Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 29.12.21

Q1. Newly launched space station Tiangong belongs to

a. Japan
b. France
c. China
d. South Korea

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

The Chinese space station has a close shave with Elon Musk’s satellites

1. Beijing accused the U.S. of irresponsible and unsafe conduct in space over two “close encounters” between the Chinese space station and satellites operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
2. Tiangong, China’s new space station, had to manoeuvre to avoid colliding with Starlink satellites, according to a note submitted by Beijing to the UN space agency.
3. The note said the incidents “constituted dangers to the life or health of astronauts aboard the China Space Station”.
4. Starlink, a division of SpaceX, operates a constellation of close to 2,000 satellites. SpaceX is a private American company, independent of the U.S. military and civilian space agency NASA.
5. But China said in its note to the UN that members of the Outer Space Treaty — the foundation of international space law — are also responsible for actions by their nongovernment entities.

Q2. Consider the following statements with regard to Starlink

1. The objective of Starlink is to provide satellite based internet services
2. Satellite will be launched in low earth orbit to provide faster connection

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

Q3. The park lies within the ecologically distinct Western Himalayas at the junction between two of the world’s major biogeographic realms, the Palearctic and Indomalayan Realms. Displaying biotic elements from both these realms. In the recently released Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Protected Areas (PAs) park was declared as one of the best managed National parks. The park discussed here is

a. Great Himalayan National Park
b. Kanchenjunga National Park
c. Manas National Park
d. Valmiki National Park

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Great Himalayan National Park The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area is located in the western part of the Himalayan Mountains in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The 90,540 ha property includes the upper mountain glacial and snowmelt water source origins of the westerly flowing Jiwa Nal, Sainj and Tirthan Rivers and the north-westerly flowing Parvati River which are all headwater tributaries to the River Beas and subsequently, the Indus River. The property includes an elevational range from high alpine peaks of over 6,000m a.s.l to the riverine forest at altitudes below 2,000m a.s.l. The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area encompasses the catchments of water supplies that are vital to millions of downstream users.
The property lies within the ecologically distinct Western Himalayas at the junction between two of the world’s major biogeographic realms, the Palearctic and Indomalayan Realms. Displaying biotic elements from both these realms, the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area protects the monsoon affected forests and alpine meadows of the Himalayan front ranges which sustain a unique biota comprising many distinct altitude-sensitive ecosystems. The property is home to many plants and animals endemic to the region. The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area displays distinct broadleaf and conifer forest types forming mosaics of habitat across steep valley side landscapes. It is a compact, natural and biodiversity protected area system that includes 25 forest types and an associated rich assemblage of fauna species.
The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area is at the core of a larger area of surrounding protected areas which form an island of undisturbed environments in the greater Western Himalayan landscape. The diversity of species present is rich; however, it is the abundance and health of individual species’ populations supported by healthy ecosystem processes where the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area demonstrates its outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation.

Q4. Yak of the high Himalayas is increasingly affected by climate change, with wider economic and social ramifications for the pastoralist societies that have thrived on the yak economy. As the Brokpa way of life is impacted, women are hit the hardest, losing their migratory lifestyle and equal access to resources, as families integrate into the mainstream monetised economy. Brokpa herders community mentioned in the passage is native to

a. Arunachal Pradesh
b. Uttar Pradesh
c. Haryana
d. West Bengal

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Climate change threatens the traditional way of life of Brokpa herders in Arunachal Pradesh
1. Yak of the high Himalayas is increasingly affected by climate change, with wider economic and social ramifications for the pastoralist societies that have thrived on the yak economy.

2. As temperatures rise in the Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas, the traditional yak herders, Brokpas, are facing multiple challenges and adapting their herding practises to keep up.
3. In addition to climate change, other disturbances like political barriers have led to inbreeding among yaks of the region.
4. As the Brokpa way of life is impacted, women are hit the hardest, losing their migratory lifestyle and equal access to resources, as families integrate into the mainstream monetised economy.
5. Climate change is leading to higher temperatures, shrinking wetlands and fodder areas which makes Yaks life difficult. Yak (Bos grunniens) is a totemic animal of the high Himalayas, ubiquitous, pervading nearly every sphere of life in this region. But the species is increasingly affected by climate change, with wider economic and social ramifications for the pastoralist societies that have thrived on the yak economy. 

Q5. Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary takes its name from the ancient Ranganatha Swamy Temple that sits at the edge of a precipice and has an extent of 539.52 sq km. The Biligirirangana Betta (hill) is at a height of 5,091 feet above sea level and stretches from north to south for about 16 km. It is considered to be the wildlife corridor that connects the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats which in turn facilitates gene flow between the population species inhabiting both the mountain ranges. BR Tiger reserve and Wildlife sanctuary is located in the state of

a. Karnataka

b. Telangana
c. Andhra Pradesh
d. Odisha

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

BR Tiger reserve and Wildlife sanctuary The Biligirirangana Hills, commonly called BR Hills, is a hill range situated in south-western Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu in South India. The area is called Biligiriranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or simply BRT Wildlife Sanctuary.
Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary takes its name from the ancient Ranganatha Swamy Temple that sits at the edge of a precipice and has an extent of 539.52 sq km. The Biligirirangana Betta (hill) is at a height of 5,091 feet above sea level and stretches from north to south for about 16 km. It is considered to be the wildlife corridor that connects the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats which in turn facilitates gene flow between the population species inhabiting both the mountain ranges. The hills are covered with a variety of species of plant life, including scrub, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, shola forests, and montane grasslands. It provides shelter to many species of wildlife like mammals, reptiles, and a variety of butterflies. The forests also teem with over 250 species of birds.

It is a classic example of community-led conservation in southern India where the Soliga tribal communities have been allowed to stay. It is reported that there has been an increase in the number of tiger populations far above the national average.