Science And Technology -MCQ Online Test (5) UPSC General MCQs & solutions

Answer: c

 Explanation:

 Super battery is a new high-performance, grid-scale battery made from metal scrap. it could withstand the equivalent of 13 years of daily charging and discharging while retaining 90 per cent of its capacity.  It draws inspiration from an ancient technology called the Baghdad Battery, which consisted of a terracotta pot, a copper sheet and an iron rod along with some trace chemicals that could have been an electrolyte.

In the process, the scientists soaked metal pieces in a jar with a solution of water and antifreeze and applied a voltage to induce a known process called anodisation. This exposes the metal’s interior surface and made it more receptive to storing and releasing energy. They then paced a physical barrier between the two pieces of metal and submerged it in an electrolyte solution made from water and potassium hydroxide. When connected by wires to a device that generated a current their contraption worked just like a car battery.

Answer: c

 Explanation:

 The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports. The NSG Guidelines are implemented by each Participating Government (PG) in accordance with its national laws and practices.

Factors taken into account for participation include the following:

• The ability to supply items (including items in transit) covered by the Annexes to Parts 1 and 2 of the NSG Guidelines;

• Adherence to the Guidelines and action in accordance with them;

• Enforcement of a legally based domestic export control system which gives effect to the commitment to act in accordance with the Guidelines;

•  Adherence to one or more of the NPT, the Treaties of Pelindaba, Rarotonga, Tlatelolco, Bangkok , Semipalatinsk or an equivalent international nuclear non-proliferation agreement, and full compliance with the obligations of such agreement(s);

•  Support of international efforts towards non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and of their delivery vehicles.

Answer: a

 Explanation:

 The Indian Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has defined "open defecation free" as "the termination of fecal-oral transmission as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign).

 ODF is the termination of faecal-oral transmission, defined by

 a) No visible faeces found in the environment/village; and

b) Every household as well as public/community institutions using safe technology option for disposal of faeces. 

In definition, Safe technology option means no contamination of surface soil, ground water or surface water; excreta inaccessible to flies or animals; no handling of fresh excreta; and freedom from odor and unsightly condition.

The State of Kerala became the third State overall and the largest State so far to be declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) (Gramin) after Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.

54.

Answer: c

 Explanation:

 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. In India and elsewhere, he was often addressed as Sardar which means Chief in Hindi, Urdu and Persian. As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organized relief for refugees fleeing from Punjab and Delhi and led efforts to restore peace across the nation. 

Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India by integrating into the newly independent nation those British colonial provinces "allocated" to India. Patel's commitment to national integration in the newly independent country was total and uncompromising, earning him the sobriquet "Iron Man of India".

He is also affectionately remembered as the "Patron saint of India's civil servants" for having established the modern all-India services system. He is also called the Unifier of India. An annual commemoration of Patel, known as the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), was introduced by the Government of India in 2014 and it is held annually on his birthday, 31 October.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas:

Achievements of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:

Answer: a

 Explanation:

 NITI AAYOG has launched Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index to rank States and UTs that is based on implementation of seven provisions proposed under model APMC Act, joining eNAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis etc.

i.  This will reveal ease of doing agribusiness as well as opportunities for farmers to benefit from modern trade and commerce and have wider option for sale of her/his produce.

ii.  This will also represent competitiveness, efficiency and transparency in agricultural markets.

iii. The second area of reforms included in the index is relaxation in restrictions related to lease in and lease out agricultural land and change in law to recognize tenant and safeguard land owners liberalization.

iv. The third area included in the index represent freedom given to farmers for felling and transit of trees grown on private land.

v.  This Index represents opportunity to diversify farm business.

vi. The Index has a score which can have minimum value “0” implying no reforms and maximum value “100” implying complete reforms in the selected areas.

vii. The state of Maharashtra achieved first rank in implementation of various reforms. The state has implemented most of the marketing reforms and it offers best environment for doing agribusiness among all the states and UTs.

