Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 03.12.21

Q1. Paika Rebellion (1817-1825) against the British took place in the state of

a. Odisha
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Kerala
d. Tamilnadu

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

1. The 1817 Paika rebellion of Odisha could not be called the first war of Independence, but considering it as a beginning of a popular uprising against the British, it would be included as a case study in the Class 8 NCERT history textbook.
2. The ‘Paika Bidroha’, which was set off in March 1817 and continued until May 1825, had set an example for the classes as well as the masses in India to follow later on.
3. Accordingly, considering that this is one of the beginnings of popular uprisings against the British in India, it has been decided to include it as a case study in the Class VIII history textbook of NCERT.

Q2. Consider the following statements about Cyclonic activity in the Indian ocean

1. More than 50 per cent of tropical cyclones originate in the north Indian ocean
2. The frequency of cyclones is more in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

The Arabian Sea needs to be closely monitored for future storms: Study
1. Warming ocean leads to the rapid intensification of cyclones in the north Indian Ocean, a new study has said.
2. The role of ocean temperature in the genesis and rapid intensification of the cyclone highlights the need for efficiently incorporating the coupled ocean-atmospheric conditions in cyclone forecast models.
3. The present study shows that the Madden– Julian Oscillation (MJO) and warm oceanic conditions provided favourable dynamic and thermodynamic conditions for the genesis of cyclones.
4.Earlier studies have shown that MJO, an oceanic-atmospheric phenomenon, plays a vital role in the genesis of cyclones in the north Indian Ocean by providing favourable background atmospheric conditions. The MJO involves variations in wind, sea surface temperature (SST), cloudiness, and rainfall.
5. The Madden‐Julian Oscillation is a tropical phenomenon that includes heavy rainfall and stiff wind over an area of roughly 1,500 km in latitude and 4,500 km in longitude.
6. It starts over the Indian Ocean and moves eastward to the Pacific Ocean in about a month.
As it moves eastward, it influences weather and climate phenomena in many parts of the world. Understanding the fundamental physics of the MJO forms the basis for forecasting it and its global influences.
Tropical Cyclone Pattern in the North Indian Ocean
1. About seven %of the global tropical cyclones originate in the north Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
2. The cyclone frequency in this region varies between one and three in the pre-monsoon (March-May), and two and five in the postmonsoon (October–December).
3. The socio-economic impact of tropical cyclones over India is considerable due to the densely populated coastal districts of the country with a population of 170 million, the study noted.
4. The frequency of cyclones is more in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea: four tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal over one year, while the Arabian Sea experiences one.
5. The total systems of cyclonic storms formed in the Bay of Bengal over an 80-year span (1933 to 2012) exceed those of the Arabian Sea because it is relatively colder than the Bay of Bengal, so fewer systems are formed.
6. However, rapid warming is making the Arabian Sea fertile for cyclone formation. This could be one reason for an increase in the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea, scientists have said.

Increasing Frequency of Cyclones
1. Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune said, “We are seeing similar rapid intensification for other cyclones also in the current decade, mostly due to warm ocean temperatures. The ocean temperatures enhance the convection (the upward motion of warm moist air) and provide the fuel for cyclone formation.”
2. The north Indian Ocean (the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea) normally experiences about five tropical cyclones annually which is about 5- 6% of the global annual average. About 80 cyclones develop around the globe in a year.
3. The frequency of cyclones is more in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) than in the Arabian Sea: four tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal while the Arabian Sea experiences one. A total of 306 cyclonic storms formed in the Bay of Bengal in an 80-year period (1933-2012) and those in the Arabian Sea total 92, a study said.
4. The total systems of cyclonic storms formed in the Bay of Bengal over these 80 years exceed those of the Arabian Sea because the Arabian Sea is relatively colder than the Bay of Bengal, so fewer systems are formed. “However, rapid warming is making it fertile for cyclone formation. This could be one reason for an increase in the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea,” said Koll.

Q3. Consider the following statement about the first national climate change assessment by the ministry of earth sciences

1. The frequency of summer heat waves is likely to increase
2. Also, there is a rise in extremely severe cyclonic storms over the Arabian Sea
3.Extreme weather events on the rise in the Indian subcontinent

Which among the following statements is/are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Extreme weather events on the rise First national climate change assessment by the ministry of earth sciences
1. By the end of the 21st century, the number of warm days and warm nights in India is likely to be 55-70% higher compared to the average number between 1976 and 2005.
2. The frequency of summer heatwaves is likely to be three to four times higher and their duration, likely to double.
3. Also there a rise in extremely severe cyclonic storms over the Arabian Sea
Impact of this climate change:
1. Rapid changes in India’s climate will put stress on ecosystems, agricultural output and freshwater resources, and also cause damage to infrastructure, the report.
2. These portend serious consequences for the country’s biodiversity, food, water and energy security, and public health…higher temperatures, extreme weather events, and higher climate variability have been associated with an elevated risk of heat strokes, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and stress-related disorders.
3. “India has witnessed a rise in average temperature; a decrease in monsoon precipitation; a rise in extreme temperature and rainfall events, droughts, and sea levels; and an increase in the intensity of severe cyclones, alongside other changes in the monsoon system. There is compelling scientific evidence that human activities have influenced these changes,” the report, drafted by scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said.
Way Forward:
1. Heat action plans need to be developed.
2. Act on Climate goals

