Daily MCQs – Day 26 – 11th August 2017 – Solutions

These MCQs are based on Today’s Targets given here 

• It is an international treaty
• Negotiated under UNFCC
• Adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan
• Came into force in 2005
• Parties : 192 (Canada withdrew)
• It gave binding targets to Annex I countries
• The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations
• The Protocol is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities: it puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012
  By 2008-2012, Annex 1 countries have to reduce their GHG emissions by an average of 5% below their 1990 levels (for many countries, such as the EU member states, this corresponds to some 15% below their expected GHG emissions in 2008).
• A second commitment period was agreed on in 2012, known as the Doha Amendment to the protocol.
• The amendment includes new commitments for parties to the Protocol who agreed to take on commitments in a second commitment period and a revised list of GHGs to be reported on by Parties.
• India has ratified the second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol.
• Paris agreement (2015) is not an amendment to Kyoto Protocol but a separate instrument altogether.
• Target under this protocol applies to following GHGs:
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Nitrous Oxide (NO2)
  • Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
  • Two groups of gases :
    • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
    • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• Kyoto Protocol includes “flexible mechanisms” which allow Annex 1 economies to meet their GHG targets by purchasing GHG emission reductions from elsewhere. These can be bought either from :
  • financial exchanges (International Emissions Trading Scheme) or
  • from projects which reduce emissions in non-Annex 1 economies under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),
  • or in other Annex-1 countries under the Joint Implementation (JI)
• Only CDM Executive Board-accredited Certified Emission Reductions (CER) can be bought and sold in this manner.

Q.2) Consider the following statements about National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC):
1. NCCC has been set up to scan the country’s web traffic to detect cyber security threats
2. It is being implemented by Union Home Ministry

Choose the correct statements from the option given below:

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans. A

Explanation:

• NCCC is a multi-stakeholder cyber-security and e-surveillance agency implemented by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• NCCC has been set up to scan the country’s web traffic to detect cyber security threats.
• It scans the cyberspace in the country for cyber security threats at metadata level to generate situational awareness.
• It derives its powers as per provisions of section 69B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Rules notified thereunder.
• It will be India’s first layer for cyber threat monitoring and all communication with government and private service providers will be monitored by it.
• Its mandate is to scan internet traffic and communication metadata coming into the country to detect real-time cyber threat and alert various organisations as well as internet service providers (ISPs) for timely action.
• NCCC also will coordinate between intelligence agencies, specifically during network intrusions and cyber-attacks.
• It will have virtual contact with the control room of all ISPs to scan traffic within the country, flowing at the point of entry and exit, including international gateway.
• Apart from monitoring the Internet, the NCCC will also look into various threats posed by cyber-attacks.
• It will have top experts from the cyber security field and will run like similar organisation in other countries such as the US, the UK, France, Germany, etc.

Q.3) Consider the following statements about Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite (HySIS):
1. HySIS is an Earth Observation Satellite being developed by ISRO
2. HySIS is being developed for the sole purpose of keeping an eye on India’s border areas.

Choose the correct statements from the option given below:

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans. A

Explanation:

• It is an Earth Observation Satellite by ISRO
• The HySIS satellite has critical chip called an “optical imaging detector array’” indigenously developed by ISRO.
• Its launch will allow ISRO to enter the domain of operational hyperspectral imaging from earth orbit.
• HySIS satellite developed by ISRO can see in 55 spectral or colour bands from 630 km above ground.
• It can be used for a range of applications from monitoring the environment, crops, looking for oil and minerals, military surveillance.

Read More: http://www.ias4sure.com/wikiias/prelims/hyperspectral-imaging-satellite-hysis/

Q.4) Consider the following statements about chemical fertilizer:

1. It can kill bacteria and other microorganisms in the soil and reduce its fertitlity.
2. It can pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes.
3. The consumption of chemical fertilizers in Punjab is highest in the country.
4. It provides minerals which dissolve in water and are immediately available to plants.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans. D

Explanation:

Chemical fertilizers provide minerals which dissolve in water and are immediately available to plants. But these may not be retained in the soil for long. They may escape from the soil and pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes. Chemical fertilizers can also kill bacteria and other microorganisms in the soil. This means sometime after their use, the soil will be less fertile than ever before The consumption of chemical fertilizers in Punjab is highest in the country. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers has led to degradation of soil health. Punjab farmers are now forced to use more and more chemical fertilizers and other inputs to achieve the same production level.

Source: NCERT 9th: Economics , Chapter 1, Page 5, 6

Q.5) Which of the following countries is not a coastal country of Yellow Sea:

a) China
b) Japan
c) North Korea
d) South Korea

Ans. B

Explanation: