Daily Quiz 4 October 2023

Explanation:

• Option (1) is incorrect: Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity, both in the manufacturing and services sectors. PMI was started for the first time by US-based Institute for Supply Management (ISM) in 1948. There are two types of PMI: Manufacturing PMI and Services PMI. A combined index is also made using both manufacturing PMI and services PMI.
• Option (2) is correct: PMI helps in determining whether the market conditions, as seen by purchasing managers, is expanding, contracting or staying the same. It is used to provide information regarding the current and future business conditions. PMI gives an idea about the direction the economy is taking and helps economists in predicting the manufacturing activity in the country.
• Option (3) is correct: The manufacturers and suppliers use the index to decide on their production needs based on new orders in the coming months. The index also helps investors who are looking to invest in the stock markets as it helps in determining the economic health of the country.
• Option (4) is correct:  A PMI number greater than 50 indicates expansion in business activity. A number less than 50 shows contraction in business activity. The rate of expansion is also judged by the difference from the mid-point (50) and also by previous month’s data. If the figure is higher than the previous month’s then the economy is expanding at a faster rate. If it is lower than the previous month then it is growing at a lower rate.

Explanation:

The unexpected surge in rainfall during September can be attributed to the Indian Ocean Dipole, which counteracted the initially subdued forecast due to the influence of El Niño.

• Statement 1 is correct: Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is an ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that occurs in the Indian Ocean. It is characterized by the fluctuation of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and atmospheric pressure patterns between the eastern (Bay of Bengal) and the western Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea). The IOD can significantly impact weather patterns and climate in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. IOD is also considered as the Indian Ocean basin branch of the Walker Cell. The longitudinal (east-west) atmospheric circulation across the equatorial Pacific is known as the Walker cell or Walker circulation.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Positive IOD is driven by warmer than normal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) off the coast of Africa and cooler than normal SSTs to the west of Indonesia. This configuration of SSTs reverses the normal circulation, weakening the Walker cell.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Negative IOD is driven by cooler than normal SSTs off the coast of Africa and warmer than normal SSTs to the west of Indonesia. This configuration of SSTs strengthens the Walker cell. The strong Walker cell leads to stronger convection over Indonesia and often drought conditions for the Horn of Africa.

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 under the Rome Statute of 1998. The Rome Statute, grants the ICC jurisdiction over four main crimes:
  • The crime of Genocide,
  • Crimes against Humanity,
  • War crimes, and
  • Crime of Aggression
• Statement 2 is correct: Additionally, ICC has jurisdiction when the United Nations Security Council refers a situation to the Court. The Court may exercise jurisdiction in a situation where genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes were committed on or after 1 July 2002. ICC has jurisdiction if crimes were committed by a State Party national, or in the territory of a State Party, or in a State that has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Armenia’s Parliament voted to join the International Criminal Court. 123 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Azerbaijan is not a member of ICC. Out of these, 33 are African States, 19 are Asia-Pacific States, 18 are from Eastern Europe, 28 are from Latin American and Caribbean States, and 25 are from Western European and other states. The ICC is intended to complement, not to replace, national criminal systems; it prosecutes cases only when a country’s own legal machinery fails to act.

Explanation:

Nepal experienced a series of four earthquakes occurring rapidly, with the most powerful registering a magnitude of 6.2. These tremors were felt in various regions of northern India, including the Delhi-NCR area.

• Statement-I is correct: An earthquake is a motion of the ground surface, ranging from a faint tremor to a wild motion capable of shaking building apart. The point within the earth’s crust where an earthquake originates is called the focus. The point vertically above the focus on the earth’s surface is known as ‘epicentre’. Majority of the earthquakes occur at the circum-Pacific seismic belt. Circum-Pacific Belt (Ring of Fire) comprises the western coast of North and South America; Aleutian Islands and island groups along the eastern coasts of Asia such as Japan and Philippines. About 81% of our planet’s largest earthquakes occur here.
• Statement-II is correct and is the correct explanation of Statement-I: Earth’s outer layer is composed of plates called tectonic plates. Earthquakes occur along the boundaries between tectonic plates or at the site of cracks within the plates, which are called faults. As the edges of these plates slide against each other in fault zones, friction can slow them down, leading to the buildup of pressure over long periods of time. When the force of movement finally overcomes the friction, sections of the crust suddenly break or become displaced, releasing the pent-up pressure in the form of seismic waves. This is a naturally occurring earthquake called as tectonic earthquake.

Explanation:

The unexpected surge in rainfall during September can be attributed to the Indian Ocean Dipole, which counteracted the initially subdued forecast due to the influence of El Niño.

• Option (2) is correct: Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is an ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that occurs in the Indian Ocean. It is characterized by the fluctuation of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and atmospheric pressure patterns between the eastern (Bay of Bengal) and the western Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea). Impacts of IOD on South West Monsoon are:
  • Studies have shown that a positive IOD year sees more than normal rainfall over central India. Also, it was demonstrated that a positive IOD often negated the effect of El Niño, resulting in increased Monsoon rains.
  • A negative IOD, on the other hand, complements El Niño leading to severe droughts.
  • Positive IOD results in more cyclones than usual in Arabian Sea. Negative IOD results in stronger than usual cyclogenesis (Formation of Tropical Cyclones) in the Bay of Bengal.