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  • Funding Mechanism for Climate Control Worldwide & in India

    We are continuing our discussion from the previous post on UNFCC to Paris Via Kyoto

    In the meantime many a funds were launched –

    1. Green Climate Fund –

    • HQ at Incheon, S. Korea
    • It was 1st talked about in Copenhagen summit and Formally established in Cancun, 2010
    • Target is to raise 100b$ fund every year by 2020 <largest fund with current pledges amounting in excess of 10b$>
    • India’s contention is that funds should be additional <no double counting>, verifiable and mainly in the form of grants
    • There should be balanced support to both adaptation and mitigation

    2. Clean Technology Fund (CTF)- 2nd largest

    3. Adaptation fund –

    • Officially launched in 2007 (Bali), though 1st established in 2001
    • Fund sources – 2% of CERs of CDM, donations from developed countries
    • Direct access mechanism – accredited national implementing entities (NIEs) and regional implementing agencies (RIEs) in developing countries can directly access climate adaptation financing under it <Name our NIE>

    4. Global Environment Facility (GEF) –

    • Established in 1991 by the World Bank in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
    • To  provide funding to protect the global environment <discussed in detail in titbits>

     

    Funding initiatives of India

    1. National Clean Energy Fund –

    • From cess on the coal produced or imported <cess is 200 rs now per ton of coal, increased from 50 to 100 to 200>
    • financing and promoting clean energy initiatives and funding research in the area of clean energy Eg.-  green energy corridor, installation of solar photovoltaic etc

    2. National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change –

    To assist in meeting the cost of national- and state-level adaptation measures in areas that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

    India’s initiatives 

    INDCs , Renewable energy targets

    National and State Action Plan On Climate change

    8 missions

    1.  NATIONAL SOLAR MISSION – Target has been revised to 100,000 MW by 2022 <what is the break up?>

    2. THE NATIONAL MISSION FOR ENHANCED ENERGY EFFICIENCY (NMEEE):-

    • Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT)
    • Framework for energy efficient economic development
    • Star rating of appliances

    NATIONAL MISSION ON SUSTAINABLE HABITAT –

    • Energy efficiency in buildings, urban planning, improved management of solid and liquid waste, modal shift towards public transport
    • Improving resilience of infrastructure, community based disaster management

    4. NATIONAL WATERMISSION (NWM)

    • Increase in water use efficiency by 20% through regulatory mechanisms with differential entitlements and pricing
    • Minimization of wastage and equitable distribution both across and within states

    5.  NATIONAL   MISSION   FOR SUSTAINING THE HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM (NMSHE)

    6. NATIONAL MISSION FOR GREEN INDIA

    • Increase forest/tree cover on 5 million hectares (ha) of forest/non- forest -lands
    • Improve quality of forest cover on another 5 million ha of non-forest/forest lands (a total of 10 million ha)
    • Improve ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological services, and carbon sequestration from the 10 million ha of forest/ non-forest lands mentioned above

     7. NATIONAL   MISSION   FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (NMSA)

    10 key dimensions for adaptation and mitigation:

    1. Improved Crop Seeds, Livestock and Fish Culture
    2. Water Efficiency
    3. Pest Management
    4. Improved Farm Practices
    5. Nutrient Management
    6. Agricultural Insurance
    7. Credit Support
    8. Markets
    9. Access to Information
    10. Livelihood Diversification

    8. The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC)

    National Bio-Energy Mission – <is this the 9th mission?, earlier there was talk of clean coal energy being added as the 9th mission>

    • Launched during the 12th Five-Year Plan
    • To boost power generation from biomass, a renewable energy source abundantly available in India
    • To facilitate large-scale capital investments in biomass-fired power stations
    • encourage development of rural enterprises
    • A GIS-based National Biomass Resource Atlas to map potential biomass regions in the country

    India is to add 4 new missions to this list

    1. Wind Mission – modeled on the National Solar Mission
    2. Waste-to-energy mission –  harnessing energy from all kinds of waste, aimed at lowering India’s dependence on coal, oil and gas, for power production.
    3. Mission on dealing with climate impacts on human health – by health ministry
    4. Mission on India’s coastal areas – prepare an integrated coastal resource management plan and map vulnerabilities along the entire nearly 7000-km long shoreline

    Renewable energy initiatives and targets have already been done here

    This also completes Chapter 8 of economic survey

    In the next article we will discuss Ozone depletion, Montreal Protocol, India’s Changed Stand on HFCs, Air Pollution, Acid Rain, Smog, Petrochemical smog etc.

  • UNFCC to Paris Via Kyoto

    Now that we know that anthropogenic global warming is a reality <IPCC 5th report says it with 95% certainty> and is already creating problems for us, we needed to do something about it.

    We can do two things –

    1. Mitigation – Reduce the amount of GHGs in the atmosphere. How – Emit less <use electric cars instead of diesel cars> and remove whatever is present from the environment <plant more trees, geoengineering – carbon capture and storage etc.>
    2. Adaptation: Adjusting to climate change in order to reduce its vulnerability, and enhance the resilience <so we know there would be more droughts so producing drought proof seeds, more cyclones so early warning systems and cyclone shelters>

    Adaptation and mitigation are complementary to each other. For example, if mitigation measures are undertaken effectively, lesser will be the impacts to which we will need to adapt. Similarly, if adaptation measures (or the degree of preparedness) are strong, lesser might be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change <if we reduce GHGs and global warming is less, we would need to produce less drought proof crops>

    Importance of Adaptation for Developing Countries

    • Adaptation is especially important in developing countries since those countries are predicted to bear the brunt of the effects of global warming and have less capacity to adapt.
    • Also, even if the GHG emission is reduced now, effect of already emitted GHG will be felt for many years.
    • Hence, India always focus on adaptation in international negotiations.

    Back to international negotiations

    As we have already discussed an international legally binding treaty was signed in 1997 in Kyoto based on the principles of UNFCC – i.e Common but differentiated responsibility and Respective Capabilities (CBDR – RC) <Common i.e every country has the responsibility to reduce GHG but differentiated i.e rich countries have more responsibility as they are historically responsible plus respective capabilities i.e they are more capable of reducing GHG>, historical responsibility and primary responsibility for reducing emissions was placed on developed countries.

    Annexes of Kyoto Protocol

    • Annex 1 – Industrialised Countries (mainly OECD) plus economies in transition (mainly former soviet block countries) – They would mandatorily reduce GHGs, base year – 1990
    • Annex 2 – Subset of Annex 1,  Industrialised Countries (mainly OECD), would also provide finances and technology to non annex countries
    • Non annex – not included in annex, all other countries, no binding targets
    • Annex A – gases covered under Kyoto <name those 7 gases>
    • Annex B – Binding targets for each Annex 1 country i.e Japan will reduce emission by X%, Australia by Y% <what was the total cumulative reduction in emission this way?>

    So in KP, a country say Australia will be told you can emit no more than X units of CO2 till 2020. Now it’s a very onerous requirement and what is Australia is not able to achieve it .

    KP contains some flexible mechanisms to allow countries with reduction commitment to exceed their quota in some cases and allow market mechanism to work to allow best possible outcome for the society <Do markets really help here? Explain>

    Flexible Mechanisms of Kyoto Protocol

    1. Emission Trading –

    • Basically idea is that each country will be assigned some fix limit of CO2 emission
    • Those who exceed their emission can buy CO2 credit from those who emitted less than their quota
    • For instance is Australia was assigned 100 units and it emitted only 95, it can sell those 5 units to say Canada which exceeded its emission quota
    • This is cap and trade <cap emissions and trade>

    2. Offset Trading

    • very similar except in it a country earns credit by investing in projects which emit lesser amount of CO2.
    • For instance if canada replaces thermal plant with wind energy plant and saves 100 units of CO2, it can sell it to other countries
    • It is known as baseline and credit trading

    3. Clean Development Mechanism –

    • Annex 1 countries can undertake carbon reduction projects in annex 2 countries.
    • Reduced emission <certified emission reduction, CER> is counted towards their target. 
    • They can even sell such CERs in the market.
    • For instance, Australia <annex 1> providing financing and support for rural electrification project in India (annex 2) and saved emission (due to biomass burning) is it’s CER.

    4. Joint Implementation (JI) –

    Exactly similar to CDM except that two annex 1 countries are involved in this i.e Australia undertaking project in Britain

    How does trading work in reality?

    Each country would assign emission quota or efficiency quota to industries and they would trade for carbon credits and CERs.

    Market based trading schemes in India –

    1. Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT)

    • Under National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) in National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) <New missions proposed under NAPCC?>
    • aims to improve energy efficiency in industries by trading in energy efficiency certificates in energy-intensive sectors <funda is similar to carbon trading and energy saving certificates (ESCers) are issued>
    • Administered by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and in the 1st phase energy intensive sectors are covered

    2. Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism

    • Under renewable purchase obligation policy (RPO),Distribution companies ( DISCOMS) have obligation to purchase certain fixed % of renewable energy <of their total supply>
    • Renewable producer gets REC for feeding renewable to the grid and if DISCOMS are not able to meet their obligation, they can simply buy REC from the market.

    Bali Road map

    As we know 1st commitment period of KP was from 2008 to 2012 so countries met in Bali <which is the largest island of Indonesia?> in 2007 to discuss what happens after 2012 and Bali Road map was agreed under which-

    1. Adaptation Fund was launched
    2. Bali Action plan (BAP) was agreed <fattes related to adaptation, mitigation, tech transfer cooperation etc.>

    REDD and REDD plus

    • REDD – Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation
    • REDD plus – REDD plus incentives for planting trees, enhancement of carbon stocks
    • So basically it provides a value to the carbon stored in forests and soil, and developed countries would give funds to developing countries for that

    Another summit in 2009 in Copenhagen <capital of Denmark> failed miserably and finally fast forward to 2015 Paris summit –

    Each country announced its intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) <bottom up approach> – clear cut bifurcation b/w annex 1 and non annex country done away with. To know what happened in Paris Click here 

  • Government Schemes for the development of North East India

    #1. Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources

    Background:

    • The North Eastern Region (NER) comprises 8 States viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura
    • All the States in the NER are Special Category States whose Development Plans are centrally financed on the basis of 90% Grant and 10% Loan
    • In October 1996, the then Prime Minister announced “New Initiatives for North Eastern Region” and stipulated that at least 10% of the Budget(s) of the Central Ministries/Department will be earmarked for the development of North Eastern States
    • But, what if they are not able to use all funds? We created a Central Pool of Resources for the North East out of the unspent amount of stipulated 10% of GBS to support infrastructure development projects in the North East
    • Subsequently, this fund became non-lapsable

    Objective:

    The broad objective of the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources scheme is to ensure speedy development of infrastructure in the North Eastern Region by increasing the flow of budgetary financing for new infrastructure projects/schemes in the Region.

    Funds from the Central Pool can be released for State sector as well as Central sector projects/schemes.

    #2. North East Rural Livelihood Project

    • North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) is implemented in 4 North Eastern States of Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura
    • 2 districts in each of these 4 states only
    • It was launched in 2013 for a period of 5 years
    • Aiding agency: World Bank
    • Objective: Create sustainable community institutions around women Self Help Groups (SHG), Community development groups (CDG) and the youth of the select districts

  • [Solved] IAS Prelims 2016 Mocks #4

    Update:

    The solutions for this mock are now available in a downloadable pdf. We have tried to make them as detailed as possible and included references and user comments wherever possible. Download link. 

     Note: For readers armed with their android phones, you shall not be able to comment on this quiz from the App ecosystem, so please return to your desktops and fill in the comments and discuss.

