UPSC Daily Quiz | 5 August 2024

Explanation:

• • A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, with very low pressure at the centre.

• Also known as twisters, they are often associated with a dark, greenish sky. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• They are characterised by a funnel descending from a cloud which hits the ground and roars forward with a sound. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The path of a tornado can be erratic and may suddenly change direction. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• Tornadoes typically move erratically from southwest to northeast.

• A tornado can last just a few minutes or a few hours and moves over the ground at speeds between 20 and 90 km/h. 
• Tornadoes generally occur in middle latitudes. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
• A tornado over the sea is called water spout. 

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Geography

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

• India’s growing appetite for Venezuela’s petcoke is being driven by a scramble for inexpensive fuel to power industries as global coal prices have surged.

Petroleum Coke

• • Petroleum coke (also called petcoke) is a carbonaceous product (rich in carbon content). 

• It is the solid residue left (the distillate at the bottom of the petroleum table) after the removal of the more valuable products from the crude oil using coking or heating process. (Hence, Statement 1 is correct)

• It is produced during the oil refining process by splitting long chain hydrocarbons of petroleum using heat into shorter chains. (Hence, Statement 1 is correct)

Uses of Petcoke

• Petcoke is a highly stable solid fuel that is used for electric utilities and cement kilns. 
• Further refinement with heat removes moisture producing calcinated petcoke, used in the manufacturing of aluminium, steel and other products. 
• High grade Petcoke which is low in sulphur and heavy metals can be used to make electrodes for the steel and aluminium industry. 
• While petcoke that is low in sulfur and heavy metals can be treated (calcined) and used to produce aluminum, steel, and as industrial feedstock; fuel grade or “green” petcoke, which is high in sulfur and heavy metals, is burned in power plants to generate electricity. (Hence, Statement 3 is not correct)

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

• Mahanadi, one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers, is the sixth largest river in India and the longest river flowing through Odisha. (Hence, Statement 1 is correct)

• • The length of Mahanadi is 851 km, of which 357 km flows through Chhattisgarh and 494 km through Odisha before it meets the sea near Paradeep at False Point, Jagatsinghpur.
  • It originates from the Maipal range in Chhattisgarh popularly known as the Amarkantak plateau. (Hence, Statement 2 is not correct)
  • The Mahanadi basin is the 8th largest basin in the country. 

• The city of Cuttack stands on the spit separating its two channels. (Hence, Statement 3 is not correct)

• The Mahanadi is an important river in the state of Odisha. This river flows slowly for about 900 km and deposits more silt than any other river in the Indian subcontinent. (Hence, Statement 4 is correct)

• The Mahanadi was notorious for its devastating floods for much of recorded history. However, the construction of the Hirakud Dam has greatly altered the situation. 
• Puri, at one of its mouths, is a famous pilgrimage site.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Geography

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

• Super Vasuki is the longest and heaviest freight train ever run by the Railways. (Hence, Option a is correct)
• The Railways plans to use this arrangement (longer freight trains) more frequently, especially to transport coal in peak demand season to prevent fuel shortages of power stations.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Miscellaneous

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) 

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), as the apex body for disaster management, is headed by the Prime Minister. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

• The general superintendence, direction and control of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is vested in the NDMA. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The NDMA is mandated to deal with all types of disasters; natural or man-made. 

• Whereas, such other emergencies including those requiring close involvement of the security forces and/or intelligence agencies such as terrorism (counter-insurgency), law and order situations, serial bomb blasts, hijacking, air accidents, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapon systems, mine disasters, port and harbour emergencies, forest fires, oilfield fires and oil spills are handled by the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC). Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Environment

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual