UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 11th November 2021

Solution (c)

Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use — a declaration initiated by the United Kingdom to “halt deforestation” and land degradation by 2030. China, too, is a signatory to this but India has stayed out.

At UN Climate Change Conference (the 26th Conference of Parties-COP26) in Glasgow, the United States and the European Union have jointly pledged to cut emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 2030. They plan to cut down emissions by 30% compared with the 2020 levels. 

India is the third largest emitter of methane, primarily because of the size of its rural economy and by virtue of having the largest cattle population. India has stated earlier that it plans to deploy technology and capture methane that can be used as a source of energy. In a communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, India said approximately 20% of its anthropogenic methane emissions come from agriculture (manure management), coal mines, municipal solid waste, and natural gas and oil systems.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/explained-where-does-india-stand-on-methane-emissions/article37362589.ece

Solution (c)

Chumbi Valley is also called Dromo, Tromo or Chomo.

It is a valley in the Himalayas that projects southwards from the Tibetan plateau, intervening between Sikkim and Bhutan.

It is coextensive with the administrative unit Yadong County in the Tibet region of China.

The Chumbi Valley is connected to Sikkim to the southwest via the mountain passes of Nathu La and Jelep La.

The valley is at an altitude of 3,000 m (9,800 ft), and being on the south side of the Himalayas, enjoys a wetter and more temperate climate than most of Tibet.

The valley supports some vegetation in the form of the Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests and transitions to the Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the north.

The plant Pedicularis chumbica is named after the valley.

Article Link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chumbi_Valley

Solution (a)

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The 246 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.

UCCN created in 2004, is a network of cities that are thriving, active centers of cultural activities in their respective countries.

Srinagar (Crafts and Folk Arts) recently became the sixth Indian city to be made a part of this network.

After Mumbai – Film (2019), Chennai – Creative city of Music (2017), Hyderabad – Gastronomy (2019), Varanasi – Creative city of Music (2015) and Jaipur – Crafts and Folk Arts (2015), Srinagar – Crafts and Folk Arts is the sixth Indian city to achieve this distinction.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Srinagar as a part of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

UNESCO designates the creative cities in seven fields — Craft, Folk Art, Media Arts, Film Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music. The Srinagar city has been designated the creative city in the field of Crafts and Folk Arts — only second city in India in this category after Jaipur.

Article Link:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/srinagar-unesco-creative-city-explained-7614289/

Solution (c)

The Vanniyars were in the backward classes list for many years. The community, constituting a significant percentage in the State’s northern districts, consists predominantly of agricultural labourers. In 1987, the Vanniyar Sangham launched an agitation demanding 20% separate reservation. In 1989, the demand was partially conceded. The BC quota was then at 50%. This was sub-divided and a 20% segment was earmarked for ‘Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities’. The Vanniyars were included in the Most Backward Classes list. The expectation was that they would be the principal beneficiaries in this 20% segment, though 109 other castes were in the MBC/DNC category.

The Vanniyar, formerly known as the Palli, are a community found in the northern part of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/explained-why-did-the-madras-high-court-invalidate-separate-quota-for-vanniyar-community/article37362540.ece

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/quota-without-data-the-hindu-editorial-on-reservation-policies/article37312220.ece

Solution (d)

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that is spread by the Aedes mosquito, the same species that transmits the dengue and chikungunya viruses.

Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes, Aedes is most active during the day. Barrier methods of prevention, such as mosquito nets, are less effective. The mosquitoes can survive in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Several species of Aedes can transmit Zika. The main ones are the Aedes albopictus, or Asian tiger mosquito, and the Aedes aegypti, known as the yellow fever mosquito.

The Zika virus was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947, but it has affected people in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and South and Central America.

Zika virus cases typically occur in tropical climates.

Symptoms of Zika virus infection can last for up to 1 week, but effects on a fetus can be severe.

At present, there is no treatment for the virus.

Avoiding mosquito bites is a key aspect of Zika virus prevention.

Article Link:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305163