     

    Hmmm, after ECO-POL, let’s rack our grey cells to make some chhoti-moti discoveries or carry out some inventions. And if nothing works out, let’s just take a S&T test! 🙂 

     

    1. Consider the following statements on Global Positioning System (GPS):

    1. GPS allows accurate time-stamping on ATM transactions.

    2. GPS relies on a set of satellites for transferring signals worldwide.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d)  Neither 1 nor 2

    2. Some species of which of the following kinds of organisms can act as agent for controlling pests and diseases in agriculture?

    1. Bacteria

    2. Viruses

    3. Fungi

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 2 and 3 only

    (b) 1 and 3 only

    (c) 1 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    3. Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one species, the predator, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Some species of which of the following act as predator in various parasitic relationships?

    1. Plants

    2. Birds

    3. Butterflies

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 1 and 3 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    4. Among the following, which one does not belong to the phyla of other three? 

    (a) Prawn

    (b) Shrimp

    (c) Housefly

    (d) Squid

    5. Which of the following is/are among the known ways of transmission of Zika virus?

    1. Mosquito bites

    2. Blood Transfusion

    3. Contaminated needles

    4. From a mother to her foetus

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 and 4 only

    (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    6. Recently, ‘bacteriophages’ were in news. What are they?

    (a) bacteria that combine with algae and can be use to contain oil spills

    (b) fungi that can be used to replenish the degraded soils

    (c) viruses that replicate within bacteria and are toxic to them

    (d) bacteria that become toxic to other bacteria under specific conditions

    7. What are ‘Exoplanets’?

    (a) large sized asteroids believed to be the remnants of a primitive planet

    (b) planets orbiting stars outside the solar system

    (c) planets outside the solar system that are habitable

    (d) planets orbiting stars in other galaxies

    8. The warming effect of sun rays is due to the

    (a) ultra violet part of the sunlight

    (b) visible part of the sunlight

    (c) infrared part of the sunlight

    (d) ultra violent and infrared part of the sunlight

    9. Some organisms like yeast obtain energy through anaerobic respiration during which the glucose breaks down to produce energy along with

    (a) lactic acid, carbon dioxide and water

    (b) water and carbon dioxide

    (c) lactic acid and carbon dioxide

    (d) water and lactic acid

    10. Which of the following diseases is/are caused by bacteria?

    1. Anthrax

    2. Malaria

    3. Polio

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    11. Which of the following is/are among the ‘micro-elements’ required for plant growth?

    1. Copper

    2. Zinc

    3. Potassium

    4. Sulphur

    5. Manganese

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1, 2 and 5

    (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5

    (c) 1, 3 and 4

    (d) 1, 2, 3,  4 and 5

    12. Which of the alternative represents the correct order of the food chain with the following organisms?

    (a) Krill – Algae – Seals –  Orca

    (b) Algae – Seal – Krill –  Orca

    (c) Algae – Krill – Orca –  Seals

    (d) Algae – Krill – Seals –  Orca

    13. Consider the following statements?

    1. Vitamins assist the body in utilizing the nutrients.

    2. Vitamins help in transporting the minerals to required places.

    3. No vitamin can be synthesized in the body.

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    14. Which of the following diseases is/are among the vaccine preventable diseases to be covered under the Mission Indradhanush?

    1. Polio

    2. Measles

    3. Hepatitis C

    4. Tuberculosis

    Choose the correct alternative  using the codes given below.

    (a) 3 and 4 only

    (b) 1, 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    15. Consider the following statements:

    1. Neutrinos are massless particles filling up most of the empty space.

    2. They are easy to detect as they can be deflected even by weak forces like gravity.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    16. Which of the following diseases are caused due to the deficiency of Vitamin C ?

    1. Scurvy

    2. Night Blindness

    3. Rickets

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 1 and 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     17. Certain microbes are called ‘superbugs’ because

    (a) of their high rate of prevalence

    (b) of their ability of transmission across species

    (c) of their resistance to all known lines of treatment

    (d) of the very long period of medication they require

    18. The National Biotechnology Development Strategy unveiled in December last entails launching of mission across which of the following sectors?

