UPSC Daily Quiz | 23 July 2024

Explanation:

Relevance: The chairman of the UPSC has resigned 5 years before the expiration of his terms.

• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central recruiting agency in India. It is an independent constitutional body directly created by the Constitution. Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution deal with the UPSC.
• The UPSC consists of a chairman and other members appointed by the President of India (without having any consultation with the Chief Justice of India). (Hence Statement 1 is correct)
• The Constitution, without specifying the strength of the Commission has left the matter to the discretion of the President, who determines its composition. Usually, the Commission consists of nine to eleven members including the chairman. 
• Further, no qualifications are prescribed for the Commission’s membership except that one-half of the members of the Commission should be such persons who have held office for at least ten years either under the Government of India or under the government of a state. (Hence Statement 4 is not correct)
• The chairman and members of the Commission hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. However, they can relinquish their offices at any time by addressing their resignation to the President. (Hence Statement 2 is not correct)
• The President can remove the chairman or any other member of UPSC from the office under the following circumstances: 

• (a) If he is adjudged an insolvent (that is, has gone bankrupt); 
• (b) If he engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or 
• (c) If he is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body. 

• In addition to these, the President can also remove the chairman or any other member of UPSC for misbehaviour. However, in this case, the President has to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for an enquiry. (Hence Statement 3 is correct)

• If the Supreme Court, after the enquiry, upholds the cause of removal and advises so, the President can remove the chairman or a member. Under the provisions of the Constitution, the advice tendered by the Supreme Court in this regard is binding on the President. 

So, only three of the statements given above are correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Polity

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

References:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/upsc-chairperson-manoj-soni-resigns-five-years-before-term-ends/article68422530.ece

Explanation:

Relevance: A new study used Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for studying impact of climate change on Indian dry deciduous forests.

• Emission scenarios are pathways that tell us about emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosol due to human activities over time. Scientists use these scenarios to feed into climate models, which then calculate things like future global temperatures or sea levels.

Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)

• The latest approach to determining emission scenarios is known as Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). RCPs specify concentrations of greenhouse gases that will result in total radiative forcing increasing by a target amount by 2100, relative to pre-industrial levels.
• There are four pathways: RCP8.5, RCP6, RCP4.5, and RCP2.6 — the latter is also called RCP3PD, where ‘PD’ stands for Peak and Decline. 
• The numbers represent the expected change in radiative forcing from the year 1750 to 2100. So, RCP4.5 represents an increase of 4.5 watts per square metre of radiative forcing between 1750 and 2100. 
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers 1750 as the base year as it predates the Industrial Revolution and the radiative forcing was quite stable. Moreover, a higher value of forcing means more concentration of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, which in turn, means higher global warming and a more pronounced impact of climate change.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy| Factual

References:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/emissions-scenarios-representative-concentration-pathways-rcps-9182274/

Explanation:

Relevance: The Philippines and China struck a deal to de-escalate tensions at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

• Statement 1 is correct: The Nine-Dash Line is a demarcation line used by China to outline its claims in the South China Sea. 
• Statement 2 is correct: The 38th Parallel is the line that separates North Korea and South Korea, and it roughly coincides with the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two countries.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Durand Line is the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, not India and Pakistan.

So, only two of the statements given above are correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Geography

Level of Difficulty: Easy| Factual

References:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-and-the-philippines-reach-deal-in-effort-to-stop-clashes-at-fiercely-disputed-shoal/article68429395.ece

Explanation:

Relevance: One Chinese firm alone holds 47% of the global LiDAR market share, raising global concerns.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses light waves (not radio waves) to measure distances and create high-resolution maps.
• Statement 2 is correct: Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) is primarily used for detecting objects in the air and on the ground using radio waves.
• Statement 3 is correct: Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) is used underwater to detect and locate objects by emitting sound waves.
• Statement 4 is correct: Both LiDAR and Radar can be used in autonomous vehicles for navigation and obstacle detection, providing complementary data for safe navigation.

So, only three of the statements given above are correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | S&T

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

References:

https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-growing-importance-of-lidar-and-the-accompanying-threat-posed-by-china

Explanation:

Relevance: The State of the World’s Forests 2024 report released recently.

• A new report, titled The State of the World’s Forests, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has brought both relief and concern regarding the state of the world’s forests. 
• While the rate of deforestation has slowed down globally, the report warns that the escalating impacts of climate change continue to pose a significant threat to these vital ecosystems.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy| Factual

References:

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/state-of-the-worlds-forests-2024-global-efforts-curb-deforestation-but-threats-to-forests-from-wildfires-and-pests-remain#:~:text=A%20new%20report%20released%20by,state%20of%20the%20world's%20forests.