Today in History (September 11^th, 1893)

September 11, 1893, was the day when Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religion Congress in Chicago. Swami Vivekananda represented Hinduism in the Parliament and his opening remarks became famous and have been quoted at various occasions worldwide.

Let’s Revise

A) Who presented the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan award 2024?

1. Prime Minister of India
2. Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
3. President of India
4. Chief Minister of Delhi

Answer: B
Explanation: The award was presented by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the occasion of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
B) What is the main objective of the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award?

1. To rank cities based on their cleanliness
2. To rank cities based on air quality and implementation of activities under the city action plan
3. To rank cities based on population growth
4. To rank cities based on economic development

Answer: B
Explanation: The award ranks cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in 130 NCAP cities.
C) When were the guidelines for ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’ released?

1. January 2022
2. March 2022
3. September 2022
4. December 2022

Answer: C
Explanation: The guidelines were released in September 2022 by the MoEF&CC.
D) What is the target for reducing air pollution under the NCAP by 2025-26?

1. 20%
2. 30%
3. 40%
4. 50%

Answer: C
Explanation: The aim is to reduce air pollution by up to 40% by 2025-26.
E) Which portal is used to capture progress under the NCAP programme?

1. SWACHH portal
2. PRANA portal
3. CLEAN AIR portal
4. GREEN portal

Answer: B
Explanation: The PRANA portal is used to capture progress under the NCAP programme.
F) Which city won the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award 2024 in Category-1 (population over 10 Lakhs)?

1. Surat
2. Jabalpur
3. Agra
4. All of the above

Answer: D
Explanation: Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra won the award in Category-1.
G) Which cities won the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award 2024 in Category-2 (population between 3 and 10 Lakhs)?

1. Firozabad
2. Amravati
3. Jhansi
4. All of the above

Answer: D
Explanation: Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi won the award in Category-2.
H) Which cities won the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award 2024 in Category-3 (population under 3 Lakhs)?

1. Raebareli
2. Nalgonda
3. Nalagarh
4. All of the above

Answer: D
Explanation: Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh won the award in Category-3.
I) What is the main goal of the NCAP?

1. Clean air for all
2. Economic development
3. Population control
4. Urbanization

Answer: A
Explanation: The main goal of the NCAP is to achieve “Clean air for all.”
J) Which ministry is responsible for the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award?

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
2. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
3. Ministry of Urban Development
4. Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer: B
Explanation: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is responsible for the award.
K) What is the purpose of creating awareness among all sections of society under the Swachh Vayu Survekshan?

1. To promote economic growth
2. To inform about health impacts related to air pollution
3. To encourage urbanization
4. To increase population

Answer: B
Explanation: One of the objectives is to inform citizens about the health impacts related to exposure to air pollution.
L) How many cities are assessed under the Swachh Vayu Survekshan?

1. 100
2. 120
3. 130
4. 150

Answer: C
Explanation: A total of 130 cities are assessed under the Swachh Vayu Survekshan.
M) What is the role of the PRANA portal in the Swachh Vayu Survekshan?

1. To capture economic data
2. To capture progress under the NCAP programme
3. To capture population data
4. To capture urbanization data

Answer: B
Explanation: The PRANA portal is used to capture progress under the NCAP programme.
N) What is another name for Kawasaki Disease?

1. Kawasaki syndrome
2. Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome
3. Both A and B
4. None of the above

Answer: C
Explanation: Kawasaki Disease is also known as Kawasaki syndrome or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
O) Which age group is primarily affected by Kawasaki Disease?

1. Children under 5 years of age
2. Teenagers
3. Adults
4. Elderly

Answer: A
Explanation: Kawasaki Disease mainly affects children under 5 years of age.
P) What is one of the most common forms of acquired heart disease in children?

1. Kawasaki Disease
2. Rheumatic fever
3. Congenital heart disease
4. Myocarditis

Answer: A
Explanation: Kawasaki Disease is one of the most common forms of acquired heart disease in children.
Q) Which part of the body does Kawasaki Disease primarily affect?

1. Lungs
2. Coronary arteries
3. Liver
4. Kidneys

Answer: B
Explanation: Kawasaki Disease tends to affect the coronary arteries, which carry blood to the heart muscle.
R) Where were the first cases of Kawasaki Disease outside of Japan reported?

1. California
2. Hawaii
3. New York
4. Texas

Answer: B
Explanation: The first cases outside of Japan were reported in Hawaii in 1976.
S) Which of the following is NOT a symptom of Kawasaki Disease?

1. Fever
2. Rash
3. Swelling of the hands and feet
4. Cough

Answer: D
Explanation: Cough is not listed as a symptom of Kawasaki Disease. Symptoms include fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat.
T) When do more cases of Kawasaki Disease tend to occur?

1. Late summer and early fall
2. Late winter and early spring
3. Late spring and early summer
4. Late fall and early winter

Answer: B
Explanation: More cases of Kawasaki Disease tend to happen in late winter and early spring.

Summary of Today’s News

Study on Plastic Pollution

A recent study highlights that India is the world’s largest plastic polluter, releasing 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic annually, which accounts for about one-fifth of global plastic emissions. This ranking is primarily due to inadequate waste collection facilities. This study has been published in journal “Nature”.
Key Findings:
• Definition of Plastic Emissions: The study defines plastic emissions as materials that have transitioned from a managed or mismanaged system (controlled or contained) to an unmanaged system (uncontrolled or uncontained, i.e., the environment).
• Unmanaged Waste: Approximately 43% (22.2 Mt) of unmanaged waste is unburned debris, while the remaining 29.9 Mt is burned either in dumpsites or locally.
• Global Statistics: Around 69% (35.7 Mt per year) of the world’s plastic waste emissions come from 20 countries:
• 4 are low-income countries,
• 9 are lower-middle-income countries,
• 7 are upper-middle-income countries.
• High-Income Countries: These countries generate more plastic waste but are not among the top 90 polluters due to nearly 100% waste collection and controlled disposal.
• Emission Sources: In the Global North, littering is the largest source of emissions, while in the Global South, uncollected waste is the dominant source.
• India’s Waste Generation: India’s official waste generation rate is approximately 0.12 kilograms per capita per day.
• Top Polluters: Following India, Nigeria and Indonesia are the second and third largest plastic polluters, with 3.5 Mt and 3.4 Mt of emissions, respectively.

Global Plastics Treaty

• Agreement: In 2022, countries worldwide agreed to develop a treaty on plastic pollution by 2024. This treaty aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, use, and disposal.
• Legally Binding: The Global Plastics Treaty will be a legally binding agreement.
Goals:
• Reduce Plastic Production: Set deadlines for countries to cut down on plastic production.
• Eliminate Unnecessary Uses: Ban certain plastic uses that create waste.
• Prohibit Certain Chemicals: Ban specific chemicals used in making plastics.
• Set Recycling Goals: Establish targets for recycling plastics.
• Address the Entire Lifecycle of Plastics: Cover all stages of plastics, from design to production to disposal.
• Consider Vulnerable Workers: Take into account the impact on vulnerable workers.
• Mandate Chemical Testing: Require testing of certain chemicals in plastics to ensure safety and protect the environment.
• Regular Evaluations: Include regular checks to assess progress.