Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 12th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. Nankai Trough: Situated off the southwest Pacific coast of Japan - Correct

The Nankai Trough is indeed located off the southwest Pacific coast of Japan.

2. Ring of Fire: Area encompassing the Pacific Ocean with frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity - Correct

The Ring of Fire is a major area in the Pacific Ocean basin where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

3. Magnitude 9.0 Earthquake: Triggered a tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2004 - Incorrect

The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that triggered a tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan actually occurred in 2011, not 2004.

4. Clinical Trials Registry-India: Maintained by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) - Incorrect

The Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI) is maintained by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), not by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched, while pairs 3 and 4 are incorrectly matched.

A cumulonimbus cloud is a large and tall cloud capable of reaching a vertical height ranging from 3 kilometers to occasionally more than 15 kilometers. These clouds are often associated with intense rain, lightning, and thunderstorms. The extraordinary vertical growth of cumulonimbus clouds allows them to penetrate through various layers of the atmosphere, resulting in their towering appearance and ability to generate severe weather phenomena.

Explanation:

• Statement I correctly describes pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which are formed due to the heat generated by fires from large wildfires or volcanic eruptions. These clouds are darker due to the presence of smoke and ash.
• Statement II accurately describes cumulonimbus clouds, which are known for producing hail, thunder, and lightning. They can reach significant vertical heights, ranging from 3 kilometers to occasionally over 15 kilometers.
• Both statements are correct, and Statement II provides additional information about the characteristics of cumulonimbus clouds, which are relevant in understanding the differences and similarities between pyrocumulonimbus and cumulonimbus clouds.

Statement-I correctly describes the objective of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) in India, which is to provide disease-free planting material to enhance the yield and productivity of horticulture crops. The focus is on ensuring farmers have access to certified, disease-free planting material to reduce crop losses and improve yields.

Statement-II, on the other hand, inaccurately suggests that the CPP primarily focuses on developing genetically modified crops. This is incorrect as the CPP's main aim is to provide disease-free and high-quality planting material, not specifically genetically modified crops. Therefore, Statement-II is incorrect, making Option (c) the correct choice.

1. Tantalum is primarily used in the electronics industry due to its ability to store more electricity in smaller sizes with minimal leakage. This statement is correct. Tantalum capacitors are highly valued in the electronics industry for their capability to store more electricity in smaller sizes with minimal leakage, making them ideal for portable electronic devices like smartphones and laptops.

2. The primary producers of Tantalum are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Brazil, and Nigeria. This statement is also correct. These countries are known to be the major producers of Tantalum, with significant mining operations contributing to the global supply.

3. Tantalum is highly reactive with bodily fluids, making it unsuitable for medical implants. This statement is incorrect. Tantalum is actually non-reactive with bodily fluids, which makes it very suitable for medical implants and surgical equipment. Its biocompatibility is one of the reasons why it is used in applications such as artificial joints.

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

Japan's location on the Ring of Fire results in frequent seismic activity due to the interaction of several tectonic plates in the region. The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone in the Pacific Ocean basin where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. This location explains why Japan experiences approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually, making it susceptible to tremors and occasional devastating earthquakes.

(Note: The Ring of Fire is a critical concept in understanding seismic activity and is important for assessing earthquake risks in regions like Japan.)

The Clean Plant Programme (CPP) aims to increase the availability of disease-free and high-quality planting material for horticultural crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers. By ensuring farmers have access to certified, disease-free planting material, the program seeks to significantly reduce crop losses and improve yields, ultimately benefiting the agricultural sector.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project is indeed located on the reservoir of the Omkareshwar dam, which is on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. This location and detail are accurate as per the information provided.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. Although the project was carried out under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy, it is managed by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a subsidiary of SJVN, which is a partnership between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh. This means the direct management is not under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy but under SGEL.

- Statement 3 is correct. The project is indeed estimated to produce 196.5 million units of electricity in its first year and reduce carbon emissions by 2.3 lakh tons, supporting the Indian government's environmental goals.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Waqf - Property dedicated to God for religious or charitable purposes in Islamic law. This is correctly matched.

2. Mutawalli - Person responsible for the administration of waqf properties. This is correctly matched.

3. Clean Plant Programme - Initiative aimed at boosting the availability of high-quality planting material for horticultural crops. This is correctly matched.

4. State Waqf Boards - Established in each state to manage all religious properties. This is incorrectly matched. The State Waqf Boards are specifically established to manage waqf properties, not all religious properties.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Boards: This statement is correct. One of the key amendments proposed in the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 is to include non-Muslim members in the Waqf Boards, aiming to bring diversity and broader oversight.

2. Inheritance of Waqf property: This statement is incorrect. According to Islamic law and the Waqf Act, once a property is designated as waqf, it cannot be inherited, sold, or transferred. The nature of waqf is such that it is a charitable endowment that remains dedicated to religious or charitable purposes indefinitely.

3. Enhancing the Centre's regulatory authority: This statement is correct. The proposed amendments in the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 include enhancing the Centre's regulatory authority over waqf properties to ensure better management and accountability.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.