[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS (14 May 2022 ) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Though ENSO is a single climate phenomenon, it has three states, or phases, it can be in.  The two opposite phases, “El Niño” and “La Niña,” require certain changes in both the ocean and the atmosphere because ENSO is a coupled climate phenomenon.  “Neutral” is in the middle of the continuum.

• • El Niño:  A warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.  Over Indonesia, rainfall tends to become reduced while rainfall increases over the tropical Pacific Ocean.  The low-level surface winds, which normally blow from east to west along the equator (“easterly winds”), instead weaken or, in some cases, start blowing the other direction (from west to east or “westerly winds”).

• • La Niña: A cooling of the ocean surface, or below-average sea surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.  Over Indonesia, rainfall tends to increase while rainfall decreases over the central tropical Pacific Ocean.  The normal easterly winds along the equator become even stronger.

• • Neutral:  Neither El Niño or La Niña. Often tropical Pacific SSTs are generally close to average.  However, there are some instances when the ocean can look like it is in an El Niño or La Niña state, but the atmosphere is not playing along (or vice versa).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/what-is-the-onset-of-the-monsoon/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S2: Chief Election Commissioner of India can be removed from his office by the President on the basis of a resolution passed to that effect by both the houses of parliament with a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity.
• S1: Since its inception in 1950 and till 15 October 1989, the election commission functioned as a single member body consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner. On 16 October 1989, the president appointed two more election commissioners to cope with the increased work of the election
• S3: EC determine the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies throughout the country on the basis of the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/chief-election-commissioner-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Though the constitution has sought to safeguard and ensure the independence and impartiality of the Election Commission, some flaws can be noted, viz.,
• The Constitution has not prescribed the qualifications (legal, educational, administrative or judicial) of the members of the Election Commission.
• The Constitution has not specified the term of the members of the Election Commission.
• The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment by the government.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/chief-election-commissioner-2/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities (Articles 243K, 243ZA).
• The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
• The State Election Commissioners work independently of the Election Commission of India and each has its own sphere of operation.
• Powers and removal of state election commissioner:
• The State Election Commissioner has the status, salary and allowance of a Judge of a High Court and cannot be removed from office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/chief-election-commissioner-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Singularity and event horizons are related to Black Holes.
• What is Event Horizon?
  • A black hole’s event horizon is the point of no return beyond which anything—stars, planets, gas, dust and all forms of electromagnetic radiation—gets dragged into oblivion.
• Standard model of physics tries to explain universal phenomena.
• String theory is used in the context of quantum physics that is used to understand quantum phenomena.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/event-horizon-reveals-true-colours-of-sgra/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: What is Sagittarius A*(SgrA*)?

• Sagittarius A* is a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy i.e. the Milky Way. It is located near the border of the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius.
• SgrA* possesses 4 million times the mass of our sun and is located about 26,000 light-years and 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km)—from Earth.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/event-horizon-reveals-true-colours-of-sgra/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Recently, the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs launched the BHARAT TAP initiative at the ‘Plumbex India’ exhibition. This exhibition is aimed at products and services related to the plumbing, water, and sanitation industry.
• BHARAT TAP is a concept to use low flow tap and fixtures.
• It will provide low-flow, sanitary-ware at scale, and thereby reduce water consumption at the source considerably.
• It is estimated to save approximately 40% of water.
• This will in turn result in water saving and energy saving due to less water and energy will be required for pumping, transporting, and purification.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-may-2022/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• • Brahmos extended range missile was recently test-fired.
  • It was air launched from the first time from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian air force.
  • The range of this extended range Brahmos is 350 kms compared to 290kms in the base version.
  • About Brahmos:
    • The BrahMos supersonic missile is an Indo-Russian joint venture which can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
    • It is a two-stage engine composed of solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second.
    • It operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/05/14/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-may-2022/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
• 2022 Theme: Journalism under digital siege

Refer: link