UPSC Daily Quiz | 21 October 2024

Explanation:

Doctrine of Lis Pendens

• Lis pendens in common parlance means “a pending legal action”.
• The maxim representing this doctrine means that ‘during the pendency of litigation, nothing new should be introduced, and to maintain the status quo, to abstain from doing anything which may affect any party to the litigation.
• It is based on the principle that during the pendency of a suit, the subject matter of it (i.e. the property in the suit) should not be transferred to a third party.
• It is dealt with in Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, which provides that if there is any transfer of any immovable property pending litigation, the same shall not affect the rights of the parties in respect to the immovable property.
• The outcome of the litigation, passed by a court of competent jurisdiction, in the matter during the pendency of which the transfer had taken place would be binding upon such a purchaser, who has purchased the property during the pending litigation.
• It serves to protect the rights and interests of parties involved in a pending lawsuit concerning a specific property.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Polity

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

Swell Waves

• A swell is the formation of long wavelength waves on the surface of the seas. These are composed of a series of surface gravity waves.
• Swell waves organise themselves into groups of similar heights and periods, and then travel long distances without much change. 

Formation

• They occur not due to the local winds, but rather due to distant storms like hurricanes, or even long periods of fierce gale winds. (Hence, statement 1 is not correct)
• During such storms, huge energy transfer takes place from the air into the water, leading to the formation of very high waves. Such waves can travel thousands of kilometres from the storm centre until they strike shore. (Hence, statement 2 is correct)

Features

• Swells have a narrower range of frequencies and directions than locally generated wind waves, because swell waves have dispersed from their generation area, have dissipated and therefore lost an amount of randomness, taking on a more defined shape and direction. (Hence, statement 3 is correct)
• These waves can propagate in directions that differ from the direction of the wind, in contrast to a wind sea.
• Their wavelengths may rarely exceed more than 150 m. Swell wavelength, also, varies from event to event. Occasionally, swells which are longer than 700 m occur as a result of the most severe storms.
• It occurs without precursors or any kind of local wind activity and as a result.
• In India early warning systems like the Swell Surge Forecast System launched by the Indian National Centre for Ocean InformationServices (INCOIS) in 2020 — gives forewaring seven days in advance. (Hence, statement 4 is correct)

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Geography

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Relevance: Ukraine is grappling with a severe outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV), with health officials raising alarms as the death toll rises.

Explanation:

• West Nile Virus (WNV) is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the family Flaviviridae.
• It was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
• It is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it typically spikes between the summer and autumn months of June and September.
• Human infection is most often the result of bites from infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. (Hence, statement 1 is correct)
• No vaccine is available for WNV and only supportive treatments can be provided to neuroinvasive WNV patients. (Hence, statement 2 is not correct)

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | S&T

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Relevance: The Centre's air pollution control panel for Delhi-NCR recently directed state governments in the region to implement the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Explanation:

• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a framework designed to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

• It was introduced as an emergency response mechanism, and its implementation is triggered when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches "poor" levels.
• GRAP is particularly important during the winter months when air quality tends to plummet.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Relevance: Recently, the central government has extended the Samarth Scheme for two years (FY 2024-25 and 2025-26) with a budget of Rs. 495 Crore to train 3 lakh persons in textile-related skills.

Explanation:

• The Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector (SAMARTH) is a demand-driven and placement-oriented umbrella skilling programme of the Ministry of Textiles.
• It aims to incentivize and supplement the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organized textile and related sectors, covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding Spinning and Weaving.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Schemes

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual