Daily Quiz

Solution (b)
Explanation:
• Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, elephants are classified as Schedule I species, granting them the highest level of protection. This ensures stringent legal measures to prevent hunting, poaching, and exploitation.
• The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana) belong to different genera. The genus for Asian elephants is Elephas, while the genus for African elephants is Loxodonta. This highlights a significant taxonomic distinction. (Option (b) is correct)
• The Asian elephant is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, and poaching. In contrast, the African elephant has two subspecies: the Savanna elephant (Endangered) and the Forest elephant (Critically Endangered).
• Project Elephant was initiated by the Government of India in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors. It also aims to address human-elephant conflict and ensure the welfare of captive elephants.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/rules-that-still-manacle-the-captive-elephant/article69034312.ece

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for promoting research and development in various scientific fields, including urban innovation through specific initiatives like the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and DST Smart Cities Mission. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• Ministry of Education promotes collaboration between academia and industry through initiatives like Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Institutions of Eminence (IoE). (Option (b) is incorrect)
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology focuses on digital transformation, including programs like Digital India and IndiaStack to support smart cities’ ICT infrastructure. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the SAAR program, in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and Indian academic institutions. This program focuses on connecting academic research with the practical implementation of urban projects in 100 Smart Cities under the Smart Cities Mission. (Option (d) is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/education/introduction-of-smart-classrooms-has-led-to-22-increase-in-enrolment-across-19-cities-report/article69033663.ece#:~:text=The%20introduction%20of%20smart%20classrooms,Indian%20Institute%20of%20Management%2C%20Bangalore.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• While lasers are being explored for precision in surgeries and treatments, no widely known micro-laser syringe currently exists for administering drugs.
• Although nanotechnology is used in drug delivery systems, the shock syringe focuses on the mechanism of delivery (using shock waves) and is not specifically tied to nanotechnology-based drugs.
• The needle-free shock syringe developed by researchers at IIT Bombay uses high-energy pressure waves or shock waves to deliver drugs through the skin without the need for a needle. This method is suitable for patients with needle phobia and avoids the risks of needle-related infections or injuries. (Option (c) is correct)
• Remote-controlled drug administration technologies exist for specific treatments, but the needle-free shock syringe does not involve wireless signals. It is based on mechanical shock waves for localized drug delivery.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/iit-bombay-researchers-develop-painless-needle-free-shock-syringes/article69032366.ece

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) is located in Arunachal Pradesh, not Nagaland. It is planned on the Siang River, which is part of the Brahmaputra basin. The Siang River originates in Tibet (where it is called the Yarlung Tsangpo) and enters Arunachal Pradesh before flowing into Assam. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• The Adi tribe, one of the prominent indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh, is directly affected by the project. The construction of the dam is likely to submerge areas traditionally inhabited by the Adi tribe, raising concerns about displacement and loss of cultural heritage. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The project is considered a strategic counter to China’s construction of the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, near the Indian border. China’s dam could have significant downstream impacts on water flow in India, prompting India to pursue large-scale projects like the SUMP to assert its rights over the river and enhance water security. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/siang-upper-multipurpose-project-not-without-resistance-arunachal-people-farms-surveys-9748204/

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Yemen borders the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea but not the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf lies further to the northeast, bordered by countries like Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Yemen’s geographic position makes it strategically important, particularly due to its control over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• Hodeida is one of Yemen’s major ports on the Red Sea. It has been a focal point during the Yemeni Civil War due to its strategic importance for humanitarian aid and trade. Control over Hodeida significantly influences access to Yemen’s northern regions. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The Rub’ al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, is the largest continuous sand desert in the world. While most of it lies in Saudi Arabia, it also extends into parts of Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. In Yemen, it covers the northern desert (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/houthis-yemen-iran-axis-resistance-israel-9747772/