    1. Food and Nutrition

    2. Education

    3. Healthcare

    4. Clean Energy

    5. Human Capital

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 2, 3, 4 and 5

    (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    (c) 1, 2 and 3

    (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

    19. Consider the following statements:

    1. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise.

    2. It has been set up by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as an interface agency to empower emerging biotech enterprises.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    20. What is Spaceward Bound Programme?

    (a) It is an inter-governmental project that funds expeditions to deep space

    (b) It is a NASA project that funds expeditions to places with extreme climate conditions

    (c) It is a ESA project that funds expeditions to explore possibility of extraction of rare elements from asteroids

    (d) It is a JAXA project that funds expeditions to discover habitable planets outside the solar system

    21. What is SAMAR?

    1.  A system to monitor the concentration of aerosols and black carbon in the atmosphere.

    2. It has been launched by Indian Meteorological Department.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    22. Consider the following statements:

    1. Micro-propagation is the practice of multiplying plants using modern techniques like tissue culture.

    2. It is used to multiply novel plants like genetically modified ones.

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

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    23. Consider the following statements :

    Cellular Technology evolves in stages called Generation (G), where

    1. A Generation represents the number of subscribers, higher Generation has more subscribers.

    2. 2G technology has CDMA standard and 3G has GSM standard.

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

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    24. Which of the following is/are correct matched?

    1. Cassini – Huygens : Jupiter

    2. New Horizons : Neptune

    3. Dawn : Saturn

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 3 only

    (b) 1 and 2 only

    (c) 2 only

    (d) None

    25. Which of the following is/are genetic disorders?

    1. Thallasemia

    2. Haemophilia

    3. Colour blindness

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 2 and 3 only

    (b) 1 and 2 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

     

  • Indian Ocean Power Competition

  • 15 Questions from Prelims tit-bits

    • Read the questions and options carefully. Read the options even if you don’t know much about the question. Solve the questions wilt open mind.
    • All the questions are from previous year papers

    $1. If a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because(2011)

    (a.) the soil of rain forest is deficient in nutrients

    (b.) propagules of the trees in a rain forest have poor viability

    (c.) the rain forest species are slow-growing

    (d.) exotic species invade the fertile soil of rain forest

    $2. With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced.(2011)

    2. It is the only means of irrigation in dry land farming.

    3. In some areas of farming, receding of ground water table can be checked.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a.) 1 only

    (b.) 2 and 3 only

    (c.) 1 and 3 only

    (d.) 1, 2 and 3

    $3. The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of (2014)

    a. Equatorial climate

    b. Mediterranean climate

    c. Monsoon climate

    d. All of the above climates

     

    $4. The authorization for the withdrawal of funds from the- Consolidated Fund of India must come from:(2011)

    (a.) The President of India

    (b.) The Parliament of India

    (c.) The Prime. Minister of India

    (d.) The Union Finance, Minister

    $5. Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not a fundamental duty?(2011)

    (a.) To vote in public elections

    (b.) To develop the scientific temper

    (c.) To safeguard public property

    (d.) To abide by me Constitution and respect its ideals

    $6. Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution?(2012)

    1. To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture

    2. To protect the weaker sections from social injustice

    3.To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry

    4. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    $7. What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India?(2012)

    1. While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India.

    2. The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only.

    3. The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote.

    4. All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 3 and 4 only

    (c) 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    $8. The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the(2012)

    (a) Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909

    (b) Montagu-Chelmsford Act, 1919

    (c) Government of India Act, 1935

    (d) Indian Independence Act, 1947

    $9. What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative’?

    1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
    2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
    3. There is no application of chemical/ inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
    4. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    a. 1 and 3 only

    b. 1, 2 and 4 only

    c. 2, 3 and 4 only

    d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

    10. Salinization occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the irrigated land? (2011)

    (a.) It greatly increases the crop production

    (b.) It makes some soils impermeable

    (c.) It raises the water table

    (d.) It fills the air spaces in the soil with water

    11. Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct? (2013)

    1.  They are generally red in colour.

    2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash.

    3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.

