Prelims Objective Practices Questions

(I.) There will be progressively lesser difference between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Net Domestic Product (NDP) –
A.) If technological growth is slow in a nation and capital depreciation is high
B.) If technological growth is high in a nation and capital depreciation is low
C.) If technological growth is slow in a nation and capital depreciation is high
D.) If technological growth is high in a nation and capital depreciation is high

(II.) The market value of intermediary goods is deducted from the calculation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to
1. Avoid double counting of goods
2. Include the value of depreciation in the capital stock
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A.) 1 only
B.) 2 only
C.) Both 1 and 2
D.) Neither 1 nor 2

(III.) With reference to the ‘Cash Management Bills’, consider the following statements:
1. They are the long term bills
2. The bills are issued by the RBI on behalf of the government
3. They are eligible as SLR securities for Banks.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A.) 1 only
B.) 2, 3
C.) 1, 3
D.) 1, 2, 3

UPSC Mains Question :-

• What is Anti Microbial Resistance? How can it be prevented.
  

Prelims Specific Facts

1.) Saving Chenkurinji from climate change

• The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary derives its name Chenkurinji (Gulta travancorica), a species endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, the tree was once abundant in the hills on the southern parts of the Aryankavu Pass in Kerala’s Kollam district.
• ‘Gluta travancorica is very susceptible to climate change and the present condition of the species is quite band with low regeneration performance’.
• “Its reported to have medicinal properties and is used to lower blood pressure and treat arthritis. The heartwood is quite sturdy with deep red colour, and several trees were felled for wood during earlier days,”
• Save Chenkurinji, a campaign to be implemented in various areas coming under the Achencoil forest division.

2.) Restoring the Sun Temple’s exquisite carvings

• Visitors to the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha, will soon be able to see the newly carved stones on the northern side of the jagmohan, or the assembly hall, of the World Heritage Site.
• The restoration work is likely to be completed within a month.

3.) India adds 540 species to faunal database

• India added 540 species to its faunal database in 2021 taking the total number of animal species to 1,03,258.
• It is India’s apex organization on animal taxonomy.
• Its objective is to promote survey, exploration, research and documentation on various aspects of animal taxonomy in Indian subcontinent.
• It also seeks advancement of knowledge on animal taxonomy.
• It was established in 1916 and headquartered in Kolkata.
• It has been declared as designated repository for National Zoological Collection as per section 39 of the National Biodiversity Act, 2002.
• The new mammal species discovered is Crocidura narcondamica, a white-toothed shrew, from Narcondam Island of the Andaman and Nicobar group of island.
• Among the reptiles discovered in 2021, notable is Boiga whitakeri, or Whitaker’s cat snake, from the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu.
• The most number of new discoveries was from the faunal group Hymenoptera, an order insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants, in which 80 species, including one new genus, were discovered.
• According to the BSI, regions such as the Western Ghats and the northeastern regions have contributed 28% of the total discoverise.
  • Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
    • BSI is the apex research organization under Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEFCC) for carrying out taxonomic and floristic studies on wild plant resources of country.
    • It was established in 1890 with objective to explore plant resources of country and to identify plants species with economic virtues.
    • It has nine regional circles situated at different regions of the country.

4.) Typhoon

• What is a tropical cyclone?
  • Tropical cyclones are regarded as one of the most devastating natural calamities in the world.
  • They originate and intensify over warm tropical oceans.
  • These are ferocious storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas causing violent winds, very heavy rainfall, and storm outpourings.
  • Names of cyclone in different regions They are known as:
    • Cyclones in the Indian Ocean
    • Hurricanes in the Atlantic
    • Typhoons in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea
    • Willy-willies in Western Australia
• Conditions for the formation of Tropical Cyclone
  • The conditions that favour the formation and intensification of tropical cyclone storms are :-
    • Large sea surface with a temperature higher than 27° C
    • Presence of the Coriolis force
    • Small differences in the vertical wind speed
    • A pre-existing weak- low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation (Learn about the atmospheric pressure in the linked article.)
    • Upper divergence above the sea level system
• Eye of Cyclone
  • A mature tropical cyclone is characterised by the strong spirally circulating wind around the centre which is called the eye.
  • The eye is an area with calm weather descending air.
  • It is characterized by light winds and clear skies.
• Eye Wall
  • Around the eye is the eye wall, where there is a strong spiraling rise of air to a greater height reaching the troposphere.
  • The wind reaches maximum velocity in this region and torrential rain occurs here.
  • From the eye wall, rain bands may radiate and trains of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds may drift into the outer region.

5.) New pathway to regulate nitrate absorption in plants

• The gene MADS27, which regulates nitrate absorption, root development and stress tolerance, is activated by the Micro-RNA, miR444, therefore offers a way to control these properties of the plant.
• Nitrogen is one of the most important macro nutrients needed for development of a plant. It is a part of chlorophyll, amino acids and nucleic acids, among others.
• It is mostly sourced from the soil where it is mainly absorbed in the form of nitrates and ammonium by the roots.
• Nitrates also play a role in controlling genome-wide gene expression that in turn regulates root system architecture, flowering time, leaf development etc.
• Thus, while a lot of action takes place in the roots to absorb and convert nitrogen into useful nitrates, the absorbed nitrates in turn regulate plant development apart from being useful as a macro nutrient.
• The presence of nitrates is important for the plant development and also for grain production.
• The overuse of nitrates in fertilizers, for instance, can lead to the dumping of nitrates in the soil which leads to accumulation of nitrates in water and soil. This accumulation adds to soil and water pollution and increased contribution to greenhouse gases.
• To avoid this, there should be optimal use of nitrates. Also, since the whole process of nitrate absorption takes place in the roots, a well development root system is needed for this to take place optimally. It is known that the hormone auxin is responsible for well developed roots across all plants.

