Test: Weekly Current Affairs: May 8th to 14th, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

• Statement 1: Correct. The Explosives Act of 1884 was indeed enacted during the British colonial era.
• Statement 2: Correct. The new Explosives Bill 2024 proposes stricter penalties for regulatory breaches.
• Statement 3: Correct. The draft bill was put forward by the DPIIT.

• Statement 1: Correct. CBDCs are equivalent to fiat currency.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. CBDCs are backed by central banks, not private entities.
• Statement 3: Correct. One of the primary objectives of CBDC is to reduce risks and costs associated with physical currency handling.

• Statement 1: Correct. Anticyclones bring stable, windless conditions with clear skies.
• Statement 2: Correct. The IEJ and westerly jet influence pre-monsoon weather patterns in India.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. Heat waves are connected to climate change.

• Statement 1: Correct. Constructed wetlands use natural processes for wastewater treatment.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. SSF wetlands utilize gravel beds or porous media, not surface flow.
• Statement 3: Correct. Constructed wetlands offer environmental advantages and are cost-effective.

• Statement 1: Correct. The Arms Act of 1959 replaced the Indian Arms Act of 1878.
• Statement 2: Correct. The Explosives Act of 1884 was unaffected by the Arms Act of 1959.
• Statement 3: Correct. Article 31C was introduced through the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

• Statement-I: Correct. CBDC is a digital form of legal tender issued by a central bank.
• Statement-II: Correct. CBDCs are backed by the central bank, ensuring stability and trust, and this explains Statement-I.

• Statement-I: Correct. The Explosives Act of 1884 empowered the Central Government as stated.
• Statement-II: Correct. The new Explosives Bill 2024 aims to streamline licensing procedures.
• Explanation: Statement-II is correct but not the explanation for Statement-I.

Explanation of the Cocoa Crisis

- The Primary Cause of the Cocoa Crisis
- The ongoing cocoa crisis can indeed be attributed to the poor harvest season in West African nations, which are significant producers of the world's cocoa supply. Factors such as unfavorable weather conditions, diseases affecting cocoa trees, and inadequate agricultural practices contribute to reduced yields.

- Contribution of El Niño and Climate Change
- El Niño is a complex weather pattern resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, which can have a profound impact on weather conditions around the globe, including in West Africa. Its effects can lead to drought or flooding, both of which are detrimental to cocoa production.
- Climate change exacerbates these challenges by introducing greater unpredictability and severity into weather patterns. It leads to increased temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and a heightened incidence of extreme weather events, all of which can negatively affect cocoa cultivation.

- Connection Between the Statements
- The impact of El Niño and climate change on weather conditions directly influences agricultural productivity. In the context of West African nations, where cocoa is a crucial crop, these environmental factors have led to poor harvest seasons. This establishes a direct link between the broader environmental changes and the immediate agricultural outcomes observed in the cocoa crisis.

- Conclusion
- Both statements are correct, and Statement-II serves as the correct explanation for Statement-I. The poor harvest season in West African nations is the primary cause of the ongoing cocoa crisis, and this is largely due to the adverse effects of El Niño and climate change on the region's weather patterns and, consequently, its agricultural productivity.
 

• Statement-I: Correct. Constructed wetlands are indeed effective for municipal wastewater treatment.
• Statement-II: Correct. They require significant land space.
• Explanation: Statement-II is correct but does not explain Statement-I.

• Statement-I: Correct. The Indian Rupee has depreciated significantly against the US dollar.
• Statement-II: Incorrect. While depreciation can boost exports, it has not led to a significant boost in this case.

• Pair 1: Correct. The Explosives Act, 1884 was established to regulate various aspects of explosives.
• Pair 2: Correct. The Arms Act, 1959 aims to combat illegal weapons and violence.
• Pair 3: Correct. Article 31C of the Constitution ensures equitable distribution of community resources.

• Pair 1: Correct. PESO is responsible for the licensing authority.
• Pair 2: Incorrect. The Central Bureau of Explosives is not associated with specified quantities in licenses.
• Pair 3: Incorrect. The Ministry of Home Affairs does not handle penalties for violations related to explosives.