    4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

    (a) 1, 2 and 3

    (b) 2, 3 and 4

    (c) 1 and 4

    (d) 2 and 3 only

    12. Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region? (2012)

    (a) Rainfall throughout the year

    (b) Rainfall in winter only

    (c) An extremely short dry season

    (d) A definite dry and wet season

    13. What is die difference between asteroids and comets? (2011)

    1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.

    2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.

    3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a.) 1 and 2 only

    (b.) 1 and 3 only

    (c.) 3 only

    (d.) 1, 2 and 3

    14. What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of African and Eurasian desert belt? (2011)

    1. It is located in the sub-tropical high pressure cells.

    2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

    (a.) 1 only

    (b.) 2 only

    (c.) Both 1 and 2

    (d.) Neither 1 nor 2

    15. Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because: (2012)

    (a) Round Table Conference failed to satisfy Indian political aspirations

    (b) Congress and Muslim League had differences of opinion

    (c) Ramsay Macdonald announced the Communal Award

    (d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context

    SOLUTIONS

    1. a, high rain fall, leaching, washing away of nutrients

    2. c, 1 and 3, statement 2, only means can not be true, micro-irrigation, fertilizers at the root zone, loss reduced, less water used hence less ground water needed for irrigation, water table receding checked

    3. c, monsoon

    4. b, parliament

    5. a, voting

    6. c, protecting the weaker sections is responsibility of state hence DPSP

    7. a, statement 2 is Wahiyyat, President trmove judges, remove 2, only option left

    8. c, 3 lists, provincial autonomy

    9. b, statement 3, no application of chemicals can not be practical

    10. b, soil becomes infertile, ions hence impermeable

    11. c, no soil is rich in N, remove statement 2, only option left

    12. d, definite wet and dry season

    13. b

    14. a, cold currents cause desiccation and desert formation, warm currents will bring rains

    15. c

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits – Geogrpahy part 2

    1. Soils of India

    As per ICAR, 8 types of soils

    1. 1. Alluvial Soil – Flood plains, Very fertile, 2 types, Khadar <new alluvium, very fertile> and Bhangar <older, more kankery> <Hindi word khad is fertilizer so obviously khadar more fertile>
    2. 2. Black cotton soil – also called Regur as they swell when wet and shrink on drying, high moisture retaining capacity, formed by solidification of lava of Deccan Trap, Black due to iron and Aluminum <titaniferous magnetite>, deficient in organic matters but rich in lime, potash, Mg, Al, Iron, Lime etc
    3. 3. Red and Yellow soil – Red due to iron oxide, rich in iron, Mg, potash but poor in lime <contrast with black soil which is rich in lime>
    4. 4. Laterite soil – In areas of alternate high rainfall and dry period, High rainfall washes away lime and silica <leaching>, iron and aluminium is left behind , Read in colour, excellent for tea, coffee, rubber, cashew
    5. 5. Forest and Mountain soil – Forest i.e organic matter hence rich in humus which is less decomposed hence acidic soil, rich in organic matter but deficient in potash, phosphorous. Lime
    6. 6. Arid and Desert soil – high soluble salts <capillary action> and phosphorus but deficient in organic matter
    7. 7. Saline and Alkaline soil – Due to canal irrigation <salt left behind due to capillary action in dry areas> , unsuitable for agriculture, treated by irrigation with mixing lime and gypsum, Na and Mg cause salinity, Calcium alkalinity
    8. 8. Peat and Marshy soil – accumulation of large amount of organic matter in waterlogged areas, highly saline and deficient in Phosphate and Potash, mainly in coastal areas
    • Note 1- All Indian soils are deficient in nitrogen <any option that says rich in nitrogen would be wrong>
    • Note 2 – All soils except very obvious forest and mountain soil poor in humus
    • Note 3  – Forest soil is acidic, none other acidic
    • Note 4– Black soil rich in lime while Red,laterite, forest soil poor in lime
    • Discuss – Max area under which soil
    • Discuss – Distribution of soils
    • Discuss -Bhabhar, Tarai, Bangar and Khadar

