Daily Quiz

Solution (c)
Explanation:
• OECD focuses on economic policies and fostering economic progress and world trade. The OECD often releases reports or recommendations on economic development.
• The G20 primarily focuses on international economic cooperation and includes major economies. G20’s focus is more on economic and financial stability, such as during its 2020 summit when global pandemic responses were discussed.
• The QUAD comprises the United States, India, Japan, and Australia and is increasingly involved in regional security and cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The Wilmington Declaration reflects their shared vision of security, including initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), aimed at enhancing maritime surveillance and real-time information sharing in the region. (Option (c) is correct)
• NATO is a transatlantic military alliance with a focus on the security of North America and Europe. NATO focuses on collective defense under Article 5, and its main activities are centered on Europe and North America, not the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-wilmington-juxtaposing-immediacy-with-legacy/article68656854.ece

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The Strategic Framework for Drowning Prevention was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as part of its efforts to address drowning as a public health issue.
• Drowning is recognized as a leading cause of injury-related deaths globally, particularly affecting children and vulnerable communities.
• The framework focuses on creating policies and strategies to prevent drowning incidents by enhancing community awareness, setting up infrastructure for safe water activities, and improving emergency response systems. (Option (a) is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/drowning-a-neglected-public-health-crisis/article68461906.ece#:~:text=Despite%20having%20a%20death%20toll,full%20extent%20of%20the%20problem.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• The Sea of Japan is bordered by Japan, Russia, and the Korean Peninsula. Notable islands in this water body include Hokkaido, Honshu, and Sakhalin Island.
• The South China Sea is surrounded by countries such as China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. It is home to several important island groups like the Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands.
• Yonaguni and Iriomote are part of the Senkaku Islands, which are located in the East China Sea. These islands belong to Japan and are part of the Okinawa Prefecture. The East China Sea lies between Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan. It is a crucial area for maritime routes and holds geopolitical importance. (Option (c) is correct)
• The Yellow Sea lies between China and the Korean Peninsula. It is a shallow arm of the Pacific Ocean, but it does not contain the Yonaguni or Iriomote islands. Instead, it includes islands like Jindo and Deokjeokdo.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-spots-chinese-carrier-group-sailing-off-its-east-coast-2024-09-17/

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Spintronics (spin-based electronics) involves the study of spin and its associated magnetic moment in electrons. This is distinct from traditional electronics, which focuses on the charge of electrons. Spintronics aims to use the electron’s spin in addition to its charge for information processing. (Statement 1 is correct)
• Modern hard drives, especially those that use Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) or Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) technology, utilize spintronics to increase storage capacity and speed. Spintronics allows data to be stored and read based on the spin of electrons, which improves the performance of hard drives. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Electron spin is a fundamental property of particles, representing their intrinsic angular momentum. It is a quantum mechanical property, and the orientation of the spin can be used to represent binary data (e.g., up-spin and down-spin). Spin is crucial in quantum mechanics and in applications like spintronics. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/superfast-lasers-open-a-shortcut-to-hard-drives-of-the-future/article68637177.ece#:~:text=The%20researchers%20have%20said%20that,i.e.%20a%20thousand%2Dtimes%20faster.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed on 19 September 1960 in Karachi by then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and the President of Pakistan Ayub Khan. It regulates the use of waters from the six rivers of the Indus River system, providing a cooperative framework for both countries. (Statement 1 is correct)
• The World Bank (then known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) played a crucial role in mediating and negotiating the terms of the treaty between India and Pakistan, as tensions over water sharing were high. The World Bank remains a signatory to the treaty for purposes of dispute resolution. (Statement 2 is correct)
• According to the Indus Water Treaty, the Eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — were allocated for unrestricted use by India, not Pakistan. On the other hand, the Western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — were allocated to Pakistan, with certain usage rights retained by India for irrigation, power generation, and navigation under specific conditions. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-india-wants-review-modification-of-indus-waters-treaty-9575076/