Daily Quiz

Solution (a)
Explanation:
• The minimum pension of Rs.10,000 is applicable only for those who have worked for at least 10 years, not for anyone who has worked formally regardless of the duration of service. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) promises a pension of 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months before retirement, ensuring financial security for retired employees. (Option (b) is correct)
• The Centre’s share has been increased from 14% under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) to 18.5% under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), reflecting an enhanced commitment to the financial security of government employees. (Option (c) is correct)
• The UPS is based on the recommendations of the T.V. Somanathan committee, which was formed to find a middle path between the old pension scheme and the New Pension Scheme (NPS). (Option (d) is correct)
• The New Pension Scheme (NPS) was introduced in 2004 for all government employees (except armed forces) as a market-linked pension system. It replaced the defined benefit pension system that existed earlier.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/middle-path-on-the-unified-pension-scheme/article68565757.ece#:~:text=With%20the%20Congress%20making%20the,enhanced%20share%20from%20the%20Centre.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• A type of e-cigarette that vaporizes liquid nicotine without burning tobacco describes an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape, which uses a liquid nicotine solution that is vaporized. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• Heat-not-burn products, also known as heated tobacco products (HTPs), heat tobacco to a lower temperature than traditional cigarettes, producing a nicotine-containing vapor without burning the tobacco. This process is claimed to reduce the harmful chemicals produced by combustion. (Option (b) is correct)
• A vaporizer typically uses a liquid solution (sometimes containing nicotine) to produce water vapor. It is different from heat-not-burn products that use actual tobacco. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• Herbal vaporizers are used to heat non-tobacco substances like herbs to release their active compounds without combustion. This is unrelated to nicotine or tobacco. (Option (d) is incorrect)
• The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on heat-not-burn products and their health implications. They are considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes but are not risk-free due to the presence of nicotine and other chemicals.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/new-age-gateway-devices-the-latest-health-threat/article68566282.ece#:~:text=These%20new%2Dage%20gateway%20devices%20are%20also%20being%20used%20to,water%20vapour%20and%20pleasant%20flavours.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• The IMF is an international organization that works to stabilize the global economy, providing financial assistance and policy advice to member countries. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs that are expected to improve the economic prospects and quality of life for people in those countries. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• The Financial Stability Board (FSB) was established in April 2009 under the auspices of the G20, which is an international forum for governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union.
• The FSB was created to promote international financial stability by coordinating the work of national financial authorities and international standard-setting bodies. (Option (c) is correct)
• The WTO is concerned with the global rules of trade between nations. It ensures that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/tackling-the-frictions-in-cross-border-payments-a-call-for-innovative-solutions/article68566622.ece#:~:text=The%20Financial%20Stability%20Board%20(FSB,limited%20access%2C%20and%20insufficient%20transparency.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Justice J.S. Verma Committee, formed in the wake of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, did not recommend the death penalty for rapes, even in heinous cases. Instead, the committee emphasized life imprisonment as the maximum punishment. The committee believed that the certainty of punishment, rather than the severity, is more important in preventing crimes. It focused on improving the legal and institutional framework to prevent sexual violence and ensure justice. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• The Justice J.S. Verma Committee did recommend the removal of the marital rape exception from the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The committee argued that a woman’s consent is paramount, and the institution of marriage should not override her right to bodily autonomy. The recommendation was for the law to recognize rape within marriage as a crime, which currently has an exception under Indian law. (Statement 2 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-did-justice-verma-panel-say-on-death-penalty-for-rape-explained/article68566587.ece#:~:text=The%20Justice%20J.S.,the%20rarest%20of%20rare%20cases.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Mass-Wasting Events: Mass-wasting refers to the movement of rock, soil, and debris down a slope due to gravity. These events are common in mountainous regions like the Himalayas, where steep slopes, glaciation, and other geological factors contribute to such movements. Mass-wasting can occur in various forms, including landslides, debris flows, and avalanches.
• Ice-rock avalanche event involves the rapid movement of a mixture of ice and rock down a slope. It typically occurs in high mountain environments where glaciers or ice caps are present, and a combination of ice and fractured rock is dislodged, often due to seismic activity, melting of ice, or other triggers. This is a common mass-wasting event in the Himalayas due to the presence of glaciers and the region’s geological activity. (Statement 1 is correct)
• An ice-moraine avalanche occurs when a glacier or its moraine (accumulated debris at the edges of a glacier) becomes unstable and moves downhill rapidly. This can happen when the ice melts or when the moraine is destabilized by seismic activity or heavy rainfall. Such events are also prevalent in the Himalayas due to the extensive glaciation and the loose moraines found in the region. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Glacier debris flow refers to the flow of water-saturated debris that originates from glaciers. As glaciers move or melt, they can carry along debris, including rocks, soil, and other materials. When these materials are dislodged or when the ice melts rapidly, the debris can flow downhill as a mass-wasting event. Glacier debris flows are significant in the Himalayas due to the large number of glaciers and the rapid changes in temperature that can cause melting. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/frequent-mass-wasting-in-tibet-a-cause-for-worry-in-india/article68564709.ece