UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 22nd October 2021

Solution (a)

Israel granted approval on Tuesday for 4,000 Palestinians to register as residents of the West Bank, the first such move in the Israeli-occupied territory in 12 years.

West Bank, Arabic Al-Ḍaffah al-Gharbiyyah, Hebrew Ha-Gadah Ha-Maʿaravit, area of the former British-mandated (1920–47) territory of Palestine west of the Jordan River, claimed from 1949 to 1988 as part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan but occupied from 1967 by Israel. The territory, excluding East Jerusalem, is also known within Israel by its biblical names, Judaea and Samaria.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six Day War of 1967 and exercises full administrative control across much of the territory.

The West Bank does not lie entirely within the drainage system of the Jordan River, as elevated areas in the west give rise to the headwaters of streams flowing westward to the Mediterranean Sea.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/israel-clears-residency-for-palestinians/article37081823.ece

Solution (a)

The Greater Chennai Corporation has planned to promote more factories under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode to convert plastic waste to fuel oil. 

The first plant will process waste using pyrolysis, a proven technology against the incineration of waste plastics. The plant has been designed and manufactured by Bioneer Green Energy, and automated by Unique Industrial Automation Pvt. Ltd., Madurai. It has been established by Entice Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. along with the Corporation.

In pyrolysis, combustible materials, such as plastic, rubber, wood, tyres, straw and garden waste, are converted into useful products, such as fuel oil and carbon, without any pollution. The plant will also be able to produce hydrogen.

Fossil fuel is not required for the operation of the plant.

Pyrolysis is one of the technologies available to convert biomass to an intermediate liquid product that can be refined to drop-in hydrocarbon biofuels, oxygenated fuel additives and petrochemical replacements.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/plastic-waste-conversion-plant-to-begin-operations-this-month/article37082099.ece

Solution (c)

‘Low calcium intake widespread in Indians

In a land of abundant sunshine, 50 million Indians are estimated to be affected by osteoporosis, that makes the bones brittle and fragile with age due to hormonal changes and lack of calcium and vitamin D in the body.

Medical experts sounded alarm bells about the disease that shows no symptom but makes the older population vulnerable to fractures. 

Osteoporosis can be managed with treatment but not cured, he said.

Treatment cost for osteoporosis is quite high but because it is not life-threatening, people tend to be careless. Osteoporotic fractures continue to be on the rise with the spine, hips, wrist and femur, the easiest to damage.

The World Health Organisation recommends daily calcium intake of 1,000 mg. “But Indians average less than 500 mg. It leads to low peak bone mass as years add on,

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/low-calcium-intake-vitamin-d-deficiency-widespread-in-indians/article37082402.ece

Solution (d)

Malaysian firm emerged as the lowest bidder for sand export to India. Sand will be imported through a ship and a ship-load contains around 40,000 to 50,000 metric tonnes. This will be sufficient to bring down the sand prices that have been skyrocketing, moreover, it will prevent exploitation of the State’s natural resources, sources said.

Sources said that sand import from Malaysia will put brakes on illegal sand supply and also the trade where sand is mixed with mud. Packaged sand will put an end to all these issues.

The process of packing and deciding the prices has already begun and prices will be fixed by the MSIL as per the requirement and demand of districts, sources said.

The government had pegged the requirement of imported sand at three lakh metric tonnes per month and had appointed MSIL as the nodal agency to facilitate sourcing and distribution of imported sand

Article Link:

https://starofmysore.com/msil-distribute-sand-malaysia-ease-shortage/

Solution (d)

Efforts on to develop disease-resistant arecanut palms

Healthy plants will be selected from plantations that have been facing the disease for at least 15-20 years now. Such selected plants should be in a position to bear arecanut. These plants will be further subjected to intensive observation and research for another two years leading to final selection. Steps will be taken to develop a disease-resistant variety after that selection, he said.

Caused by bacteria phytoplasma, arecanut leaves turn yellow when afflicted with the disease. Kernel of the nuts of disease-affected palms become soft, showing blackish discolouration, leading to a spongy texture. The disease is transmitted by the plant-hopper insect Proutista moesta .

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/efforts-on-to-develop-disease-resistant-arecanut-palms/article37082408.ece