UPSC ENGLISH QUIZ 17.10.2023

Explanation:

• Recently, according to a report, there are 3,21,537 pending appeals and complaints in 27 State Information Commissions in India, and this backlog has been steadily increasing.
• The report, titled ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2022-23,’ notes that the backlog has grown from 2,18,347 as of March 31, 2019, to 2,86,325 as of June 30, 2021, and has now crossed three lakh cases as of June 30, 2022.
• The report is based on the performance of Information Commissions across India and information accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, compiled by the Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), a citizens’ group promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

Explanation:

• Satellite measurements over Antarctica have revealed a massive ozone hole, or "ozone-depleted area," stirring concerns.
• The European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite captured this significant anomaly.
• While it is not likely to exacerbate warming on the surface of Antarctica, this phenomenon raises questions about its causes and potential ties to climate change.

Ozone Layer

• The ozone layer, found in the stratosphere (good ozone), acts as a protective gas shield that absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, safeguarding us from the adverse effects of excessive UV exposure.
• Skin cancer rates are significantly influenced by UV radiation, underscoring the importance of preserving the ozone layer.

Explanation:

• Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) recently secured final forest clearance after a significant government push.
• While the forest clearance is secured, the project's wildlife clearance remains under scrutiny at the Supreme Court of India.
• The project requires two key forest clearance conditions to be met: realigning its canal and shifting proposed powerhouses away from forest land, both with potential environmental implications.

Ken-Betwa River Link Project

• The KBLP is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for the interlinking of rivers, which aims to transfer surplus water from one river basin to another to address water scarcity and enhance irrigation.
• The KBLP involves transferring water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh, both of which are tributaries of the Yamuna River.

Explanation:

• Goan cashew (kernel) got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag where recognition is hailed as a great opportunity for the cashew industry in the state and “a milestone towards Swayampurna Goa mission”.

Goan Cashew

• Cashew was native to northeast Brazil in Latin America and Goan Cashew was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century (1570).
• Initially used for afforestation and soil conservation, its economic value became known a century later.
• Cashew production grew from a cottage industry to a major contributor to Goa's economy, mainly due to its demand in the US.

Explanation:

• Russia's Olympic Committee has been suspended with immediate effect and until further notice for violating the Olympic Charter after it involved sports bodies from four regions associated with Ukraine.
• The suspension was announced as a reaction to Russia's decision to recognize Olympic councils from the occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia.
• This move violated the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee. Russia would not be eligible for any funding from the IOC as a result.
• However, the suspension has not yet affected the chances of neutral Russian athletes competing at next year's Paris Olympics, a decision on which will be taken at a later date.
• This is not the first time that ROC has faced punishment from the IOC.
• In 2017, it was banned from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and ordered to pay $15 million for multiple doping offenses.
• Russian athletes were also banned from competing under their flag following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.