20th February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz for UPSC Prelims
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Question 1 of 5
1. Question
2 points
Consider the following statements
1. The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
2. The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.
3. Ramganga and Mandal are the major rivers flowing through the national park.
4. The mammals such as jungle cats, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar deer, sloth are found there.
Which of the following national park is being discussed in the above statements?
Correct
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
Corbett National Park
• It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (first National Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
• The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
• The core area forms the Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain are the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.
Incorrect
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
Corbett National Park
• It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (first National Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
• The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
• The core area forms the Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain are the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.
Question 2 of 5
2. Question
2 points
With reference to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Consider the following statements:
1. The convention restricts itself to static water bodies to be considered as a Wetland.
2. It is mandatory for all the parties to the Ramsar Convention to include at least one site in the list of Wetlands of International Importance.
3. UNESCO is recognized as one of the International Organization Partner of the Ramsar Convention.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
Correct
Correct Answer: A
Explanation
Only statement 2 is correct, 1 and 3 are not correct.
Ramsar Convention
• The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1971 in the
Iranian city of Ramsar (thus the common name “Ramsar Convention”).
• It is the first of the modern global intergovernmental treaties on the conservation and
sustainable use of natural resources.
• It is mandatory for all the parties to the Ramsar Convention to include at least one site in the list of Wetlands of International Importance. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• One key instrument of the Convention is its List of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”).
• All Parties to the Convention have the obligations to include in the List at least one site that meets the criteria established by the Conference of the Parties. There are currently over 2,400 Ramsar Sites around the world.
• They cover over 2.5 million square kilometres, an area larger than Mexico.
• The Ramsar Convention has adopted a very inclusive definition of a wetland: “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.” Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• The Ramsar Convention works closely with six organizations known as International
Organization Partners (IOPs). These are:
1. Birdlife International
2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
3. International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
4. Wetlands International
5. WWF
6. International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
Hence statement 3 is not correct.
Incorrect
Correct Answer: A
Explanation
Only statement 2 is correct, 1 and 3 are not correct.
Ramsar Convention
• The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1971 in the
Iranian city of Ramsar (thus the common name “Ramsar Convention”).
• It is the first of the modern global intergovernmental treaties on the conservation and
sustainable use of natural resources.
• It is mandatory for all the parties to the Ramsar Convention to include at least one site in the list of Wetlands of International Importance. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• One key instrument of the Convention is its List of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”).
• All Parties to the Convention have the obligations to include in the List at least one site that meets the criteria established by the Conference of the Parties. There are currently over 2,400 Ramsar Sites around the world.
• They cover over 2.5 million square kilometres, an area larger than Mexico.
• The Ramsar Convention has adopted a very inclusive definition of a wetland: “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.” Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• The Ramsar Convention works closely with six organizations known as International
Organization Partners (IOPs). These are:
1. Birdlife International
2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
3. International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
4. Wetlands International
5. WWF
6. International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
Hence statement 3 is not correct.
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
2 points
In the context of waste disposal, which of the following is/are the advantages of sanitary landfill over open dumping?
1. It is free from air pollution caused due to burning.
2. Health problems are minimized as rats, flies and pests cannot breed in sanitary landfills.
3. It is mostly free from fire hazards.
Select the correct option:
Correct
Correct Answer: D
Explanation
All the statements are correct.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) slapped a fine of ₹50 lakh on the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for alleged negligence leading to the fire at the Bhalswa landfill site in north Delhi.
Solid Waste Management
• A Sanitary landfill is a way of disposing of refuse on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or safety. The waste is packed and dumped at the site and is covered with earth daily to prevent insects or rodents from entering the landfill.
• The waste disposal is carried out with minimal environmental damage and in areas already spoiled or in need of restoration.
• The sanitary landfill system of disposing of the waste is essentially a biological method. The waste undergoes the following five phases:
1. During the first phase of operation, aerobic bacteria deplete the available oxygen and as a result the temperature increases.
2. In the second phase, anaerobic conditions become established and hydrogen and carbon dioxide are evolved.
3. Phase three establishes a population of bacteria and the beginning of the methanogenic activity.
4. In the fourth phase, the methanogenic activities become stabilised.
5. The fifth phase depletes the organic matter, and the system returns to an aerobic state.
The advantages of a sanitary landfill as opposed to open dumping are:
1. It is free from air pollution from burning.
2. The health problems are minimised since flies, rats and other pests cannot breed in the landfill because of the covered wastes.
3. It is mostly free of fire hazards. Last year fire broke out at Sonsoddo sanitary landfill in Goa and now in Delhi.
Hence all the statements are correct.
Incorrect
Correct Answer: D
Explanation
All the statements are correct.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) slapped a fine of ₹50 lakh on the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for alleged negligence leading to the fire at the Bhalswa landfill site in north Delhi.
Solid Waste Management
• A Sanitary landfill is a way of disposing of refuse on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or safety. The waste is packed and dumped at the site and is covered with earth daily to prevent insects or rodents from entering the landfill.
• The waste disposal is carried out with minimal environmental damage and in areas already spoiled or in need of restoration.
• The sanitary landfill system of disposing of the waste is essentially a biological method. The waste undergoes the following five phases:
1. During the first phase of operation, aerobic bacteria deplete the available oxygen and as a result the temperature increases.
2. In the second phase, anaerobic conditions become established and hydrogen and carbon dioxide are evolved.
3. Phase three establishes a population of bacteria and the beginning of the methanogenic activity.
4. In the fourth phase, the methanogenic activities become stabilised.
5. The fifth phase depletes the organic matter, and the system returns to an aerobic state.
The advantages of a sanitary landfill as opposed to open dumping are:
1. It is free from air pollution from burning.
2. The health problems are minimised since flies, rats and other pests cannot breed in the landfill because of the covered wastes.
3. It is mostly free of fire hazards. Last year fire broke out at Sonsoddo sanitary landfill in Goa and now in Delhi.
Hence all the statements are correct.
Question 4 of 5
4. Question
2 points
With reference to noise pollution in India, consider the following statements:
1. Noise standards for automobiles are prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
2. The Central Government is responsible for categorizing the areas into industrial, commercial, residential, and silence zones for the purpose of implementation of noise standards.
3. High levels of noise pollution has a bad effect on the communication of many animal species living in the area and their ability to hear.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
Correct
Correct Answer: A
Explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct, 2 is not correct.
The political tussle between the two parties began with BJP’s Delhi unit chief writing a letter to CM of Delhi demanding that loudspeakers from “all religious places” be removed due to noise pollution.
Noise Pollution in India
• Noise pollution is defined as unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious effects on human health, wildlife, and environmental quality.
• In India earlier, noise pollution and its sources were addressed under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• They are now, however, regulated separately under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• In exercise of the powers conferred under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government made the Noise
Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 for the regulation and control of noise-producing and generating sources.
• Noise standards for automobiles, domestic appliances, and construction equipment have been notified in Schedule-VI of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, as amended on 19th May 1993.
Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, State Governments are responsible for categorizing the areas into industrial, commercial, residential or silence areas/ zones for the purpose of implementation of noise standards for different areas. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• High levels of noise pollution affect human health and well-being by having an effect on sleep.
• This has a bad effect on the communication of many animal species living in the area and their ability to hear.
Incorrect
Question 5 of 5
5. Question
2 points
Consider the following statements with reference to the Green Hydrogen:
1. Green hydrogen is produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured using carbon capture and storage.
2. Green Hydrogen has no carbon footprint.
3. It is a clean-burning molecule, which can decarbonize a range of sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.
4. Green Hydrogen can be used for long distance mobilisation such as in railways, large ships, buses or trucks.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
Correct
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct, 1 is not correct.
Green Hydrogen
• Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option.
• Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a no carbon footprint. (Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured using carbon capture and storage.)
• Green hydrogen gas is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer that may be powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Green Hydrogen has no carbon footprint. Hydrogen that is in use these days is the primary source. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Organic materials such as fossil fuels and biomass are used for releasing hydrogen through chemical processes.
• Application of Green Hydrogen is in sectors such as chemicals, iron, steel, fertilizer and refining, transport, heating, and power.
Incorrect
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct, 1 is not correct.
Green Hydrogen
• Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option.
• Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a no carbon footprint. (Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured using carbon capture and storage.)
• Green hydrogen gas is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer that may be powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Green Hydrogen has no carbon footprint. Hydrogen that is in use these days is the primary source. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Organic materials such as fossil fuels and biomass are used for releasing hydrogen through chemical processes.
• Application of Green Hydrogen is in sectors such as chemicals, iron, steel, fertilizer and refining, transport, heating, and power.
