Current Affairs MCQs [ 26 and 27 Nov 2017 ] PIB TheHindu IndianExpress & Other leading newspapers

Sumant Kumar, B.Tech NIT Allahabad sumant.magadh@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/SumantKM/

Photosphere and Chromosphere are (a) layers of Earth's atmosphere (b) layers of Moon's atmosphere (c) Sun's outer layers (d) layers of Mar's atmosphere

Aditya L1 Mission • It is India’s first solar mission

• It will be launched in 2019

• It will study the sun’s outer most layers:

o Photosphere (soft and hard X-ray), o Chromosphere (UV) and o Corona (Visible and NIR)

• It will collect data about coronal mass ejection, which will also yield information for space weather prediction

• It is a joint venture between ISRO and physicists from other institutes of India.

• Aditya- L1 satellite will be placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the sun-earth system

• Utility: The data from Aditya mission will be immensely helpful in discriminating between different models for the origin of solar storms and also for constraining how the storms evolve and what path they take through the interplanetary space from the Sun to the Earth

Objectives of mission Study dynamic nature of sun’s outer most layers,

the corona and the chromosphere, and collect data about Coronal Mass Ejections (CME).

Study on origin of solar storms and their path through the interplanetary space from the Sun to the Earth.

The studies will also focus on collection of information for space weather prediction.

With reference to "Astrosat"," the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space. 2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans D

ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. ASTROSAT will observe universe in the optical, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. India’s observatory will be the fourth in space, after the Hubble(USA), Russia’s Spektr R and Suzaku of Japan. ASTROSAT with a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg was launched into a 650 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator by PSLV-C30. ASTROSAT will observe universe in the optical, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band.

Consider the following pairs: ISRO Missions recently in the news – Spacecraft classification o AstroSat – Space Science and Exploration o ResourceSat – Earth Observation o Cartosat – Communication

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: a. Cartosat = an Earth Observation Satellite.

Consider the following pairs: Space Mission

Purpose

1. ASTROSAT To study distant celestial object

2. GAGAN To help civil aviation in India

3. GSAT 6 To improve communication services

Which of the above given pairs is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans D

• Astrosat = India's first dedicated astronomy observatory

• ASTROSAT is seen as a smaller version of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

• The Space Observatory will be able to detect objects in multiple wavelengths such as X-rays and UV, but with far lower precision than Hubble launch Vehicle.

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) have implemented the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation-GAGAN project as a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for the Indian Airspace. The objective of GAGAN to establish, deploy and certify satellite based augmentation system for safety-of-life civil aviation applications in India has been successfully completed.

• GSAT-6 is the twenty fifth geostationary communication satellite of India built by ISRO and twelfth in the GSAT series GSAT-6 Satellite provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users.

Consider the following statements: 1.A supernova is the explosion of a star 2.The Crab Nebula is the result of a supernova 3.ISRO’s AstroSat enables scientists to analyse the contents of the Crab Nebula Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 3 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: d.

Supernovas

o A supernova is the explosion of a star.

o It is the largest explosion that takes place in space.

Why Do Scientists Study Supernovas?

o A supernova burns for only a short period of time, but it can tell scientists a lot about the universe. That we live in an expanding universe, one that is growing at an ever increasing rate, was determined by scientists during a study of a supernova.

o Scientists also have determined that supernovas play a key role in distributing elements throughout the universe. When the star explodes, it shoots elements and debris into space. Many of the elements we find here on Earth are made in the core of stars. These elements travel on to form new stars, planets and everything else in the universe.

The Crab Nebula

o It the result of a supernova noted by Earth-bound chroniclers in 1054 A.D., is filled with mysterious filaments that are are not only tremendously complex, but appear

to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion.

o The Crab Nebula spans about 10 light-years.

The Crab Pulsar:

o In the crab nebula’s very centre lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive as the Sun but with only the size of a small town (such objects are known as “compact objects”). The Crab Pulsar rotates about 30 times each second.

Versius is • A surgical robot • A nebula • A new human habitable planet • A water body

Ans A The robot can mimic human arm and can be used to carry out a wide range of surgical procedures. It can be controlled by a surgeon using a console guided by a 3D screen in the operating theatre.