3.Stop unplanned development in the Himalayan Region, Coastal region

Q4. India is the third-highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter behind China and the United States and agriculture and livestock accounts for 18 % of gross national emissions — the third highest sector after energy and industry. Climate change is threatening India’s food security with frequent dry spells, heat waves and erratic monsoonal rainfall, adding to farmers’ woes. Which of the following can reduce agricultural emissions?

1.Efficiently utilising fertilisers
2. Adopting extensive tilling of land
3. Managing water in rice cultivation

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

Reducing India’s agricultural carbon footprint with the least costs
1. India has the potential to reduce 18 % of its annual greenhouse gas emissions arising from agriculture and livestock.
2. Half of the potential reduction could be achieved cost-effectively by efficiently utilising fertilisers, adopting zero-tillage and managing water in rice cultivation.
3. The implementation of these measures will require the collaboration of the government, the private sector, and farmers, according to a research team.
4. The researchers found Uttar Pradesh to be the top agricultural and livestock greenhouse gas emitter, followed by Andhra Pradesh-Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.

India is the third-highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter behind China and the United States and agriculture and livestock accounts for 18 % of gross national emissions — the third highest sector after energy and industry. Climate change is threatening India’s food security with frequent dry spells, heat waves and erratic monsoonal rainfall, adding to farmers’ woes.

Q5. Recently Delhi Declaration was in the news. It is linked to

a. Desertification
b. Arctic sea
c. Migratory species
d. Pollution

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Delhi Declaration at desertification summit: So near yet so far

1. Restoration of land impacted by desertification and degradation can have long-term benefits for the development of society and thus a proactive approach is required to restore degraded land, held the recently concluded 14th Conference of Parties (CoP14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
2. Over 190 countries adopted the “Delhi Declaration” which focuses on issues ranging from management and restoration of degraded land to drought and climate change.
3. However, experts highlighted that the declaration diluted the importance of the rights of indigenous communities and women over land.
Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
India announced raising its ambition regarding restoring degraded land from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares between now and 2030. About one-third of India’s total land area, 29.32%, was undergoing land degradation (during 2011-2013) and India has pledged to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030. Globally, about 24 %of the land is
degrading.
Is India doing enough to battle desertification?
1. India has a series of programmes to address the problem and has committed to restoring 21 million hectares by 2030 but experts believe a lot is yet to be done, especially in the context of agriculture, deforestation and urbanisation.
2. Close to one-third of India’s total land area, 29.32 %, was undergoing land degradation
during 2011-2013 and with rising impacts of climate change, the figure could increase in the coming years.
3. Though India has pledged to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, experts believe the response of authorities across India keeping in mind rapid urbanisation and extreme weather events are not enough to meet the goal.

Desertification is explained as land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, caused due to various reasons like human activities and erosion, resulting in loss of productive ecosystems and biodiversity. Some of the major factors driving desertification in the country, according to the report, are water erosion (soil erosion caused by water), vegetation degradation and wind erosion.
According to the UNCCD, land degradation neutrality is a “state whereby the amount and quality of land resources, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, remains stable or increases within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems.”
Reclaiming degraded lands
To combat soil loss by water erosion, which is the largest process leading to land degradation in India, and to restore degraded lands, there is a need to initiate watershed interventions immediately. Watershed management initiatives include afforestation and other programmes aimed at conserving soil and water. Watershed management has dropped from the priority of natural resource management (NRM)

Q6. Consider the following statements about the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006

1. It recognizes Individual land rights only not Community Forest Rights (CFR) and Habitat Rights
2. It empowers Gram Sabha to be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual forest rights

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : b

Why is the Question ?

Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) drafted fresh guidelines for Community Forest Rights (CFR) and Habitat Rights. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers  Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognises and vests two broad types of rights to scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers: individual forest rights (IFR) and community forest rights (CFR).
FRA 2006, is one of the most important and popular Entitlement based laws favouring the tribal and other traditional forest dwellers’ rights over forest land. FRA 2006 provides for a framework for the recording of the forest rights so vested and the nature of evidence required for such recognition and vesting in respect of forest land. FRA empowers Gram Sabha to be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both.

Further, the draft guidelines for CFR recently released aim to guide & empower the Gram Sabhas in managing and conserving their CFR areas in a sustainable fashion.