UPSC CSE Prelims Paper 1 Practice Test - 7 - UPSC MCQ

• India has no silver bullet to solve the problem of crop and biodiversity loss at the national level. The natural farming movement in Andhra Pradesh may not be suitable for other states like Punjab.

• Enrich Your Learning:

  • Biodiversity loss Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species and ecosystems in a defined area. Destroy or a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a given geographic area, or Earth as a whole is referred as biodiversity loss.

  • Biodiversity loss includes the decrease in the number of a species in a certain habitat. The environmental degradation that leads to the loss can be either reversible or effectively permanent. It describes the decline in the number, genetic variability, and variety of species, and the biological communities in a given area. This loss in the variety of life can lead to a breakdown in the functioning of the ecosystem where decline has happened.

  • A loss in biodiversity simply means that plants and animals are more vulnerable to pests and diseases, and it puts food security and nutrition at risk. Although biodiversity loss is a global problem, it can be countered only with local solutions. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

• Role of Tribal people: Across India, there are scores of indigenous people who have managed to lead meaningful lives without want on destruction of natural ecosystems. Dongria Kondh tribe of Niyamgiri Hills are among the best conservationists in the world. They are known for the spirited defense of their forested habitat against short-sighted industrialization, they have evolved a lifestyle that is in perfect harmony with nature. These tribes, along with marginalized communities living on the fringes of forests and millions of smallholder farmers, are the best hope that India has to preserve biodiversity and ensure food security.

• BCBS was established by the central bank Governors of the Group of Ten countries at the end of 1974 in the aftermath of serious disturbances in international currency and banking markets.

• Enrich Your Learning:

  • Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) BCBS is the primary global standard setter for the prudential regulation of banks and provides a forum for regular cooperation on banking supervisory matters. The Basel Committee was initially named the Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices.

  • It was established by the central bank Governors of the Group of Ten countries at the end of 1974 in the aftermath of serious disturbances in international currency and banking markets. It is headquartered at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel. It has 45 members who comprise central banks and bank supervisors from 28 jurisdictions.

  • The committee well known as Basil Committee is the ultimate decision-making body of the BCBS with responsibility for ensuring that its mandate is achieved. The Committee's first meeting took place in February 1975, and meetings have been held regularly three or four times a year since.

  • The Committee has established a series of international standards for bank regulation, most notably its landmark publications of the accords on capital adequacy which are commonly known as Basel I, Basel II and Basel III. The BCBS does not possess any formal supranational authority. Its decisions do not have legal force.

• Objective:

  • To strengthen the regulation, supervision and practices of banks worldwide with the purpose of enhancing financial stability.

• Functions:

  • To identify current or emerging risks for the global financial system.

  • To promote common understanding and to improve cross-border cooperation by sharing supervisory issues, approaches and techniques.

  • To establish and promote global standards for the regulation and supervision of banks as well as guidelines.

  • To monitor the implementation of BCBS standards in member countries.

  • To coordinate and cooperate with other financial sector standard setters and international bodies, particularly those involved in promoting financial stability.

Enrich Your Learning: Charter Act of 1813:

• The Charter Act of 1813 continued the British Crown’s sovereignty over their possessions in India.

• The East India Company’s rule was further extended by 20 years.

• The trade Monopoly of the company was ended except for the trade in tea and opium and trade with China.

• The act empowered the local governments to tax people subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

• The Act gave more powers for the courts in India over European British subjects.

• The Act expressly asserted the Crown's sovereignty over British India, allotted 1 lakh rupees, and permitted Christian missionaries to propagate English and preach their religion in India.

• The act provided for a financial grant towards the revival of Indian literature and the promotion of science.

• The company was also to take up a greater role in the education of the Indians under them. It was to set aside Rs.1 Lakh for this purpose.

Enrich Your Learning: Civil Service under the British:

• Lord Cornwallis is known as the father of Indian Civil Service.

• The Charter Act of 1833 tried to introduce an open competition for selection of civil servants and stated that Indians should not be debarred from holding any place. But it was highly opposed by the Court of Directors.

• The Charter Act of 1853 introduced an open competitive examination and Indians were allowed to participate. In this regard, a committee on Indian Civil Service- Macaulay Committee was formed in 1854 and the first examination was held in 1855.

