UPSC Daily Quiz | 4 November 2024

Relevance: A study conducted by Columbia University has revealed that long-term exposure to arsenic in water may increase cardiovascular disease.

Explanation:

• Arsenic is one of WHO’s 10 chemicals of major public health concern. Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form. (Hence, statement 1 is not correct)
• People are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic through drinking contaminated water, using contaminated water in food preparation and irrigation of food crops, industrial processes, eating contaminated food and smoking tobacco.
• Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic, mainly through drinking-water and food, can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning. Skin lesions and skin cancer are the most characteristic effects. (Hence, statement 3 is correct)
• Inorganic arsenic compounds (such as those found in water) are highly toxic while organic arsenic compounds (such as those found in seafood) are less harmful to health.
• People who smoke tobacco can also be exposed to the natural inorganic arsenic content of tobacco because tobacco plants can take up arsenic naturally present in the soil. (Hence, statement 2 is correct)

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | S&T

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Relevance: The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel departed for Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia to take part in the Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI 24 which will be conducted from 1st to 12th of November 2024.

Explanation:

• Exercise GARUD SHAKTI 2024 is the 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces exercise.

• The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).
• It is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Miscellaneous

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Relevance: The National Achievement Survey (NAS), a nationwide survey meant to assess students’ learning progress, will be held on December 4 this year under a new name – PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024.

Explanation:

PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024

• The introduction of PARAKH aims to create a broader understanding of the educational landscape in India. 
• A sample of school students from government, government-aided and private schools from each district in the country take the assessment, which is in the form of multiple-choice questions across different subjects.
• It will cover students from Grades 3, 6, and 9 across key subjects like Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and "The World Around Us." 
• It is managed by the National Assessment Center, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), which is located within the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and under supervision of the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Schemes

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Relevance: The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has constituted a team to investigate the death of ten elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.

Explanation:

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau:

• It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government of India to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
• It was constituted by amending the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972it is mandated to

• To collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals.
• To establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank.
• To assist foreign authorities and international organizations concerned to facilitate coordination and universal action for wildlife crime control.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Relevance: India is committed to the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary said recently, while calling for increased international collaboration to enhance disaster resilience.

Explanation:

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

• The Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk, but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local governments, the private sector, the scientific community and NGOs. (Hence, statement 1 is not correct)
• It aims for a substantial reduction in disaster losses resulting from both man-made and natural hazards. 
• It marks a shift in emphasis from disaster management to disaster risk management. (Hence, statement 2 is correct)
• It lists priority areas for action such as 

• understanding disaster risk, 
• strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, 
• investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and 
• to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. 

The Sendai Framework’s seven Targets focus on substantial reductions in: 

• (a) disaster mortality, 
• (b) number of affected people, 
• (c) direct economic losses and 
• (d) reducing damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services. 

The Sendai Framework also seeks a substantial increase in:

• (e) national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020, 
• (f) enhanced cooperation to developing countries, and 
• (g) a substantial increase in multi-hazard early warning systems, disaster risk information and assessments. 
• The seven targets of the Sendai Framework as well as its related dimensions are reflected in three Sustainable Development Goals: 

• 1, Poverty Eradication; 
• 11, Sustainable Cities; and 
• 13, Climate Action. 

• Strong accountability is one of the cornerstones of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• The Sendai Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. 

Major departures in the Sendai Framework:

• For the first time the goals are defined in terms of outcome-based targets instead of focusing on sets of activities and actions. (Hence, statement 3 is correct)
• It places governments at the center of disaster risk reduction with the framework emphasizing the need to strengthen the disaster risk governance.
• There is a significant shift from earlier emphasis on disaster management to addressing disaster risk management itself by focusing on the underlying drivers of risk.
• It places almost equal importance on all kinds of disasters and not only on those arising from natural hazards.
• Disaster risk reduction, more than before, is seen as a policy concern that cuts across many sectors, including health and education.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual