Daily Quiz – 26th Jan 2024

EXPLANATION: -

• The Preamble of the Constitution defines the Indian Republic as Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, and Democratic. Of these, sovereign and Democratic were part of the Preamble adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
• Socialists and Secular were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. Also, the word 'integrity' was added by the same act.

Explanation:

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

IOD or Indian Nino:

• IOD, sometimes referred to as the Indian Nino, is similar to the El Nino phenomenon, occurring in the relatively smaller area of the Indian Ocean between the Indonesian and Malaysian coastline in the east and the African coastline near Somalia in the west.
• The El Nino is the warmer-than-normal phase of the ENSO during which there are generally warmer temperatures and less rainfall than normal in many regions of the world, including India.
• One side of the ocean, along the equator, gets warmer than the other.
• IOD is said to be positive when the western side of the Indian Ocean, near the Somalia coast, becomes warmer than the eastern Indian Ocean.
• It is negative when the western Indian Ocean is cooler.

Mechanism:

Negative IOD:

• The air circulation in the Indian Ocean basin moves fromwest to east, that is from the African coast towards the Indonesian islands, near the surface, and in the opposite direction at the upper levels. That means the surface waters in the Indian Ocean get pushed from west to east.
• In a normal year,warmer waters in the western Pacific near Indonesia cross over into the Indian Ocean and make that part of the Indian Ocean slightly warmer. That causes the air to rise and helps the prevailing air circulation.
• In the years when the air circulation becomes stronger, more warm surface waters from the African coastare pushed towards the Indonesian islands, making that region warmer than usual. This causes hotter air to rise, and the cycle reinforces itself.
• This is the state of negative IOD.

Positive IOD:

• Air circulation becomesslightly weaker than normal. In some rare cases, the air circulation even reverses direction. The consequence is that the African coast becomes warmer while the Indonesian coastline gets cooler.
• A positive IOD event is often seen developing at times of an El Nino, while a negative IOD is sometimes associated with La Nina.
• During El Nino, the Pacific side of Indonesia is cooler than normal because of which the Indian Ocean side also gets cooler. Thathelps the development of a positive IOD.

Explanation: Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme: It aims to bring overseas scientists and academicians including Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to India to work in public funded Institutions and Universities for a specific period of time.

Explanation:

The features of parliamentary government in India are:

1. Presence of nominal and real executives;
2. Majority party rule,
3. Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature,
4. Membership of the ministers in the legislature,
5. Leadership of the prime minister or the chief minister,
6. Dissolution of the lower House (Lok Sabha or Assembly).

There are some differences between the British Parliamentary system and that of India. For example, the Indian Parliament is not a sovereign body like the British Parliament. Also, the Indian State has an elected head (republic) while the British State has hereditary head (monarchy).

Explanation:

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

• GIAHS are unique land use systems and landscapes full of life and BIODIVERSITY resilient ecosystems, and valuable cultural heritages managed byfarmers, herders, fisherfolk, and tribals.
• UN -FAOleads this programme, which helps identify ways to mitigate threats faced by these systems and their people. Since 2005, FAO has designated 72 systems in 23 countries as agricultural heritage sites.

GIAHS Designated Sites in India

1. Pampore Saffron Heritage, Jammu & Kashmir (2011)
2. Koraput Traditional Agriculture, Odisha (2012)
3. Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System, Kerala (2013)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Padma Awards, considered to be the highest civilian honours in India, were presented by the Indian President.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.

Statement 3 is correct: The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

With reference history of the office of Comptroller and Auditor general of India (CAG)

Explanation:

The modern-day role of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has developed through the practice and traditions that were followed during colonial British India

Statement 1 is Correct: Sir Edward Drummond was appointed as the first Auditor General of India in November 1860 and his authority derived from the Government of India Act, 1858

Statement 2 is Correct: After a few more years, the Montford Reforms of 1919 made the office of CAG independent from the sovereign.

Statement 3 is Correct: The powers of CAG were reinforced by the Government of India Act, 1935 by provisioning for Provincial Auditor-Generals in the federal setup of British India. The Government of India (Audit and Accounts) Order, 1936 laid down the conditions of service of the Auditor General, and also defined his duties and powers concerning audits and reports