With reference to "áerosols", consider the following statements: • Aerosols mostly have a

cooling effect on Earth"s surface.

• Atmospheric aerosols are microscopic particles suspended in the Earth's atmosphere, which generally act to cool the climate by reflecting sunlight back to Space and also by affecting clouds.

• Atmospheric aerosols are microscopic particles that are emitted from human and natural sources.

• The aerosols become suspended in the atmosphere.

• Aerosols are responsible for clouds and rainfall.

• Aerosol particles play a role in damaging the ozone layer.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) None Ans A

• Human sources of aerosols include industrial aerosols from emissions of gases such as sulphur and nitrogen oxides, as well as direct emissions of smoke and soot from fossil-fuel and biomass burning.

• Atmospheric aerosols can be either solid or liquid, with diameters of a few nanometers to tens of microns.

• Aerosols are also responsible for clouds and rainfall. Cloud droplets require an initial "seed" to start the condensation of water - this is provided by aerosols. Changes in aerosol can therefore lead to changes in cloud properties. For example, an increase in aerosol concentration in a cloudy region might mean more seeds for the water to condense on, therefore the available water is spread over a larger number of droplets and each individual droplet is smaller. Smaller droplets reflect more light, and this "indirect effect" of aerosol on cloud can lead to a cooling of the Earth's surface.

• Once in the atmosphere, aerosols have two effects upon climate, both of which lead to a cooling of the Earth:

• They can directly reflect sunlight back away from the Earth. • They can interact with clouds in complex ways leading to changes in cloud

reflectivity, cloud lifetime, cloud height and cloud precipitation. • A common misconception about aerosols is that they come from spray

canisters, used for products such as deodorant, and that they damage the ozone layer. In the past the gases used as propellants in spray cans were damaging to the ozone layer, but not the aerosol particles themselves. Under the Montreal Protocol, these propellants have been replaced by non-ozone depleting substitutes. However, these gas replacements are greenhouse gases and add a small component to the global warming problem (from IPCC, 2007).

Aerosols can 1. Scatter sunlight directly back into space 2. Modify the size of cloud particles, thereby changing how clouds reflect and absorb sunlight 3. Be found in the Stratosphere Select the correct answer using the code given below:

o Aerosols interact both directly and indirectly with the Earth’s radiation budget and climate. As a direct effect, the aerosols scatter sunlight directly back into space. As an indirect effect, aerosols in the lower atmosphere can modify the size of cloud particles, changing how the clouds reflect and absorb sunlight, thereby affecting the Earth’s energy budget.

o Aerosols also can act as sites for chemical reactions to take place (heterogeneous chemistry). The most significant of these reactions are those that lead to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.

a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: d.

o Three types of aerosols significantly affect the Earth’s climate – Volcanic aerosol layer which forms in the stratosphere after major volcanic eruptions, desert dust and human-made aerosols.

The Atmospheric Monitoring Station, set up by the NPL at Palampur will • Determine accurately the

composition of polluted atmosphere in an industrial area

• Measure levels of black and brown carbon suspended in the air

• Serve as a base station for inter-comparison of air quality monitoring equipment being used in India

Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 Only b) 2 and 3 Only c) 1 and 3 Only d) 3 only Solution: d.

• NPL has established an atmospheric monitoring station in the campus of Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) at Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) at an altitude of 1391m for generating the base data for atmospheric trace species & properties to serve as reference for comparison of polluted atmosphere in India.

• It is India’s first “Pristine Air-Quality Monitoring Station” at Palampur. • In India, air quality parameters are mostly measured in industrial and

residential areas, however, data for air quality of pristine atmosphere is not available in India. NPL’s station will contribute to fill this important gap.

• One of the instruments that has been employed is the Raman Lidar – this instrument “provides height-and-time-resolved measurements of water-vapor mixing ratio, temperature, aerosol, and cloud optical properties.”

• The NPL’s station will also serve as a base station for inter-comparison of air quality monitoring equipment being used in India to improve quality of monitored data in India.