• After the Government of India Act of 1858, the higher civil service in India came to be known as the Indian Civil Services (ICS).

• Initially the principal posts were reserved for the British only. But after The Indian Civil Service Act, 1861, it was mentioned that a person, whether Indian or European could be appointed to any post (covenanted or uncovenanted) if he had resided for minimum 7 years in India.

• The Indian Civil Services Act of 1870 carried the process of Indianisation of civil services forward.

• Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to get selected in the Indian Civil Services.

• Aitchison Committee was appointed by Lord Dufferin in 1886 to recommend changes in the civil services. The Committee recommended that the Covenanted and Uncovenanted Civil Services should be changed into Imperial, Provincial, and Subordinate civil services. The maximum age for entry into civil services should be 23 years.

• The Islington Commission (1912): 25 % of the posts in the superior civil service should be filled from among Indians, partly by direct recruitment and partly by promotion.

• The Montagu-Chelmsford Report (1918): India should be the venue for conducting examination for 33 % of the superior posts and that this percentage should increase by 1.5 % annually.

• From 1922, the ICS exam was held in India.

• By 1934, there were seven All India Services including the Indian Forest Service, Indian Police, Indian Political Service etc.

• After independence, the ICS became the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

• IIT Bombay would be the lead agency in the project.

Enrich Your Learning: What are Aerosols?

• An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in the air or another gas. They have both human- made and natural sources.

• Examples of anthropogenic aerosols are haze, particulate air pollutants and smoke.

What is National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme Project (NCAP) on Carbonaceous aerosol emissions, source apportionment and climate impacts (NCAP-COALESCE project)?

• The NCAP-COALESCE project was launched as part of India’s National Climate Action Programme. Under the leadership of IIT Bombay’s Interdisciplinary Programme in Climate Studies, this multi-institutional, coordinated project, would enable teamwork in cutting-edge fundamental research to understand the sources, fate and impacts of carbonaceous aerosols, on climate change in the Indian region.

What are the objectives of NCAP-COALESCE?

• The broad objectives of this initiative are extensive understanding of carbonaceous aerosol emissions from regional sources including emission inventory, source apportionment, and their seasonal and long-term atmospheric abundance.

How will the project benefit?

• The project would be a key step to build a strong knowledge base for India related to short-lived climate pollutants, including carbonaceous aerosols.

• Research activities in the NCAP- COALESCE project should lead to significant advances in our understanding of key areas within the carbonaceous aerosol influence on climate change.

• The project would also contribute towards building scientific capacity, through training of M.Sc., M.Tech. and Ph.D. students as well as the creation of infrastructure and systems at the participating institutions.

• Would strengthen scientific networks and provide key new knowledge to underpin government decision-making in regard to climate change.

• Over a period of time, the NCAP- COALESCE project would emerge as important knowledge and information resource to support national and state actions responding to climate change caused by carbonaceous aerosols.

• The state legislature occupies a pre-eminent and central position in the political system of a state. Articles 168 to 212 in Part VI of the Constitution deal with the state legislature.

• Accordingly, states may have a bicameral or unicameral setting. Most of the states have a unicameral system, while others have a bicameral system. At present (2019), only six states have two Houses (bicameral).

• These are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Hence there exists no uniformity in the organisation of state legislatures. So, Statement 1 is correct.

• The Constitution provides for the abolition or creation of legislative councils in states. According to Article 168 the Parliament can abolish a legislative council (where it already exists) or create it (where it does not exist), if the legislative assembly of the concerned state passes a resolution to that effect by special majority.

• This Act of Parliament is not deemed as an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368 and is passed as an ordinary piece of legislation (i.e., by simple majority). So, Statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c).

• Anabaena is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria that exist as plankton. They are known for their nitrogen-fixing ability, and they form symbiotic relationships with certain plants, such as the mosquito fern. Anabena is capable of transforming atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium ions (inorganic compounds usable by plants).

• More than 90 per cent of all nitrogen fixation is affected by these organisms, which thus play an important role in the nitrogen cycle. So, statement 1 is not correct. Nitrosomonas is a genus of Gram-negative, rod-shaped chemoautotrophic bacteria. This organism oxidizes ammonia into nitrite as a metabolic process.

