Algae, Climate Smart Cities, and Montreal Protocol

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Questions and Answers

Which group of organisms is primarily responsible for bioremediation by cleaning up polluted water bodies?

Filamentous fungi

Bacterial decomposers

Cyanobacteria

Green algae and diatoms (correct)

What is the main purpose of the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF)?

Monitoring emissions in industrial sectors

Assisting urban planning for climate preparedness (correct)

Promoting biodiversity conservation

Evaluating environmental policies

Which amendment specifically focuses on the reduction of HFC production and use?

Paris Agreement

Kyoto Protocol

Kigali Amendment (correct)

Montreal Protocol (correct)

What is the primary focus area of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)?

International environmental conventions Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes good ozone from bad ozone?

Good ozone exists in the stratosphere. Signup and view all the answers

What was the theme for World Ozone Day in 2024?

Ozone for Life Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is overseeing the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) initiative?

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Signup and view all the answers

In which city will the GEF meeting take place in June 2024?

Washington, D.C., USA Signup and view all the answers

What is a requirement for an applicant to be recognized as a self-regulatory organization in the fintech sector?

Must be a not-for-profit company Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the SRO-FT governance structure is correct?

No more than one-third of board members can be independent Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of SRO-FT in the fintech sector?

To enforce ethical conduct and market integrity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following states the features of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?

Uses a two-click factor authentication process and facilitates peer-to-peer transfers Signup and view all the answers

What role does the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) serve?

Operates as an umbrella organization for retail payments and settlement systems Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of developing India-specific risk prediction models in the Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort?

To predict risks for cardio-metabolic diseases Signup and view all the answers

Which method is primarily used for producing recombinant proteins in industrial applications?

Cloning in expression vectors Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells is NOT typically employed for the mass production of recombinant proteins?

Insect cells Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components was NOT mentioned as part of the data collected in the Phenome India study?

Genetic sequencing data Signup and view all the answers

What role does the yeast Pichia pastoris play in the context of recombinant proteins?

It is utilized for large-scale protein production. Signup and view all the answers

Which United Nations convention is specifically focused on combating desertification?

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Signup and view all the answers

What type of proteins can be produced through gene modification techniques?

Mutant proteins Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the significance of the recombinant DNA technology in protein production?

It enables the efficiency of protein production through targeted sequence manipulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of NABARD in India's financial system?

To promote sustainable agriculture and rural development Signup and view all the answers

In which year was NABARD founded, and under which act was it established?

1981 under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes NABARD's establishment?

It serves as the main regulatory body in rural banking Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act in relation to NABARD?

It provides a framework for establishment and operation of NABARD Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of NABARD when it was established?

To serve as a regulatory authority for agriculture financing and rural development Signup and view all the answers

What term is associated with the resist dyeing technique used in Ikat production?

Mengikat Signup and view all the answers

Which region is known for the single ikat Sambalpuri and received its GI tag in 2010?

Odisha Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a key characteristic of double ikat textiles?

Dyed warp and weft threads with precise alignment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinguishing feature of Telangana's Pochampally Ikat?

Geometric patterns with double ikat processes Signup and view all the answers

In what year did Patan's Patola receive its GI tag?

2013 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Algae

Simple, filamentous organisms lacking roots, stems, and leaves
Primarily eukaryotic, except for cyanobacteria like Spirulina
Essential for aquatic food webs as primary producers
Used for bioremediation to clean up polluted water bodies
Rich source of omega-3 fatty acids
Examples include green algae, diatoms, and dinoflagellates
Some algae like Nostoc and Anabaena are capable of fixing nitrogen

Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF)

Initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Implemented by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
Aims to assess Indian cities' climate preparedness
Focuses on areas including urban planning, green cover, energy use, air quality, water management, and waste management
CSCAF 1.0 launched in 2019, followed by CSCAF 2.0 in 2020

Montreal Protocol

Global agreement aimed at phasing out ozone-depleting substances like HCFCs
India actively eliminated HCFCs in manufacturing
Kigali Amendment (2016) further restricts HFC production and use
Ozone Secretariat is located in Nairobi, Kenya
World Ozone Day 2024 theme: "Ozone for Life"

