thirds, and Mauritania the remaining third in the south.
• Since then, Morocco has controlled around 80 per cent of Western Sahara, including its phosphate reserves.
• Combined with its own deposits of the mineral, Morocco currently holds over 72 per cent of the world’s phosphate reserves. China, which has the second-most reserves, has less than 6 per cent.
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q9. With reference to the exotic wildlife species, consider the following statements:

1. The Supreme Court upheld an Allahabad High Court order granting immunity from investigation and prosecution if one declared illegal acquisition or possession of exotic wildlife species between June and December.
2. The Ministry of Environment advisory on one-time voluntary disclosure scheme of exotic species includes species from the Schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
The Supreme Court upheld an Allahabad High Court order granting immunity from investigation and prosecution if one declared illegal acquisition or possession of exotic wildlife species between June and December. This was under a new amnesty scheme announced by the Centre.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has come out with an advisory on a one-time voluntary disclosure scheme that allows owners of exotic live species that have been acquired illegally to declare their stock to the government between June and December 2020.
• With this scheme, the government aims to address the challenge of zoonotic diseases, develop an inventory of exotic live species for better compliance under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and regulate their import.
• In its current form, however, the amnesty scheme is just an advisory, not a law.
• The disclosure has to be done online through MoEFCC’s Parivesh portal.
• The advisory has defined exotic live species as animals named under the Appendices I, II and III of the CITES.
• It does not include species from the Schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q10. Myristica swamp treefrog, a rare arboreal species endemic to:
a) Eastern Ghats
b) Western Himalayas
c) North east Himalayas
d) Western Ghats

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
Myristica swamp treefrog, a rare arboreal species endemic to the Western Ghats has been recorded for the first time north of the Shencottah gap in the Vazhachal Reserve Forest in Kerala’s Thrissur district.
• It’s scientific name is Mercurana myristicapalustris.
• These frogs are rare and elusive for the reason that they are arboreal and active only for a few weeks during their breeding season.
• During this season, there is a large aggregation of males that descend from the high canopy of the trees. The males vocalise in groups from the low perches in the swamps.
• They exhibit unique breeding behaviour. The breeding season, unlike for other frogs, starts in the pre-monsoon season (May) and ends before the monsoon becomes fully active in June.
• Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

---