Explanation : 

Climate Group and EP100 Initiative

The Climate Group is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.

EP100 and Corporate Energy Efficiency

EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.

Indian Companies and EP100

Some Indian companies are members of EP100, showcasing their commitment to improving energy efficiency.

Clarifying Misconceptions

It is a common misconception that the International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched the global initiative “EP100”. In reality, EP100 is an initiative of The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy.

Additionally, the International Energy Agency is not the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”. The Climate Group serves as the Secretariat to this global community of state and regional governments committed to ambitious climate action.

Explanation : 

Monazite as a Source of Rare Earth Elements

Monazite is indeed a source of rare earth elements, which are critical for a variety of modern technologies. It is a phosphate mineral that contains thorium, a radioactive element, as well as rare earth elements. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Occurrence of Monazite in Indian Coastal Sands

Statement 3 is not entirely accurate. While monazite does occur in coastal sands, it is not found along the entire Indian coastline. It is mainly found in the heavy mineral sands of the beaches of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands.

Mining and Processing of Monazite in India

Statement 4 is correct. In India, the mining and processing of monazite are restricted and can only be carried out by government or government-authorized entities due to its thorium content, which has strategic importance as a nuclear fuel. The Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, under the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, regulate the mining and handling of monazite.

Thus, the statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct, making the correct answer: 1, 2, and 4 only.

Explanation : 

Climate Action Tracker (CAT)

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis produced by two research organizations: Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute. It tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed aims of the Paris Agreement, to hold warming well below 2°C, and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. CAT assesses individual national pledges, called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and their implementation.

The Climate Action Tracker is a database and analytical tool created by a coalition of research organizations to provide up-to-date information on countries’ progress and commitments towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is a resource for policymakers, researchers, and the public to understand how actions align with the objectives of limiting global warming and to encourage more ambitious climate action.

Explanation : 

Major solar storm and its potential effects

A major solar storm, also known as a geomagnetic storm, is caused by solar activities like solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that send large amounts of charged particles towards Earth. These particles interact with Earth’s magnetosphere and can have several effects on our planet. Let’s look at each of the listed potential effects:

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail:

Correct. The charged particles can disrupt the signals from GPS satellites, leading to inaccuracies or complete failure of navigation systems that rely on GPS.

2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions:

Incorrect. Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other underwater explosions, and not by solar activity.

3. Power grids could be damaged:

Correct. The geomagnetic currents induced by a solar storm can overload power grids and potentially cause transformers to fail, leading to widespread power outages.

4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth:

Correct. Auroras are typically seen near the polar regions, but a strong solar storm can expand the auroral zone, making auroras visible at lower latitudes.

5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet:

Incorrect. Forest fires are not directly caused by solar storms. They are typically the result of lightning, human activities, or other natural causes.

6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed:

Correct. The increased density of the Earth’s atmosphere during a solar storm can increase drag on satellites in low Earth orbit, potentially altering their paths.

7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted:

Correct. The ionospheric disturbances caused by solar storms can disrupt high-frequency (HF) radio communications, which are often used by aircraft flying over the poles where satellite communication can be unreliable.

Explanation : 

Importance of Wetlands in Environmental Health

The statement “If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys” is an analogy that compares the role of wetlands in the environment to the role of kidneys in the human body. Just as kidneys filter and remove waste products and excess substances from the bloodstream, thus helping to maintain the body’s internal environment, wetlands perform a similar function for the Earth’s water systems.

Wetlands as Earth’s Natural Filters

The correct answer, “Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients,” best reflects the analogy because it describes how wetlands act as natural filters for the environment. Here’s a breakdown of how this function is similar to that of kidneys:

• Filtering Waste: Wetlands filter out pollutants from the water, including heavy metals and excess nutrients, much like kidneys filter out waste products from the blood.
• Maintaining Balance: Just as kidneys help to regulate the balance of electrolytes and other substances in the body, wetlands help to maintain the chemical balance of water ecosystems by absorbing and transforming excess nutrients that could otherwise lead to problems like eutrophication, which is the over-enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.
• Detoxification: Wetlands can break down or store harmful pollutants, similar to how kidneys detoxify the blood by removing toxins and converting them into less harmful substances that can be excreted.

The other options, while they describe important functions of wetlands, do not directly relate to the analogy of wetlands being the Earth’s “kidneys“:

• The water cycle in wetlands is more akin to the circulation of fluids in the body rather than the specific filtering function of kidneys.
• Algae forming the nutrient base for other organisms is related to the food chain and productivity of the ecosystem, not to the filtering and regulatory role of kidneys.
• Maintaining sedimentation balance and soil stabilization is more about physical support and erosion control than the specific cleansing and filtering function that the kidneys perform.

Therefore, the function of aquatic plants absorbing heavy metals and excess nutrients is the one that best reflects the idea of wetlands functioning as the Earth’s kidneys, providing a vital cleansing and balancing role in the environment.

Explanation : 

Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS)

The Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) is a concept related to military strategy and weapons systems. The idea behind FOBS is to place a nuclear-armed missile into a low Earth orbit, allowing it to travel over the South Pole and approach targets from directions that are not covered by traditional early warning radar systems, which typically expect attacks to come over the North Pole. This system would allow a missile to be deorbited to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and strike a target almost anywhere on the globe with little warning.

Here’s a breakdown of why the correct answer is “A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth”:

– The FOBS is not designed to counter asteroids, so the option regarding a hypersonic missile launched to explode an asteroid is not correct.

– The system does not involve landing a spacecraft on another planet, so the option about a spacecraft making several orbital motions before landing is not relevant.

– The FOBS is not related to placing a probe on a comet, so the option about a spacecraft moving along with a comet is incorrect.

– The correct answer is that a missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and then deorbits over a target on the Earth. This reflects the actual purpose of the FOBS, which is to use space as a medium to deliver a nuclear payload to a target on Earth in an unexpected manner, potentially evading missile defense systems.

The FOBS was primarily developed during the Cold War by the Soviet Union as a means to ensure their ability to strike targets even in the face of improving missile defenses. While the system was never fully operational, the concept has been revisited in discussions about modern military capabilities, particularly with the advent of new hypersonic missile technology.

Explanation : 

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a third-party provider and made available to customers over the internet. It allows users to connect to and use cloud-based apps over the internet.

Explanation for each of the statements:

1. SaaS buyers can customize the user interface and can change data fields.

This statement is generally correct. Many SaaS applications offer a degree of customization for the user interface and allow users to modify data fields to some extent. This means that organizations can tailor the software to better fit their business processes and preferences. However, the level of customization can vary significantly from one SaaS product to another.

2. SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices.

This statement is also correct. One of the key advantages of SaaS is that it is accessible from any device with an internet connection, including smartphones and tablets. This enables users to access their data and work from anywhere, which is particularly beneficial for businesses with mobile workforces or those that support remote work.

3. Outlook, Hotmail, and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.

This statement is correct as well. Email services like Outlook (part of Microsoft 365), Hotmail (now Outlook.com), and Yahoo! Mail are indeed forms of SaaS. These services are accessed over the internet, and the software and data are hosted on the service provider’s servers.

Therefore, all three statements are correct.

Explanation : 

Web 3.0: Decentralized Online Ecosystem

Web 3.0, often referred to as the third generation of the internet, is a concept that envisions a decentralized online ecosystem based on blockchain technology.

Statement 1: Control Over Personal Data

Web 3.0 technology enables people to control their own data. One of the core principles of Web 3.0 is to give users control over their own data. In contrast to Web 2.0, where data is often controlled by centralized entities (like social media platforms or search engines), Web 3.0 aims to empower users with ownership and control over their personal information through technologies like blockchain and decentralized identity solutions.

Statement 2: Blockchain-Based Social Networks

In a Web 3.0 world, there can be blockchain-based social networks. Blockchain technology enables the creation of decentralized applications (DApps), including social networks that are not owned by a single entity. These networks can operate on a peer-to-peer basis, with governance and rules encoded in smart contracts. This allows for a new kind of social network where users can have a say in the platform’s development and potentially benefit from the value they create.

Statement 3: User-Operated Decentralized Networks

Web 3.0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation. The vision of Web 3.0 includes decentralized networks that are collectively operated by their users rather than centralized corporations. This is achieved through the use of blockchain technology, which allows for distributed consensus mechanisms and decentralized governance models. Users can participate in decision-making processes, contribute to the network’s security, and even earn rewards for their contributions.

Explanation : 

Aarogya Setu

Aarogya Setu is India’s COVID-19 tracking mobile application, developed by the National Informatics Centre under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It uses contact tracing to inform users about the potential risk of infection with COVID-19. The source code for Aarogya Setu was made open-source in May 2020, which means that developers can inspect, modify, and enhance the code.

CoWIN (COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network)

CoWIN is the digital platform India used to streamline its COVID-19 vaccination process. It was used for registering for vaccinations, scheduling appointments, and tracking vaccination status. The platform’s API was made open-source, allowing for transparency and the potential for other countries to adapt the system for their own use.

DigiLocker

DigiLocker is a platform launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for the issuance and verification of documents and certificates digitally. It eliminates the use of physical documents and enables the sharing of verified electronic documents across government agencies. DigiLocker’s core components are available as open-source software.

DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing)

DIKSHA is an e-learning platform that hosts educational content for students, teachers, and parents. It is part of the National Teacher Platform released by the Ministry of Education, India. DIKSHA is built using open-source technology and is designed to support multiple languages, making it accessible and useful across the country.

Since all these platforms are built on open-source technology, they provide numerous benefits, including increased security through community review, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and the fostering of innovation by allowing developers to contribute to the improvement and adaptation of the software.

Explanation : 

Wetland/Lake – Location

Let’s look at each pair:

1. Hokera Wetland / Punjab – Incorrectly Matched

The Hokera Wetland is actually located in the Kashmir Valley, specifically in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, not in Punjab.

2. Renuka Wetland / Himachal Pradesh – Correctly Matched

The Renuka Wetland, which includes the Renuka Lake, is indeed located in Himachal Pradesh. It is a Ramsar site and is the largest natural lake in Himachal Pradesh.

3. Rudrasagar Lake / Tripura – Correctly Matched

Rudrasagar Lake, also known as Rudijala, is a lake located in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura. It is also a Ramsar site, recognized for its ecological significance.

4. Sasthamkotta Lake / Tamil Nadu – Incorrectly Matched

Sasthamkotta Lake is actually located in the state of Kerala, not Tamil Nadu. It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala and is also a Ramsar site.

Therefore, only two pairs (Renuka Wetland / Himachal Pradesh and Rudrasagar Lake / Tripura) are correctly matched.