Syllabus

• Prelims –Science and Technology

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently, laid down the foundation stone of LIGO-India on the occasion of National Technology Day.

About LIGO-India:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Gravitational waves discovery: India’s imprint in landmark LIGO project – Times of India (indiatimes.com)

• LIGO is the world’s most powerful observatory.
• It exploits the physical properties of light and space to detect and understand the origins of gravitational waves.
• At the moment, there are two such observatories in the US.
  • These are separated by a distance of 3000 kilometres that work in tandem to pick up these gravitational waves.
• Each LIGO detector consists of two arms.
• LIGO-India will be the fifth node of this international network of gravitational wave observatories.
• It will be located in Maharashtra, India.
• It is envisaged as a collaborative project between a consortium of Indian research institutions and the LIGO Laboratory in the USA, along with its international partners.
• It will be built by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Science Foundation, the US, along with several national and international research and academic institutions.
• LIGO-India is a collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory (operated by Caltech and MIT in the US) and three Institutes in India namely:-
  •  the Raja Ramanna Center for Advanced Technology (RRCAT, in Indore),
  •  the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR in Ahmedabad), and
  • the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA, in Pune).
• When LIGO-India is completed, it will join a global network of gravitational-wave observatories that includes Virgo in Italy and KAGRA in Japan.

Significance:-

• LIGO-India will provide opportunities for Indian youth to pursue research careers in cutting-edge areas of science and technology.
• It will lead to advancement in gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics.
• It will lead to the development of cutting-edge technologies.(UPSC MAINS: Privatisation in Space Sector)

Gravitational Waves:-

• A gravitational wave is an invisible (yet incredibly fast) ripple in space. (UPSC MAINS: Gravitational waves)
•  They travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second).
• These waves squeeze and stretch anything in their path as they pass by.
• Einstein predicted that when two bodies such as planets or stars orbit each other it causes ripples in space.
  • These ripples would spread out like the ripples in a pond when a stone is tossed in.
  •  Scientists call these ripples of space gravitational waves.

MUST READ: India’s Space Economy

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media? (2022)

1. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
2. A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
3. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
4. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same surface. speed and places a probe on it.

Q.2) If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth? (2022)

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur in equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.

Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
2. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
3. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Syllabus

• Prelims –Art and Culture

Context: The annual five-day-long ‘Monlam Chenmo’ Festival, began recently in Ladakh.

About Monlam Chenmo:-

• Monlam Chenmo is an annual five-day-long Great Prayer Festival of Ladakh. (UPSC PRELIMS: Ladakh)
• It is a mass prayer camp by Buddhist monks and nuns for world peace and happiness.
• The annual Mass Prayer is resuming this year after three years of discontinuation due to Covid.
• The event is being organised by the All Ladakh Gonpa Association.
• It is a major annual prayer of the Sangha Community of Ladakh gathered at one platform.
• The Festival falls on the 21st to 25th days of the third month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.
• It is being held since 1991.

Seva for Sangha:-

• It is a special camp for Sangha Community.
• Objective: to help the Sangha Community avail benefits of different government schemes.
• It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ladakh Constituency Jamyang Tsering Namgyal in collaboration with district administration Leh. (UPSC CSE: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh)
• The camp is being organised for the first time for Sanga Community.
• Different government departments, including banks, will come forward and offer the benefits of about 20 schemes of the government to the monks and nuns.
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also joined hands with the organisers to set up medical camps during the camp.

MUST READ: India’s first-ever night sky sanctuary in Ladakh

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following pairs: (2018)

Tradition                                 State

1. Chapchar Kut festival              Mizoram
2. Khongjom Parba ballad          Manipur
3. Thang-Ta dance                      Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2
3. 3 only
4. 2 and 3

Q.2) Consider the following pairs: (2015)

Traditions                                     Communities

1. Chaliha Sahib Festival             Sindhis
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra               Gonds
3. Wari-Warkari                          Santhals

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. None of the above

Syllabus

• Prelims –Science and Technology

Context: Preliminary evidence, from post-mortem and clinical features of the survivors of the recent Giaspura tragedy, suspect hydrogen sulphide gas as the cause.

