Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 29th July 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1 is correct. According to the draft notifications by the Environment Ministry, industries under the 'white category' do not require prior permission (CTE and CTO) from the state pollution control boards to establish and operate under the Air Act, 1981 and Water Act, 1974.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Pollution Index (PI) for industries categorized under the 'white category' includes and is up to 20, not 21 to 40. The 'green category' includes a PI range from 21 to 40.

3. Statement 3 is correct. Wind and solar power projects are indeed examples of industries that fall under the 'white category', which are considered practically nonpolluting or least polluting.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

The main objective of NASA's Perseverance rover as part of the Mars 2020 Mission is to collect samples of rocks and regolith from the Martian surface for potential return to Earth. This sample return mission is crucial for further analysis and investigations that could provide insights into the ancient history of Mars and the potential existence of past microbial life.

1. Statement 1: The Yamuna River indeed originates from the Yamunotri Glacier near Bandarpoonch Peak in the Mussoorie range of the Lower Himalayas in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. This statement is correct.

2. Statement 2: The Yamuna River flows for approximately 1,376 km before it joins the Ganges River near Prayagraj (Allahabad). This confluence is a significant and sacred event for Hindus. This statement is also correct.

3. Statement 3: The Yamuna River does pass through the state of Haryana. Specifically, it flows along the border between Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, feeding the Eastern and Western Yamuna canals. Thus, this statement is incorrect.

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

Categorizing industries into different categories based on the Pollution Index score is primarily done to regulate industries according to their level of pollution and environmental impact. This classification helps ensure that industries are established in a manner that aligns with environmental objectives. It allows for appropriate monitoring and control measures to be implemented based on the pollution levels of different industrial sectors.

1. Yamuna River - Originates from Gangotri Glacier: Incorrect. The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier near Bandarpoonch Peak in the Mussoorie range of the Lower Himalayas in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India.

2. PARAKH - Established in NCERT as an independent body in 2023: Correct. PARAKH was indeed set up in NCERT as an independent body in 2023 to standardize assessments across school boards and align with the National Education Policy 2020.

3. Ethanol Blending - Ethanol is produced solely from sugarcane in India: Incorrect. Ethanol in India is produced from various sources including sugarcane-based raw materials (like molasses and sugarcane juice) and also from maize and damaged food grains (e.g., broken or old rice).

4. Yamuna River - Confluences with Ganges near Prayagraj: Correct. The Yamuna River joins the Ganges (Ganga) River near Prayagraj (Allahabad) after a course of about 855 miles (1,376 km).

Thus, pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I is accurate as per the details provided about the Great Nicobar 'Holistic Development' Project in the source material. It mentions the construction of an international container transshipment terminal among other facilities.
Statement-II is also correct based on the information given about NASA's Perseverance rover in the source material. The rover is indeed equipped with cameras, spectrometers, and environmental sensors. However, the two statements are unrelated and do not explain each other, making option (b) the most fitting choice.

Statement-I accurately describes the recent development regarding industries under the 'white category' not needing prior permission from state pollution control boards. However, Statement-II is  correct.  The Pollution Index PI of any industrial sector is a number from 0 to 100 and the increasing value of PI denotes the increasing degree of pollution load from the industrial sector.

1. Satluj River - Incorrectly matched. The Satluj River originates from Rakas Lake in Tibet, not from Beas Kund.

2. Ravi River - Correctly matched. The Ravi River originates from the Bara Bhangal Glacier in the Himalayas.

3. Yamuna River - Correctly matched. The Yamuna River forms the eastern boundary of Himachal Pradesh with Uttarakhand.

4. Spiti River - Correctly matched. The Spiti River joins the Satluj River near Khab.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.

1. Wind power projects - White category: Correct. Wind power projects are considered non-polluting and fall under the white category.

2. Textile dyeing units - Red category: Correct. Textile dyeing units typically have a high pollution index due to the effluents and pollutants they generate, placing them in the red category.

3. Automobile manufacturing - Green category: Incorrect. Automobile manufacturing is usually placed in a higher pollution category, such as orange or red, due to significant emissions and waste generation.

4. Bicycle assembly - White category: Correct. Bicycle assembly is a low-pollution activity and is categorized under the white category.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, but pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Therefore, only two pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly describes the origin of the Yamuna River from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. Statement-II accurately outlines the path of the Yamuna River as it passes through Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, Etawah, and eventually joins the Ganges River near Prayagraj. Statement-II explains the course of the river following its origin, making both statements correct and logically connected.