12 October 2023

Q1. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emerges for which of the following reasons:

• Misuse of antimicrobials in medicine
• Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in agriculture
• Contamination around pharmaceutical manufacturing sites due to the release of large amounts of active antimicrobials into the environment.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

• Solution:

(D)

• Drug resistance in microbes emerges for several reasons.
• These include the misuse of antimicrobials in medicine, inappropriate use in agriculture, and contamination around pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where untreated waste releases large amounts of active antimicrobials into the environment.
• All of these drive the evolution of resistance in microbes

Q2. With reference to Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), consider the following statements:

• It is the second generation launch vehicle
• It successfully launched two spacecraft such as Chandrayaan-1 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Solution:

(B)

• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India.
• It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages.
• After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 39 consecutively successful missions by June 2017.
• During 1994-2017 period, the vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites and 209 satellites for customers from abroad.
• The vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 – that later travelled to Moon and Mars respectively.

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV):

• GSLV was developed to launch low-Earth Orbit satellites into polar and sun synchronous orbits.
• PSLV was developed to launch the heavier INSAT class of geosynchronous satellites into orbit.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Solution:

(C)

• Differences between PSLV and GSLV:
• India has two operational launchers- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
• PSLV is the third generation launch vehicle of India and the first Indian launch vehicle which is equipped with liquid stages.
• GSLV, on the other hand, is the fourth generation launch vehicle and is a three-stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons.
• PSLV was developed to launch low-Earth Orbit satellites into polar and sun synchronous orbits. It has since proved its versatility by launching geosynchronous, lunar and interplanetary spacecraft successfully.
• On the other hand, GSLV was developed to launch the heavier INSAT class of geosynchronous satellites into orbit.
• In its third and final stage, GSLV uses the indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage.
• PSLV is designed mainly to deliver the earth observation or remote sensing satellites, whereas, GSLV has been designed for launching communication satellites.
• GSLV delivers satellites into a higher elliptical orbit, Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO).
• PSLV can carry satellites up to a total weight of 2000 kgs into space and reach up to an altitude of 600-900 km.
• GSLV can carry weight up to 5000 kgs and reach up to 36,000 km.

Q4. A research project has been flagged off for gathering samples for genome mapping of microorganisms in the Indian Ocean. The genome mapping in the ocean will help to:

• Understand the internal working of the ecosystem of the Indian Ocean.
• Identify the factors controlling the changes in RNA and DNA of microbes in the oceans.
• Understand the adaptation of microbes to various micronutrients like nitrates, sulphates and silicates in the ocean.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

• Solution:

(D)

• Genome Mapping of the Ocean will help scientists understand the internal working of the ecosystem of the Indian Ocean.
• The research will enable scientists to identify the factors controlling the changes in RNA, DNA in the oceans, and various stressors impacting them.
• The ocean has several micronutrients like nitrates, sulphates and silicates, minerals like iron ore and zinc, and trace metals like cadmium or copper.
• The genome mapping will show the presence of which these microbes have adapted to, in addition to their reaction to atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• This will help in identifying which part of the ocean has a greater concentration of which mineral or element.
• Exploring the ocean genome will enable an increase in the growing number of commercial biotechnology applications, extending from multiple anticancer treatments to cosmetics and industrial enzymes, to antiviral molecules…
• Exploration of the ocean at a genetic level will result in new insights into taxonomy and adaptive capacity that can help optimize conservation efforts

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Brucellosis:

• Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that mainly infects cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
• Humans get infected if they come in direct contact with infected animals and not by eating or drinking contaminated animal products.
• Human to human transmission is very rare.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

1. 1, 2
2. 2, 3
3. 1, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

• Solution:

(C)

• Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that mainly infects cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
• Humans can get infected if they come in direct contact with infected animals or by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or by inhaling airborne agents.
• According to the WHO, most cases of the disease are caused by ingesting unpasteurised milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep.
• Symptoms of the disease include fever, sweats, malaise, anorexia, headache and muscle pain.
• While some signs and symptoms can last for long periods of time, others may never go away.
• These include recurrent fevers, arthritis, swelling of the testicles and scrotum area, swelling of the heart, neurologic symptoms, chronic fatigue, depression and swelling of the liver or spleen.
• Human to human transmission is very rare.

