UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Economy Quiz.

With reference to the Neutron stars, consider the following statements:

1. They are superdense astrophysical objects formed at the end of a massive star’s life in a supernova explosion.

2. Sometimes, they orbit each other in binary systems.

3. They constantly lose energy by emitting gravitational waves until they eventually collide and merge.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

With reference to the Smooth-coated Otters, consider the following statements:

1. They are listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

2. There are six species of otters in Asia, and only smooth-coated otters are found in India.

3. They are classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

With reference to the steel slag road, consider the following statements:

1. The construction of these roads are costlier than roads built from natural aggregates.

2. The durability is longer than normal roads.

3. The thickness of the road is more than that of normal roads.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following statements about CAR-T cell therapy:

1. It modifies immune cells by turning them into potent cancer fighters.

2. It makes treatment easier with a one-time therapy.

3. NexCar19 is a type of CAR-T therapy developed indigenously in India.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

With reference to the Kumkis elephants, consider the following statements:

1. They are used in operations to trap, rescue and tranquilise wild elephants.

2. These elephants will serve as an invaluable asset to the state’s wildlife organisation and aid its efforts to minimise conflicts.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

FYI:

— An international team of researchers have developed a method to model the observable signs of a kilonova explosion from the explosive merger of two orbiting neutron stars.

— Neutron stars are superdense astrophysical objects formed at the end of a massive star’s life in a supernova explosion. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Sometimes, neutron stars orbit each other in binary systems. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— These systems constantly lose energy by emitting gravitational waves until they eventually collide and merge. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Researchers may now examine the physical characteristics of the universe’s most severe states because to these mergers. For instance, heavy metals like gold are formed under the circumstances of these high-energy collisions.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— A survey has found 1,435 smooth-coated otters across all 10 rivers, creeks, and irrigation tanks in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district. The study has also found 245 crocodiles in the district.

— Smooth-coated Otters are classified as endangered species under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— There are six species of otters in Asia, of which, the Eurasian otter, smooth-coated and Asian small-clawed otters are found in India. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Smooth-coated Otters are classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The study was carried out to find out the status of otters and crocodiles in this area, as well as their preferred habitat and feeding patterns, using camera-trap technology, river boats, modified scent-station surveys, under-bridge, and local information in creeks, rivers, backwaters, and irrigation tanks.

— Otters are poorly studied aquatic mammals while the distribution of crocodiles is poorly documented in coastal areas.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Surat has become the first city in the country to get a processed steel slag (industrial waste) road built as part of a joint-venture project by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Union Ministry of Steel, government think-tank NITI Ayog, and ArcelorMtttal-Nippon Steel (AM/NS), at Hazira.

— According to CRRI principal scientist Satish Pandey, the construction cost of the processed steel slag road is 30 per cent cheaper than roads built from natural aggregates. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The thickness of the road is also 30 per cent lesser than normal ones, while the durability is much longer due to the utilisation of steel slag. Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.

— This project falls under the initiative of the Waste to Wealth and Clean India Campaign.

— Slag is produced by a steel furnace burning at temperatures ranging from 1,500 to 1,600 degrees Celsius, with molten flux material as an impurity.

— The molten material is thrown into the slag pits for cooling according to the customised procedure and then further processed to generate stable steel slag aggregates, with “better material properties in place of the natural aggregate commonly used in road constructions.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— CAR-T is a revolutionary therapy that modifies immune cells, specifically T-cells, by turning them into potent cancer fighters known as CAR-T cells. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— T-cells are special cells (white blood cells that find and fight illness and infection) whose primary function is cytotoxic, meaning it can kill other cells.

— Through genetic modification, cells are transformed into cancer-fighting cells in CAR-T therapy. Once the body has received these supercharged cells back, they target cancer cells, particularly those found in blood malignancies such as lymphomas and leukaemia.

— While chemotherapy and immunotherapy may add a few months or years to a cancer patient’s life, cell-and-gene therapy is designed to cure and provide lifelong benefit.

— It makes treatment easier with a one-time therapy [unlike several sessions of chemotherapy] that can be truly transformative [for a patient]. It’s a lifeline for non-responsive cancer patients. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— NexCar19 is a type of CAR-T and gene therapy developed indigenously in India by ImmunoACT, which is a company incubated at IIT Bombay. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The therapy is for people with B-cell lymphomas who didn’t respond to standard treatments like chemotherapy, leading to relapse or recurrence of the cancer.

— The therapy is designed to target cancer cells that carry the CD19 protein. This protein acts like a flag on cancer cells, which allows CAR-T cells to recognise and attach themselves to the cancer cells and start the process of elimination.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— To reduce man-elephant conflict, which has emerged as a major issue in Odisha, the state government has sought four Kumki elephants and their mahouts from Tamil Nadu, citing the state’s experience in training and using them for wildlife conservation.

— Kumkis are trained captive elephants used in operations to trap, rescue and tranquilise wild elephants. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— They can be deployed strategically to help manage and drive wild elephants, thereby reducing damage to crops, human habitation and the potential loss of both human and elephant lives.

— The Kumki elephants will serve as an invaluable asset to the state’s wildlife organisation and aid its efforts to minimise conflicts. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 48)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 48)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 47)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 47)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 47)

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