INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 2 July 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About BharatNet:

• BharatNet Project was originally launched in 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network(NOFN) and renamed as Bharat-Net in 2015.
• It seeks to provide connectivity to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) through optical fibre.
• It is a flagship mission implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL).
• The objective is to facilitate the delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, Internet and other services to rural India.
• The Kerala Fibre Optic Network aims to provide quality internet free of cost to the poor at affordable rates and free internet for BPL families. Read more>>

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/02/bharatnet-project/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Highlights of the scheme:

• It is a reforms-based and results-linked scheme.
• It seeks to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all DISCOMs/Power Departments excluding Private Sector DISCOMs.
• The scheme envisages the provision of conditional financial assistance to DISCOMs for strengthening supply infrastructure.
• The assistance will be based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria as well as upon the achievement of basic minimum benchmarks by the DISCOM.
• The scheme involves a compulsory smart metering ecosystem across the distribution sector—starting from electricity feeders to the consumer level, including in about 250 million households.
• Scheme also focuses on funding for feeder segregation for unsegregated feeders.
• The Scheme has a major focus on improving electricity supply for the farmers and for providing daytime electricity to them through solarization of agricultural feeders.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/02/revamped-distribution-sector-scheme-for-better-operations-financial-sustainability-of-all-discoms/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogen which has no carbon footprint.
• Yellow hydrogen is a relatively new phrase for hydrogen made through electrolysis using solar power.
• Pink hydrogen is generated through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.
• Grey Hydrogen is hydrogen produced using fossil fuels such as natural gas.
• Blue hydrogen is created from fossil sources, where the carbon emissions are captured and stored.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/02/green-hydrogen/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Countries across the globe adopted an historic international climate agreement at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in December 2015.
• In anticipation of this moment, countries publicly outlined what post-2020 climate actions they intended to take under the new international agreement, known as their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
• The climate actions communicated in these INDCs largely determine whether the world achieves the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement: to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C, to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C, and to achieve net zero emissions in the second half of this century.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/02/green-hydrogen/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: Black carbon is a short-lived climate pollutant with a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the atmosphere.
  • The average atmospheric lifetime of black carbon particles is 4-12 days.
• S2: When deposited on ice and snow, black carbon and co-emitted particles reduce surface albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight) and heat the surface. The Arctic and glaciated regions such as the Himalayas are particularly vulnerable to melting as a result.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/02/study-links-black-carbon-with-premature-deaths/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a biennial event, was hosted by the French Navy
• S1: IONS is a significant international maritime security initiative launched in February 2008.
• It provides a forum for discussion of regional maritime issues and promotes friendly relationships among member nations.
• S2: It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
• IONS includes 24 nations that permanently hold territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean, and 8 observer nations.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/02/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-2-july-2021/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Bees and butterflies play a vital role in the pollination of plants and the production of crops by transporting pollen grains from one place to another.
• Statement 2: This is an absurd statement.
• Statement 3: These are some of the common predators of butterflies: wasps, ants, parasitic flies, birds, snakes, toads, rats etc. The decline in butterfly population would therefore adversely affect the food chain. http://www.thebutterflysite.com/what-eats-butterflies.shtml#sthash.PPoslJj4.dpuf

Refer: UPSC CSE 2017

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The GCCA was established by the European Union (EU) in 2007 to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island developing States (SIDS).
• S2: By fostering effective dialogue and cooperation on climate change, the Alliance helps to ensure that poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change increase their capacities to adapt to the effects of climate change, in support of the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
• S3: There is no mention of WRI and WBCSD at the official partner’s page of GCCA, even though a lot of other institutions are mentioned like FAO, UNDP etc.
• http://www.gcca.eu/about-the-gcca/partners

Refer: UPSC CSE 2017