Daily Quiz 01 February 2025

Answer: B
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct: Entity Locker is a secure, cloud-based solution that simplifies the storage, sharing, and verification of documents for a wide range of entities, including large organisations, corporations, micro, small, and medium Enterprises (MSMEs), trusts, startups and societies. The platform is a critical component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, aligning with the vision of the Union Budget 2024-25 for enhanced digital governance and ease of doing business.
• Entity Locker is built on a robust technological framework that integrates with multiple government and regulatory systems, offering:
o Real-time access and verification of documents through integration with government databases
o Consent-based mechanisms for secure sharing of sensitive information
o Aadhaar-authenticated role-based access management to ensure accountability
o Statement 2 is correct: Legally valid digital signatures for authenticating documents
o Statement 3 is not correct: 10 GB of encrypted cloud storage for secure document management

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Section 5 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 mandates the constitution of the National Committee on Dam Safety. 
• Statement 2 is not correct: The Committee would be chaired by the Central Water Commission Chairperson and have representatives from the Centre and States and include three specialists in the field of dam safety and allied fields.

Statement 3 is correct: The Committee’s crucial functions under Section 6 include evolving policy, guidelines and standards to prevent disasters related to dam failures and maintain safety standards.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Option A is correct: The Diamond Triangle is a collection of three Buddhist sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri. The sites belong to the Vajyarajyan sect of Buddhism, which is popularly known as the Diamond Vehicle, and hence the name Diamond Triangle.

Recently, a colossal Buddha head, a giant palm were unearthed during the Archaeological Survey of India excavation in Ratnagiri. Located 100 km northeast of Bhubaneswar and part of the famous Diamond Triangle of Odisha along with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri  (translated as the ‘Hills of Jewels’) was first documented as a historical site in 1905. The site stands on a hill between Birupa and Brahmani rivers and is Odisha’s most famous and the most excavated Buddhist site.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The major case in regard with the death penalty was Bachan Singh v. the State of Punjab 1980 case where a constitutional bench of hon’ble supreme court propounded the dictum of rarest of rare cases according to which death penalty is not to be awarded except in the rarest of rare cases when the alternative option is unquestionably foreclosed.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Supreme Court of India recently held that a dedicated cell shall be constituted by the Home Department or the Prison Department of the State Governments/Union Territories for dealing with mercy petitions. The dedicated cell shall be responsible for the prompt processing of the mercy petitions within the time frame laid down by the respective governments.

Statement 3 is correct: As soon as the order of the High Court confirming or imposing the death sentence is received by the Sessions Court, a note thereof must be taken, and the disposed of case shall be listed on the cause list. The Sessions Court shall immediately issue notice to the State Public Prosecutor or the investigating agency calling upon them to state whether any appeal or special leave petition has been preferred before this Court and what is the outcome of the said petition/appeal.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: India’s coffee is primarily grown in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats, areas famous for their biodiversity. Karnataka leads in production, contributing 248,020 MT in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • These areas are home to shaded plantations that not only support the coffee industry but also play a vital role in preserving the natural environment, helping to maintain the ecological balance of these biodiversity hotspots.
• Statement 2 is not correct: Araku Valley is a hill station and valley region in Andhra Pradesh. In Araku Valley, nearly 150,000 tribal families in collaboration with the Coffee Board and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) have increased coffee production by 20%. This achievement is backed by loans from the Girijan Co-Operative Corporation (GCC). It shows how coffee farming empowers communities and supports the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Statement 3 is correct: To enhance coffee production and meet growing domestic and international demand the Coffee Board of India has launched several important initiatives. Through the Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP) the focus is on improving yields, expanding cultivation in non-traditional regions and ensuring the sustainability of coffee farming.

Statement 4 is correct: India’s coffee exports have grown significantly due to the increasing global demand for its rich and unique flavors. In the first half of January 2025 India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee with top buyers including Italy, Belgium, and Russia. Approximately three-fourths of India’s coffee production consists of Arabica and Robusta beans. These are primarily exported as unroasted beans. However, there is a growing demand for value-added products like roasted and instant coffee, further fueling the export boom.