Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 24th November 2024 - UPSC MCQ

A separate treaty for crimes against humanity is necessary to address existing legal gaps and ensure accountability for perpetrators. While there are global treaties covering war crimes, genocide, and torture, a dedicated treaty specifically targeting crimes against humanity like murder, rape, torture, and enforced disappearances would help in setting uniform standards for prosecution and enhancing the international legal framework to combat impunity for such serious offenses. This treaty would aim to fill the current void in addressing a broad range of atrocities committed against civilians worldwide.

- Statement 1 is correct. The 1949 Geneva Conventions indeed consist of four treaties that focus on the protection of individuals during armed conflicts, ensuring humane treatment for wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians, which forms the core of international humanitarian law.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. While the ICC Statute is significant for prosecuting crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, it is not the primary treaty addressing these crimes. The ICC Statute complements existing treaties but does not replace or singularly address all aspects of crimes against humanity comprehensively.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Additional Protocols added in 1977 to the Geneva Conventions indeed extend protections to include civil wars and non-international conflicts, enhancing the scope of humanitarian law to cover more situations of conflict.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C: 1 and 3 Only the correct answer.

1. The Hague Regulations - Incorrectly matched. The Hague Regulations primarily focus on the humane treatment of individuals during armed conflicts, not specifically on prohibiting the use of certain weapons, although they do address the conduct of hostilities and the means and methods of warfare.

2. Geneva Conventions - Correctly matched. The Geneva Conventions establish protections for individuals during armed conflicts, including the humane treatment of wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians.

3. International Criminal Court (ICC) Statute - Correctly matched. The ICC was created to prosecute individuals for serious offenses such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, ensuring accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.

4. United Nations Charter - Incorrectly matched. The United Nations Charter primarily regulates the use of force in international relations and does not specifically address the treatment of prisoners of war.

Pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Developing countries at COP29 called for a minimum of $1 trillion annually from 2025 to 2035 to achieve their emission targets, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). This financial support from developed nations was intended to assist developing countries in transitioning away from fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Statement 1 is correct: The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) indeed aims for a minimum of $1 trillion annually from 2025 to 2035 for climate finance, as demanded by developing countries. This goal is set to support these nations in achieving their emission targets and transitioning away from fossil fuels.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Developed countries did not agree to a predominantly grant-based climate finance model. Instead, they proposed a climate finance target of $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 with contributions from "various sources," including a mix of grants and loans. There was resistance to the demand for a grant-heavy model.

3. Statement 3 is correct: A UN supervised carbon market was indeed established under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This market allows countries to trade carbon credits, providing a mechanism for nations to adhere to emission limits, as outlined in the conference outcomes.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

The correct answer is:

c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

• Statement-I:
  The Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland is indeed situated along the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are moving apart. This statement is correct.

• Statement-II:
  While Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura is known for its biodiversity, it is not particularly well-known for Hoolock Gibbons. The Hoolock Gibbon is found in other parts of Northeast India, but Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary is more associated with species like Indian bison (gaur). This statement is incorrect.

1. Nano Urea - Developed by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO): Correct. Nano Urea is indeed developed by IFFCO and is the only nano fertilizer approved by the Government of India.

2. Arkavathi River - Tributary of Godavari River: Incorrect. The Arkavathi River is an important tributary of the Kaveri River, not the Godavari River.

3. Hesaraghatta Reservoir - Constructed in 1894: Correct. The Hesaraghatta Reservoir was constructed in 1894 and supplies drinking water to Bangalore.

4. Nano Urea - Contains 10% total nitrogen (w/v): Incorrect. Nano Urea contains 4.0% total nitrogen (w/v), not 10%.

Thus, pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

The Reykjanes Peninsula is situated in southwestern Iceland and is known for its vast lava fields, volcanoes, and significant geothermal activity. It is particularly active in terms of volcanoes due to its unique geological setting along the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are moving apart, causing frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in the region.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Reykjanes Peninsula is indeed located along the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are moving apart. This geological setting contributes to its volcanic activity. Additionally, the peninsula was recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2015 due to its unique geological features and landscapes, including lava fields and geothermal areas.

- Statement 2 is correct. Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the South Tripura District of India and is noted for its diverse biodiversity, including the presence of the highly endangered Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape species in the Indian subcontinent.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Reykjanes Peninsula is characterized by its lava fields, volcanic activity, and geothermal areas rather than tropical semi-evergreen forests and water streams. These attributes are more relevant to Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, which features tropical forests and numerous water bodies.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Reykjanes Peninsula - Located in the southeast of Iceland: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Reykjanes Peninsula is located in the southwest of Iceland, not the southeast.

2. Mid-Atlantic Rift - Tectonic plates moving apart: This pair is correctly matched. The Mid-Atlantic Rift is indeed where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are moving apart, which is a significant geological feature affecting the Reykjanes Peninsula.

3. Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary - Home to the Indian Bison: This pair is correctly matched. Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its large population of Gaur, also known as Indian Bison.

4. Oxytenanthera nigrociliata - Bamboo species found in Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary: This pair is correctly matched. Oxytenanthera nigrociliata, locally known as Kaillai, is a bamboo species found in the sanctuary and is favored by the Gaur.

Thus, three out of the four pairs are correctly matched.