2. Consider the following diseases that infect humans:
1. Chikungunya
2. Dengue
3. Zika
4. Malaria
1. Chikungunya
2. Dengue
3. Zika
4. Malaria
Which of the above are vector borne diseases?
Anonymous Quiz
5%
A) 1 and 4 only
8%
B) 1,2 and 3 only
17%
C) 1,2 and 4 only
70%
D) 1,2,3 and 4
3. With reference to Ashtamudi Lake, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) It is located in the state of Kerala.
2) The Kallada river is a major river which drains into the Ashtamudi lake.
1) It is located in the state of Kerala.
2) The Kallada river is a major river which drains into the Ashtamudi lake.
Answer: D
Explanation
● Vector-borne diseases are human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria
that are transmitted by vectors.
● The burden of these diseases is highest in tropical and subtropical areas, and they
disproportionately affect the poorest populations
● Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more
than 700 000 deaths annually. They can be caused by either parasites, bacteria or viruses.
● Aedes mosquitoes are known to transmit dengue virus, yellow fever virus, chikungunya
virus, and Zika virus. It is suggested to be a potential vector of Venezuelan Equine
Encephalitis virus, and is capable of transmitting West Nile virus. Hence statements 1,2
and 3 are correct.
● Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by Anopheline mosquitoes. Hence
statement 4 is correct.
● Other viral diseases transmitted by vectors include Japanese encephalitis ( transmitted by
mosquitoes), tick-borne encephalitis (transmitted by ticks).
● Many vector-borne diseases are preventable, through protective measures, and community
mobilization.
Explanation
● Vector-borne diseases are human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria
that are transmitted by vectors.
● The burden of these diseases is highest in tropical and subtropical areas, and they
disproportionately affect the poorest populations
● Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more
than 700 000 deaths annually. They can be caused by either parasites, bacteria or viruses.
● Aedes mosquitoes are known to transmit dengue virus, yellow fever virus, chikungunya
virus, and Zika virus. It is suggested to be a potential vector of Venezuelan Equine
Encephalitis virus, and is capable of transmitting West Nile virus. Hence statements 1,2
and 3 are correct.
● Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by Anopheline mosquitoes. Hence
statement 4 is correct.
● Other viral diseases transmitted by vectors include Japanese encephalitis ( transmitted by
mosquitoes), tick-borne encephalitis (transmitted by ticks).
● Many vector-borne diseases are preventable, through protective measures, and community
mobilization.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Anonymous Quiz
12%
A. 1 only
15%
B. 2 only
68%
C. Both 1 and 2
5%
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Important Update !!
Due to a temporary schedule adjustment, there will be no editorial analysis and daily answer writing sessions from September 16th. Don't worry, we'll be back on track with our engaging content from September 23rd!
Set your reminders for our return on the 23rd at 9:00 PM!
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Due to a temporary schedule adjustment, there will be no editorial analysis and daily answer writing sessions from September 16th. Don't worry, we'll be back on track with our engaging content from September 23rd!
Set your reminders for our return on the 23rd at 9:00 PM!
#OfficersIASAcademy #UPSCPreparation #StudyBreak #BackSoon
4. Taiwan Strait is frequently in the news because of which of the following reasons?
Answer: C
Explanation
● Both the statements are correct.
● Ashtamudi lake is located in Kollam District of Kerala.
● It is a gateway to several backwaters in Kerala.
● The Kallada river is a major river which drains into the Ashtamudi lake.
● The lake is surrounded by vegetation such as mangrove forests, coconut groves, and palm
trees.
● Munroe Island, a cluster of eight tiny islands, lies in the Ashtamudi Lake.
Explanation
● Both the statements are correct.
● Ashtamudi lake is located in Kollam District of Kerala.
● It is a gateway to several backwaters in Kerala.
● The Kallada river is a major river which drains into the Ashtamudi lake.
● The lake is surrounded by vegetation such as mangrove forests, coconut groves, and palm
trees.
● Munroe Island, a cluster of eight tiny islands, lies in the Ashtamudi Lake.
5. Which of the following statements about microplastics is incorrect?
Answer: B
Explanation:
● Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island separated from China
by the Taiwan Strait.
● The Taiwan Strait is often in the news because of rising tensions between China and Taiwan,
as China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the strait as part of its territory, while
Taiwan considers it an international waterway.
Explanation:
● Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island separated from China
by the Taiwan Strait.
● The Taiwan Strait is often in the news because of rising tensions between China and Taiwan,
as China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the strait as part of its territory, while
Taiwan considers it an international waterway.