Answer: c

Explanation:

Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Japanese cell biologist, has been awarded with the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy. Macro autophagy (“self-eating”, hereafter referred to as autophagy) is an evolutionarily conserved process whereby the eukaryotic cell can recycle part of its own content by sequestering a portion of the cytoplasm in a double-membrane vesicle that is delivered to the lysosome for digestion. Unlike other cellular degradation machineries, autophagy removes long-lived proteins, large macro-molecular complexes and organelles that have become obsolete or damaged.

Autophagy mediates the digestion and recycling of non-essential parts of the cell during starvation and participates in a variety of physiological processes where cellular components must be removed to leave space for new ones. In addition, autophagy is a key cellular process capable of clearing invading microorganisms and toxic protein aggregates, and therefore plays an important role during infection, in ageing and in the pathogenesis of many human diseases.

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its report on pollution, which is extremely perturbing. The report claims that 92 percent of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. This mean, 9 out of 10 people globally are breathing poor quality air.

Maria Neira, head of the WHO's department of public health and environment, termed the report as a 'public health emergency'. She also urged governments to take up measures like cutting the number of vehicles on the road, improving waste management and promotion of clean cooking fuel.

Answer: c

Explanation:

The 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa for the design and synthesis of molecular machines.

A molecular machine or nanomachine is any discrete number of molecular components that produce quasi-mechanical movements in response to specific energy inputs. Molecular machines can be divided into two broad categories; synthetic and biological.

1. They can be one thousand times thinner than a strand of hair.

2. Their impact could be as big as the microchip.

3. They could one day go to work in the human body.

4. They could event detect disease before we show any symptoms.

5. The Nobel Committee says their potential is unimaginable.

Molecular systems capable of shifting a chemical or mechanical process away from equilibrium represent a potentially important branch of chemistry and nanotechnology. As the gradient generated from this process is able to perform useful work these types of systems, by definition, are examples of molecular machinery.

Answer: c

Explanation:

Pikas are members of the rabbit family and live in the mountains or in temperate regions. The common name "pika" is used for any member of the Ochotonidae family. Pikas do not hibernate unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such cold climates.

Pikas are a keystone species and ecosystem engineers, and studying their evolution can shed more light on the Himalayan ecosystem.

Pikas are among the most fascinating mammalian species. Unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such harsh environments, pikas prepare for winter by collecting and storing hay piles for their winter food. Sikkim Pika’s are distinct from the Moupin pika from genetic and ecological perspective and this new species appears limited to Sikkim.

Answer: d

Explanation:

As part of the Indian government’s initiatives to better study and quantify the Himalayan glacier responses towards the climate change, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences has established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH (literally meaning, a slice of ice) at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.

Understanding the behavior of these glaciers and their contribution to the sustainable supply of water for mankind and agriculture is one of the grand challenges of Indian scientific community.

The station houses many instruments to quantify the glacier melting and its relation to changing climate. Some of the instruments that are available at this research facility include, Automatic Weather Stations for weather monitoring, water level recorder for quantifying the glacier melt, ground penetrating radar to know the thickness of glaciers, geodetic GPS systems to study the glacier movements, snow fork for studying snow thickness, steam drill, snow corer, temperature profilers, as well as various glaciological tools.

Answer: a

Explanation:

Topology is a branch of mathematics that describes properties that only change step-wise. In the early 1970s, Michael Kosterlitz and David Thouless overturned the then current theory that superconductivity or suprafluidity could not occur in thin layers. They demonstrated that superconductivity could occur at low temperatures and also explained the mechanism, phase transition that makes superconductivity disappear at higher temperatures.

Duncan Haldane discovered how topological concepts can be used to understand the properties of chains of small magnets found in some materials. It is now proven that there are many topological phases, not only in thin layers and threads, but also in ordinary three-dimensional materials.

Over the last decade, this area has boosted frontline research in condensed matter physics, not least because of the hope that topological materials could be used in new generations of electronics and superconductors, or in future quantum computers.

Answer: b

 Explanation:

 HFC-23, a potent greenhouse gas with global warming potential of 14,800 times more than that of CO2, is a by-product of HCFC-22, which is used in industrial refrigeration.

India announced to eliminate the use of HFC-23 by 2013 at a meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol where final negotiations are taking place to substantially reduce the use of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) by 2030.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.

Answer: d

 Explanation:

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the mechanism for revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme effectively.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was launched by the Government in 2003 to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels. This intervention also sought to reduce import dependency for energy requirements.

It is estimated that a 5% blending can result in replacement of around 1.8 million Barrels of crude oil. The renewable ethanol content, which is a byproduct of the sugar industry, is expected to result in a net reduction in the emission of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC). 

Ethanol itself burns cleaner and burns more completely than petrol it is blended into. In India, ethanol is mainly derived by sugarcane molasses, which is a by-product in the conversion of sugar cane juice to sugar.

Answer: a

Explanation:

ZED scheme is an extensive drive to create proper awareness in MSMEs about ZED manufacturing and motivate them for assessment of their enterprise for ZED and support them. 

The ZED scheme is an integrated and holistic certification system that will account for quality, productivity, energy efficiency, pollution mitigation, financial status, human resource and technological depth including design and IPR in both products and processes.

The parameters of the scheme will cover all aspects of the existing schemes of Ministry of MSME: Quality Management System (QMS) / Quality Technology Tools (QTT), Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (LMCS), Design Clinic and Technology and Quality Up-gradation (TEQUP), and Building Awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

After ZED assessment, MSMEs can reduce wastages substantially, increase productivity, expand their market as IOPs, become vendors to CPSUs, have more IPRs, develop new products and processes etc.

Answer: c

Explanation:

The BRICS Young Scientist Forum (BRICS-YSF), under which the BRICS Young Scientists Conclave is being organized, was initiated at the 2nd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting.

The Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, under the BRICS framework, is hosting the Young Scientists Conclave where a group of scientists from BRICS countries will be meeting.

1.The meet would provide a platform for engaging, connecting and networking among young scientists to hold discussions and find solutions to some of the common challenges and problems being faced in BRICS countries.

2.The participants are drawn from science, engineering and allied disciplines. The focus of the Conclave would be on three thematic topics – Computational Intelligence, Energy Solutions and Affordable Healthcare.

3.It will pave way for creation of strong generation of S&T leadership that can accelerate change collectively.

Answer: d

 Explanation: 

Recently, the first squadron of Indian Air Force, 'Tigers' has successfully test fired the acquired long range 'Beyond Visual Range' air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade aircraft. The missile achieved a Direct Hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at low altitude. 

The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile. With the success of this mission, the IAF has become one of the few Air Forces in the world with the capability of such long range Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile. The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of Indian Air Force.

Answer: d

 Explanation:

 The "Mission Parivar Vikas" will be launched in 145 high focus districts having the highest total fertility rates in the country. The main objective of ‘Mission Parivas Vikas’ will be to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.

These 145 districts have been identified based on total fertility rate and service delivery for immediate, special and accelerated efforts to reach the replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025. The key strategic focus of this initiative will be on improving access to contraceptives through delivering assured services, dovetailing with new promotional schemes, ensuring commodity security, building capacity (service providers), creating an enabling environment along with close monitoring and implementation.

Answer: a

 Explanation: 

 Adani Green Energy (Tamil Nadu) Ltd has dedicated the world’s largest solar power plant of 648 megawatts to the nation recently. The plant has been set up with an investment of around 4550 crore rupees at Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.

Kamuthi Solar Power Project is a solar photovoltaic power generating station at Kamuthi. This project has been commissioned by Adani Power. It has a generating capacity of 648 MW at a single location. It is considered the world's largest single location solar project.

Answer: c

 Explanation:

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved ‘Project SAKSHAM’, a New Indirect Tax Network (Systems Integration) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). 