• This station houses calibrated state-of-the-art-equipment for the continuous measurements of ambient and greenhouse gases (CO, NO, NO2, NH3, SO2, O3, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, hydrocarbons, black-carbon, CO2 & CH4), and weather parameters. (Notice, it does not measure Brown Carbon).

• In addition, this new station has the experimental facilities to investigate the aerosol/cloud interactions, and such investigations would be helpful in generating a better understanding of the Earth’s climate system.

The Gulf of Aqaba separates a) Yemen and Djibouti b) Jakarta and Sumatra c) Madagascar and Mozambique d) Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia Solution: d

Consider the following pairs of world peninsular regions: o Yucatan Peninsula - Spain o Sinai Peninsula - North eastern Egypt o Kra Peninsula - Malaysia o Iberian Peninsula - Mexico

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans C

• Yucatan Peninsula - Mexico

• Sinai Peninsula - North eastern Egypt (in news because of conflict in MENA region)

• Kra Peninsula - Malaysia (Major producer of Tin)

• Iberian Peninsula - Spain

Which of the following is/are incorrect regarding Graphene? o It is used in making strong and durable touch-screens for

smartphones. o It can be used as a superb conductor of electricity but not

heat . o As a catalyst it is immune to oxidative environments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans A • It can be a superb conductor of both heat and electricity. • The main disadvantage of graphene as a catalyst is its

susceptibility to oxidative environments.

Arrange the following cities of West Asia as they would appear on a globe from West to East: o Doha o Kuwait City o Manama o Abu Dhabi

Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1-2-3-4 b) 2-3-1-4 c) 2-1-4-3 d) 3-4-1-2 Solution: b

Which of the following groups of animals belong to the category of Critically Endangered species? ( a) White Bellied Heron, Pygmy Hog, India Wolf, Asian Black Bear (b) Slender Billed Vulture, Namdhapa flying Squirrel, Nilgiri Marten, Gaur. (c) Long Billed Vulture, Malabar Civet, Gharial, Hawksbill Turtle. (d) Red Headed vulture,Chiru, Blackbuck, Indian Wolf. Ans C

• Critically endangered category :-

• White Bellied Heron,

• Pygmy Hog, Slender Billed Vulture, Namdhapa flying Squirrel, Long Billed Vulture, Malabar Civet, Gharial, Hawksbill Turtle, Red Headed vulture.

• Vulnerable category :-

• India Wolf,

• Asian Black Bear,

• Nilgiri Marten,

• Gaur,Chiru,

• Blackbuck,

• Indian Wolf.

Consider the following statements about a country: o It passed legislations in the

1990s mandating waste segregation

o The capital’s International Airport is built on an artificial island made of garbage

o This country, set to host the 2020 Olympics, will be making the medals with recycled materials

Which country do the above statements refer to? a) Brazil b) China c) Japan

Legislation dating to the late 1990s mandates that every household must segregate waste. There is a vertiginous array of categories to sort into. • Households must put out their trash for collection

in local authority-designated clear bags. If the trash is sorted incorrectly, it is simply not collected. Instead, a large, red sticker explaining the error is put on the bags, leaving the miscreant crushed under the weight of neighbourhood social shame.

• Toyota and other carmakers are designing cars that are made almost completely of recyclable materials. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is built on an artificial island made of garbage.

• Tokyo will host the 2020 Games, and from next month, collection boxes are going up all over the city for residents to donate old mobile phones, computers and small household appliances. The

d) Qatar Solution: c

idea is to collect enough metal to make all 5,000 Olympic and Paralympic medals with recycled materials.

Consider the following statements: • This wetland was included in the

Montreux Record in 1993, only to be removed from it subsequently

• It is connected to the Bay of Bengal • It is considered to be the largest

lagoon in India • It is also the largest wintering

ground for migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent

Which one of the following Ramsar Wetlands is being referred to in the statements given above? a) Chilika Lake b) Kolleru Lake c) Bhoj Wetland d) Sasthamkotta Lake Solution: a.

All arsenic-affected river plains in India have their rivers originating from the a) Himalayan region b) Western Ghats c) Eastern Ghats Solution: a. • “As of 2008, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar

Pradesh in flood plain of Ganga River; Assam and Manipur in flood plain of Brahamaputra and Imphal rivers, and Rajnandgaon village in Chhattisgarh state have so far been exposed to drinking arsenic contaminated hand tube-wells water.”

