Daily Quiz

Solution (b)
Explanation:
• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) focuses on global development issues, poverty eradication, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP runs initiatives like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) administers the Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee (INC), which is tasked with developing the Global Plastics Treaty. UNEP focuses on global environmental governance, including marine pollution, plastic waste management, and sustainable development. The INC aims to create a legally binding framework to tackle plastic pollution, akin to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for climate governance. UNEP also administers the Montreal Protocol and the Convention on Biological Diversity. (Option (b) is correct)
• The IUCN is an international organization focused on conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable use of natural resources. It provides scientific data and expertise to influence environmental policies. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a globally recognized database for assessing the conservation status of flora and fauna.
• UNESCO focuses on education, cultural heritage, and scientific cooperation. While it promotes sustainable development through its programs. UNESCO initiative also includes Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/developing-countries-should-be-compensated-for-moving-away-from-plastic-india/article68919075.ece#:~:text=The%20proposed%20new%20fund%20will,Ministry%20said%20in%20a%20statement.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Western Gujarat is primarily associated with regions like Kutch, Kathiawar, and Saurashtra, known for their distinct cultural and geographical identity. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• Eastern Madhya Pradesh includes areas like Rewa, Satna, and Sidhi, which are part of the Vindhya region and not historically linked to Mewar. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• The Mewar region is located in southern Rajasthan, encompassing modern-day districts like Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, and parts of Bhilwara. It is historically significant for its association with the Sisodia dynasty and the valiant resistance of rulers like Maharana Pratap against Mughal rule. Mewar is renowned for its forts, including the Chittorgarh Fort and Kumbhalgarh Fort, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Option (c) is correct)
• Northern Rajasthan includes areas like Bikaner, Shekhawati, and Jaisalmer, which are part of the Marwar and Thar Desert region, not Mewar. These regions have a distinct historical identity compared to Mewar. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/109326/OPS/GCDDL4DMN.1.png?cropFromPage=true

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Karnataka became the first state in India to introduce a cess-based social security plan for platform workers. The state government announced a 1–2% welfare cess on each transaction made on online aggregator platforms. The revenue collected from this cess is allocated to a welfare fund aimed at providing social security to gig workers such as delivery personnel and ride-hailing service drivers. This initiative benefits workers from platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, and Uber, addressing issues like lack of health insurance and job security. (Option (a) is correct)
• The Tamil Nadu Urban Employment Scheme, inspired by MGNREGA, aims to provide employment opportunities in urban areas but is unrelated to gig or platform workers.
• Telangana is known for its efforts in fostering a robust startup ecosystem and supporting the tech industry, but it has not introduced a cess-based plan for platform workers. The state is focused on creating platforms like TASK (Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge) to enhance skill development but has yet to implement gig worker-specific social security measures.

• Maharashtra has a strong industrial and labor framework and has implemented schemes like the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) to promote employment.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-karnataka-social-security-plan-that-has-a-problem/article68919011.ece

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Lebanon is part of the Levant region, a historical-geographical area in the eastern Mediterranean. The Levant includes countries like Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and parts of Turkey. The region has significant historical and cultural importance due to its location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa. (Statement 1 is correct)
• Lebanon is not landlocked. It has a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea to its west. This coastal access has historically made Lebanon a significant trading hub in the region, particularly through its port cities like Beirut and Tripoli. (Statement 2 is incorrect)

• Lebanon borders Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. It does not share a border with Iraq. Iraq is located further east, separated from Lebanon by Syria. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-hezbollah-truce-what-we-know-so-far-key-terms-of-ceasefire-infographics/article68921841.ece

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Moiré patterns are visual interference patterns that result when two grids, patterns, or layers with slightly different orientations or spacing overlap. They create unique and often intricate designs that can be observed in various contexts, such as overlapping fabrics, digital screens, and advanced material layers. (Statement 1 is correct)

• Moiré patterns are of significant interest in advanced materials science, particularly in the study of twistronics. In materials like twisted bilayer graphene, these patterns modify the material’s electronic structure, leading to novel properties like superconductivity and quantum Hall effects. Such studies have potential applications in quantum computing, nanoelectronics, and superconducting materials. (Statement 2 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/new-moir%C3%A9-superconductor-opens-the-door-to-new-quantum-materials/article68918187.ece#:~:text=In%20a%20study%20in%20Nature,for%20materials%20with%20unusual%20properties&text=Scientists%20are%20constantly%20engineering%20new,materials%20are%20a%20deceptively%20simple.