Weekly Current Affairs: Quizzes, 11 to 16 September, 2023

EXPLANATION:

• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are cutting-edge energy storage solutions that allow energy from renewable sources like solar and wind to be stored and released when it is most needed. Thus, statement 1 is correct. 
• These systems typically comprise one or more rechargeable batteries and serve multiple purposes, including grid stabilisation and backup power provision.
• Lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones and electric vehicles are currently the prevailing storage technology for large-scale installations.

 Advantages of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

• Enhanced Flexibility: BESS offers increased flexibility in managing energy resources and distribution. Thus, statement 2 is correct. 
• Improved Scalability: BESS solutions can be easily scaled to meet varying energy demands.
• Cost Efficiency: BESS solutions are more cost-effective than conventional grid storage methods.
• Superior Efficiency: BESS systems are known for their high energy conversion efficiency.

New developments in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) 

• Compressed air energy storage: These systems are typically situated within spacious chambers, where surplus power is employed to compress air for subsequent storage. When energy is required, the compressed air is released, driving an air turbine to generate electricity. Thus, statement 3 is correct. 
• Mechanical gravity energy storage: This approach uses energy to elevate a tower’s concrete blocks. When power is needed, the concrete blocks are lowered, harnessing the force of gravity to generate electricity.
• Flow batteries: In these batteries, which effectively function as rechargeable fuel cells, chemical energy is provided by two chemical components dissolved in liquids within the system, separated by a membrane. Thus, statement 4 is correct.

EXPLANATION: 

• Atlantification is the increasing influence of Atlantic water in the Arctic. Warmer and saltier Atlantic water is extending its reach northward into the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Ocean is becoming warmer and saltier and sea-ice is disappearing as a result. Thus, statement 1 is not correct. 
• This change in the Arctic climate is most prominent in the Barents Sea, a shallow shelf sea north of Scandinavia, where sea-ice is disappearing faster than in any other Arctic region, impacting the local and global ecosystem. Thus, statement 2 is correct. 
• The largest part of the Arctic Ocean has a strong division between ocean layers. At the top is a mixed layer of fresh water with a temperature near the freezing point and a salinity of around 30 psu (practical salinity unit). 
• This water is fed by rivers and the melting of sea ice. Underneath this fresh water is a layer where the salinity increases strongly but the temperature remains low: the cold halocline layer.
• The increasing influence of Atlantic water flowing into the Arctic Ocean and the loss of stratification causes the warm Atlantic water to mix with the fresh water at the surface. Thus, statement 3 is correct. 
• The halocline weakens and therefore heat from the Atlantic water reaches the surface. This warming of the surface water causes a retreat in sea ice in winter and a total absence of sea ice in summer.

EXPLANATION:

• The Kakrapar Atomic Power Project is located in Kakrapar, Gujarat, India. The facility boasts a total installed capacity of 1,950 MWe, comprising three units, each with a capacity of 700 MWe. KAPP3 is the third unit at this site. Thus, statement 1 is not correct. 
• The primary power source at the plant is Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), utilising natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both a moderator and coolant.
• Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) typically use a mixed oxide of plutonium-239 and uranium-238 as fuel. As for the coolant, FBRs generally use liquid metal, such as sodium, as the primary coolant. Thus, statement 2 is not correct.
• KAPP3 is expected to generate sufficient electricity to meet the annual power needs of approximately 4 million people and contribute to reducing India's dependence on fossil fuels for power generation.
• The plant is equipped with various safety features, including a containment building, a reactor pressure vessel, and a cooling system, designed meticulously to prevent the release of radioactive materials in case of an unforeseen accident.
• The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) operates the plant, a government-owned enterprise responsible for developing and managing nuclear power plants across India.

EXPLANATION:

• Pulikali, also known as Kaduvakali, is a vibrant folk art festival in Kerala. It is performed during the Onam harvest festival by skilled artists who paint themselves like tigers and hunters and dance energetically to drum beats.
• Meaning: "Puli" means "leopard," and "Kali" means "play." Pulikali translates to "play of the tigers." This performance revolves around the theme of tiger hunting and is a significant part of Onam celebrations.
• Symbolism: Pulikali incorporates elements of nature, with artists painting themselves in bold yellow and orange colours. This art form celebrates the connection between humans and nature by portraying humans as tigers and panthers. Thus, option (c) is correct. 
• History: Pulikali is believed to be a two-hundred-year-old folk dance form. It was introduced by Maharaja Sakthan Thampuran, who aimed to celebrate Onam with a dance that reflected courage and the spirit of battle.
• Performance: Pulikali performers paint their faces as lions or tigers, colour their legs yellow, and let the paint dry in the sun. During the performance, they act out scenes of tiger hunting and are accompanied by colorful floats from each village.

EXPLANATION: 

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was officially registered as a society on August 12, 2011, under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Thus, statement 1 is not correct. 
• Initially, NMCG functioned as the implementation body of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which was established under the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) of 1986. Thus, statement 2 is correct. 
• In 2016, NGRBA was dissolved, coinciding with the creation of the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga, known as the National Ganga Council.
• The goal is to employ a river basin approach to reduce pollution and revitalize the Ganga River effectively. The objective is to uphold a minimum ecological flow in the Ganga River, striving for water quality and environmentally sustainable development. Thus, statement 3 is correct. 

• Five-Tier Structural Framework

• • National Ganga Council: Chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • Empowered Task Force (ETF) on River Ganga: Led by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti.
  • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) 
    • Governing Council.
    • Executive Committee.
  • State Ganga Committees.
  • District Ganga Committees.

EXPLANATION: 

• Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) is an educational approach that is being integrated into the Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) platform by the National eGovernance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in India. 
• PAL uses a software-based approach to provide each student with an individualised learning experience tailored to their unique needs and abilities throughout the curriculum. Thus, option (c) is correct. 
• For example, if a student encounters a challenge or makes a mistake while learning a particular topic, the AI learning system identifies it. It redirects the student to foundational content or explanations related to the problem. This adaptive learning approach aims to enhance the quality of education and improve learning outcomes.

Some potential benefits:

• Individualised Learning: PAL provides students with a personalised learning experience tailored to their unique needs and abilities, which can lead to improved understanding and retention of educational material.
• Improved Learning Outcomes: By addressing students' specific challenges and errors in real time, PAL aims to enhance the quality of education and improve overall learning outcomes.
• Support for Challenging Subjects: PAL focuses on challenging subjects like Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, which are often areas where students struggle. This targeted approach can help students excel in these subjects.
• Accessibility: Integrating PAL into digital platforms like DIKSHA can make educational content more accessible to a broader range of students, including those with disabilities.

EXPLANATION: 

• Minor Irrigation schemes are crucial in expanding irrigation practices throughout the country. These schemes encompass groundwater and surface water, targeting Culturable Command Areas of up to 2000 hectares individually, classifying them as Minor Irrigation Schemes. Thus, statement 1 is correct. 
• This form of irrigation holds significant importance in developing agriculture and livelihoods, particularly in regions prone to drought and areas outside the purview of Major and Medium projects.

Minor Irrigation Census (MIC):

• Recognizing the need for a comprehensive database of Minor Irrigation schemes to aid in planning, development, and management, the Minor Irrigation Census (MIC) was initiated.
• The inaugural Census of Minor Irrigation Schemes was conducted with a reference year of 1986-87. Thus, statement 3 is not correct. 
• The most recent, the Sixth MIC, was carried out with the reference year of 2017-18, encompassing all states and union territories except Delhi, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep.
• It's important to note that the MIC reports do not reflect the current usage state due to the time required for data collection, which involves gathering granular data down to the block level. This compilation process takes several years before the data is made public. Thus, statement 2 is not correct. 
• In a convergence effort, the First census of water bodies has been initiated in conjunction with the sixth MIC, further enhancing the understanding and management of these vital irrigation resources

EXPLANATION:

• Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on a flexible mixture of fuels, typically gasoline and ethanol, but they are not limited to running on a mixture.
• The development of flex-fuel vehicles began in the early 1990s, and the 1994 Ford Taurus was one of the first mass-produced vehicles to offer flex-fuel capability. This innovation allowed the vehicle to run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol, making it more versatile and environmentally friendly. Thus, option (b) is correct. 
• Modern flex-fuel engines can burn any proportion of the resulting blend in the combustion chamber as fuel injection and spark timing are adjusted automatically according to the actual blend detected by a fuel composition sensor. 
• Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on various ethanol-gasoline mixtures, including 100% gasoline or 100% ethanol. They can adapt to varying ethanol concentrations, making them flexible and adaptable to different fuel blends.

EXPLANATION:

• The unemployment ratio is the proportion of unemployed people in the labour force.
• Three measures or assessments of unemployment were developed by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). These measures are as follows:
• Usual Status Unemployment

• • • This measure calculates the number of individuals who remained unemployed for a significant part of the year.
    • It provides the lowest estimates of unemployment. Thus, statement 1 is not correct. 