• Arsenic contamination is largely geogenic in nature (a result of geological processes) but it is also partly a result of anthropogenic activities like intense exploitation of groundwater, application of fertilisers, burning of coal.

• As per Bengal, followed by Bihar and then Assam occupy the top three spots with respect to the number of arsenic-affected persons.

Which of the following statements is/are correct with reference to Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats? • The Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats • Western Ghats are continuous whereas Eastern Ghats

are discontinuous and broken at several places. • Western Ghats are at a higher average elevation than

Eastern Ghats Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1,2, and 3 Only b) 2 and 3 Only c) 1 and 3 Only d) 3 Only Solution: a) The Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats, and have a complex geologic history related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.

With reference to “gecko “, recently in news, which of the following statement is/are correct? o Gecko is a new species which was recently

found in the Eastern Ghats. o It is nocturnal and lives on rocks, large trees

and coffee plantations Select the correct answer using the code given below. o 1 only o 2 only o Both 1 and 2 o Neither 1 nor 2

Ans C • A new species of gecko was recently found

in the Eastern Ghats in northern Andhra Pradesh. The reptile, which is endemic to the area, was identified as a different species after a five-year study.

• It is nocturnal and lives on rocks, large trees and coffee plantations at altitudes between 250-1,100 m above sea level.

Which one of the following city’s Heat Action Plan – to cope with heatwaves – was the first of its kind to be formulated in India? a) Guntur b) Ahmedabad c) Hyderabad d) Cuttack Solution: b.

Ahmedabad, the first city to develop a heat wave response system in 2013 following its dreadful experience with heat in 2010, offered a model. • Preparing the health system to identify symptoms of

heat stress and providing treatment through urban health centres is one intervention it decided upon.

• The plan involved other relatively simple and straightforward measures like reviewing school timetables, rescheduling work timings to cooler hours, making water widely available and reserving religious sites and libraries as cooling centres.

• Thanks to prodding by NDMA, nine state governments prepared and implemented heat action plans in the last two years. A targeted awareness campaign, including temperature alerts and instructions to avoid heat, too helped bring down deaths.

Territorial Army = TA A military force that can be mobilised for the defence of the country in case of an

emergency.

It is composed of volunteers already gainfully employed in civilian professions, but who receive military training for a few days in a year.

TA Act 1948;

TA was inaugurated by C Rajagopalachari on October 9, 1949.

Its origins lie in the Territorial Army raised by the British in 1920 through the Indian Territorial Act, 1920.

The British TA was organised into two wings:

o ‘The Auxiliary Force’ for Europeans and Anglo-Indians, and o ‘The Indian Territorial Force’ for Indian volunteers.

Is TA a part of the regular Army?

o Yes. Its role is to

• relieve the regular Army from static duties and assist the civil administration in dealing with natural calamities.

• maintain essential services in situations where the life of the community is affected or the security of the country threatened.

• provide units in support of the regular Army as and when required.

Current strength of TA

o ~40,000 first line soldiers, and another 160,000 second line troops.

o They serve in departmental TA units such as Railways, IOC, ONGC, Telecommunications and General Hospital, and in the non-departmental TA units of Infantry (TA) and Ecological (TA), which are affiliated to various infantry regiments of the Army.

How is the training in TA organised?

o Training in non-departmental TA is carried out in urban and provincial systems.

o In the urban system, training is over weekends and on holidays.

• Four hours of training is counted as one day of training.

• A minimum of 30 days of training, extendable to a maximum of 60 days, including a camp for 14 days, has to be completed during the calendar year.

• All officers are required to undergo 10 weeks of post-commission training within two years of their commissioning.

o In the provincial system, the annual training is for a continuous period of two calendar months in the first and subsequent years.

Who is eligible to be an officer in TA?

o Any Indian graduate, between the ages of 18 and 42 years, can apply in response to advertisements issued twice every year.

o After clearing a preliminary interview board, the candidate has to successfully go through the SSB Interview, Medical Board and Police Verification to be granted commission as an officer in the TA.