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding Black holes:

• A black hole is an astronomical object with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.
• The area outside the boundary of Black holes, called the event horizon does emit all kinds of radiations, even visible light.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Solution:

(C)

• Black holes do not emit or radiate anything, even light.
• So, there is no way their image can be captured.
• But the area just outside its boundary, called the event horizon, which has vast amounts of gas, clouds and plasma swirling violently, does emit all kinds of radiations, even visible light.

Q7. Scientists usually study asteroids for which of the following reasons:

• Asteroids provide information about the formation and history of planets and the sun.
• To look for asteroids that might be potentially hazardous.
• Asteroids offer a source of volatiles and an extraordinarily rich supply of minerals.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

• Solution:

(D)

• The scientific interest in asteroids is largely due to their status as the remnant debris from the inner solar system formation process.
• Because some of these objects can collide with the Earth, asteroids are also important for having significantly modified the Earth’s biosphere in the past.
• They will continue to do so in the future.
• In addition, asteroids offer a source of volatiles and an extraordinarily rich supply of minerals that can be exploited for the exploration and colonization of our solar system in the twenty-first century.
• Scientists study asteroids to look for information about the formation and history of planets and the sun since asteroids were formed at the same time as other objects in the solar system.
• Another reason for tracking them is to look for asteroids that might be potentially hazardous.

Q8. Consider the following statements:

• Among all human pathogens, bacteria tend to become most resistant to antibiotics because of their physiology.
• Bacteria does not exchange resistant genes during sexual reproduction.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Solution:

(B)

• Among all human pathogens, bacteria tend to become most resistant to antibiotics because of their physiology.
• Since they are unicellular, bacteria have smaller number of genes compared to multicellular organisms.
• Therefore, even the slightest of changes in their genetic system resulting from exposure to antibiotics alters their pathogenic characteristic.
• Moreover, since they reproduce rapidly, an entirely new ‘type’ of antibiotic-resistant bacteria species can evolve from one mutated individual in a very short time.
• Bacteria also exchange resistant genes during sexual reproduction.
• This happened in the case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium becoming resistant to penicillin.

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding NISAR mission:

• NISAR is a satellite wholly developed by ISRO, that will detect movements of the earth’s surface.
• It uses synthetic aperture radar that produces high-resolution images.
• It will help track changes in croplands, hazard sites and to monitor crises such as volcanic eruptions.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

• Solution:

(C)

• NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing a satellite called NISAR, which will detect movements of the planet’s surface as small as 0.4 inches over areas about half the size of a tennis court.
• The satellite will be launched in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, into a near-polar orbit and will scan the globe every 12 days over the course of its three-year mission of imaging the Earth’s land, ice sheets and sea ice to give an “unprecedented” view of the planet.
• The name NISAR is short for NASA-ISRO-SAR. SAR here refers to the synthetic aperture radar that NASA will use to measure changes in the surface of the Earth.
• Essentially, SAR refers to a technique for producing highresolution images.
• Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate clouds and darkness, which means that it can collect data day and night in any weather.
• During the course of three years, the images will allow scientists to track changes in croplands, hazard sites and will help them to monitor crises such as volcanic eruptions.
• The images will be detailed enough to show local changes and broad enough to measure regional trends.

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding Ocean Energy:

• Various forms of ocean energy include tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy.
• Ocean Energy is considered as renewable energy and is eligible for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
• In India, Ocean Energy capacity is installed in Khambat & Kutch regions.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 1, 2, 3
4. 2, 3

• Solution:

(A)

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has declared Ocean Energy as renewable energy.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has clarified to all the stakeholders that energy produced using various forms of ocean energy such as tidal, wave, ocean thermal energy conversion among others shall be considered as renewable energy and shall be eligible for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
• As of date, there is not any installed Ocean Energy capacity in India.
• According to MNRE, the total identified potential of tidal energy is about 12,455 MW, with potential locations identified at Khambat & Kutch regions, and large backwaters, where barrage technology could be used.
• The total theoretical potential of wave energy in India along the country’s coast is estimated to be about 40,000 MW – these are preliminary estimates.
• This energy is however less intensive than what is available in more northern and southern latitudes. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) has a theoretical potential of 180,000 MW in India subject to suitable technological evolution.