UPSC Daily Quiz | 3 December 2024

Relevance: The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the event is hosted in West Asia.

Explanation:

Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP)

• India will present the AGWP, a major initiative aimed at restoring 1.15 million hectares of degraded land across four states in northwestern India.

• The project covers the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
• The project is part of India’s effort to achieve the national goal of creating an additional 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon sink by 2030.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Relevance: Nagaland Statehood Day was observed on December 1.

Explanation:

Nagaland

• The state was formed on December 1, 1963, as the 16th state of India, and since then the day is annually celebrated as Nagaland Statehood Day. (Hence, statement 1 is correct)
• Until 1957, the region we today call Nagaland was just a district of the state of Assam, known to people as ‘The Naga Hills’.
• Boundary: One of the seven sister States, Nagaland is bound by Assam, Myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. (Hence, statement 2 is not correct)
• Official language: Nagaland’s official language is English while Nagamese, a kind of pidgin Assamese, has become the common lingua.
• Hornbill Festival: Also called the ‘Festival of Festivals’ and named after the Hornbill (Dhanesh bird), this 10-day event celebrates the traditions, cuisine, lifestyles, and dances of Nagaland’s Indigenous Warrior Tribes. (Hence, statement 3 is correct)
• Amur falcons: Nagaland is also known as the ‘Falcon Capital of the World’ as it is the primary stopover roosting site for Amur falcons. (Hence, statement 4 is correct)
• Economy: Nagaland is predominantly an agrarian economy with 71% of its population dependent on agriculture. 
• Naga chilli:  Considered one of the world’s hottest chillies based on the Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), is grown in Nagaland.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Polity

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Relevance: The term “mutualism” was coined by French philosopher Pierre-Joseph Proudhon in the mid-19th century as part of his broader critique of capitalism and authoritarianism.

Explanation:

Mutualism

• It is an economic and social theory that emphasises voluntary cooperation, reciprocity, and the fair exchange of goods and services. It advocates for a society where individuals and communities engage in cooperative ownership, decentralising and collectively managing productive resources like land or tools for the benefit of all. (Hence, statement 1 is correct)
• Such systems would be free from central authority and capitalist exploitation.
• It did not call for the complete elimination of ownership. It emphasises a form of ownership based on usage rather than accumulation and profit. Ownership of tools or land is acceptable, provided it does not lead to exploitation of others. (Hence, statement 2 is correct)

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Polity

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Relevance: US President-elect Donald Trump warned the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) with 100% tariffs if they create a new BRICS currency or replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency.

Explanation:

BRICS Currency and US Dollar Dominance

• The BRICS nations, in light of rising geopolitical tensions and the shortage of US dollars, are exploring alternatives to the US dollar for global trade.
• Diverging economic structures, different monetary and trade policies, and other complexities make the creation of a common BRICS currency a long-term goal.
• The IMF’s COFER report shows a decline in the US dollar’s share in global reserves, while non-traditional currencies (e.g., Australian dollar, Chinese renminbi) are gaining market share.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | IR

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Relevance: Scientists, policymakers and industry representatives participated in the 13th edition of the three-day National Seed Congress (NSC).

Explanation:

Hybrid Crops

• Hybrid crops are created through the process of cross-breeding two genetically different plants, typically from different varieties or species, to combine desirable traits from both parent plants. 
• Aim: To produce offspring that have superior qualities, such as increased yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, or improved nutritional content. 
• Concern: Hybrid crops often do not produce seeds that retain the same beneficial traits as the parent crop, so farmers need to purchase new seeds each year.

Biofortified Crops

• Biofortified crops are those that have been specially bred to have higher levels of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, or amino acids, than their conventional counterparts.
• This is done through traditional breeding techniques, genetic modification, or modern biotechnological methods. 
• Aim: It aims to improve the nutritional value of crops, especially in regions where deficiencies in essential nutrients are widespread.
• Golden Rice has been genetically modified to produce higher levels of provitamin A (beta-carotene), aiming to reduce vitamin A deficiency.

Key Difference:

• Hybrid crops focus on improving traits like yield, resilience, or growth characteristics by crossbreeding different varieties.
• Biofortified crops focus on improving nutritional content to address deficiencies in key micronutrients.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | S&T

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual