Q.1. With respect to Cell Broadcast Alert System (CBAS), consider the following statements:
- This works through telecom operators
- This new tool is being tested by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) in partnership with the Ministry of Earth Science’s National Centre for Seismology
- Android Earthquake Alerts System is one of the major components of CBAS
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) 1 and 2
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (a)
Source: Tremors reveal gaps in emergency alert system (The Hindu, November 11, 2023)
Explanation:
- The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are testing a new tool named CBAS.
- This tool has been in testing since August, with alerts sent out in phases across different regions.
- Recently, a test alert was sent to many phones nationwide, causing phones to display a message and emit a loud emergency tone.
- The alert was sent twice, once in English and once in Hindi, a few minutes apart.
- The alerts are sent using the Cell Broadcasting System (CBS), a technology that allows messages to be sent to all phones in a specific area, regardless of the network provider.
- CBS has several applications, including sending emergency alerts like severe weather warnings, public safety messages, evacuation notices, and other critical information.
Q.2. Consider the following statements:
- There are two major ice sheets in the world: the Greenland ice sheet and the Antarctic ice sheet
- The Greenland ice sheet and the Antarctic ice sheet contain about two-thirds of the freshwater on Earth
- Ice sheet is created by sea water freezing over many years
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) 1 and 2
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (b)
Source: Rapid melting of Ice Sheet in West Antarctica now unavoidable – this is what it could mean (The Indian Express, November 11, 2023)
Explanation:
- There are two main ice sheets in the world: the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which contain most of the world’s freshwater.
- Glaciers and ice sheets form over many years when snow accumulates and gets compressed into ice.
- Ice sheets, large masses of glacial ice covering over 50,000 square kilometres, are different from sea ice, which is formed from frozen sea water.
- One process of ice sheet melting involves warm ocean waters melting the floating edges of the ice sheet, known as ice shelves.
- A new study finds that the rapid melting of West Antarctica’s ice sheet due to warming ocean waters is now inevitable, regardless of carbon emission reductions. The study, titled ‘Unavoidable future increase in West Antarctic ice-shelf melting over the twenty-first century,’ was published in Nature.
Q.3. Consider the following statements:
- Statement-I: The labour force participation rate has witnessed an upward trend from 2017-18
- Statement II: From 2017-18 to 2022-23, there has been a significant surge in the participation of women in rural areas in the labour force.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-Ii is incorrect
- (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Ans: (a)
Source: Questions over employment (The Indian Express, November 9, 2023)
Explanation:
- Labour force participation rate has increased from 36.9% in 2017-18 to 42.4% in 2022-23, as per the periodic labour force surveys.
- The rise is primarily due to more women joining the workforce, especially in rural areas.
- Female participation in rural India witnessed a significant hike, jumping from 18.2% in 2017-18 to 30.5% in 2022-23.
- This represents a boost of over 12 percentage points in five years.
Read more about Periodic Labour Force Survey
Related Readings
Labour Force Participation Of Married Women
Q.4. Consider the following statements:
- There has been an overall increase in tiger population in South Asia
- There has been a decrease in the tiger population in Southeast Asia
- There has been an overall increase in the tiger population by 60 per cent from 2010-2022
- India is home to 75% of the population of the wild tiger at the global level
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) Only 3
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (d)
Source: 60% increase in overall tiger population, but habitat & biodiversity loss threatening Southeast Asian big cats (Down to Earth, November 10, 2023)
Explanation:
- Wild tiger populations are healthy in South Asia and Russia, but are decreasing in Southeast Asia.
- India has been committed to the conservation of tigers and has submitted data on their populations to CITES from 2010-2022.
- The Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) was established in 2010 to halt the decline and double the tiger population by 2022.
- The St Petersburg Declaration of 2010 involved 13 tiger range countries pledging to protect this species.
- Future efforts for tiger conservation from 2023-2034 will be guided by the GTRP 2.0 and CITES.
- The global tiger population has increased by 60% to 5,870.
- However, the tiger populations in Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao-PDR, and Vietnam are declining, causing concern in Southeast Asia.
- The region faces challenges due to rampant prey and tiger poaching.
- Issues further include insufficient patrolling, poor wildlife tracking, forest loss for commercial use, and being close to wildlife trade hubs.
- Rapid infrastructure development is causing habitat fragmentation.
- The decline in tiger populations is also due to inadequate monitoring and underinvestment in wildlife conservation.
- The progress of South Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) and North East Asian countries (China, Russia) in increasing tiger populations is due to effective habitat conservation and protection measures.
- Nepal stands out for having tripled its tiger population.
Q.5. Which of the following cities is promoting ‘Clean Air Zones’, ‘low emission zones’, ‘ultra low emission zones’ to reduce air pollution at a local level?
- (a) London
- (b) Paris
- (c) Oslo
- (d) Berlin
Ans: (a)
Source: This is how London tackled air pollution. Delhi can learn (The Print, 11 November, 2023)
Explanation:
- Clean air zones (CAZ) are considered as essential for enhancing air quality in UK cities.
- CAZ aims to minimise the usage of highly polluting vehicles in certain areas by imposing charges.
- The first large-scale CAZ was the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), launched in April 2019.
- The London CAZ controversially extended to cover all of Greater London on August 29, with the M25 road acting as the city’s boundary.
- Post the inception of London’s CAZ, more English and Scottish towns and cities have introduced similar schemes, and more locations are under consideration.
- London has implemented clean air zones with speed restrictions and anti-idling laws, particularly around schools and hospitals.
- Since 2009, London has enforced Low Emission Zones that limit pollution from heavy vehicles across the city.
- An Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which restricts all polluting vehicles, has been in place in central London since 2019, gradually expanding to cover the entire city.
- Other pollution sources like wood fires are addressed through various action plans.
- Significant investments in public transport have reduced the number of vehicles on the road, indirectly improving air quality.
- Air quality in London has improved significantly, with the worst days now better than the best in cities like Delhi, although it still falls short of WHO guidelines.