• Nitrosomonas are useful in bioremediation. They are important in the nitrogen cycle by increasing the availability of nitrogen to plants while limiting carbon dioxide fixation. The genus is found in soil, freshwater, and on building surfaces. So, statement 2 is not correct.

• Nitrobacter is a genus comprising rod-shaped, Gram-negative, and chemoautotrophic bacteria. Nitrobacter plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle by oxidizing nitrite into nitrate in soil and marine systems.

• Unlike plants, where electron transfer in photosynthesis provides the energy for carbon fixation, Nitrobacter uses energy from the oxidation of nitrite ions, NO2−, into nitrate ions, NO3−, to fulfil their energy needs. So, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c).

Therefore, Tax Buoyancy = Proportionate change in tax revenue/Proportionate change in GDP. So, statement 1 is not correct.

A tax is buoyant when revenues increase by more than, say, 1 % for a 1 % increase in GDP. Tax elasticity is the responsiveness of tax revenue to changes in the tax rate. For example, how tax revenue changes if the government reduces corporate income tax from 25 % to 22 % indicate tax elasticity.

The direct tax to GDP ratio touched a 3-year low in FY20. The tax buoyancy fell to an 18-year low on account of corporation tax rate cuts and slowdown. The Budget assumes a tax buoyancy of 1.2 for 2020-21 compared to 0.5 (FY20 RE) and 0.8 (FY19) over the last two years. So, statement 2 is correct.

Tax buoyancy will be highest for direct taxes. As the economy grows fast, the additional income generated may go to the rich group. A part of that they have to pay to the government in the form of taxes.

So if the GDP growth rate registers high growth, say nine percent, direct income tax collection will accelerate. Generally, direct taxes are more sensitive to GDP growth rate. So, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (d).

• Escherichia Coli is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and other warm- blooded animals. While most strains are harmless, some species have been linked to intestinal disease as well as aggravating antibiotic resistance. So, statement 1 is not correct.

• Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a bacterium that can cause severe foodborne diseases. Escherichia Coli infection is usually transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food, such as undercooked meat products and raw milk. So, statement 2 is correct.

• Due to the infection, common symptoms include abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, which may be bloody. Fever and vomiting may also occur. Most patients recover within 10 days, although in a few cases the disease may become life-threatening. Recently, the government has commissioned a Rs. 9.3 crore study to assess the microbial diversity along the entire length of river Ganga and to check antibiotic resistance in it.

• The research project aims to indicate the type of “contamination” (sewage and industrial) in the river and “threat to human health (antibiotic resistance surge)”, and to identify the sources of Escherichia coli.

• The project will be undertaken by scientists at the Motilal Nehru Institute of Technology, Allahabad; the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur; Sardar Patel Institute of Science & Technology, Gorakhpur, as well as start-up companies, Phixgen and Xcelris Labs.

Therefore, the correct answer is (b).

• The vast majority of Greenland has been covered by an ice sheet for 18 million years due to being largely located within the Arctic Circle.

• It is also referred to as dead or doomed ice.

• Zombie ice is one that is not accumulating fresh snow even while continuing to be part of the parent ice sheet.

  • Such ice is committed to melting away and increasing sea levels.

• This is on account of the warming that has already happened.

• The research points to an equilibrium state where snowfall from the higher reaches of the Greenland ice cap flows down to recharge the edges of the glaciers and thicken them.

• Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI):

  • It is a pilot project under the Department of Science and Technology to promote gender equity in science and technology.

  • In the first phase of GATI, 30 educational and research institutes have been selected by DST, with a focus on women’s participation in leadership roles, faculty, and the numbers of women students and researchers.

• Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN):

  • It a plan under the Department of Science and Technology to encourage women scientists and also preventing women scientists from giving up research due to family reasons, are noteworthy.

• Silver is used in capacitors, batteries etc.

• Beryllium is found in switchboards and printed circuit boards.

• Selenium is found in fax machines, photocopiers etc. Erbium is a bright, soft, malleable, silvery- white metal. It is one of the rare earth metals.