Answer: A
Explanation
● Microplastics are plastics less than 5 mm in length and occur in the environment as a
consequence of plastic pollution.
● Microplastics consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms bound together in polymer chains.
● Other chemicals, such as phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and
tetrabromobisphenol A, are also present in microplastics.
● There are two categories of microplastics: Primary and Secondary.
○ Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for commercial use, such as
cosmetics, microfibers shed from clothing, fishing nets.
○ Secondary microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of larger
plastic items, such as water bottles. This breakdown is caused by exposure to
environmental factors, such as erosion action of ocean waves.
Impacts of Microplastics
● Statement A is incorrect: Microplastics are not biodegradable and once in the
environment, they tend to accumulate and persist for a longer period of time.
● Statement B is correct: Microplastics are a source of air pollution, occurring in dust and
airborne fibrous particles.
● Ingestion of microplastics can cause aquatic species to consume less food thereby having
less energy to carry out life functions, such as feeding, breeding, etc.
● Statement C is correct: Microplastics can exhibit tendencies of biomagnification across
food chains, i.e., the concentration of chemicals can increase across food chains.
Explanation
● Microplastics are plastics less than 5 mm in length and occur in the environment as a
consequence of plastic pollution.
● Microplastics consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms bound together in polymer chains.
● Other chemicals, such as phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and
tetrabromobisphenol A, are also present in microplastics.
● There are two categories of microplastics: Primary and Secondary.
○ Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for commercial use, such as
cosmetics, microfibers shed from clothing, fishing nets.
○ Secondary microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of larger
plastic items, such as water bottles. This breakdown is caused by exposure to
environmental factors, such as erosion action of ocean waves.
Impacts of Microplastics
● Statement A is incorrect: Microplastics are not biodegradable and once in the
environment, they tend to accumulate and persist for a longer period of time.
● Statement B is correct: Microplastics are a source of air pollution, occurring in dust and
airborne fibrous particles.
● Ingestion of microplastics can cause aquatic species to consume less food thereby having
less energy to carry out life functions, such as feeding, breeding, etc.
● Statement C is correct: Microplastics can exhibit tendencies of biomagnification across
food chains, i.e., the concentration of chemicals can increase across food chains.
1. Which of the following would be the benefits of implementing the National Agricultural
Market (e-NAM)?
1. Increases farmers’s access to a wide market
2. Promotion of Monopsony market structure
3. Removes information asymmetry between buyers and sellers
4. Single window services for all APMC related information and services
Market (e-NAM)?
1. Increases farmers’s access to a wide market
2. Promotion of Monopsony market structure
3. Removes information asymmetry between buyers and sellers
4. Single window services for all APMC related information and services
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Anonymous Quiz
8%
A. 1 and 3 only
54%
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
12%
C. 1, 2 and 3 only
25%
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
Explanation
● National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which
networks the existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs)/Mandis to create a
unified national market for agricultural commodities.
● Launched in 2016, e-NAM is completely funded by the Central Government and is
implemented by Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), under the aegis of
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
● e-NAM portal enables farmers to trade their produce through their nearby e-NAM
mandis and facilitate traders to bid online from any location.
● The e-NAM portal provides single window services for all APMC related information and
services such as commodity arrivals, quality & prices and buy & sell offers, etc.
Benefits of the portal
● e-NAM platform promotes better marketing opportunities for the farmers to sell their
produce through an online competitive and transparent price discovery system and
online payment facility.
● e-NAM removes information asymmetry between buyers and sellers. It uses estimations
based on actual demand and supply, and promotes transparency in the auction process. It
allows farmers to access a nationwide market with prices commensurate with the quality of
his produce.
● It also promotes prices commensurate with quality of produce.
● The e-NAM portal provides single window services for all APMC related information and
services. This includes commodity arrivals, quality & prices, buy & sell offers & e-payment
settlement directly into farmers’ accounts, among other services.
● Farmers can access the information on e-NAM easily through their mobile phones from
anywhere. This online trading platform aims at reducing transaction costs, bridging
information asymmetry and helps in expanding the market access for farmers.
● Statement 2 is incorrect: Monopsony refers to a market structure where one buyer
interacts with many sellers. This market structure gives the buyer an advantage over the
sellers as they all try to sell to the same buyer. It is one of the criticisms of the present APMC
structures in many states.
● Implementation of e-NAM will increase the choice to farmers to sell their produce to a wide
range of buyers and undermine the Monopsony market structure.
Explanation
● National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which
networks the existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs)/Mandis to create a
unified national market for agricultural commodities.