    2. Climate

    1. Equatorial – In the ITCZ <what is ITCZ>, No seasons, Day and night 12 hrs everyday <simple naa seasons are due to tilt but no effect of tilt at 0 degree>, high temperature, high precipitation <>200 cm, convectional>, Soil is nutrient poor not rich <high rainfall leaching of nutrient, minerals>

    2. Mediterranean -Only place with rainfall in winter and dry summers <in winters under rain bearing westerlies, summer trade winds due to shift of pressure belts>

    3. British type climate -Cool temperate western margin <obviously Britain west>, westerlies throughout, frontal cyclones,

    4. Desert – Hot deserts under subtropical high, horse latitude <sinking air, no rainfall>, Cold desert typically in temperate zones in the interiors of continent, rain shadow of high mountains, Cold current areas

    • Discuss – upwelling v/s downwelling and effect on climate
    • Discuss – Taiga Climate
    • Discuss – Types of rains <convectional, orographic, cyclonic and frontal>

    3. Theory of Plate Tectonics

    1. Continental Drift theory of Alfred Wegener (1912) that continent ploughed through the oceans and once there was single landmass (pangea)
    2. Then came convectional current and sea floor spreading theory by Hass to explain continental drift that seafloor itself moves as it expand through a central axis due to convection currents in the mantle
    3. Plate Tectonics describe large scale motion of lithospheric plates <what is lithosphere?>
    4. 7 or 8 major plates and large number of minor and micro plates 

    3 types of plate boundaries,

    1. 1.transform where plates slide past or grind past each other
    2. 2 Divergent or constructive boundary – plates diverge from each other and new ocean floor is created
    3. 3 Convergent or Destructive boundary – Plates collide, move towards each other
    • Discuss – Driving forces for plate motion
    • Discuss- Evidence in support of continental drift, seafloor spreading
    • Discuss – Paleomagnetism, Lithosphere, Asthenosphere and various discontinuities

    4. Plate Interactions

    1. Plates can be Continental Plate <SiAL, FELsic, Granitic>, Oceanic <SiMA, Mafic, Basaltic> or mixed
    2. Oceanic plates are denser hence subduct under continental plates <remember Wegener that Continet plough under oceans>
    3. Transform Boundary – earthquakes , eg.- San Andreas Fault in California
    4. Divergent or constructive – Mid Oceanic ridge, rift valley , Earthquakes, Volcanoes
    5. Convergent or Destructive – when continental plates collide – mountain building and earthquake, no volcanoes as no subduction; when ocean – continental plates collide, oceanic plate subducts resulting in trenches, earthquakes and volcanoes, Ocean-ocean convergence, heavier plates subduct resulting in trenches, earthquakes and volcanoes and formation of mountain arc
    • Note– Any movement at plates, earthquakes would occur
    • Note- For volcanism, subduction is necessary hence at transform boundaries, continent-continent convergence no volcanism
    • Discuss – Formation of island arcs in Indonesian Archipelago
    • Discuss – No Volcanoes in Himalaya, alps but volcanoes in Andes and Rockies
    • Discuss – Aleutian island and Ring of Fire

  • Issues while accessing the website.

    Dear team CD,

    there’s an issue that keeps coming since a few days while assessing the website from my phone. Whenever I’m trying to read any story or blog or explainer or attempting mock questions or solving tit bits, I’m sent to the advertisement where amazon is selling android phones on your website 🙁 🙁 🙁

    This is creating a lot of problems, wasting a lot of precious time 🙁 Am I the only one facing such an issue?

    Please look into this issue. 🙂 THANK YOU.

  • Search option

    Respected sir
    I request you to bring search option in civils daily Android app.so that if anyone wanted to read news with particular keyword ,one can easily find it,of any date.

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Geography part 1

    Open Your Atlas and Put your thinking cap on before reading these points.

    1. Rotation and Revolution of Eath

    1. Earth rotates around its axis <tilted at 23 and half degree to perpendicular>and takes 24 hours – responsible for day and night
    2. Earth revolves around the sun in counterclockwise direction from west to east- takes 365 days <which planets revolves east to west>
    3. Revolution of earth on a tilted axis is responsible for seasons <not distance from Sun of ellipse>
    4. This tilt also gives rise to Tropical region <where Sun can reach directly overhead> and polar regions i.e arctic and Antarctic circles <where sun can be above and below horizon for 24hrs at a stretch>
    • Discuss – Solstices and Equinoxes
    • Discuss – Why in reality, 6 months day and 6 months night does not occur in polar regions?
    • Discuss – Why isn’t summer solstice hottest day of the year even though sun is directly overhead?
    • Discuss – Even though in January we are very slightly closer to the Sun than in June <elliptic orbit>, Northern hemisphere has hotter summers. WHY.

    2. Indian States With International Boundaries

    1. Pakistan – 4, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat
    2. China – 5, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
    3. Nepal – 5, Bihar, Uttaranchal, UP, Sikkim, West Bengal
    4. Bangladesh – 5, West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Assam
    5. Bhutan -4, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam
    6. Myanmar -4, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram
    7. Afghanistan -1, Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied area)
    • Discuss – Which state share border with maximum countries?
    • Discuss – States which share border with at least 2 countries
    • Discuss – With which country India shares longest border?
    • Discuss – which Indian state shares longest international border?
    • Discuss – How many countries share their border with India?

    3. Coastal States of India

    1. 9 coastal states plus 2 UTs <Name those 2 UTs>
    2. Total Coastline about 7500 km, mainland coastline about 6000 km<2 islands , Andaman and nicobar in arabian sea, Lakshadweep in BoB>
    3. Gujarat has the longest coastline while Goa the shortest
    4. 13 major ports in India <13th is andaman and nicobar port>
    • Discuss – natural v/s artificial harbours , Only corporate port of india
    • Discuss – Major artificial ports of India
    • Discuss – States under Bhartamala project

    4. Tropical v/s temperate Cyclone

    1. Tropical cyclones are thermal in origin, energised by the latent heat of condensation and are thus formed only in tropical region with high sea surface temperature (10-30 degree north and south)
    2. Do not form up to 10 degree from equator as coriolis force which is necessary for winds to rotate is very weak there <coriolis force is zero at equator and increases progressively towards poles>
    3. Temperate cyclones are dynamic in origin, formed due to frontogenesis, confined to temperate region and are more pronounced in northern hemisphere as temperature contrast is more <why>
    4. Tropical cyclones dissipate once they move on land as energy source is not present on land while temperate cyclones can form on land also
    5. As tropical cyclones are more powerful, hence more destructive, brings more rainfall, cover less area and dissipates fast. Opposite is true for temperate.
    6. Very imp. Tropical cyclones moves from east to west <in the zone of trade winds> while temperate move from west to east <in the zone of westerlies>
    7. In the cyclones <all sort of cyclones> wind move in Counterclockwise direction in northern hemisphere and Clockwise in southern <coriolis force causes winds to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere>
    • Discuss – why maximum cyclones on the east coast of India and not on the west coast?
    • Discuss – Nomenclature of cyclones
    • Discuss- what are cyclones called in different parts of the world

    5. Savannah v/s Grassland

    1. Savannah sometimes called tropical grassland has grass plus scattered trees which do not form canopy <open canopy>. In contrast, Temperate grasslands have virtually no trees
    2. Savannahs have distinct wet <7 months> and very hot and dry season, receive more rainfall. In contrast, grasslands have more scanty rainfall and more extreme climate
    3. Fire plays a very important role in Savannah, does not allow trees to grow much. It plays much less important role in grasslands
    4. Savannahs have very thin layer of humus, soil is not very rich in nutrients while Grasslands have very thick layer of humus, very fertile soil <hence grain bowls of world>
    • Discuss – Distribution of Savannah and Grasslands
    • Discuss – Prairie, Pampas, Veldt, Downs
    • Discuss – Comment on grasslands of India

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