Enrich Your Learning: What is E-Waste?

• Broadly, E-waste is defined as loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. E-waste has been categorized into three main categories, i.e., Large Household Appliances, IT and Telecom and Consumer Equipment.

• Refrigerator and washing machine represent large household appliances; PC, monitor and laptop represent IT and Telecom, while TV represents Consumer Equipment.

• Major causes of e-waste are the rapid growth of technology, upgradation of technical innovations and a high rate of obsolescence in the electronics industry. In India, about 1.2 million tonnes of e-waste is generated every year, as per a study conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

• The top states in order of highest contribution to waste electrical and electronic equipment include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The city-wise ranking of the largest WEEE generators is Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkatta, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur.

• It is an initiative of Ministry of Power.

Enrich Your Learning: KUSUM scheme:

• 'Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan’ (KUSUM) is the full name for the scheme KUSUM. KUSUM scheme is launched on 1 st February, 2018 in Union budget of 2018.

• It is 4 Year scheme supervised by Indian power ministry. Under this arrangement, the Central Govt. desires to assist as many farmers as possible to install new and improved solar pumps on their farms.

Objective:

• To install 17.5 lakh off-grid and 10 lakh on-grid solar pumps and 10 gigawatt of solar power plants capacity in rural areas by 2022.

• To increase farmer income through sale of surplus power, reduce electricity subsidy burden and expand the distributed renewable energy capacity.

• To provide the farmers with advanced technology to generate power.

• To enable farmer to sell the extra energy directly to the Power Supply Companies.

Features of Scheme Construction of Plants on infertile Land only: Distribution of solar power pumps:

• 5 lakh solar powered pumps will be provided to agricultural labors.

Power Generation on small scale:

• Government will work towards the installation of new solar pumps in farms, which have Diesel pumps.

Subsidy Structure of the Scheme:

• Each farmer will get subsidy on new solar powered pumps. The farmers will have to tolerate only 10% of the total expenditure while the Central Govt. will provide 60% cost while the remaining 30% will be taken care of by bank as credit.

Power generation from tube- wells:

• The government will also work toward the installation of unique tube-wells.

Components of the Scheme:

• Solar Pumps Distribution

• Construction of Solar Power Factory

• Modernization of present pumps

• The Global Biodiversity Outlook is a flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The report summarizes the progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Convention, such as the Aichi Targets and identifies key actions to achieve these.

• The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is based in Montreal, Canada.

• Aichi Targets are a set of 20 global targets under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

Enrich Your Learning: Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO)

• The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) is a periodic report that summarizes the latest data on the status and trends of global biodiversity.

• It is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The report summarizes the progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Convention, such as the Aichi Targets and identifies key actions to achieve these.

• The Outlook is prepared by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity based on information from national biodiversity strategies and action plans, national reports submitted by the Parties to the Convention, scientific literature, scenarios, and biodiversity indicators.

• Till December 2019, the latest report is the Global Biodiversity Outlook-4 report has been published.

What is the Convention of Biological Diversity?

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally- binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Convention on Biological Diversity covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species and genetic resources.

• The CBD’s governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This ultimate authority of all governments (or Parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities and commit to work plans.

• The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is based in Montreal, Canada.

• The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. CBD has two supplementary agreements - Cartagena Protocol and Nagoya Protocol.

What are the Aichi Targets?

• Aichi Targets are a set of 20 global targets under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- 2020. The objective of Aichi Target is to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, reduce the pressures on biodiversity, safeguard biodiversity at all levels, enhance the benefits provided by biodiversity, and provide for capacity-building.

• They are grouped under five strategic goals:

  • Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society.

• Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use.

• Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity.

• Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building.

Enrich Your Learning: Formalin in Fish

• The adulteration of fish with unapproved chemicals and additives affects its consumers especially human. Formalin (formaldehyde in water) is a common adulterant in fish. Consumption of fish adulterated with formalin can cause health conditions such as abdominal discomfort, vomiting, renal injury, etc.

Why formalin is used?

• Formalin is used either as a dip or through ice laced/or made with formalin as an ingredient.

