Daily MCQs 29 July

Q 1. With reference to the space exploration, Wentian, Tianhe and Mengtian are:

(A) Modules of China’s space station

(B) Nanosatellites launched by ISRO

(C) Space rockets manufactured by SpaceX

(D) Rovers launched by JAXA to Mars

Answer: (A)

China recently launched the second of three modules to its permanent space station, in one of the final missions needed to complete the orbiting outpost by year’s end. Wentian (“Quest for the Heavens”) laboratory module has a weight of 23-tonne is recently launched on the back of China’s most powerful rocket, the Long March 5B, from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island of Hainan.

Option (A) is correct: The construction of China’s space station called Tiangong is expected to be completed this year. It will then evolve from a single-module structure into a national space laboratory with three modules — the core module, Tianhe, and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian.

The Wentian lab module, 17.9 m long, will provide space for experiments, along with the other lab module yet to be launched — Mengtian (“Dreaming of the Heavens”). Wentian features an airlock cabin that is to be the main exit-entry point for extravehicular activities when the station is completed. It will also serve as short-term living quarters for astronauts during crew rotations on the station, which is designed for long-term accommodation of just three astronauts. Mengtian is expected to be launched in October and, like Wentian, is to dock with Tianhe, forming a T-shaped structure.

Q 2. How is the permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?

1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.

2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.

3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi -arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.

4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(A) 1 and 3 only

(B) 1, 2 and 4 only

(C) 4 only

(D) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (B)

The economic turmoil in Sri Lanka to this point was precipitated by its disastrous shift to organic farming—posing new questions about the viability of sustainable agriculture. The Indian Ocean island of 22 million would have been the first to transition to organic farming nationwide. Instead, it sank into its worst social unrest.

Permaculture is the “conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Today, more than 3 million people across the globe practise permaculture, and claim that the novel farming system is the only way to make agriculture sustainable in the face of extreme weather events such as recurrent droughts and unprecedented floods, land and soil degradation due to excessive use of synthetic fertilisers and manure, and a growing population.

Statement 1 is correct: Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant. Since the principles of permaculture discourage monoculture, it opens up the opportunity for growing a wide variety of grains, fruits and vegetables, and widens one’s food basket.

Statement 2 is correct: Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming. Permaculturists claim that the benefits go beyond achieving self-sufficiency in food. For example, the farm generates manure for the soil, thus saving on fertiliser cost. In chemical farming, the focus is on feeding the crop using synthetic manure. But in permaculture, or any other non-chemical agriculture practices for that matter, emphasis is on nourishing the soil which in turn keeps nursing the plants.

Statement 3 is not correct: Due to its focus on water conservation and region specific crops, it is very much suitable for arid and semi arid regions. Permaculture allows farms to weather harsh conditions just the way forests would do.

Statement 4 is correct: All experts agree on one aspect of permaculture: its power to rejuvenate soil. In this system of farming, land is not cleared by burning. Rather, mulching is practised as a rule. Even roots of plants are left in the ground to degenerate naturally. As per the rules of ecology, animals play a key role in the regeneration of a healthy ecosystem. So chickens, bullocks and cows have also been integrated in everyday activities at the farm. While the chickens provide eggs and enrich compost for plants with their excrement, the bullocks help in ploughing the fields.

Q 3. The Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby expanding the production of indigenous defence equipment. Which of the following are such policy initiatives?

1. Simplification of Industrial licensing process with longer validity period

2. Liberalization of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy allowing 100% FDI under automatic route

3. Launch of an indigenization portal namely SRIJAN to facilitate indigenization by Indian Industry including MSMEs

4. Establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors in each state

5. Launch of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme involving start-ups & MSMEs

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 4 and 5 only

(C) 2, 3 and 4 only

(D) 1, 3 and 5 only

Answer: (D)

The Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby expanding the production of indigenous defence equipment. These initiatives, inter-alia, include:

• According priority to procurement of capital items from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020;
• Announcement of 18 major defence platforms for industry led design & development in March 2022;
• Notification of three ‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 310 items of Services and two ‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 2958 items of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timelines indicated against them;
•  Simplification of Industrial licensing process with longer validity period;
• Liberalization of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy allowing 74% FDI under automatic route; (Statement 2 is incorrect)
•  Simplification of Make Procedure;
• Launch of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme involving start-ups & Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs);
•  Implementation of Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017;
• Launch of an indigenization portal namely SRIJAN to facilitate indigenization by Indian Industry including MSMEs;
• Reforms in Offset policy with thrust on attracting investment and Transfer of Technology for Defence Manufacturing by assigning higher multipliers;  and 
• Establishment of two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; (Statement 4 is incorrect)
• Opening up of Defence Research & Development (R&D) for industry, start-ups and academia with 25% of defence R&D budget earmarked to promote development of defence technology in the country;
• Progressive increase in allocation of Defence Budget of military modernization for procurement from domestic sources, etc.

 With these actions of the Government, the expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources which used to be 46% of the overall expenditure has reduced to 36% in the last four years i.e. 2018-19 to 2021-22.

Q 4. ‘Smart e-beat’ system is recently launched in Gurugram for

(A) police attendance and real-time monitoring of patrolling by personnel

(B) reducing Air Pollution in NCR region

(C) online submission and monitoring of the proposals submitted by the proponents for seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and CRZ Clearances

(D) significantly reduce consumer products made of single-use plastics

Answer: (A)

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal recently launched the ‘smart e-beat’ system, and flagged off 119 motorcycle riders of the Gurugram police.

• It is an app-based system for police attendance and real-time monitoring of patrolling by personnel. Till now, the officers, deployed at the beat, used to mark their attendance manually. This is a GIS-based system which would enable more effective monitoring to help track the location of riders.
• The new system will cover all 33 police stations located in the urban area of Gurugram
• The system will be integrated with an emergency response support system in the future.

Q 5. Consider the following statements regarding Raja Ravi Verma:

1. He was one of the first artists who tried to create a style that was both modern and national.

2. He was one of the first Indian painters to use oil paint and master the art of lithographic reproduction for mythological subject.

3. He belonged to the family of the Maharajas of Mysore in Karnataka.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only

(B) 3 only

(C) 1 and 2 only

(D) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (C)

Ahead of the 175th birth anniversary fete of the legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma, who revolutionised Indian aesthetics and redefined art practice during the colonial era, the erstwhile royal family of Kilimanoor has urged the Union government to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, on him. It is believed that he had made around 7,000 paintings before his death at the age of 58. But only one painting is now left in ‘Chithrashala,’ the artist’s studio at Kilimanoor Palace — an unfinished portrait of ‘Parsi lady’ which was his last work.

Statement 1 is correct: Raja Ravi Varma was one of the first artists who tried to create a style that was both modern and national. He mastered the Western art of oil painting and realistic life study, but painted themes from Indian mythology. He dramatised on canvas, scene after scene from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, drawing on the theatrical performances of mythological stories that he witnessed during his tour of the Bombay Presidency.

Statement 2 is correct: He was one of the first Indian painters to use oil paint and master the art of lithographic reproduction for mythological subject. These paintings are, generally, large ones, depicting a historic moment or scene from an epic or a classical text, painted in the midst of a dramatic action. It is intended to be noble, momentous and emotional.

Statement 3 is correct: Ravi Varma belonged to the family of the Maharajas of Travancore in Kerala, and was addressed as Raja. Mr. Varma’s women-centric paintings portray a vast variety of their expressions and costumes. Some of his popular works include ‘Lady in the Moonlight’, ‘Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair’, ‘Malabar Lady with Violin’, ‘Lady with Swarbat’, and ‘Maharashtrian Lady with Fruits’. Rama Vanquishing the Pride of the Ocean is a Puranic (ancient mythological stories) theme painted by Raja Ravi Varma. Varma also painted Release of Ahalya, Rama Breaking the Sacred Bow of Siva before his Marriage to Sita, Rama, Sita and Laksmana Crossing the Saryu, Ravana abducting Sita and Opposed by Jatayu, Sita in Ashoka Grove, The Coronation of Rama, etc.