Daily Quiz 29 June 2024

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has proposed a Solid Waste Management (SWM) Cess of ₹100 per month for each household.
• Statement 2 is Incorrect: SWM Cess is a fee levied by local authorities, such as municipal corporations, on households or businesses for the collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste.
• Statement 3 is Correct: SWM cess is in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
  • Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are mandated to collect user fees/cess for SWM services.
  • Typically, ULBs charge ₹30-50 per month, but are now considering revising rates and imposing higher charges on bulk waste generators to offset SWM costs.
  • This cess is intended to fund and support solid waste management initiatives, including waste collection, segregation, treatment, and disposal.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statements 1, and 3 are Correct but Statement 2 is incorrect:
  • It is a modern rice cultivation technique where rice seeds are directly sown into the field, replacing the traditional method of transplanting seedlings from a nursery.
  • The field is irrigated and laser levelled before seeding using a seed drill or lucky seeder.
  • Seeds are treated with fungicide, dried, and sown 20-30 days earlier than traditional transplantation.
  • First irrigation is 21 days after sowing, followed by 14-17 rounds every 7-10 days, depending on soil type and monsoon quality, totaling fewer irrigations than the traditional method.
  • Heavy or medium-to-heavy-textured soils are ideal for DSR as they retain water better.
  • Light-textured soils, which do not retain water well, are not suitable and can negate the water-saving benefits of DSR.
  • Soils lacking iron and having weed problems are unsuitable for DSR.
  • Soils with plant-available iron are preferred. Ferrace iron (green-coloured, non-oxidized) is recommended over oxidised iron (brown-coloured).
  • Can severely affect yields, causing financial losses and forcing farmers to revert to transplantation, negating DSR benefits.
  • DSR is a water-efficient method for rice cultivation.
  • It can save up to 30% of water compared to traditional methods.
• Related information:
  • Majha (northwestern Punjab) and Doaba (northeastern Punjab) have heavy-textured soils.
  • Malwa (central and southern Punjab) has a mix of heavy, medium, and light-textured soils.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• The Union Jal Shakti Ministry launched an Environmental Flow (e-flow) ecological monitoring system for real-time tracking of river quality, aiding project planning and monitoring.
  • Developed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga ( Namami Gange, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti), it monitors the water quality of the Ganga, Yamuna, and tributaries, along with Namami Gange program activities.
  • The E-flow Monitoring System marks a significant step towards ensuring the continuous and sustainable flow of the Ganga River.
  • The system utilizes data from Central Water Commission reports to track key parameters like in-flow, out-flow, and mandated E-flow across 11 projects along the Ganga Mainstream.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are Correct: The Striped Caecilian (Ichthyophis spp.) is a limbless amphibian belonging to the family Ichthyophiidae.
  • Often mistaken for snakes or worms due to their elongated, cylindrical bodies and lack of limbs.
  • Habitat:
    • Primarily found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
    • They usually inhabit underground or moist soil environments.
  • Statement 3 is Incorrect:
    • Key Features:
      • Smooth, cylindrical bodies with a ringed or striped pattern, giving them the name “striped.”
      • Predominantly fossorial, meaning they burrow and spend most of their lives underground or in leaf litter, making them elusive and difficult to study.
      • Carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates found in soil and leaf litter.
    • Sensory Adaptations: Poor eyesight, relying on chemoreception to sense chemicals in the environment and locate prey.
    • Reproductive Strategies:
      • Unique reproductive methods, including live births or laying eggs.
      • Some species exhibit parental care, with adults guarding eggs or young offspring.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: The decennial census of India, initiated by Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872, has been a regular occurrence every 10 years, with the first comprehensive census conducted in 1881. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, conducts the decennial census. Prior to 1951, the Census Organisation was established on an ad-hoc basis for each census.
• Statements 3 and 4 are incorrect: The Census of India Act of 1948 provides the legal basis for conducting the census. However, the Act does not specify the timing or frequency of the census. The 2011 census was the most recent, with the subsequent one scheduled for 2021 postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Census of India 2011 was conducted in two stages: House listing & Housing Census from April to September 2010, and Population Enumeration from 9th to 28 February 2011. It marked the 15th Census of India and the 7th Census of Independent India, commencing on 1st April 2010, with the President of India being the first citizen enumerated, followed by the Vice President.