DAY 26 (12-10-23)
Q1. With reference to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Report, 2023, consider the following statements :
- Russia has the largest number of deployed nuclear warheads followed by USA, France and UK.
- India has no deployed nuclear warheads.
- Overall, number of nuclear warheads continues to decline.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect:USA has the largest number of deployed nuclear warheads followed by Russia, France and UK while Russia has the highest total inventory of nuclear warheads followed by USA and China.
Statement 2 is correct:India, China, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel have no deployed nuclear warheads.India has a total of 164 nuclear warhead stockpiles.
Statement 3 is correct:Overall, number of nuclear warheads continues to decline, primarily due to USA and Russia dismantling retired warheads.
Q2. Consider the following statements :
- Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
- Land Degradation Neutralityis a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, remains stable or increases within specified temporal and spatial needs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
Statement 2 is correct:In 1994 UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management and declared 17 June “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought”.
Statement 3 is correct: As per UNCCD, LDN is a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, remains stable or increases within specified temporal and spatial needs.Principles of LDN:
- Avoid Land Degradation
- Reduce Land Degradation
- Reverse Land Degradation
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship Scheme :
- It facilitates collaboration between the Indian diaspora in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and Indian academic and research institutions.
- It is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:The VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational and Scientific Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations betweenthe Indian diaspora in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and Indian academic and research institutions.
Statement 2 is correct:It is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology.
Q4. Consider the following statements :
- Alligator Gar fishis a euryhaline fishand is one of the biggest freshwater fish in North America.
- The fish is also found in some parts of India.
- The fish is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 and 2 are correct:The alligator gar is a close relative of the bowfin species. It is a ray-finned euryhaline fish (creature’s ability to adapt to a wide range of water types that range in salinity) and is one of the biggest freshwater fish in North America and the largest species in the ‘gar’ family.It is found in some parts of India such as Bhopal and Kerala.
Statement 3 is incorrect:The fish is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Q5. With reference to Black Pond Turtle, consider the following statements :
- They are endemic to deep rivers in Assam, India.
- They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Black Pond Turtleare found in large, deep rivers in India, Assam, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Statement 2 is incorrect: They are listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List. They are also listed as Appendix- I under CITES.