● Launched in 2016, e-NAM is completely funded by the Central Government and is
implemented by Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), under the aegis of
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
● e-NAM portal enables farmers to trade their produce through their nearby e-NAM
mandis and facilitate traders to bid online from any location.
● The e-NAM portal provides single window services for all APMC related information and
services such as commodity arrivals, quality & prices and buy & sell offers, etc.
Benefits of the portal
● e-NAM platform promotes better marketing opportunities for the farmers to sell their
produce through an online competitive and transparent price discovery system and
online payment facility.
● e-NAM removes information asymmetry between buyers and sellers. It uses estimations
based on actual demand and supply, and promotes transparency in the auction process. It
allows farmers to access a nationwide market with prices commensurate with the quality of
his produce.
● It also promotes prices commensurate with quality of produce.
● The e-NAM portal provides single window services for all APMC related information and
services. This includes commodity arrivals, quality & prices, buy & sell offers & e-payment
settlement directly into farmers’ accounts, among other services.
● Farmers can access the information on e-NAM easily through their mobile phones from
anywhere. This online trading platform aims at reducing transaction costs, bridging
information asymmetry and helps in expanding the market access for farmers.
● Statement 2 is incorrect: Monopsony refers to a market structure where one buyer
interacts with many sellers. This market structure gives the buyer an advantage over the
sellers as they all try to sell to the same buyer. It is one of the criticisms of the present APMC
structures in many states.
● Implementation of e-NAM will increase the choice to farmers to sell their produce to a wide
range of buyers and undermine the Monopsony market structure.
2. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), consider the following
statements
1) It aims to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations of designated population size.
2) The Ministry of Rural Development along with state governments is responsible for the
implementation of PMGSY.
statements
1) It aims to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations of designated population size.
2) The Ministry of Rural Development along with state governments is responsible for the
implementation of PMGSY.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
16%
A. 1 only
14%
B. 2 only
68%
C. Both 1 and 2
1%
D. Neither 1 and 2
Answer: C
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), was launched in
2000 as centrally sponsored scheme to provide connectivity to unconnected
habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East,
hill, tribal and desert areas as per Census, 2001).
● Statement 2 is correct: The Ministry of Rural Development along with state
governments is responsible for the implementation of PMGSY.
● The Government had launched Phase III of PMGSY in 2019 for consolidation of Through
Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets
(GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
Guiding Principles of PMGSY
● The spirit and the objective of the scheme is to provide good all-weather road connectivity
to unconnected habitations. A habitation which was earlier provided all-weather
connectivity would not be eligible even if the present condition of the road is bad.
● The unit for this Programme is a Habitation and not a Revenue village or a Panchayat. A
Habitation is a cluster of population, living in an area, the location of which does not change
over time.
● PMGSY promotes the use of new and green technology in the process of rural road
construction. Locally available materials are used in road construction activities to
promote cost effective and fast construction.
● The PMGSY shall cover only the rural areas. Urban roads are excluded from the purview of
this Programme.
Funding pattern
● Currently, the fund sharing pattern of PMGSY is 60:40 between the Centre and States for
all states except for North Eastern and Himalayan States. For these states the fund
sharing pattern is 90:10.
● In union territories, 100% of funds will be provided by the Central Government.
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), was launched in
2000 as centrally sponsored scheme to provide connectivity to unconnected
habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East,
hill, tribal and desert areas as per Census, 2001).
● Statement 2 is correct: The Ministry of Rural Development along with state
governments is responsible for the implementation of PMGSY.
● The Government had launched Phase III of PMGSY in 2019 for consolidation of Through
Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets
(GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
Guiding Principles of PMGSY
● The spirit and the objective of the scheme is to provide good all-weather road connectivity
to unconnected habitations. A habitation which was earlier provided all-weather
connectivity would not be eligible even if the present condition of the road is bad.
● The unit for this Programme is a Habitation and not a Revenue village or a Panchayat. A
Habitation is a cluster of population, living in an area, the location of which does not change
over time.
● PMGSY promotes the use of new and green technology in the process of rural road
construction. Locally available materials are used in road construction activities to
promote cost effective and fast construction.
● The PMGSY shall cover only the rural areas. Urban roads are excluded from the purview of
this Programme.
Funding pattern
● Currently, the fund sharing pattern of PMGSY is 60:40 between the Centre and States for
all states except for North Eastern and Himalayan States. For these states the fund
sharing pattern is 90:10.
● In union territories, 100% of funds will be provided by the Central Government.