UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 17th March 2021

Solution (c)

Explanation: 

About Rakhigarhi 

Rakhigarhi is the site of a pre-Indus Valley Civilisation settlement going back to about 6500 BCE. Later, it was also part of the mature Indus Valley Civilisation, dating to 2600-1900 BCE. The site is located in the Ghaggar-Hakra River plain, some 27 km from the seasonal Ghaggar River. Currently it is located in Hisar district of Haryana.

According to the Global Heritage Fund Rakhigarhi is the largest and oldest Indus site in the India.

Findings confirm both early and mature Harappan phases and include 4,600-year-old human skeletons, fortification and bricks. Digging so far reveals a well-planned city with 1.92 m wide roads, a bit wider than in Kalibangan. The pottery is similar to Kalibangan and Banawali. Pits surrounded by walls have been found, which are thought to be for sacrificial or some religious ceremonies. There are brick lined drains to handle sewage from the houses. Terracotta statues, weights, bronze artefacts, comb, copper fish hooks, needles and terracotta seals have also been found. A bronze vessel has been found which is decorated with gold and silver. A gold foundry with about 3000 unpolished semi-precious stones has been found.

A granary belonging to mature Harappan phase (2600 BCE to 2000 BCE) has been found here. Granary is made up of mud-bricks with a floor of ramped earth plastered with mud. It has 7 rectangular or square chambers.

There, at Lothal and Rangpur, has been found the earliest South Asian evidence of rice cultivation, in the later Harappan period. Subsequently, wheat, cotton, flax, and lentils spread into the region from the Indus valley, and pulses and millets from the south. (So, Statement C is not correct)

Article reference: Rakhi Garhi Is Being Developed as One of The Five Identified Iconic Archaeological Sites

Solution (c)

Explanation:  

Some Folk Culture of Jharkhand, Bihar and Kerala

• Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Jharkhand are Faguwa Nritya, Turi Nritya, Faguwa Nritya, Turi Nritya, Paika Nritya, Hodopathy, Tribal dance (Karam Nritya).     
• Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Bihar are “Reshma Chuharmal”, “Bihula Bishari” (Purnia), “Naradi”, Bidesia, Godana Painting, “Hirni-Birni”, Panwaria, Domkach & Sohar Khilona folk dance, Domkach folk dance, Jharni & Jhinjhia folk dance, Drupad Dhamar, Godna Geet, Sikki Kala, Tikuli Art and Madhubani Painting. (Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect
• Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Kerala are Poorakali, Malayankettu & Kannerpattu, Daffumuttu , Kanyarkali and Arabanaumuttu..

Article reference: Conservation of Ancient Folk Cultures

Solution (c)

Explanation: 

Central Consumer Protection Authority 

• It is being constituted under Section 10(1) of The Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 
• The Act replaced The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and seeks to widen its scope in addressing consumer concerns.  (Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect)
• The new Act recognises offences such as providing false information regarding the quality or quantity of a good or service, and misleading advertisements.
• It also specifies action to be taken if goods and services are found “dangerous, hazardous or unsafe”.
• The CCPA will have the powers to inquire or investigate into matters relating to violations of consumer rights or unfair trade practices suo motu, or on a complaint received, or on a direction from the central government.
• The authority will be a lean body with a Chief Commissioner as head, and only two other commissioners as members — one of whom will deal with matters relating to goods while the other will look into cases relating to services.
• The CCPA will have an Investigation Wing that will be headed by a Director General. For search and seizure, the CCPA will have similar powers given under the provisions of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
• District Collectors too, will have the power to investigate complaints of violations of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and false or misleading advertisements.

Article Link: 172 Notices have been issued by Central Consumer Protection Authority for misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice

Solution (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1: Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India. It accounts for 55% of the country’s energy need. The country’s industrial heritage was built upon indigenous coal.

Statement 2: Commercial primary energy consumption in India has grown by about 700% in the last four decades. The current per capita commercial primary energy consumption in India is about 350 kgoe/year which is well below that of developed countries. 

Statement 3:  Hard coal deposit spread over 27 major coalfields, are mainly confined to eastern and south central parts of the country. The lignite reserves stand at a level around 36 billion tonnes, of which 90 % occur in the southern State of Tamil Nadu.(So, statement 3 is correct)

Article link: Coal production in country

Solution (d)

Explanation 

India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of hazards. More than 58.6 per cent of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; over 40 million hectares (12%) of its land is prone to floods and river erosion; close to 5,700 km, India’s 7,516 km, long coastline is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68% of its cultivable area is vulnerable to droughts; and, its hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches. Moreover, India is also vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies and other man-made hazards 

• Earth System Science Organization-India Meteorological Department (ESSO-IMD) is responsible for monitoring, detection and forecasting of Cyclones. 

• ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (ESSO-INCOIS), Hyderabad is responsible for monitoring, detection and forecasting of Tsunami due to sea-bed earthquakes and storm surges associated with cyclone landfall. 
• ESSO-National centre of Seismology (ESSO-NCS) is responsible for monitoring, detection of Earthquakes along with operational research in pure and applied seismology and earthquake precursory phenomena, earthquake processes and modelling.
• ESSO-IMD is also responsible for monitoring, detection and forecasting of other severe weather phenomena like norwesters (severe thunder storms), dust storms, heavy rains and snow, cold and heat waves, etc.
• Central Water Commission (CWC) is responsible for issuing flood warnings in respect of the 43 rivers of India. (So, statement (d) is incorrect)

Article link: Technology for Forecasting of Floods