COP28

Held in Dubai, UAE in December 2023
Facilitated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with 197 parties
Focused on addressing climate change

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Established during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit
Aims to address environmental issues including biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution
Has 184 member countries, including India
GEF council comprises 32 members from various constituencies
Secretariat is based in Washington, D.C.
Supports five major international environmental conventions:
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
$736.4 million allocated for environmental protection during a meeting in Washington, D.C. in June 2024

Recombinant Proteins

Proteins encoded by recombinant DNA technology
Cloned in expression vectors for gene expression and translation of mRNA
Gene modification can produce mutant proteins
Manipulated form of native protein structure
Used to increase protein production efficiency
Created by fusing non-native gene sequences
Examples include vaccine antigens, insulin, and antibodies
Mass-produced in bacterial, viral, and mammalian cells
Grown in large bioreactors for production
Yeast Pichia pastoris is widely used in their production

Phenome India Project

Launched by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on December 7, 2023
Aims to develop India-specific risk prediction models for cardio-metabolic diseases
Includes nearly 10,000 participants from 17 states and 24 cities
Data collection includes clinical questionnaires, lifestyle and dietary habits, anthropometric measurements, imaging/scanning data, biochemical and molecular data

Framework for Self-Regulatory Organisation for the FinTech Sector (SRO-FT)

Aims to recognize and regulate self-regulatory organizations (SROs) in the FinTech sector
FinTechs provide technological solutions for delivering financial products and services
SRO-FT will be industry-led and enforce standards
Focuses on promoting ethical conduct and market integrity
Applicants must be not-for-profit companies
No entity can hold more than 10% of shares
Minimum net worth of ₹2 crore is required
One-third of board members must be independent
Majority non-independent directors must be from unregulated FinTechs
SROs must establish infrastructure to manage user harm
SROs cannot open branches outside India
RBI can nominate observers to the SRO-FT board

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Real-time digital payment system in India
Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
Regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Launched on April 11, 2016
Enables peer-to-peer inter-bank transfers
Uses a two-click factor authentication process
First launched in Nepal, soon to be launched in Mauritius and Sri Lanka

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

Umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India
Initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA)
Promoted by 10 major banks
Regulated by the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
Headquartered in Mumbai

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

NABARD is a financial institution established by the Indian government in 1982 to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development in India.
It is the primary regulatory body for the country's rural banking system.
NABARD was established under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981, to centralize regulation of agriculture financing and rural development.

Ikat Origin & Technique

Ikat is derived from the Indonesian/Malay word "mengikat," meaning "to bind."
The technique involves resist dyeing threads before weaving.
This creates the characteristic "blurred" effect due to slight misalignments in the threads.

Ikat History

Ancient references to ikat exist in the Buddhist Lalitavistara Sutra and Ajanta caves murals.
These references point to "Vichitra Patolaka," associated with double ikat or "patola" from Gujarat.

Ikat Types

Single Ikat: Only either the warp or weft threads are dyed, resulting in a simpler and faster production process.
Double Ikat: Both warp and weft threads are intricately dyed, creating complex designs with precise alignment.

Key Ikat Regions and GI Tags

Gujarat:
- Patan's Patola: Known for its double ikat, it received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2013.
- Rajkot Patola: A simpler single ikat variant from Gujarat, also received a GI tag in 2013.
Odisha:
- Bandha: Specializes in single ikat, with GI-tagged styles like Sambalpuri Ikat (2010) and Bomkai (2009).
Telangana:
- Telia Rumal: Famous for its oil-treated threads, enhancing color depth, and received a GI tag in 2020.
- Pochampally Ikat: Known for its geometric patterns, received a GI tag in 2005.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts regarding algae, including their role in ecosystems and their use in bioremediation. Additionally, it explores the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) in India, aimed at assessing urban climate preparedness, and discusses the Montreal Protocol's efforts to eliminate ozone-depleting substances. Test your knowledge on these crucial environmental topics.