 +9182877-76460, +9193132-18122

Select Language Powered by Translate

UPSC Daily Quiz

Daily Quiz
01 November 2023

Total Points 20

Your Point 0

Percentage 0.%

Ques:1
An India-born author has been awarded the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, a
leading international non-fiction prize. Who is s/he?

a) Nandini Das

b) Jhumpa Lahiri

c) Salman Rushdie

d) V S Naipaul

Correct Answer
Answer: A

India-born author Nandini Das has been named the winner of the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global
Cultural Understanding, a leading international non-fiction prize, for her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal
India and the Origins of Empire’.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/books/india-born-author-nandini-das-wins-2023-british-academy-book-
prize/article67483330.ece

Ques:2
Air Quality Index (AQI) does NOT assess which of the following air pollutants?

a) Carbon Monoxide


b) Carbon Dioxide

 c) Lead

d) Ammonia

Correct Answer
Answer: B

Air Quality Index (AQI) is acquired by measuring emissions of 8 major pollutants present in the air:

1. Particulate matter (PM) 2.5

2. PM 10
3. Ozone (O3)
4. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
5. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
6. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
7. Lead (Pb)
8. Ammonia (NH3)
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhis-air-quality-deteriorates-aqi-very-poor-for-3rd-
straight-day-this-week/article67483380.ece

Ques:3
Consider the following statements regarding International Solar Alliance (ISA) :

1. It was jointly founded by the Prime Ministers of India and Japan at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15) of
U.N. Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC).
2. Its headquarters is hosted by the UNFCCC at New York.
3. ISA has set a target of generating 1000 GW or 1 TW of solar energy by 2030.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?

a) None

b) Only one

c) Only two

d) All three

Correct Answer
Answer: B

International Solar Alliance (ISA) was unveiled by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French
President Francois Hollande at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris on November 30, 2015
(UNFCCC COP 21).
The idea was to form a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to collaborate on addressing the identified
gaps in their energy requirements through a common approach. Towards this, the ISA has set a target of 1
TW of solar energy by 2030.
The ISA is open to 121 prospective member countries, most of them located between the Tropics of Cancer
and Capricorn as this is the region worldwide with a surplus of bright sunlight for most of the year.
ISA headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-welcome-to-be-part-of-international-solar-alliance-
union-minister-for-renewable-energy/article67481187.ece



 Ques:4
With reference to India’s digitization initiative, consider the following options:

1. Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC)

2. Digital Lockers/ Digi Locker
3. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
4. Aadhaar-Enabled Payment System (AePS)
How many of the above is/are part of ‘India Stack’?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) Only three

d) All four

Correct Answer
Answer: D

India Stack is a set of digital infrastructure components that collectively enable various entities, including
governments, businesses, and individuals, to interact and conduct transactions electronically.

Key components of India Stack include: Aadhaar and Aadhaar-Enabled Payment System (AePS), eKYC/
Electronic Know Your Customer, Digital Lockers/ DigiLocker, Unified Payment Interface (UPI), eSign, Digital
Consent and Digital Authentication, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) , Consent Architecture.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/cyber-fraud-involving-aadhaar-enabled-payment-
system-cracked/article67481013.ece

Ques:5
At which conference of parties of United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) did the developed
countries first commit to mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 towards climate action, especially to enable
developing countries in switching over to a low carbon development pathway and climate resilient development?

a) COP 3, Kyoto (1997)

b) COP 13, Bali (2007)

c) COP 15, Copenhagen (2009)

d) COP 21, Paris (2015)

Correct Answer
Answer: C

Developed countries committed to mobilise $100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020 at the Copenhagen
summit of United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15) in 2009.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/stocktaking-climate-finance-a-case-of-circles-in-red-
ink/article67481653.ece


 Ques:6
 Consider the following statements

1. It is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary in Kerala and was established in 1984.

2. The highest peak in this sanctuary is Katti Betta.
3. It is the only protected area of the West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forest of Dipterocarpus-Mesua- Palaquium
type.
4. The river Cheenkani flows through this wildlife sanctuary.
The above-mentioned statements refer to which one of the following wildlife sanctuaries?

a) Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

b) Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

c) Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

d) Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Correct Answer
Answer: a

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Context: Recently, suspected Maoists reportedly opened fire at Forest Department watchers at the Aralam
Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur, Kerala.

About Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is located on the western slopes of the Western Ghats.

It is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary in Kerala and was established in 1984.
It is contiguous with Wayanad-Brahmagiri, Wayanad's northern slopes, and the Protected Areas of
Karnataka State, namely the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and also the forests of Coorg.
The highest peak in this sanctuary is Katti Betta.
It is the only protected area of the West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forest of Dipterocarpus-Mesua-
Palaquium type.
The river Cheenkani flows through this wildlife sanctuary.
Vegetation: Forest coast tropical evergreen and west coast semievergreen forests are predominant here.
Flora: The common trees in the semievergreen areas are Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Hopea parviflora,
Largestroemia lanceolata, Xyliaxylocarpa, Mallotus and Philippinensis.
Fauna: Deer, boar, elephant, and bison are quite common. Leopard, jungle cat and various types of squirrels
are sighted here.

Ques:7
Consider the following statements

Statement 1: Graphene-doped silica aerogels are more effective in purifying water than unmodified silica
aerogels.

Statement 2: Graphene has a unique molecular structure that allows it to attract and remove contaminants
from water.

Which of the following is correct with respect to the above statements?

a) Both statements are correct, and statement 2 is the correct explanation of statement 1


b) Both statements are correct, and statement 2 is not the correct explanation of statement 1

 c) Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct

d) Statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct

Correct Answer
Answer: (a)

Aerogels

Context: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Tel Aviv University have developed an
aerogel adsorbent that can remove trace pollutants from wastewater.

About Aerogels:

Aerogels are composed mostly of air and can be used to remove contaminants.
They, also known as ‘solid air’ or ‘frozen smoke', are excellent adsorbents (a solid substance used to remove
contaminants) and are incredibly lightweight solids composed mostly of air.
In addition, they offer advantages like adjustable surface chemistry, low density, and a highly porous
structure.
A newly developed aerogel adsorbent

The research team developed a silica aerogel modified with graphene.

They employed a method called 'supercritical fluid deposition' to prepare these modified aerogels and
studied their effectiveness.
The Graphene-doped modified silica aerogels (GO-SA) were found to exhibit efficiency in purifying water,
attracting and removing contaminants due to graphene's unique molecular structure.
Under real-life conditions mimicked in their experiments, the material removed over 85% of pollutants in
controlled settings and more than 76% in continuous flow conditions.
Statement 1 is true because graphene-doped silica aerogels have a higher surface area and more active sites
than unmodified silica aerogels. This makes them more effective at adsorbing and removing contaminants from
water.

Statement 2 is also true because graphene has a unique molecular structure that allows it to interact with a wide
range of contaminants. This makes graphene-doped silica aerogels a versatile and effective water purification
material.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Statement 1 is true, statement 2 is true, and statement 2 explains the
statement 1.

Ques:8
Recently, ‘Candolleomyces albosquamosus’ was in the news. It is species of which one of the following?

a) Mushroom

b) Reptile

c) Fern

d) Lichen

Correct Answer
Answer: a

Candolleomyces albosquamosus

 Context: Recently, researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute
(JNTBGRI) at Palode, Kerala identified a new mushroom species, which has been named Candolleomyces
albosquamosus.

About Candolleomyces albosquamosus:

It is a new species belonging to the genus Candolleomyces, which is relatively small genus with just 35
species recognised worldwide.
It has white woolly scale-like structures on its pileus or cap.
It grows to a height of just about 58 mm.
The ‘cap,’ or pileus, of a mature Candolleomyces albosquamosus is 12 mm to 38.5 mm in diameter and bell-
shaped.
The honey-yellow coloured pileus turns brownish-Gray or brownish-beige with age.
The ‘stipe' (the stem or stalk) of the mushroom is white in colour and cylindrical.
Habitats of Candolleomyces albosquamosus include dead logs or bamboo culms in the natural forest.

What are mushrooms?

Mushrooms constitute secondary saprophytic fungi of the forest ecosystem.

Secondary saprophytic fungi play a very important role in the decomposition of plant litter.
The Western Ghats region in Kerala is rich in fungi, many of which could also be described as endemic to
the region.

Ques:9
Consider the following statements regarding ‘Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)’

1. LLP is a hybrid between a company and a partnership.

2. In India, LLP companies are governed by the Companies Act 2013.
3. A minimum of 2 partners and a maximum of 7 partners will be required for the formation of an LLP.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three

d) None

Correct Answer
Answer: a

Context: New Limited Liability Partnership (Third Amendment) Rules, 2023 notified by the Ministry of Corporate
Affairs came into force.

About LLP

Nature: LLP is a hybrid between a company and a partnership. Hence statement 1 is correct.
LLP gives the benefits of limited liability of a company and the flexibility of a partnership.
Governed by the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
Structure: LLP is a body corporate and a legal entity separate from its partners.
 Members: A minimum of 2 partners will be required for the formation of an LLP (no limit on the maximum
number of partners). Hence statement 3 is not correct.

 Ques:10
Recently ‘Country-led Initiative (CLI)’ was in the news. It is associated with which one of the following
institutions/organisations?

a) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

b) United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

c) United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

d) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Correct Answer
Answer: b

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Country-Led Initiative (CLI)

Context: United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Country-Led Initiative (CLI) hosted by Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change, India.

More on news:

India hosted a CLI to contribute to discussions at UNFF19, scheduled in New York in 2024.
CLI will focus on two thematic areas namely forest fires/wildfires and Forest Certification (FC) and
sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
UNFF discussion is regarding the implementation of SFM and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests
(UNSPF).
UNSPF 2017-2030 (adopted by UNGA) has six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets which
are voluntary and universal.
SFM ensures that forests supply goods and services meeting both present and future needs.
UN Forest Instrument encourages SFM through voluntary certification systems or other appropriate
mechanisms in a transparent manner.
Forest certification is a mechanism for forest monitoring, tracing and labelling forest products, where the
quality of forest management is judged against a series of agreed standards.
Between 2010- 2021, the area of forest land under certification schemes increased by 35%.
Need for FC
Ensure SFM and prevent forest degradation or deforestation.
Increases the value of forests by building consumer trust.
Prerequisite for doing business.
Challenges with FC: Excessive costs of certification, audit and compliance issues, inaccessibility to forest
owners in remote regions, etc.


