13 December : Daily Current Affairs Quiz

Answer:  Option D - Establishment of a National Commission for Urban Development

Explanation:

• The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, focuses on empowering urban local bodies by mandating provisions like the creation of State Election Commissions, constitution of State Finance Commissions, and reservation of seats for SCs, STs, and women in urban local bodies.
• However, it does not include the establishment of a National Commission for Urban Development, which is not a requirement under this amendment.

Answer:  Option D - Combat biopiracy and ensure equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources

Explanation:

• The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010, is an international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• It aims to combat biopiracy by ensuring that genetic resources are accessed fairly and that benefits derived from their use are shared equitably with the countries or communities providing them.
• This helps in safeguarding biodiversity and promoting sustainable development while respecting the rights of indigenous and local communities.

Answer:  Option A - A hypothetical unknown pathogen with the potential to cause a global pandemic

Explanation:

• Disease X, introduced by the WHO in 2018, refers to an unknown pathogen that could potentially trigger a global pandemic.
• It symbolizes the unpredictable nature of emerging health threats, acknowledging the possibility of novel diseases in the future.
• While it does not refer to a specific disease, COVID-19 is considered the first real example of Disease X.
• Zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and bioterrorism are factors contributing to the unpredictability of such pathogens.

Answer:  Option B - Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Explanation:

• Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) is a significant air pollutant emitted naturally through volcanic eruptions and forest fires.
• While industrial activities also release SO₂, natural sources contribute substantially to its presence in the atmosphere.
• SO₂ impacts air quality on both regional and global scales by forming sulfuric acid aerosols, which contribute to acid rain and influence climate by scattering sunlight.
• Its role highlights the complex interaction of natural and human-induced air pollution.

Answer:  Option B - Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)

Explanation:

• The eCourts Mission Mode Project aims to connect all District and Subordinate court complexes across India. To achieve this, they utilize a variety of technologies, including:
• Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS): A routing technique in telecommunications networks that directs data from one node to the next based on short path labels rather than long network addresses, thus speeding up network traffic flow.
• Optical Fibre Cable (OFC): A high-speed data transmission medium that uses light pulses to transmit information over long distances with minimal signal loss.

While the other options might be used in other contexts, they are not the primary technologies employed for connectivity in the eCourts project:

• Blockchain Technology: Primarily used for secure record-keeping and transaction verification.
• Quantum Computing: An emerging field with potential future applications, but not currently used for network connectivity.
• 5G Network: While 5G can provide high-speed connectivity, its rollout is still in progress and not the primary technology used in the eCourts project.