• Weekly Status Unemployment

• • • This estimate quantifies unemployment over one week.
    • A person is categorised as unemployed if they cannot work for an hour during the survey week.
    • In simpler terms, a person is considered employed for the entire week, even if they worked only for a day within that week. Thus, statement 3 is not correct. 

• Current Daily Status Unemployment

• • This approach examines a person's activity status for each day of the preceding seven days, with the reference period being a single day.
  • If an individual does not find work on one or more days during the survey week, they are classified as unemployed.
  • Typically, if a person works four hours or more during a day, they are regarded as employed for the entire day.
  • The daily status unemployment measure is considered a comprehensive assessment of unemployment. Thus, statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION: 

• In India, millets have a rich traditional history of consumption. However, the Green Revolution in the 1960s, driven by the goal of achieving food security, marginalized millets, relegating them to 'orphan crops' that were less consumed and nearly forgotten. 
• Before the Green Revolution, millets accounted for approximately 40% of all cultivated grains, a percentage that has gradually decreased to around 20% over the years. Thus, statement 1 is not correct. 
• Millets, including Bajra, Jowar, and Ragi, among others, hold the distinction of being among the earliest foods cultivated by humans. Evidence suggests that millets were consumed during the Indus Valley civilisation, marking their domestication in India. Thus, statement 2 is correct.
• India boasts the production of all nine commonly recognized millets and is the world's largest producer and the fifth-largest exporter of these grains. Millet crops are cultivated in numerous states across the country.
• Pearl millet is the most predominant variety, accounting for 60% of millet production, followed by Sorghum at 27%, Finger millet at 11%, and Small millet at 2%, as per the 4th Advance estimate for 2021-22. Thus, statement 3 is not correct. 
• The leading millet-producing states in India include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

EXPLANATION: 

• Cheriyal scroll painting is an art form that originates from Telangana, particularly in Hyderabad. It is an evolved version of Nakashi art, renowned for its intricate local motifs.
• Cheriyal scroll painting is exclusive to the state of Telangana and plays a significant role in its cultural heritage. Thus, statement 1 is not correct. 
• Nakashis: The artists behind this form of art are known as Nakashis, and their scrolls are deeply embedded in the social and cultural fabric of Telangana.
• Storytelling Tradition: Cheriyal scroll painting is closely associated with the Kaki Padagollu community, which comprises storytellers and balladeers.
• Themes:

• • Narrative Art: These scrolls are akin to film rolls or comic strips, narrating stories from Indian mythology, Puranas, and Epics such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Shiva Puranam, and Markandey Puranam.
  • Local Traditions: Cheriyal paintings are rooted in local traditions and depict ballads and folk stories from various communities, including Gauda and Madiga.
• Characteristics:
  • Vibrant Colors: These paintings use vivid and primarily primary colours, with red dominating the background. Thus, statement 2 is not correct. 
  • Rural Life Depiction: Cheriyal scroll paintings often portray scenes from rural life, including women engaged in kitchen chores, men working in fields, festive settings, and more.
  • Fusion with Music and Dance: Artists present these scrolls along with music and dance performances.
  • Format Evolution: Traditionally vertical, these scrolls have evolved to include smaller versions focusing on individual episodes or characters. Single pictures are also created for wall decorations.
  • Geographical Indication (GI): Cheriyal scroll painting received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2007. Thus, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION: 

• The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE Sun temple located in Konark on the coastline in the Puri district of Odisha. The temple is attributed to King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was completed around 1250 CE. 
• The Eastern Ganga dynasty, also known as Rudhi Gangas or Prachya Gangas, was a prominent Indian royal dynasty that ruled Kalinga from the 5th century to the early 15th century. 
• It is the third gem in Odisha's Golden Triangle, with Jagannath Puri and Bhubaneswar as the other two links. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, the Konark Sun Temple is a treasure trove of art and culture. 
• The temple's design includes two rows of 12 wheels on each side, possibly representing the 24 hours in a day or the 12 months. Seven horses pulling the temple chariot are thought to symbolize the days of the week.
• Initially built on the sea bank, the Konark temple now stands a little away from the beach due to the receding sea. This temple was also known as the 'BLACK PAGODA' because of its dark color and was used as a navigational landmark by ancient sailors to Odisha. Thus, option (c) is correct.