• Pair 1: Correct. The Sand Dollar was implemented by the Bahamas.
• Pair 2: Correct. The eNaira was implemented by Nigeria.
• Pair 3: Incorrect. The e-CNY was implemented by China, not Japan.
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• Pair 1: Correct. El Niño is characterized by the abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific.
• Pair 2: Correct. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heat waves.
• Pair 3: Incorrect. Heat waves typically have a negative impact on crop yields, not an improvement.

• Pair 1: Correct. Subsurface Flow Wetlands utilize gravel beds to break down organic matter.
• Pair 2: Correct. Surface Flow Wetlands feature water flowing above the surface with varied vegetation.
• Pair 3: Incorrect. Aerated Lagoon Systems use mechanical aeration, not just natural processes.

• Assertion (A): Correct. The Explosives Bill 2024 proposes stricter penalties.
• Reason (R): Correct. The previous Explosives Act had insufficient penalties, thus necessitating stricter measures.

• Assertion (A): Correct. CBDCs are backed by the central bank.
• Reason (R): Correct. CBDCs are equivalent to fiat currency and can be exchanged one-to-one, which explains their stability and trust.

• Assertion (A): Correct. Constructed wetlands are cost-effective.
• Reason (R): Correct. They require significant land space, but this is not the reason for their cost-effectiveness.

Assertion (A): Correct. El Niño contributes to poor harvests.
Reason (R): Correct. El Niño causes abnormal warming, which affects weather patterns, explaining A.

Assertion (A): Correct. The Indian Rupee has depreciated.
Reason (R): Incorrect. While depreciation can affect trade balance, it has not led to significant improvements in India’s case.

• Context: UNESCO is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict
• The Convention is the first legal framework solely dedicated to safeguarding movable and immovable heritage. It shields cultural property during both peace and conflict. With 135 member states, including India, the Convention and its 1954 and 1999 Protocols aim to protect cultural treasures, with the latter introducing the concept of Enhanced Protection for Cultural Properties.

• The report released by the World Economic Forum
• Earth Observation (EO) technologies gather data about Earth’s natural and artificial features. EO includes remotely sensed data from satellites and in-situ data from sensors.
• EO could also help reduce over 2 billion tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030 through early warning systems and environmental impact monitoring.
• Global initiatives like MethaneSAT and Allen coral Atlas aim to address these challenges and leverage EO for various purposes.

• Context: The world’s largest Direct Air Capture and Storage (DAC+S) plant, Mammoth, has commenced operations in Iceland.
  • This Swiss company Climeworks’ second commercial DAC+S facility surpasses its predecessor, Orca, in size.
• Direct Air Capture and Storage (DAC+S) is a technology designed to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere at any location. It is a form of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technology, distinct from carbon capture methods typically carried out at the point of emissions. The captured CO2 can then be permanently stored in deep geological formations or utilized for various applications. DAC+S plants aim to contribute to efforts to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere, addressing climate change concerns. ‘

• WHO has released a progress report on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
• NTDs are a group of diverse infections caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that primarily affect populations in tropical and subtropical regions. These diseases often receive inadequate attention and resources, leading to limited research, diagnosis, and treatment options. Examples of NTDs include malaria, dengue fever, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, etc
• S1: Incorrect. NTDs primarily affect populations in developing countries where access to healthcare and sanitation is limited.
• S2: Incorrect. There are more than 20 NTDs recognized by global health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• S3: Incorrect. NTDs have a significant impact on socioeconomic development and public health, causing disability, stigma, and loss of productivity among affected populations. They often perpetuate cycles of poverty by hindering economic growth and development in affected regions.

• Statement 1 is correct: The nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) is an unadjusted weighted average rate at which one country’s currency exchanges for a basket of multiple foreign currencies. The nominal exchange rate is the amount of domestic currency needed to purchase foreign currency. If a domestic currency increases against a basket of other currencies inside a floating exchange rate regime, NEER is said to appreciate. If the domestic currency falls against the basket, the NEER depreciates.
• Statement 2 is not correct. An increase in REER means that the country’s currency has appreciated not only in nominal terms but also adjusted for inflation. This could actually make exports more expensive and imports cheaper, potentially reducing trade competitiveness.
• Statement 3 is true. If domestic inflation is higher than inflation in other countries, it would lead to a higher increase in the nominal exchange rate (NEER) compared to the real exchange rate (REER), leading to a divergence between the two.