17 September 2022: Daily Current Affairs & GK for HAS/HPAS & Allied Services
Ques:1. Consider the following statements regarding cheetah:
- It is the fastest terrestrial animal.
- Like all big cats, the cheetah has fully retractable claws.
- IUCN Red List status of the Asiatic cheetah is vulnerable (VU).
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Solution: A
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal. The cheetah compared to other big cats is light and slim built. Its long thin legs and long spotted tail are necessary for fast running.
The slightly curved claws are only weakly retractable (semi-retractable). This is a major point of difference between the cheetah and the other big cats, which have fully retractable claws.
Cheetahs are active during the day, and hunt in the early morning or late evening. Cheetahs are carnivores.
Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is a subspecies of cheetah- confined to central Iran, and now India. It is the only surviving cheetah population in Asia.
IUCN Red Book status:
Cheetah: Vulnerable (VU)
Asiatic cheetah: Critically Endangered (CR)
Ques:2.Which of the following characteristics is NOT an advantage of Lithium ion battery ?
Solution : B
India’s first Lithium Cell Manufacturing Plant has been set up in Tirupati.
A lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery composed of cells in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode through an electrolyte to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging.
Li-ion cells use an intercalated lithium compound as the material at the positive electrode and typically graphite at the negative electrode.
Li-ion batteries have a high energy density, no memory effect and low self-discharge.
Currently India imports complete requirements of lithium-ion cells primarily from China, South Korea, Vietnam and Hong Kong
Ques:3. E V R Naicker aka Periyar, is linked to which of the following:
- Self respect movement
- Vaikom satyagraha
- Dravidar Kazhagam
- Justice Party
Select the correct option using the code given below:
Solution : D
Periyar was associated with Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924, a mass movement to demand that lower caste persons be given the right to use a public path in front of the famous Vaikom temple. He would later be referred to as Vaikom Veerar (Hero of Vaikom).
In the 1940s, Periyar launched a political party, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), which espoused an independent Dravida Nadu comprising Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada speakers.
He also started the self respect movement for upliftment of Dalits. He resigned from the Congress party in 1925, and associated himself with the Justice Party.
Ques:4. World Population Prospects (WPP) is a report published by —
Solution : B
Population Division of the UN has been publishing the WPP in a biennial cycle since 1951. As per the latest report (2022), India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.
Ques:5. Which of the following statements regarding Kedarnath temple of Uttarakhand is INCORRECT?
Solution : A
Kedarnath temple is built on the banks of Mandakini and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is said to be more than 1,200 years old.
It was built by Adi Shankaracharya and is among one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India.
Located at a height of nearly 3,500 meters above the sea level, the Kedarnath temple remains covered in snow for the most part of the year.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kedarnath-temple-to-get-a-golden-makeover/article65894619.ece
Ques:6. Which of the following factor(s) is/are considered while translocation of Cheetah
- Genetic diversity
- Habitat and prey base
- Landscape viability
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Solution : (B)
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a union of governments and civil society organisations, in 1995 came up with a guideline for translocation of Cheetah while considering the associated risks:
- Genetic diversity: It is often difficult to find genetically suitable animals, particularly for building a new population, when the source population itself is closely related. This can lead to inbreeding depression in the new population.
- Habitat and prey base: The factors that caused a species to lose numbers or go extinct must be dealt with to secure the habitat, before restocking so that colonies of reintroduced animals become large enough as quickly as possible to withstand fluctuations in both the environment and population size, experts say. Physical security, enough space, and ample food are the priorities.
- Landscape viability: Simply releasing and moving animals between pocket forests can at best halt further habitat fragmentation in the name of a charismatic species. Even if such assisted exchanges succeed in ensuring genetic viability, animals will remain susceptible to demographic and environmental events in such a broken landscape.
Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-takes-successfully-move-big-cats-cheetahs-natural-habitats-8153494/
Ques:7. Consider the following statements, with respect to Asiatic Lion
1. Asiatic lion is categorized as Endangered in the IUCN Red List
2. There is significant rise in population of Asiatic lions in last five years
3. Gir forest in Gujarat is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Solution : (D)
The Asiatic Lion (also known as the Persian Lion or Indian Lion) is a member of the Panthera Leo Leo subspecies that is restricted to India. Its previous habitats consisted of West Asia and the Middle East before it became extinct in these regions.
Statement 1 is correct: the Asiatic Lions listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972; in Appendix I of CITES and categorized as Endangered on IUCN Red List.
Statemnet 2 is correct: A report by the Forest and Environment Departement of Gujarat government said that the population of Asiatic Lions has shown a steady increase with the number rising to 674 individuals which accounts 29% up from its 2015 count.
Statemner 3 is correct: Asiatic lion is a population of Panthera leo leo that today survives in the wild only in India. Since the turn of the 20th century, its range has been restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/roaring-success-population-of-asiatic-lions-in-india-up-29-in-5-years/articleshow/76311768.cms
Ques:8. ‘KRITAGYA 3.0-‘A National level Hackathon, recently conducted by which ministry
Solution : (A)
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with its National Agricultural Higher Education Project and Crop Science Division is organizing Hackathon 3.0 ‘’KRITAGYA” on promoting ‘speed breeding for crop improvement
Source : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1859800
Ques:9.
|
Consider the following pairs |
Blue- finned Mahseer : Cauvery River
Irrawaddy dolphin : Chambal River
Rusty-spotted cat : Eastern Ghats
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Solution : (C)
|
Blue- finned Mahseer |
: |
Cauvery River |
Source: PYQ
Ques:10. Shahid Beheshti port is located at the water bodies
Solution : (A)
Shahid Beheshti port is Iran's oceanic port which is located on the Gulf of Oman, southeast of Iran near Pakistani border.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/modi-and-raisi-discuss-energy-connectivity/articleshow/94255785.cms
