Daily Quiz 12th June 2024

Answer: A
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was established as per the provisions of Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934, by the central government in 2016.
○ Its key purpose, as specified in the Act, is to decide the policy rate necessary for maintaining targeted inflation levels.
○ Decisions made by the MPC are mandatory for the Reserve Bank of India to follow.
○ The MPC consists of six members,
■ RBI Governor serving as the ex-officio chairperson.
■ Deputy Governor responsible for monetary policy,
■ RBI officer nominated by the Central Board, and three experts appointed by the central government.
● These experts are selected based on their expertise and experience in economics, banking, finance, or monetary policy and are known for their integrity and capability.
● Statement 2 is Correct: The RBI must hold at least four Monetary Policy Committee meetings annually.
○ A quorum for the meetings requires at least four members, including the Governor or, in his absence, a Deputy Governor who is a committee member.
○ The Governor, or in his absence a Deputy Governor who is on the committee, will chair the meetings.
○ All questions which come up before any meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee shall be decided by a majority of votes by the Members present and voting.
● Statement 3 is Incorrect: Each committee member is entitled to one vote.
○ Each Member of the Monetary Policy Committee has one vote and in the event of an equality of votes, the Governor shall have a second or casting vote.

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: OPEC was founded in 1960, created by Baghdad conference
  • Founding Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela in response to oil companies’ dominance.
  • Aim: Coordinating petroleum policies and securing fair and stable prices.
  • Its headquarter is in Vienna, Austria.
  • OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations.
    • 12 Members: Algeria, Congo, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Equatorial Guinea.
      • Angola: Became an OPEC member in 2007 and withdrew its membership effective January 1, 2024.
    • Statement 2 is incorrect: The top 10 oil producers and share of total world oil production in 2023.

• 1 Oil includes crude oil, all other petroleum liquids, and biofuels.
  2 Production includes domestic production of crude oil, all other petroleum liquids, and biofuels and refinery processing gain.
  3 Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics, Total oil (petroleum and other liquids) production, as of April 11, 2024
• Non-OPEC countries in the global alliance of OPEC+ are represented by Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Brunei, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, South Sudan and Sudan. US is not a part of OPEC + (as their oil production is not regulated to foster national development (or is nationally regulated) but is regulated by market economy)

Answer: A

Explanation:

• The term Cosmic Dawn refers to a pivotal era in the universe’s history, approximately 50 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang, when the first stars, black holes, and galaxies began to form.
  • This period marked the transition from a dark, featureless universe to one filled with light and structure.
  • This epoch marks a significant transformation in the universe’s structure, leading to the complex celestial objects and phenomena observed today.

Related Information:

• Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has recently identified a galaxy known as JADES-GS-z14-0, which is the oldest galaxy observed to date.

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Correct: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by a genetic mutation that causes red blood cells (RBCs) to assume a sickle or crescent shape rather than their normal round shape.
  • These RBCs block blood flow, depriving various body parts of essential oxygen which often leads to anaemia, organ damage, severe and episodic pain, and premature death.
  • Symptoms and Signs: Early signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease (SCD) in infants typically appear around 5-6 months old and may include:
    • Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
    • Fatigue or fussiness due to anaemia (low red blood cell count)
    • Painful swelling of the hands and feet (dactylitis)
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect: India ranks third globally in SCD births (after Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) , with regional studies indicating 15,000-25,000 SCD-affected births annually, predominantly in tribal populations.

SCD is listed as one of the 21 disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• A cryogenic engine, often utilized as the final stage in space launch vehicles, operates using cryogenics to maintain its fuel and oxidizer in liquid rather than gaseous form.
• In the vacuum of space where there is no atmospheric oxygen to support combustion, rockets must carry their own oxidizer.
• This oxidizer, typically liquid oxygen, is mixed with a fuel to enable burning in space.
• In contrast to a cryogenic engine, which uses liquid hydrogen as fuel, a semi-cryogenic engine employs refined kerosene (combustible hydrocarbon).
• This choice of fuel offers significant practical advantages. Kerosene is less volatile than liquid hydrogen and can be stored at normal temperatures, simplifying the logistics and reducing the costs associated with fuel storage.
• Additionally, kerosene’s higher density compared to liquid hydrogen allows for a more compact fuel storage solution, which is advantageous in the design and construction of space launch vehicles.
• Using kerospace-grade refined kerosene also means that the engine can handle higher temperatures, potentially enhancing its durability and performance under the extreme conditions of space launch.
• The use of liquid oxygen as an oxidizer remains consistent in both cryogenic and semi-cryogenic engines, ensuring that the engine can function efficiently in the absence of atmospheric oxygen.
• The choice between these two types of engines typically hinges on the specific requirements of the mission, including factors like payload, distance, and budget constraints.