• The underlying motive of using formalin on fish is:

  • to extend the storage life of fresh or chilled fish

  • to artificially improve the sensory attributes i.e. appearance, so as to give a facade of fresh fish

• Formaldehyde is used to prevent spoilage and keep fish marketable condition.

• Unavailability of good quality ice at harvest centres.

• Inadequate insulation during domestic transport and lack of warehousing facility for bulk storage of fish.

• Easy availability of the chemical.

Effects on Human health:

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of WHO classifies formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans.

• Higher levels of formaldehyde can lead to severe abdominal pain, vomiting, coma, renal injury and possible death.

Uses and regulatory status of formalin:

• As a bacteriostatic agent in cheese preparation.

• As an anti-parasitic agent in case of cultured fish.

• As an anti-fungal in cases of hatcheries to control aquatic fungi.

• As a food additive in caviar preparation in Scandinavian countries.

• Formaldehyde is not permitted for use in foods in India as per Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.

• A food chain starts with trophic level constituting the autotrophs.

Enrich Your Learning: ‘Trophic level’

• The trophic level is the position in a food web that an organism occupies.

• The trophic level of an organism is the number of steps it is from the start of the food chain.

• A food web starts at trophic level 1 which is occupied by primary producers such as plants and trees.

• The higher trophic levels are occupied by herbivores, carnivores and the last trophic level ends with apex predators which could go upto level 4 or 5.

• Generally, the trophic level is represented by numbers such as level 1, level 2 and so on.

• The first distinct example of proper Mughal architecture inspired by Persian architecture, is the tomb of Humayun, in Delhi, built by his widow, Bega Begum. This tomb is important for a proper study of the development of later Mughal architecture. Although Sikander Lodi's tomb is the first garden-tomb built in India, it is Humayun's tomb which strikes a new note. So, statement 1 is not correct.

• The tomb of Humayun was built by the orders of his first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum (also known as Haji Begum). Construction began in 1565 and was completed in 1572; it cost 1.5 million rupees, paid entirely by the Empress. So, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c).

• Under the Indian income-tax law, an individual, who qualifies as an NRI is required to file India tax returns if the taxable income exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to income-tax; for FY20, it is Rs. 2.5 lakh. However, to determine the threshold limit for the obligation to file tax returns, the taxable income should be computed before giving effect to the deductions under Chapter VI-A (such as under Section 80C, 80D and so on). So, statement 1 is correct.

• The Union Budget for 2020-21 had tightened the provisions on those seeking to escape tax by exploiting their non-resident status. While earlier it was possible to be classified as a non- resident by staying out of the country for 183 days or about six months in a year, this has now been, in effect, enhanced to 245 days. So, statement 2 is not correct.

• Budget 2020-21 proposes that the income of an NRI generated in India will be taxed here. Indian earnings of NRIs such as rental income from property in the country are intended to be taxed by way of the new provision. So, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a).

• The “gas giants” Jupiter and Saturn are mostly hydrogen and helium. These planets must have swallowed a portion of the solar nebula intact. The “ice giants” Uranus and Neptune are made primarily of heavier stuff, probably the next most abundant elements in the Sun – oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur. So, statement 1 is not correct.

• Apart from these four planets rest of the planets are known as terrestrial planets. This includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Further, Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet. So, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (d).

UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:

• Consent of the parties; Impartiality; and Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate. Peacekeeping is flexible, and over the past two decades has been deployed in many configurations.

• There are currently 13 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on three continents. Today's multidimensional peacekeeping operations are called upon not only to maintain peace and security but also to facilitate the political process, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; support the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law. So, statement 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a).

• Three Buddhist dramas have been discovered from the fragments of manuscripts on palm-leaf, at Turfan. One of them named Sariputraprakarana is ascribed to Ashvaghosa, who was a contemporary of Kanishka. The drama has nine acts, and its theme is based on the events which led up to the conversion of the young Maudgalayana and Sariputra by the Buddha.

• The drama has a close relationship with the classical type as laid down in the Natyashastra. Ashvaghosha, (80 CE, Ayodhya—150CE Peshawar) was a philosopher and poet who was considered as India’s greatest poet before Kalidasa (5th century) and the father of Sanskrit drama; he popularized the style of Sanskrit poetry known as kavya. Kalidasa is the most popular among the Sanskrit playwrights.

