Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 09-12-2022

Q1. The electronically transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS) was used in 2019 General election for

1. Armed forces
2. Central police forces
3. Diplomats and their families

Select the correct answer using the code given below

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

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Electronically Transmitted Votes For NRIs In Works:

1. The Election Commission of India is considering the introduction of an electronically transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS) facility for overseas voters.
2. ECI urged NRIs to register as overseas voters as the current numbers are “abysmally low”.According to ECI estimates, at least 60-65% of the 12.6 million Indians residing overseas are likely to be eligible to vote in Indian elections. Just a little over 100,000 overseas Indians are currently registered as voters.
3. Overseas electors are allowed to register in their respective constituencies using form 6A which is available online. Their names are added at the end of the electoral list of their respective polling At present, non-resident Indians (NRIs) can cast their ballots only at their respective polling booths.
4. ECI, however, wrote to the law ministry last year to expedite the amendment of the People’s Representation Act, 1951, to extend the postal ballot facility to overseas electors.
5. It has been proposed that voting be done via ETPBS, which was first tested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections for voters in the armed forces, central police forces, diplomats and their families.

Q2. The famous Hornbill festival is celebrated by tribes of

1. Assam
2. Nagaland
3. Manipur
4. Arunachal Pradesh

Answer (b)

Explanation:

1. Also called the “festival of festivals”, the 10-day annual programme brings all the 17 tribes of the state on a platform and facilitates the promotion of their culture to the rest of the world.
2. The first edition of the festival – which is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state’s tribes – was held in 2000.
3. Organised by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, the Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km from Kohima.

Q3. Consider the following statements about Agricultural emissions in India

1. Greenhouse gas emission from agriculture are
2. Agricultural emissions are mostly due to cattle production system, rice cultivation and ruminant meat

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Agricultural emissions in India:

1. In India agriculture and livestock accounts for 18% of gross national emissions, the third-highest sector after energy and industry.
2. Out of this more than 85% of emissions are due to cattle production system, rice cultivation and ruminant meat and the remaining 15% comes from other crops and nitrous oxide emitted from fertilisers.
3. Most of the GHG emission from Indian agriculture takes places from states like Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, West Bengal etc.

Q4. Methane hydrate is formed when hydrogen-bonded water and methane gas come into contact at high pressures and low temperatures in oceans. It is estimated that one cubic metre of methane hydrate contains 160-180 cubic metres of methane. Consider the following statements about the Methane hydrates

1. Methane hydrate deposits are found in Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin in India.
2. They are abundant in sediment and sedimentary rock units below Arctic permafrost
3. Increased global warming may release huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Methane hydrates:

A study by Agharkar Research Institute, Pune finds massive methane hydrate deposits of biogenic origin in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin and near the coast of Andaman and Mahanadi.

Methane hydrate is formed when hydrogen-bonded water and methane gas come into contact at high pressures and low temperatures in oceans. It is estimated that one cubic metre of methane hydrate contains 160-180 cubic metres of methane.

Methane hydrate is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules (see image at the top of this page). Methane hydrate is an "ice" that only occurs naturally in subsurface deposits where temperature and pressure conditions are favourable for its formation.

If the ice is removed from this temperature/pressure environment, it becomes unstable. For this reason, methane hydrate deposits are difficult to study. They cannot be drilled and cored for a study like other subsurface materials because as they are brought to the surface, the pressure is reduced and the temperature rises. This causes the ice to melt and the methane to escape.

Several other names are commonly used for methane hydrate. These include methane clathrate, hydromethane, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, and gas hydrate. Most methane hydrate deposits also contain small amounts of other hydrocarbon hydrates. These include propane hydrate and methane hydrate.

Four Earth environments have the temperature and pressure conditions suitable for the formation and stability of methane hydrate. These are:

• sediment and sedimentary rock units below Arctic permafrost;
• sedimentary deposits along continental margins;
• deep-water sediments of inland lakes and seas;
• under Antarctic ice.

With the exception of the Antarctic deposits, methane hydrate accumulations are not very deep below Earth's surface. In most situations, the methane hydrate is within a few hundred metres of the sediment surface.

Huge amounts of methane are stored around the world on the seafloor in the form of solid methane hydrates. These hydrates represent a large energy reserve for humanity. Climate warming, however, could cause the hydrates to destabilise. The methane, a potent greenhouse gas, would escape unused into the atmosphere and could even accelerate climate change.

Q5. Consider the following statements about Hydrogen Fuel Cell

1. Hydrogen fuel cell systems are used for storing electricity just like batteries
2. Hydrogen fuel cell systems give water and heat as the only by- products

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Hydrogen fuel cell systems are used for generating electricity, in vehicular applications (Fuel cell cars, buses, etc.) and portable devices (Laptops, phones, etc.)

Fuel cells can deliver the zero-pollution, the high-efficiency answer to much of our air pollution and global warming dilemmas.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical power generation device that combines hydrogen fuel, with oxygen from the air, to produce electricity, with water and heat as the only by-products.

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by a chemical reaction. An electrolyte (membrane) carries electrically charged particles from one electrode to the other (anode and cathode), as well as uses catalysts to speed up the reactions and produce electricity at the electrodes.

Benefits:

1. Eliminates pollution: Only water vapour and heat are emissions from the fuel cell.
2. Do not need periodically recharging like batteries and produce electricity as long as supplied with a hydrogen and oxygen (usually air) source
3. Higher electrical efficiency
4. Noise-free operation

Fuel cells and batteries are similar as they both generate electricity. But a battery stores energy in its electrodes, while a fuel cell uses an external fuel such as hydrogen allowing it to continue operating as long as fuel is available. Unlike conventional batteries, however, fuel cells do not contain harmful materials, nor do they have moving parts thereby minimising maintenance requirements.

Many governments worldwide are setting mandates and timelines for the adoption of zero-emission electric transportation solutions. While consumer preference will determine whether the option is battery or fuel cells, many see fuel cells as the technology of choice for those desiring longer vehicle range capabilities while battery electric vehicles will be ideal as city cars. Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles such as transit buses or trucks, due to the weight and range constraints of battery-only options.

Limitations of HFC: High cost of catalysts (platinum), High cost of equipment, issues with storage of hydrogen gas, maintenance issues (like corrosion) etc.