The total project cost involved is Rs.2256 crore which will be incurred over a period of seven years. It will help in: 

•    implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), 

•    extension of the Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) and 

•    other taxpayer-friendly initiatives under Digital India and Ease of Doing Business of Central Board of Excise and Customs. 

The implementation strategy for the project will be to ensure readiness of CBEC's IT systems by April, 1, 2017, when GST is to be introduced. The upgrade of the IT systems will be carried out while keeping the existing Tax-payer services running. 

Answer: a

Explanation:

Mission Parivar Vikas will be launched in 145 high focus districts having the highest total fertility rates in the country. The main objective of ‘Mission Parivas Vikas’ will be to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.

These 145 districts have been identified based on total fertility rate and service delivery for immediate, special and accelerated efforts to reach the replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025. The key strategic focus of this initiative will be on improving access to contraceptives through delivering assured services, dovetailing with new promotional schemes, ensuring commodity security, building capacity (service providers), creating an enabling environment along with close monitoring and implementation.

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is clearly wrong.

SCATSAT-1 is a continuity mission for Oceansat-2 Scatterometer to provide wind vector data products for weather forecasting, cyclone detection and tracking services to the users. The satellite carries Ku-band Scatterometer similar to the one flown onboard Oceansat-2.  The spacecraft is built around standard IMS-2 Bus and the mass of the spacecraft is 371 kg. The spacecraft will be put in SSP orbit with an inclination of 98.1 deg by PSLV-C35. The mission life of the satellite is 5 years.

Answer: c

Explanation:

Marine product exports from India are projected to increase nearly 20% particularly with strides in aquaculture diversification, quality control, value addition and improved production infrastructure— all of which will be demonstrated at the upcoming biennial India International Seafood Show (IISS) focusing on "Safe and Sustainable Indian Aquaculture”.

The USA and South East Asia are the major importers of Indian seafood and frozen shrimp continued to be the major export item last year, followed by frozen fish. Small and marginal farmers in India contribute to the bulk of coastal aquaculture. The MPEDA is actively supporting shrimp culture through cluster farming approach. The aquasocieties also help the farmer’s access credit, quality seeds, feeds and other inputs, reducing the burden of diseases and improving product quality.

Answer: d

Explanation:

 Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.

1.BIRAC is a new industry-academia interface and implements its mandate through a wide range of impact initiatives, be it providing access to risk capital through targeted funding, technology transfer, IP management and handholding schemes that help bring innovation excellence to the biotech firms and make them globally competitive.

2.BIRAC has initiated several schemes, networks and platforms that help to bridge the existing gaps in the industry-academia Innovation research and facilitate novel, high quality affordable products development through cutting edge technologies.

3.BIRAC has initiated partnerships with several national and global partners to collaborate and deliver the salient features of its mandate.

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Agreement will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Samoa for tax purposes which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

Salient features of the Agreement: 

1. The Agreement enables the competent authorities of India and Samoa to provide assistance through exchange of information that is foresee ably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the two countries concerning taxes covered by this Agreement. 

2. The information received under the Agreement shall be treated as confidential .Information may be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the information sending country. 

3. The Agreement also provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure for resolving any difference or for agreeing on procedures under the Agreement.

Answer: d

Explanation:

The approval of optic fibre cable would equip Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) with appropriate bandwidth and telecom connectivity for implementation of e-Governance initiatives. It will also enable the provision of adequate support to educational institutes for knowledge sharing, availability of job opportunities and fulfill the vision of Digital India.

An optical fiber is a cylindrical dielectric waveguide that transmits light along its axis, by the process of total internal reflection. The fiber consists of a core surrounded by a cladding layer, both of which are made of dielectric materials. To confine the optical signal in the core, the refractive index of the core must be greater than that of the cladding. The boundary between the core and cladding may either be abrupt, in step-index fiber, or gradual, in graded-index fiber.