• His three works Malavikagnimitra, Vikramorvashiya, Shakuntalam, are some of the finest examples of classical Sanskrit play. Abhijnana Sakuntalam is a beautiful tale of love and romance, the name literally meaning 'Of Sakuntala who is recognized by a token'. Abhijnanasakuntalam is the first Indian play ever to be translated into western languages.

• It is for the very first time translated in the English language by Sir William Jones in the year 1789. Bhavabhuti was an 8th-century scholar of India noted for his plays and poetry, written in Sanskrit. His plays are considered the equal of the works of Kalidasa. He is believed to have been the court poet of king Yashovarman of Kannauj.

• Kalhana, the 12th-century historian, places him in the entourage of the king, who was defeated by Lalitaditya Muktapida, king of Kashmir, in 736 AD. Mahaviracharita is a play by him based on the early life of Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. Ratnavali is a Sanskrit drama about a beautiful princess named Ratnavali, and a great king named Udayana. It is attributed to the Indian emperor Harsha (606–648).

Therefore, the correct answer is (c).

Statement 1 is not correct: It is India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. Currently, India has two aircraft carriers (INS Vikramaditya (from Russia) & INS Vikrant (present one).

Statements 2 and 3 are correct: Naval Ensigns are flagging that naval ships or formations bear to denote nationality. The current Indian Naval Ensign consists of a St. George's Cross -- a red cross with a white background.

• St. George was a Christian Warrior Saint who is believed to have been a crusader during the third crusade.

• In 2001 the George’s Cross was replaced with the naval crest in the middle of the white flag while the Tricolour retained its place on the top left corner.

• The Indian Naval Ensign has changed multiple times since Independence.

• The Indian Navy’s new ensign features the national emblem with the Tricolor on the upper canton replacing Saint George’s Cross.The golden border surrounding the national emblem draws inspiration from the seal of the Indian emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Enrich your Learning: ‘Food Chain’

• Food chain exists in ecology in which the energy and matter transfers from one organism to another.
• In food chain, the chain is being constructed when one organism feed onto another one.
• The primary level of food chain is made up by plant and trees which convert solar energy and prepares food for themselves. The plants are eaten by primary consumers consisting of herbivores which are again consumed by the carnivores.
• The chain of energy keeps going on and it leads to balance in the ecology.
• There could be many types of food chain such as: Predator food chain, parasitic food chain or saprophytic food chain.
• In parasitic food chain, a smaller organism feeds on larger host and may itself be parasitized by even smaller organisms.
• In saprophytic chain, microorganisms feed on dead organic matter.
• As energy, in the form of heat, is lost at trophic level, chains do not encompass (normally) more than four or five trophic levels.

Enrich Your Learning: What is the RBI Board?

• The RBI Board is a body comprising officials from the central bank and the Government of India, including officials nominated by the government. The Board exercises all powers and does all acts and things that are exercised by the RBI.

• General superintendence and direction of the affairs, and business of the RBI is entrusted to the Central Board. The Board is also recommending to the government the design, form and material of bank notes and also when and where they can serve as legal tender.

Composition:

• Governor and up to four Deputy Governors.

• Non-official directors, who include up to ten directors from various fields.

• Two government officials, and one director from each of four local boards of the RBI.

• The director of the RBI Board cannot be a salaried government official (except for the ones specifically nominated by the government).

• The meeting of the Board to be held at least six times in a year, and at least once each quarter. The Governor presides the Board meetings. In the event of split votes, the Governor has a second, or deciding vote.

Why in News?

• The RBI Board recently entered the news during the public spat between the central bank and the Finance Ministry.

• One of the reasons for the disagreement was the government’s alleged threat of invoking Section 7 of the RBI Act. Section 7 basically empowers the government to supersede the RBI Board and issue directions to the central bank if they are considered to be “necessary in public interest”.

• The office of Governor exposed to vulnerabilities of the political pressures under coalition government.

• For example, the Tamil Nadu case in relation to the change of the governor, more particularly to satisfy the coalition partner from the state and that too against the will of the ruling party in the State of Tamil Nadu without substantial and reasonable grounds.

Enrich Your Learning: Coalition Governments in India:

• The post 1990 period saw the rise of regional political parties in many States of the country. This was also the beginning of the era of coalition governments at the Centre.

• Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the major national parties had to enter into an alliance with many parties including several regional parties to form a government at the Centre.

• The formation of coalition governments at the centre started with Morarji Desai’s regime which lasted for 857 days.

• At the centre, coalition ministries have been formed seven times between 1977 and April 1999 but after 1999 till 2014 all the coalitions were stable coalitions.

• The adoption of multi-party system and regionalism changed the centre- state relations to a certain extent.

• With regional parties’ emergence in national politics and state politics, the demand for state autonomy has increased drastically while it made the office of Governor exposed to vulnerabilities of the political pressures.

• Marudam – agricultural

• Neydal – coastal

• Mullai - pastoral

Enrich Your Learning:

• The Sangam Age constitutes an important chapter in the history of South India. According to Tamil legends, there existed three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in ancient Tamil Nadu popularly called Muchchangam.

• These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya Sangam Society.

• Tolkappiyam refers to the five-fold division of lands - Kurinji (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert).

• The people living in these five divisions had their respective chief occupations as well as gods for worship.

  • Kurinji – chief deity was Murugan – chief occupation, hunting and honey collection.

  • Mullai – chief deity Mayon (Vishnu) – chief occupation, cattle-rearing and dealing with dairy products.

  • Marudam – chief deity Indira – chief occupation, agriculture.

  • Neydal – chief deity Varunan – chief occupation fishing and salt manufacturing.

  • Palai – chief deity Korravai – chief occupation robbery.

• Tolkappiyam also refers to four castes namely arasar, anthanar, vanigar and vellalar.

• The ruling class was called arasar.

• Anthanars played a significant role in the Sangam polity and religion.

• Vanigars carried on trade and commerce.

• The vellalas were agriculturists.

• Other tribal groups like Parathavar, Panar, Eyinar, Kadambar, Maravar and Pulaiyar were also found in the Sangam society.

• Ancient primitive tribes like Thodas, Irulas, Nagas and Vedars lived in this period.

Enrich Your Learning: Oil extraction in the Arctic:

• There are 19 geological basins in the Arctic region where some of the region has experienced oil extraction.

• Alaska North Slope was the first region where oil was first produced in 1968 from Prudhoe Bay.

• More than 70% of the mean undiscovered oil resources is estimated to occur in five provinces: Arctic Alaska, Amerasia Basin, East Greenland Rift Basins, East Barent basins and West Greenland.

• It is further estimated that approximately 84% of the undiscovered oil and gas occurs offshore.

Canada:

• Extensive drilling was done in the Canadian Arctic during the 1970s and 1980s.

• The geology of the Canadian Arctic turned out to be far more complex than oil-producing regions like Gulf of Mexico.

• Most of the reservoirs had been fractured by tectonic activity.

Russia:

• The oil is present in the Lomonosov ridge.

• The ridge is an underwater shelf going between Arctic Ocean and Ellesmere Islands.

Greenland:

• Greenland is having some of the world’s largest remaining oil resources.

• The West Disko licensing round area, largely free from ice has a number of promising geological from the Paleocene era.

United States and Norway:

• The oil fields in Northern Alska slope is the largest oil field in North America.

• Compared to other Arctic oil states, Norway is probably best equipped for oil spill preparedness in the Arctic.

• Statement 1 is correct: India is among the select few countries to have hosted the COP of all three Rio conventions on climate change (UNFCCC), biodiversity (CBD) and land (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification).

• Statement 2 is correct: UNFCCC is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement. It is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

• In 2018 The Supreme Court constituted a three-member committee, to be headed by former apex court judge Amitava Roy, to look into the aspect of jail reforms across the country and make recommendations on several aspects, including overcrowding in prisons.

It recommended:

• Special fast-track courts should be set up to deal exclusively with petty offences which have been pending for more than five years.

• Further, accused persons who are charged with petty offences and granted bail, but who are unable to arrange surety should be released on a Personal Recognizance (PR) Bond. Launching a National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms.