22nd February 2014 IAS PCS Questions of the Day

Question 1. Consider the following statement regarding Forest Conservation Act, 1980

1. Under this Act, prior approval of Central Government is required before any reserved forest is declared as de reserved or forest land is diverted to non-forest purposes.

2. It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

3.Scope of existing non-forest purposes has been extended to other areas of cultivation of tea, coffee, spices, rubber palms medicinal plants etc.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2 and 3

(c) All of these

(d) None of these

Solution 1. (c) Some of the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 are no State Government or other authority may direct that any forest land may be assigned by way of lease or otherwise to any person, corporation or agency or organisations (not owned by the government) without prior approval of the Central Government.

No forest land or any portion thereof may be cleared of trees, which have grown naturally in that land or portion, for the purpose of using it for reforestation without prior approval of Central Government.

Scope of existing non-forest purpose has been extended to other areas of cultivation of tea, coffee, spices, rubber palms, medicinal plants etc. Admissible punishment to the offender of the provisions of the Act. the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 was amended in 1988 to incorporate stricter penal provisions against violators.

Question 2. The organic molecules in sunscreen absorb the ultraviolet radiation and release it as heat. There are three types of ultraviolet light. Consider the following statements.

1. UV-A is completely absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere.

2. UV-B is partially blocked by the ozone layer and involved in tanning and burning of your skin i.e. sunburns.

3. UV-C is not absorbed by the ozone and penetrates deeply into the skin and can lead to cancer and premature skin aging.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 2

(c) Only 2 

(d) 1 and 3

Solution 2. (c) Sunscreen combines organic and inorganic chemicals to filter the light from the Sun, so that less of it reaches the deeper layers of  skin. The organic molecules in sunscreen absorb the ultraviolet radiation and release it as heat. The portion of the sunlight that is filtered or blocked is ultraviolet radiation.

There are three types of ultraviolet light –

UV-A is not absorbed by the ozones and penetrates deeply into the skin and can lead to cancer and premature skin aging.

UV-B is partially blocked by the ozone layer and involved in tanning and burning of your skin i.e., sunburns.

UV-C is completely absorbed the Earth’s atmosphere.

Question 3. With respect to the system of governance of European Union. Examine the following statements

1. The EU operates through a system of supranational independent institutions and intergovernmental negotiated decisions by the member states.

2. The EU has its own judicial system, that primarily deals with cases taken by the member states.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only 1 

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d)  None of these

Solution 3. (b) The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 member states that are primarily located in Europe. It operates through a system of supranational independent institutions and intergovernmental decisions by the member states.

The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union under its current name in 1993.  The judicial branch of EU deals with three courts: the Court of Justice, the General Court and the European Union.

Question 4. Consider the following statement with reference to manure

1. Compost which is prepared by using earthworms to hasten the process of decomposition of plant and animal refuse is called as vermi-compost.

2. Some plants like Sun hemp or guar are grown and then mulched by ploughing them into the soil which becomes compost enriching the soil in nitrogen and phosphorus.

3. The process in which farm waste material like livestock excreta (cow dung etc). vegetable waste, animal refuse, domestic waste, sewage waste, straw, eradicated weeds etc is decomposed in pits is known as composting.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) All of these

Solution 4. (a) Some plants like sun hemp or guar are grown and then mulched by ploughing them into the soil which becomes green manure enriching the soil in nitrogen and phosphorus. The process in which farm waste materials like livestock excreta (cow dung etc) vegetable waste, animal refuse, domestic waste, sewage waste, straw, eradicated weeds etc are decomposed in pits is known as composting.

Question 5. Which of the following cannot be the outcome of global warming?

1. The frequency of hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation will very likely decrease.

2. The most warming will be at high Northern latitudes and least warming over the Southern ocean and parts of the North Atlantic ocean.

3. Increased coastal flooding

4. Climate change so far includes adverse effects on small islands, adverse effects on indigenous populations in high-latitude areas.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3

(c) Only 1

(d) None of these

Solution 5. (c) The frequency of hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation will very likely increase.