About Hydrogen sulphide:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Overview of environmental sources and the fate of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in… | Download Scientific Diagram (researchgate.net)

• Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a colourless chalcogen hydride gas with a characteristic foul odour.
• It is very poisonous, corrosive, and flammable. (UPSC PRELIMS: India’s first pure green hydrogen plant commissioned)
• It dissolves in water and oil.
• It may be released when these liquids are heated, depressurized, or agitated.
• It occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas, and some sources of well water. (UPSC CSE: Electronic nose to detect hydrogen sulphide developed)

Health Hazards Associated with Hydrogen Sulphide:-

• The health effects of hydrogen sulfide range from mild, headaches or eye irritation, to very serious, unconsciousness and death.
• Too much H2S can halt the breathing centre in the brain, which can cause death.
• The gas can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

• Because it is heavier than air, hydrogen sulfide can collect in low-lying and enclosed spaces, such as manholes, sewers, and underground telephone vaults.

• • Its presence makes work in confined spaces potentially very dangerous.

Uses:-

• Hydrogen sulphide is used primarily to produce sulfuric acid and sulphur.
• It is also used to create a variety of inorganic sulphides.
• It is used to create pesticides, leather, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.
• It is used to produce heavy water for nuclear power plants.
• It is also used or is a by-product in many industrial processes.
• Hydrogen sulfide is produced naturally from decaying organic matter.
•  It occurs naturally in sewers, manure pits, well water, oil and gas wells, and volcanoes.
•  It can be released from sewage sludge, liquid manure, sulfur hot springs, and natural gas.

MUST READ: Bhopal Gas Tragedy

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastics? (2021)

1. Low-density polyethene
2. Polycarbonate
3. Polyethene terephthalate
4. Polyvinyl Chloride

Q.2) Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because. (2021)

1. It is dipolar in nature.
2. It is a good conductor of heat
3. It has a high value of specific heat
4. It is an oxide of hydrogen

Syllabus

• Prelims –Governance

Context: Recently, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani launched the ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ schemes.

About Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi:-

• Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi is an initiative for strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
• It is launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Objective:  to ensure that India has the world’s largest, universal, high-quality preschool network, as suggested by the NEP 2020. (UPSC CSE: National Education Policy 2020)
• It emphasizes the links with primary education as well as early childhood health and nutrition services. (UPSC PRELIMS: POSHAN Maah)

Salient Features:-

• The government will target children’s development in every domain mentioned in the National Curriculum Framework.
  • These include physical and motor development, cognitive development, socio-emotional-ethical development, etc.
• All States will follow the national ECCE task force recommendations for a play-based, activity-based learning pedagogy.
  • It is targeted specifically at developmental milestones of 0-3-year olds as well as 3-6-year olds.
  • It will include special support for Divyang children.
• Every child would be provided with at least two hours of high-quality preschool instruction on a daily basis.
• Anganwadi Centres will be strengthened with high-quality infrastructure, play equipment, and well-trained Anganwadi workers/teachers.
• It will provide for the mother tongue as the primary teacher instruction medium.
• It will also ensure different types of teaching-learning material (visual aids, audio aids, audio-visual and bodily-kinesthetic aids) to Anganwadi Sewikas.
• It will help build a Jan Andolan, to involve communities in strengthening the foundations of the country’s future generations.

MUST READ: Education & Nation Building

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017? (2019)

1. Pregnant women are entitled to three months of pre-delivery and three months of post-delivery paid leave.
2. Enterprises with creches must allow the mother a minimum of six creche visits daily.
3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) What is the purpose of ‘Vidyanjali Yojana’? (2017)

1. To enable famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India.
2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.
3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 2 and 3 only

Syllabus

• Prelims –Science and Technology

Context: ICMR successfully conducted a trial run of delivery of blood bags by drones under its ‘iDrone initiative’ recently.

About the drone initiative:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Advantages And Disadvantages Of Drone Technology | Grind Drone

• The iDrone initiative is an innovative of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). (UPSC PRELIMS: i-Drone)
  • The ICMR introduced the i-DRONE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • It is now being used to deliver blood and blood-related products which are supposed to be kept at a low temperature.
• The inaugural trial flight carried ten units of whole blood samples from the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) in a visual line of sight.
• This initiative aims to transport essential medical resources to remote areas within the country.
• The medical supplies delivered under iDrone project included COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines used in routine immunisation programs, antenatal care medicines, multi-vitamins, syringes and gloves.
• The drone delivery system focused on an end-to-end ecosystem for drone-based logistic transportation within the states.
•  It was the first successful example of delivering vaccines through drones from land to islands in South Asia.
• The longest drone flight under this project carried 3525 units of medical supplies from Mokokchung to the district Tuensang in Nagaland (approx. 40 km).
• Significance: it will revolutionize the healthcare industry, especially in remote areas where access to medical facilities is limited. (UPSC CSE: Ministry of Civil Aviation notifies liberalised Drone Rules, 2021)

Objectives:-

• To deliver medical supplies using drones.
• To distribute vaccines to inaccessible regions.
• To ensure the safe delivery of temperature-sensitive blood products to distant locations in the country.

Other countries use drones to deliver medical supplies:-

• In Ghana, drone delivery of blood both as laboratory samples and as emergency blood and blood product delivery is available.

MUST READ: Import Ban on Drones

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices? (2019)

1. Location identification of a person
2. Sleep monitoring of a person
3. Assisting the hearing-impaired person

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017? (2017)

1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme for developing every city in our country into Smart Cities in a decade.
2. It is an initiative to identify new digital technology innovations for solving the many problems faced by our country.
3. It is a programme aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 2 and 3 only

Syllabus

• Prelims –Geography

Context: Recently, the Odisha Government announced the move to start the Gajapati irrigation project.

About the Gajapati irrigation project:-

• It is a multipurpose irrigation project at Chheligada in the Gajapati district of Odisha.
• It is being undertaken across the river Badjhore.
  • Badjhore: is a tributary of river Vansadhara near the village Chheligada in the Gajapati District of Odisha.
• The Project envisages the construction of a 250m long & 30m high dam across the river Badjhore with a central spillway.
• After this Project, 5201 hectares metres of water can be preserved and water can be supplied for irrigation of 5760 hectares of land in Ganjam and 500 hectares of land in Gajapati districts.
• This Project will also provide drinking water to Brahampur City.
• Additionally, 36 MW of electricity can be produced through a mini hydel project in three places Shiali Loti, Kankata and Dekili in the Gajapati district.

Salient features of the Project are:-

• 90m long centrally located Ogee-type gated Spillway
• 1.13 km long tunnel to connect Chheligada reservoir with Ghodahada river (UPSC PRELIMS: Linking Rivers)
• Canal system directly from the dam to irrigate in the Gajapati district (UPSC MAINS: Decentralised irrigation techniques)
• Laying of the pipeline for drinking water supply to Berhampur (Distt. Ganjam)

MUST READ: Cabinet approves Ken-Betwa Interlinking of Rivers Project

SOURCE: THE TIMES OF INDIA

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers? (2022)

1. Cauvery
2. Manjira
3. Pennar
4. Tungabhadra

Q.2) Consider the following pairs: (2022)

Reservoirs        :     States

1. Ghataprabha   :     Telangana
2. Gandhi Sagar  :     Madhya Pradesh
3. Indira Sagar    :     Andhra Pradesh
4. Maithon          :     Chhattisgarh

How many pairs given above are not correctly matched?

1. Only one pair
2. Only two pairs PAY
3. Only three pairs
4. All four pairs

Syllabus

• Prelims –Geography

Context: Recently, the Central Electricity Authority has projected a peak power demand of 335 gw and 2.28 trillion units of electricity for the year 2029-30.

About Central Electricity Authority:-

• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is a statutory organization.
• It was constituted under Section 3 (1) of the repealed Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and continued under Section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
• It was established as a part-time body in 1951.
  • It became a full-time body in the year 1975.
• Members:-

• As per Section 70 (3) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the authority shall consist of not more than 14 members. (UPSC CSE: The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022)
• This includes its chairperson.
• Not more than eight of them shall be full-time members to be appointed by the Central Government.

• The CEA is headed by a chairperson who, is the Chief Executive of the authority.
  • He oversees largely the development of the power sector in the country.
• Functions:-
  • It advises the government on matters relating to the National Electricity Policy (NEP).
  • It formulates short-term and prospective plans for the development of electrical systems.
  • It is the designated authority for cross border trade of electricity. (UPSC CSE: Cross-border Electricity Trade)
  • It also prescribes the standards on matters such as the construction of electrical plants, electric lines and connectivity to the grid, safety and grid standards and installation and operation of meters.
  • It is also responsible for the concurrence of hydropower development schemes of central, state and private sectors for the efficient development of rivers and their tributaries for power generation.

MUST READ: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements: (2020)

1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible Pumps.
2. Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with pistons.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Which one of the following is the purpose of `UDAY’, a scheme of the Government? (2016)

1. Providing technical and financial assistance to start-up entrepreneurs in the field of renewable sources of energy
2. Providing electricity to every household in the country by 2018
3. Replacing the coal-based power plants with natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and tidal power plants over a period of time
4. Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies

Syllabus

• Prelims –International Relations

Context: Recently, Oman and Qatar criticized aggression by Israeli occupation forces on Gaza & incursion into West Bank’s Nablus.

About Gaza and West Bank:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Rocket kills man in Israel as strikes target Gaza militant commanders – BBC News.

• The West Bank and Gaza Strip are the two geographical regions.
• They house a large number of Palestinians.
• Background:-
  • The Gaza Strip is an entirely artificial creation that emerged in 1948 when roughly three-fourths of Palestine’s Arab population was displaced.  (UPSC CSE: Violence between Israel- Palestine )
  • Most of the refugees scattered across the region in neighbouring countries like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon
• The West Bank and Gaza Strip are separated from each other by Israel. (UPSC PRELIMS: India and Israel)
• The West Bank is a landlocked region located west of the Jordan River.
• It is surrounded by Jordan to the east.
• It has Israel to the south, west and north

MUST READ: India, Israel and Palestine

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) The term “two-state solution” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of (2018)

1. China
2. Israel
3. Iraq
4. Yemen

Q.2) What is the importance of developing the Chabahar Port by India? (2017)

1. India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.
2. India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.
3. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
4. Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3 (Environment)

Context: A recent analysis found that sludge found in Indian sewage treatment plants (STP)has  high potential for use as fertilizer but required treatment before it could be used unrestrictedly in farms, or as a potential biofuel.

About Sludge:

• Sludge is a thick residue found in Sewage Treatment Plants set up to treat polluted water.
• They are rich in organic chemicals but are also a repository of heavy metals, industrial effluents and bacterial contaminants.

Classification of Treated sludge: India doesn’t yet have standards classifying sludge as class A or B.

• Treated sludge can be classified as class A or class B, as per the standards of the United States Environment Protection Agency.
• Class A sludge: It is safe to be disposed of in the open and useful as organic fertilizer.
• Class B sludge: It can be used in restricted agricultural applications, with the edible parts of the crop not exposed to the sludge-mixed soil, and animals and people not come into extensive contact.

Government initiative to treat sludge:

• National Mission for Clean Ganga is a flagship programme of the government to establish treatment facilities and prevent pollution of the Ganga River.
• One of the measures under this is “Arth Ganga” (economic value from Ganga).
  • It aims to “monetise” and reuse treated wastewater and sludge. This means converting sludge into usable products such as manure and bricks.

Findings:

• Most of the dried sludge analysed falls into the class B category.
• Nitrogen and phosphorus levels exceed India’s fertilizer standards, while potassium levels are lower than recommended.
• Total organic carbon content is higher than recommended, but heavy metal contamination and pathogen levels surpass fertilizer standards.
• Calorific value of sludge ranges from 1,000-3,500 kcal/kg, lower than that of Indian coal.

Recommendations for Improving Sludge Quality:

• Storage of sludge for at least three months is recommended to kill pathogens.
• Blending sludge with cattle manure, husk, or local soil can reduce heavy metal content.
  • These measures, however, would still categorize sludge as class B.
• Converting sludge into class A would require more extensive treatment.

Challenges:

• India doesn’t yet have standards classifying sludge as class A or B.
• Currently, those awarded contracts for developing and maintaining STPs under the Namami Ganga Mission are also apportioned land for disposing of the sludge.
• However, this is rarely treated, and during rains, such sludge — with its accompanying chemical and metallic constituents — often makes its way back into rivers and local water sources.
• A study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Roorkee found that most of the sludge analysed after drying fell into the class B category.
• Nitrogen and phosphorous levels were higher than those recommended by India’s fertilizer standards (FCO, 2009).
• However, the potassium levels of some sludges were less than recommended.

Suggestive measures:

• To improve the quality of sludge, the report recommends the sludge needs to be stored for at least three months to kill pathogens, and blended with cattle manure and husk or local soil to reduce the heavy metal.
• This, however, would still put it in class B and converting it into grade A sludge would require far more extensive treatment.
• Before standards were made, it was necessary to understand the characteristics of the sludge from these STPs before ways could be devised to incentivize private players to treat and dispose of sludge.

Source:   The Hindu

Arth Ganga Project:

• ‘Arth Ganga’ implies a sustainable development model with a focus on economic activities related to Ganga.
• Prime Minister of India first introduced the concept during the first National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur in 2019, where he urged for a shift from Namami Gange to the model of Arth Ganga.

Under Arth Ganga, the government is working on six verticals:

• The first is Zero Budget Natural Farming, which involves chemical-free farming on 10 km on either side of the river, and the promotion of cow dung as fertilizer through the Gobardhan scheme.
• The Monetization and Reuse of Sludge & Wastewater is the second, which seeks to reuse treated water for irrigation, industries and revenue generation for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Arth Ganga will also involve Livelihood Generation Opportunities, by creating haats where people can sell local products, medicinal plants and ayurveda.
• The fourth is to increase public participation by increasing synergies between the stakeholders involved with the river.
• The model also wants to promote the cultural heritage and tourism of Ganga and its surroundings, through boat tourism, adventure sports, and by conducting yoga activities.
• Lastly, the model seeks to promote institutional building by empowering local administration for improved water governance.

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3 (Economy)

Context: The U.S. Treasury Secretary notified Congress last week that the country could default on its debt as early as June 1 2023, if the Republican-dominated House of Representatives and President Joe Biden’s White House did not reach a consensus to raise or suspend the debt ceiling.

About debt ceiling:

• The maximum amount of money that the United States can borrow by issuing bonds is known as Debt Ceiling.
• It was introduced in 1917 during World War I.
• Under the Second Freedom Bond Act of 1917 and the debt ceiling was created and it is also known as the statutory debt limit or the debt limit.
• If the US government’s national debt reaches the cap, the Treasury Department must take other steps to meet government expenditures and other obligations the cap is increased again.
• The debt ceiling has been suspended or raised several times across the years so as to avoid the worst-case scenario of default.
• There have been numerous clashes regarding the debt ceiling, which have even led to the shutdown of governments.

Disadvantages of Debt Ceiling:

• The debt ceiling will be raised even higher when the cap is reached and doing so every time can cause problems.
• The risk non-payment of interest as well as default to bondholders increases the nations borrowing costs and reduces the solvency of the United States.

Debt Management in India: The Reserve Bank of India has allowed the following bodies to issue debt instruments in India:

• Central and State Governments, Municipal Corporations, Government agencies, Banks, NBFCs, Public Sector Units, Corporates.
• Debt products available include bonds, Certificates of Deposit, Commercial Papers, Debentures, National Savings Certificates, Government Securities, Fixed Deposits, and more.
• In India, public debt includes the total liabilities of the Union government that have to be paid from the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 292).
• It is further classified into internal and external debt.
  • Internal debt is categorized into marketable and non-marketable securities.
• The part of a nation’s debt that is borrowed from foreign lenders, such as commercial banks, governments, or international financial institutions, is referred to as its external debt.
• The debt-to-GDP ratio shows how probable it is that the nation will be able to pay off its debt.
• Investors frequently use the debt-to-GDP ratio to determine the capacity of the government to finance its debt.
• Global economic crises have been fueled by higher debt-to-GDP ratios.
• In 2015, the creation of a statutory body called Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) was envisaged in India that deals with the management of public debt called the Public Debt Management Cell.
• Public Debt Management Cell is an interim arrangement before setting up an independent and statutory debt management agency namely the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA).

Way Forward:

An excessive level of public debt can result in higher interest rates, which has a crowding effect on the amount of private investment in the economy and the rate of economic expansion as a whole. Although it temporarily boosts overall demand, if left unchecked it can cause a country’s economy to experience spiralling losses.

Source:    The Hindu

Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) India:

1. It exploits the physical properties of light and space to detect and understand the origins of gravitational waves.
2. It will be located in Karnataka, India.
3. It is envisaged as a collaborative project between a consortium of Indian research institutions and the LIGO Laboratory in the USA, along with its international partners.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1 2 and 3

Q.2) The health effects of hydrogen sulphide range from mild, headaches or eye irritation, to very serious, unconsciousness and death. In this context, which of the following are sources of Hydrogen Sulphide?

1. Fertilizer Industry
2. Leather Industry
3. Textile Industries
4. Pharmaceuticals Industry

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 2 and 4 only
2. 1 2 and 3 only
3. 2 3 and 4 only
4. All of the above

Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding the Central Electricity Authority (CEA):

1. It is a non-statutory organization.
2. It advises the government on matters relating to the National Electricity Policy (NEP).
3. The CEA is headed by a chairperson who, is the Chief Executive of the authority.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1 2 and 3

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’ 12th May 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – d