QUIZ – 2016: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 08 November 2016

1. Solution: d.

   “Every measure to curb the release of pollutants is important since the weather pattern in the post-monsoon months causes smog to persist. The capital experiences the inversion effect of air pressure retarding the dispersal of the foul cloud.”

   • Wikipedia: In meteorology, an inversion is a deviation from the normal change of an atmospheric property with altitude. It almost always refers to a “temperature inversion”, i.e. an increase in temperature with height, or to the layer (“inversion layer”) within which such an increase occurs.
   • This effect is virtually confined to land regions as the ocean retains heat far longer.
   • Britannica: Temperature inversion, a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere (the region of the atmosphere nearest the Earth’s surface), in which a layer of cool air at the surface is overlain by a layer of warmer air. (Under normal conditions air temperature usually decreases with height.)
   • Inversions play an important role in determining cloud forms, precipitation, and visibility. An inversion acts as a cap on the upward movement of air from the layers below. Diffusion of dust, smoke, and other air pollutants is likewise limited.
   • Inversions also affect diurnal variations in air temperature.

    

   Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/solutions-after-the-delhi-smog/article9316083.ece

Solution: c.

Peshmerga are the military forces of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. “Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces stormed an Islamic State (IS)-held town northeast of Mosul on Monday, trying to clear a pocket of militants outside the city while Iraqi troops wage a fierce urban war with the jihadists in its eastern neighbourhoods.”

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iraqs-peshmerga-storm-bashiqa-town-near-mosul/article9316126.ece

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Solution: c.

Both statements are correct.

• “Tobacco farmers from various States on Monday staged a protest at a World Health Organisation global conference venue in Greater Noida. They were opposing the ‘undemocratic way’ of framing anti-tobacco policies.. Farmer leaders said ad hoc decisions on tobacco control in WHO FCTC meetings would affect the livelihood of millions of tobacco farmers and farm labourers involved in tobacco cultivation.”
• Does the FCTC hurt tobacco farmers and farm workers? (Click HERE): “No. The tobacco industry, not the FCTC, hurts tobacco farmers and farm workers. The FCTC contains provisions that are intended to help interested farmers find economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco farming.”
• The slow decline in the number of tobacco users gives governments and farmers time to transition away from tobacco leaf.
• The FCTC includes provisions which encourage signatory countries to provide farmers with economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco farming, and to safeguard the health of workers and the environment from the negative effects of tobacco farming.

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tobacco-farmers-up-in-arms-as-cop7-meet-kicks-off/article9316876.ece

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FCTC Overview;

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Solution: c.

Question framed with mains perspective.

• Minor reductions in pollution do not reduce health risks significantly. The Global Burden of Disease finds that health impacts of pollution are non-linear. This means that significant declines in adverse health outcomes for Delhi and other polluted Indian cities will only be realised when pollution levels reach National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
• Any strategy requires us to understand the portfolio of policies (across transport, energy, waste and trans-boundary issues), which will help us meet our air quality standards by a designated date. This requires sophisticated tools for air quality modelling and economic analyses.
• Yet, few reports from the Central or State Pollution Control Boards have attempted this kind of analysis. Without this perspective, we would be tempted to go with populist (often unscientific) solutions to control pollution.
• Enhance the capacity of the CPCB and the SPCBs. Pollution monitoring, regulation and control are complex, technical issues and require trained manpower. CPCBs and SPCBs are required to provide scientific inputs needed to drive pollution control policies.
• CPCB and SPCBs often lack resources, technical expertise and manpower. A lack of technical capacity precludes SPCBs from setting more stringent emissions standards, and manpower shortages prevent enforcing existing standards.
• Leverage technology for innovative solutions. Industries cannot completely escape any capital investment in pollution control technologies. But they can certainly be helped through cheaper finance.
• We have barely considered developing the business models by which farmers can secure revenue from waste-to-energy projects or providing pollution control technologies to industrial clusters of small and medium enterprises.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/delhi-and-pollution-for-a-breath-of-fresh-air/article9316090.ece?utm_source=InternalRef&utm_medium=relatedNews&utm_campaign=RelatedNews

Solution: b.

A similar question was posted here a few days ago.

• Clause 6 (1) (p) of the code: This clause says no programme shall telecast live coverage of anti-terrorist operation by security forces; the coverage will be restricted to periodic briefing by designated officer.
• The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995 made the Rules binding on all cable networks which are either downlinked to, or uplinked from, India.
• Similar provisions for the print media do not exist. Since there are no content-specific laws or binding rules for the print media, and nor is a licence required to publish a newspaper, there isn’t any similarity with the government’s regulatory powers over TV news.

http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ib-ministry-ban-on-ndtv-india-news-time-assam-4129404/

Solution: a.

• “The formal title of the amendment is the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951. It was moved by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on 10 May 1951 and enacted by Parliament on 18 June 1951.”
• India does not have specific laws protecting the freedom of the media. But journalists and journalism thrive on the broader freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Article 19 gives all citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression.
• However, the first amendment in 1951 put “reasonable restrictions” on the use of Article 19 with regard to topics such as the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.

http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ib-ministry-ban-on-ndtv-india-news-time-assam-4129404/

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