[Mission 2023] QUIZ : Insights Current Affairs Quiz , 2 July 2022 – INSIGHTSIAS

Solution: b)

The Union Cabinet has advanced by five years its target for achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol. The amended National Biofuel Policy-2018 has now set the new target for 2025-26 instead of 2030, apart from allowing more feedstock for production of biofuels and export of biofuels in specific cases.

What is the biofuel policy?

• Introduced in 2018, the National Biofuel Policy is aimed at reducing dependence on imports by encouraging fuel blending. With bioethanol, biodiesel and bioCNG in focus, its key parts include Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB), production of second generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues), increasing capacity for production of fuel additives, R&D in feedstock, which is the starting material for ethanol production, and financial incentives for achieving these goals.
• After setting a 20% blending target for 2030 initially, the central government had announced premium rates for ethanol produced from sugar syrup, cane juice as well as B heavy molasses. Molasses is the sticky liquid formed during sugar production from cane juice, and depending on the percentage of sugar left, it is categorized as B heavy and C. Molasses is the feedstock used by sugar mills to produce ethanol.
• The policy also allows usage of excess rice or damaged foodgrains as feedstock for ethanol production.

The National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC), with the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas as its head, is the agency to coordinate this blending programme.

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Solution: a)

The 2018 policy was amended to introduce several changes. The most important amendment has been advancing the 20% blending date by five years from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2030 to 2025-26. Introduction of more feedstock for production of biofuels; production of biofuels under the ‘Make in India’ programme in Special Economic Zones, Export Oriented Units; and permission to allow export of biofuels in specific cases are some other changes. Apart from addition of new members to the NBCC, the Committee has now been given the permission to change the policy which it earlier lacked.

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Solution: a)

The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment by the government.

They can resign anytime or can also be removed before the expiry of their term.

The CEC can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of a SC judge by Parliament.

Solution: c)

The Brahmaputra Valley is said to be one of the most hazard-prone regions of the country — according to the National Flood Commission of India, about 32 lakh hectares or over 40 per cent of the Assam’s land is flood-prone due to this.

An important reason apart from the ones mentioned in the question is the ageing of embankments. 

The filling of embankments with sediment, wear and tear and unscientific distribution across the river valley is one of the major reasons.

Solution: b)

Ukraine is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively.

Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Gibraltar and Peninsular Spain in Europe from Morocco and Ceuta (Spain) in Africa. It is far away from Ukraine.