UPSC Weekly Quiz is a current affairs-based quiz on certain relevant topics from the past week, curated for the aspirants of competitive examinations. Attempt the weekly quiz every Saturday and find answers to the MCQs with explanations at the end of the article. QUESTION 1 Laho, Kud and Gotipua are: (a) musical instruments (b) folk dances (c) agricultural practices (d) ancient currencies QUESTION 2 With reference to ‘Multiple energy pathways’, recently seen in news, consider the following: 1. It would enable countries to choose resources, even coal, while working towards plans on net zero emissions. 2. It was proposed by Group of Seven wealthy nations at a meeting of the G20 (which includes G7 countries) Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the above QUESTION 3 With reference to the history of radio broadcasting in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Calcutta radio club sent out the first commercial transmission in India in 1923. 2. Usha Mehta is remembered for organizing an underground radio station that functioned during the Quit India Movement. 3. Akashvani is the largest radio network in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 2 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above QUESTION 4 Recently seen in news, Scary Barbie refers to: (a) AI tool used as a guard against potential hackers (b) a malicious computer program or authored code (c) EU Strategy on combating trafficking in Human Beings (d) a supermassive black hole QUESTION 5 With reference to Neurotoxins, recently seen in news due to Ludhiana gas leak, consider the following statements: 1. Neurotoxins substances can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons or nerve cells, which are important for transmitting and processing signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. 2. Methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are common neurotoxic gases. Which of the statements above is/are not correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 QUESTION 6 With reference to India’s ports and shipping sector, consider the following statements: 1. Currently, nearly 75 per cent of India’s transhipped cargo is handled at ports outside India. 2. More than half of India’s transhipped cargo handled at Singapore port. 3. India announced its International transhipment port project in Great Nicobar Island which is located on the international trade route, with existing transhipment terminals like Singapore, Klang and Colombo in proximity. Which of the statements above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 3 only QUESTION 7 Consider the following statements about Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP): 1. It is an initiative of the Asia Development Bank. 2. The finance facility is limited to Asian countries only. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 QUESTION 8 Sun Halo was recently in the news. They are best described as: (a) They are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction of light through ice crystals. (b) They appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun. (c) It is a ring or light that forms around the sun as the sunlight refracts from ice crystals in a thin veil of cirrus clouds. (d) These are the dark spots on the surface of the Sun. QUESTION 9 With reference to the StarBerry Sense, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. It has been developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. 2. It is a low-cost sensor designed to calculate where the satellite points in space. 3. It will be used for short-term scientific experiments in space. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 QUESTION 10 With reference to British rule in India, consider the following statements: 1. Charles II was the king who, upon his marriage to Catherine of Braganza in May 1662, received the island of Bombay as dowry. 2. Charles II transferred Bombay's control to Portugal as Catherine of Braganza originally belonged to Portugal. Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS TO MCQs 1. (b) FYI: — International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29 to raise awareness of different dance forms and encourage people to participate in dancing activities. — Here are 5 folk dances of India which are lesser-known: Laho Laho hails from the cool, green Meghalaya’s Jaintia hill region. It is an integral part of the Behdienkhlam festival, which is held annually to invoke divine blessings and to get rid of bad spirits. It is famous among the Pnar tribal community in Meghalaya. The synchronisation and harmony of the dance are noteworthy. Instead of musical instruments, a man recites couplets during the performance. Both men and women take part in the dance and wear colourful costumes and jewellery. This folk dance is also popular among the Harp tribe of the state but is called a different name, Wangala Dance. Kud Kud dKud dance is a folk dance from Jammu, performed by the Dogra community after the harvesting of crops is finished. It is a ritual to thank the Gram Devta or village deity for protecting crops. The steps are quite simple and men, as well as women of all ages, enjoy the dance. The men wear kurtas and churidars, along with a turban, and the women wear Salwar Kameez. The lively beats of drums, flutes and trumpets accompany the dance.ance is a folk dance from Jammu, performed by the Dogra community after the harvesting of crops is finished. It is a ritual to thank the Gram Devta or village deity for protecting crops. The steps are quite simple and men, as well as women of all ages, enjoy the dance. The men wear kurtas and churidars, along with a turban, and the women wear Salwar Kameez. The lively beats of drums, flutes and trumpets accompany the dance. Puli Vesham Puli Vesham or Tiger Dance is performed in the Andhra region during Dussehra and Muharram festivals. It is a one-man dance where the performer wears a narrow strip of cloth around the waist, and has the whole body painted with stripes, sporting a long tail, dancing vigorously in tiger-like strides and jumps. The rhythm is provided by a Dappu or Mridangam. Bhootam As the name suggests, the dance is performed to ward off evil spirits. This is very common in the coastal cultures of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It has animistic elements and is ritualistic in nature. Only male dancers perform it. The extensive preparations before the actual performance and the coconut and palm leaves used for costumes, call for patience and perseverance. The performance takes place in front of idols of the village deities, usually carved out of wood and painted in bold colours. Gotipua The Gotipua dance from Orissa is one of the precursors of modern-day Odissi which was recast in the middle decades of the last century by a triumvirate of Gurus who merged diverse local dance traditions into a single mono-aesthetic. The dance is executed by a group of boys who perform acrobatic figures inspired by the life of Radha and Krishna. The historic village of Raghurajpur in Odisha is known for its Gotipua dance troupes. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. 2. (a) FYI: — India, backed by China, is trying to build a consensus within the G20 group to let countries choose a roadmap to cut carbon emissions instead of setting a deadline to end the use of fossil fuels, three Indian government officials said. — India, the current G20 president, is keen on introducing the phrase ‘multiple energy pathways’ in a communique to be released at a group summit in September and has been supported by countries including China and South Africa, one of the officials said. The three officials declined to be identified since they were not authorised to speak to media. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — Multiple pathways for energy transition would enable countries to choose resources, even coal, while working towards plans on net zero emissions. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — At a meeting of the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) in the western state of Gujarat last month, India opposed a deadline proposed by rich nations to end the use of coal, said the official who was at the meeting. Coal accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s annual electricity generation, according to government data, and New Delhi has long defended its use of the fuel, citing lower emissions per capita, compared to other countries. — China supported India during the meeting, saying it cannot put a timeline on ending fossil fuel dependence and would want to put ‘all’ its available resources to optimum use, the official said. — The two countries are the top two consumers of coal in the world. — China’s foreign affairs and environment ministries did not respond to queries sent by Reuters. — The Indian power ministry declined comment. The ministries of environment and renewable energy did not respond. — Climate ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy nations agreed last month “to accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels so as to achieve net zero in energy systems by 2050 at the latest”. — Faced with calls to phase down the use of coal at the last climate change deliberations in Egypt in November 2022, India said all fossil fuels should be phased out including natural gas. At the G20 meeting last month, India kept the focus on fossil fuels, rather than singling out coal, the third official said. — India and China, the world’s two most populous countries, have often taken common positions at international climate change negotiations, despite long-standing border disputes. — In March, the European Union agreed to promote a global fossil fuel phase out ahead of the COP28 summit in Dubai in November. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. 3. (c) FYI: — The Centre, on Wednesday (May 3), ordered that public broadcaster, previously known as All India Radio (AIR), be exclusively referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts and programmes. Previously, the two names were used interchangeably. — After Guglielmo Marconi sent out the first radio transmission in 1895, it took over two decades for radio broadcasting to become commercially available. In India, the Radio Club of Bombay sent out the first commercial transmission in 1923. In the same year, the Calcutta Radio Club was started and a year later, radio broadcasts reached Madras with the Madras Presidency Radio Club. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — Usha Mehta is remembered for organizing an underground radio station that functioned during the Quit India Movement. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — According to newsonair.gov.in All India Radio (Akashvani), the largest radio network in the world, is again voted as the most trusted electronic media organisation in the country. According to a survey by Reuters Institution in 46 countries All India Radio and Doordarshan enjoy the highest trust. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. 4. (d) FYI: — A supermassive black hole is tearing apart a distant star that is now faced with a fiery and dramatic death. The scientists who discovered it have affectionately named the black hole “Scary Barbie,” after a beloved children’s character. — The supermassive black hole ripping apart the star is one of the most energetic, luminous and transient celestial events that has been discovered, and yet, it is not exactly blazing bright in the night sky. Instead, astronomers had to unearth evidence of the star’s dying moments from a mass of telescope data where it had been hiding undetected for years. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. 5. (d) FYI: — On Sunday morning (April 30), 11 people died due to a gas leak in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana, Punjab, while four people fell ill and were hospitalised. Any definitive reasons for the leak are not known so far. — Surabhi Malik, the Deputy commissioner of Ludhiana, said a magisterial inquiry into the incident has been initiated. She said that according to the in the air quality sensors used by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, high levels of Hydrogen Sulphide gas, a kind of neurotoxin, have been detected and it is being ascertained how this gas might have led to the incident. “It is likely that neurotoxins released might have caused deaths. We are studying the matter,” she said. — Neurotoxins are poisonous substances which can directly affect the nervous system. Neurotoxicity occurs when exposure to natural or man-made toxic substances alters the normal activity of the nervous system. These substances can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons or nerve cells, which are important for transmitting and processing signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are common neurotoxic gases, said Dr Vitull Kumar Gupta, chairman of The Associations of Physicians of India in Malwa, Punjab. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. 6. (a) FYI: — The ports ministry has received expressions of interest (EOIs) from nine players for the Rs 41,000 crore international transhipment port project at Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal, a senior government official said on Friday. The project is located on the international trade route, with existing transhipment terminals like Singapore, Klang and Colombo in proximity. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — Currently, nearly 75 per cent of India’s transhipped cargo is handled at ports outside India. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Colombo, Singapore and Klang handle more than 85 per cent of this cargo, with more than half of it handled at Colombo port. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. 7. (a) FYI: — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP). This landmark program could significantly ramp up support for the region in the battle against climate change. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The announcement was made by ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa on the opening day of ADB’s 56th Annual Meeting in Incheon. — IF-CAP's initial partners are Denmark, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — IF-CAP will use guarantees from partners for leverage to accelerate billions of dollars in much-needed climate change investment - the first time any multilateral development bank has adopted a program of this kind. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Source: www.adb.org 8. (c) FYI: — The atmosphere is capable of producing colorful displays when conditions are right which include halos, sun pillars, and sundogs. — Halos: A halo is a ring or light that forms around the sun or moon as the sun or moonlight refracts off ice crystals present in a thin veil of cirrus clouds. The halo is usually seen as a bright, white ring although sometimes it can have color. — Sundogs: They are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction of light through ice crystals. They are located approximately 22 degrees either left, right, or both, from the sun, depending on where the ice crystals are present. The colors usually go from red closest to the sun, out to blue on the outside of the sundog. Sundogs are also known as mock suns or parhelia, which means "with the sun". — Sun Pillars: They appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun, most often at sunrise or sundown. They develop as a result of ice crystals slowly falling through the air, reflecting the sun’s rays off of them. Look for sun pillars when the sun is low on the horizon, and cirrus clouds are present. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Source: www.weather.gov 9. (d) FYI: — It is a low-cost star sensor developed by astronomers from off-the-shelf components that can help small CubeSat class satellite missions find their orientation in space. — The StarBerrySense payload was developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Hence, statement 1 is correct. — This instrument, 'Starberry-Sense,' is ready for launch on the PS4-Orbital Platform by ISRO and can be used for CubeSats and other small satellite missions in the future. — The low-cost sensor designed to quickly calculate where the satellite is pointing is being tested in space for the first time. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — StarBerrySense was mounted on ISRO's PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), which provides a stable platform for our payload to operate from. POEM is a unique initiative by ISRO that utilises the spent 4th stage of the PSLV as an orbital platform for carrying out scientific experiments. — It is an excellent opportunity to conduct short-term scientific experiments in space. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — The main advantage of the system is the low cost and the short development cycle with COTS components which are readily available. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Sources: dst.gov.in, pib.gov.in 10. (a) FYI: — Charles II was the king who, upon his marriage to Catherine of Braganza in May 1662, received the island of Bombay as dowry. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — He transferred its control to the East India Company. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (The UPSC Essentials Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our YouTube channel and stay updated with the latest updates. Subscribe to The Indian Express UPSC Key and prepare for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations with cues on how to read and understand content from the most authoritative news source in India.) Share your views, answers and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com
