UPSC Editorials Quiz : 20 April 2024

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Introducing QUED – Questions from Editorials, an innovative initiative from InsightsIAS. Considering the significant number of questions in previous UPSC Prelims from editorials, practicing MCQs from this perspective can provide an extra edge. While we cover important editorials separately in our Editorial Section and SECURE Initiative, adding QUED to your daily MCQ practice alongside Static Quiz, Current Affairs Quiz, and InstaDART can be crucial for better performance. We recommend utilizing this initiative to enhance your preparation, with 5 MCQs posted daily at 11 am from Monday to Saturday on our website under the QUIZ menu. Best of luck! 🙂

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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question Consider the following statements. Sand is categorized as a “major mineral” under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, and its control lies with the Central Government. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has issued guidelines to promote environmentally friendly sand mining practices. Marine Sand Watch is a global data platform which is part of UN Environment Programme that tracks and monitors dredging activities of sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock in the world’s marine environment. How many of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: a) Statement 1 is incorrect. Sand is categorized as a “minor mineral” under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, and its control lies with the State Governments. The primary sources of sand are rivers and coastal areas, and its demand has surged due to India’s construction and infrastructure development activities. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has issued “Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines 2016” to promote environmentally friendly sand mining practices. About Marine Sand Watch It is a global data platform developed by GRID-Geneva, part of the UN Environment Programme. It monitors and tracks sediment extraction activities in the world’s marine environments, including sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock dredging. It uses Automatic Identification System signals from vessels and Artificial Intelligence to identify dredging operations. Incorrect Solution: a) Statement 1 is incorrect. Sand is categorized as a “minor mineral” under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, and its control lies with the State Governments. The primary sources of sand are rivers and coastal areas, and its demand has surged due to India’s construction and infrastructure development activities. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has issued “Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines 2016” to promote environmentally friendly sand mining practices. About Marine Sand Watch It is a global data platform developed by GRID-Geneva, part of the UN Environment Programme. It monitors and tracks sediment extraction activities in the world’s marine environments, including sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock dredging. It uses Automatic Identification System signals from vessels and Artificial Intelligence to identify dredging operations.

#### 1. Question

Consider the following statements.

• Sand is categorized as a “major mineral” under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, and its control lies with the Central Government.

• The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has issued guidelines to promote environmentally friendly sand mining practices.

• Marine Sand Watch is a global data platform which is part of UN Environment Programme that tracks and monitors dredging activities of sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock in the world’s marine environment.

How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Sand is categorized as a “minor mineral” under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, and its control lies with the State Governments. The primary sources of sand are rivers and coastal areas, and its demand has surged due to India’s construction and infrastructure development activities.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has issued “Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines 2016” to promote environmentally friendly sand mining practices.

About Marine Sand Watch

It is a global data platform developed by GRID-Geneva, part of the UN Environment Programme. It monitors and tracks sediment extraction activities in the world’s marine environments, including sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock dredging. It uses Automatic Identification System signals from vessels and Artificial Intelligence to identify dredging operations.

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has issued “Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines 2016” to promote environmentally friendly sand mining practices.

About Marine Sand Watch

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Consider the following statements regarding Delhi’s geography and weather conditions that contributes to air pollution. During the southwest monsoon, the prevalent direction of the wind is easterly. Once the monsoon withdraws, the predominant direction of the winds changes to north-westerly. The fall in temperature also contributes to increased pollution levels. How many of the above statements are correct? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None of the above Correct Solution: c) During the southwest monsoon, the prevalent direction of the wind is easterly. The winds travel from over the Bay of Bengal, carrying moisture and rainfall to this part of the country. Once the monsoon withdraws, however, the predominant direction of the winds changes to north-westerly. These winds carry particulate matter (essentially smoke and soot) from crop-burning in Punjab to the area above Delhi, and then onward down the Gangetic basin. The fall in temperature also contributes to increased pollution levels. As it gets cooler, the inversion height — which is the layer beyond which pollutants cannot disperse into the upper atmosphere — comes down. When that happens, larger concentrations of pollutants in the air hang closer to the surface, and lead to worsening AQIs. The point to note here is this: The direction of the wind is north-westerly in summer too, but it is the very high temperature over the Indo-Gangetic basin that ensures the pollutants that it brings (dust etc. from Rajasthan and sometimes Pakistan and Afghanistan) does not hang low. Incorrect Solution: c) During the southwest monsoon, the prevalent direction of the wind is easterly. The winds travel from over the Bay of Bengal, carrying moisture and rainfall to this part of the country. Once the monsoon withdraws, however, the predominant direction of the winds changes to north-westerly. These winds carry particulate matter (essentially smoke and soot) from crop-burning in Punjab to the area above Delhi, and then onward down the Gangetic basin. The fall in temperature also contributes to increased pollution levels. As it gets cooler, the inversion height — which is the layer beyond which pollutants cannot disperse into the upper atmosphere — comes down. When that happens, larger concentrations of pollutants in the air hang closer to the surface, and lead to worsening AQIs. The point to note here is this: The direction of the wind is north-westerly in summer too, but it is the very high temperature over the Indo-Gangetic basin that ensures the pollutants that it brings (dust etc. from Rajasthan and sometimes Pakistan and Afghanistan) does not hang low.

#### 2. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Delhi’s geography and weather conditions that contributes to air pollution.

• During the southwest monsoon, the prevalent direction of the wind is easterly.

• Once the monsoon withdraws, the predominant direction of the winds changes to north-westerly.

• The fall in temperature also contributes to increased pollution levels.

How many of the above statements are correct?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

• d) None of the above

Solution: c)

During the southwest monsoon, the prevalent direction of the wind is easterly. The winds travel from over the Bay of Bengal, carrying moisture and rainfall to this part of the country. Once the monsoon withdraws, however, the predominant direction of the winds changes to north-westerly. These winds carry particulate matter (essentially smoke and soot) from crop-burning in Punjab to the area above Delhi, and then onward down the Gangetic basin.

The fall in temperature also contributes to increased pollution levels. As it gets cooler, the inversion height — which is the layer beyond which pollutants cannot disperse into the upper atmosphere — comes down. When that happens, larger concentrations of pollutants in the air hang closer to the surface, and lead to worsening AQIs.

The point to note here is this: The direction of the wind is north-westerly in summer too, but it is the very high temperature over the Indo-Gangetic basin that ensures the pollutants that it brings (dust etc. from Rajasthan and sometimes Pakistan and Afghanistan) does not hang low.

Solution: c)

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Which of the following statements is correct regarding PM Daksh Portal? a) Viability Gap Funding (VGF) aimed at fostering the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems b) An AI chatbot integrated with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi c) A digital platform offering registration, skill training and streamlined administrative processes for persons with disabilities. d) Streamline the registration process for enhancing the utilization of biodegradable and organic waste Correct Solution: c) Introduction of the PM Daksh Portal, a digital platform offering registration, skill training options, job listings, and streamlined administrative processes for persons with disabilities. Incorrect Solution: c) Introduction of the PM Daksh Portal, a digital platform offering registration, skill training options, job listings, and streamlined administrative processes for persons with disabilities.

#### 3. Question

Which of the following statements is correct regarding PM Daksh Portal?

• a) Viability Gap Funding (VGF) aimed at fostering the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems

• b) An AI chatbot integrated with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

• c) A digital platform offering registration, skill training and streamlined administrative processes for persons with disabilities.

• d) Streamline the registration process for enhancing the utilization of biodegradable and organic waste

Solution: c)

Introduction of the PM Daksh Portal, a digital platform offering registration, skill training options, job listings, and streamlined administrative processes for persons with disabilities.

Solution: c)

Introduction of the PM Daksh Portal, a digital platform offering registration, skill training options, job listings, and streamlined administrative processes for persons with disabilities.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following statements regarding Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO). Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are an irregular and rare fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter in the universe. These oscillations are a fundamental feature of the large-scale structure of the cosmos. They provide important clues about the distribution of dark matter and dark energy. How many of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: a) Statement 1 is incorrect. Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are regular, periodic fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter (primarily baryonic matter, which includes protons and neutrons) in the universe. These oscillations are a fundamental feature of the large-scale structure of the cosmos and provide important clues about its geometry, expansion rate, and the distribution of dark matter and dark energy. Incorrect Solution: a) Statement 1 is incorrect. Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are regular, periodic fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter (primarily baryonic matter, which includes protons and neutrons) in the universe. These oscillations are a fundamental feature of the large-scale structure of the cosmos and provide important clues about its geometry, expansion rate, and the distribution of dark matter and dark energy.

#### 4. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO).

• Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are an irregular and rare fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter in the universe.

• These oscillations are a fundamental feature of the large-scale structure of the cosmos.

• They provide important clues about the distribution of dark matter and dark energy.

How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are regular, periodic fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter (primarily baryonic matter, which includes protons and neutrons) in the universe.

These oscillations are a fundamental feature of the large-scale structure of the cosmos and provide important clues about its geometry, expansion rate, and the distribution of dark matter and dark energy.

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are regular, periodic fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter (primarily baryonic matter, which includes protons and neutrons) in the universe.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Consider the following statements regarding Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) initiative. PGII is a collaborative effort by G20 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). PGII emphasizes charity over loans, benefiting the receiving countries. How many of the above statements is/are correct? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: a) Only statement 2 is correct. What is the PGII initiative? The PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment) initiative (announced in 2021 during the G7 summit in the UK) is a collaborative effort by G7 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to mobilize funds for critical infrastructure development, focusing on transparency, sustainability, and gender equality. PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both lending and receiving countries. Incorrect Solution: a) Only statement 2 is correct. What is the PGII initiative? The PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment) initiative (announced in 2021 during the G7 summit in the UK) is a collaborative effort by G7 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to mobilize funds for critical infrastructure development, focusing on transparency, sustainability, and gender equality. PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both lending and receiving countries.

#### 5. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) initiative.

• PGII is a collaborative effort by G20 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations.

• It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

• PGII emphasizes charity over loans, benefiting the receiving countries.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: a)

Only statement 2 is correct.

What is the PGII initiative?

• The PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment) initiative (announced in 2021 during the G7 summit in the UK) is a collaborative effort by G7 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations.

• It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to mobilize funds for critical infrastructure development, focusing on transparency, sustainability, and gender equality.

PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both lending and receiving countries.

Solution: a)

Only statement 2 is correct.

What is the PGII initiative?

PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both lending and receiving countries.

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