• Three-pronged effect :-
  • The researchers have studied a target gene of miR444 called MADS27, a transcription factor which hasn’t been studied well before.
    • They have found that this transcription factor has a three-pronged effect on the plant:-
      1. It regulates nitrate absorption by switching “on” proteins involved in this process.
      2. It lead to better development of the roots by regulating auxin hormone production and transport.
      3. Some what surprisingly to the researchers, it helps in the abiotic stress tolerance by keeping the main stress player proteins “on”.

6.) To the Moon

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) CAPSTONE spacecraft launched from New Zealand on June 28 should reach the Moon by November 13.
• CAPSTONE will study the lunar orbit where NASA plans to lodge a sp[ace station that will orbit the Moon in a stable path, making ti easier for astronauts to reach more parts of the Moon.

7.) India-EU to hold next round of FTA as Brussels

• What Is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?
  • A free trade agreement is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange.
  • The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism.
• India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007, but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits, and the movement of professionals. Besides demanding significant duty cuts in automobiles, the EU wanted a tax reduction in wine, spirits and dairy products, and a strong intellectual property regime.
• Liberalising trade and investment will thus generate significant opportunities for growth, also in areas dies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange. The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism.
• India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007, but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits, and the movement of professionals. Besides demanding significant duty cuts in automobiles, the EU wanted a tax reduction in wine, spirits and dairy products, and a strong intellectual property regime.
• Liberalising trade and investment will thus generate significant opportunities for growth, also in areas going beyond trade in goods, notably services and digital trade, intellectual property and public procurement.

Explainer of the Day

1.) How will G-7’s development plan impact India?

• What is G7’s PGII? :-
  • The infrastructure plan was first announced in June 2021 during last year’s G7 Summit in the UK. Back then, US President Joe Biden had called it the Build Back Better World (B3W) framework. However, it did not register much progress and details regarding the plan’s time period or funding source were unclear.
• This time around, the initiative was officially launched as PGII.
• Essentially, G7 countries — the US, Canada, Italy, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan — and the EU have noted the infrastructure projects being undertaken and funded by China at a global level and decided to present their alternative mechanism for it.
• The stated purpose of both the PGII and the BRI is to help secure funding for countries to build critical infrastructure such as roads, ports, bridges, communication setups, etc. to enhance global trade and cooperation.
• However, the G7 say their initiative is meant to be transparent, focused on building climate change-resilient infrastructure, and help in achieving objectives of gender equality and health infrastructure development.

2.) Measuring quakes

• How do earthquakes happen?
  • According to the theory of plate tectonics, the Earth’s crust and upper mantle are made of large rigid plates that can move relative to one another. Slip on faults near the plate boundaries can result in earthquakes. The point inside the Earth where the earthquake rupture starts is called the focus or hypocentre. The point directly above it on the surface of the Earth is the epicentre.
    
• What are seismic waves?
  • Any elastic material when subjected to stress, stretches in a proportional way until the elastic limit is reached. When the elastic limit is crossed, it breaks. Similarly, the Earth also has an elastic limit and when the stress is higher than this limit, it breaks. Then there is a generation of heat, and energy is released. Since the material is elastic, the energy is released in the form of elastic waves. These propagate to a distance determined by the extent of the impact. These are known as seismic waves.
    
• How are earthquakes measured?
  • Earthquakes are measured by seismographic networks, which are made of seismic station, each of which measures the shaking of the ground beneath it. In India, the National Seismological Network does this work. It has a history of about 120 years and its sensors can now detect an earthquake within five to ten minutes. The wave parameters are measured, not the total energy released.
    
• What is the Richter magnitude scale?
  • This is a measure of the magnitude of an earthquake and was first defined by Charles F. Richter of the California Institute of Technology, U.S., in 1935. The magnitude of an earthquake is the logarithm of the amplitude of the waves measured by the seismographs.
  • Richter scale magnitudes are expressed as a whole number and a decimal part, for example 6.3 or 5.2 since it is a logarithmic scale, an increase of the whole number by one unit signifies a tenfold increase in the amplitude of the wave and a 31-times increase of the energy released.
    
• How are zones designated?
  • Based on seismicity, intensity of earthquakes experienced and geological and tectonic qualities of a region, countries are divided into several zones. In India, for example, there are four Zone II – Zone V. Among these, Zone V is the most hazardous and Zone II the least hazardous.
    
• Can you build early warning system for earthquakes?
  • Since parameters of the earthquake are unknown, it is near impossible to predict and earthquake. The problem with earthquakes is that they are heavily dependent on the material property, which varies from place to place.
  • There are two kinds of waves – the primary wave which reaches first , and second one called secondary wave, which is more destructive. Suppose the primary wave is measured, and we have efficient computer system, all the inputs and excellent data collection, then it can be said that a possible earthquake of this much magnitude and energy has occurred and this could lead to a ground amplitude which could be destructive.

3.) Is NATO stronger after Ukraine invasion?

• What are the recent development that have strengthened NATO?
  • Firstly, NATO allies other than the U.S. remained firmly committed to financing the organisation’s military needs. Their combined defence investments have jumped by $130 billion from 2014-19, in part driven by Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
  • Second, After decades of maintaining a position of neutrality, Finland and Sweden are set to join NATO possibly within a year, in large part driven by the strategic insecurity they face as neighbors of Russia, and the precedent that Mr. Putin has set with his invasion of alleged human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine. While most NATO members are keen for Finland and Sweden to join the organisation, Turkey was the final holdout citing concerns over the two countries allegedly providing safe haven to a group that Istanbul considers a terrorist organisation.