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1. With reference to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), consider the following
statements.
1. NDRF was constituted under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
2. The primary purpose of NDRF is to supplement the State Disaster Response Fund, provided adequate funds are not available in SDRF.
3. NDRF is classified in the Public Accounts of the Government of India.

Explanation:
● Statement 1 is incorrect: Under the Disaster Management Act 2005, a financial
mechanism has been set up by way of National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) at national
level and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) at state level to meet the rescue and relief
expenditure during any notified disaster.
● Statement 2 is correct: The primary purpose of NDRF is to supplement the SDRF, in case
there is a calamity of “severe nature” which requires assistance over and above the funds
available under SDRF.
● Statement 3 is correct: NDRF is classified in the Public Accounts of the Government of
India under “Reserve Funds not bearing interest”.
● The NDRF is funded through the National Calamity Contingency Duty (NCCD) imposed on
specified goods and additional budgetary support is provided as and when necessary.
● The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Disaster Management Authority
takes decisions on the expenses from the National Disaster Response Fund.

2. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Hydroponics’
1. It is a method of soilless farming in which plants are grown using mineral nutrient solutions in the liquid medium.
2. Hydroponics helps plants to grow faster with higher yield when compared with conventional soil based cultivation.

Answer: C
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, which is a method of
growing plants without soil (Soilless farming) by instead using mineral nutrient solutions in
a liquid medium. Terrestrial plants may be grown with only their roots exposed to the
nutritious liquid, or the roots may be physically supported by an inert medium such as
perlite or gravel.
Advantages of Hydroponics
● The increased control over growing conditions makes it easier to provide the best possible
environment for plants, leading to better quality produce and high yield.

● Statement 2 is correct: Plants grow 50% faster than soil based cultivation under the same
condition because of the easy access to food and water. The production in hydroponics may
be increased approximately two times as compared with soil cultivation in a comparable
area with correct management practiced because the plant does not have to compete for
moisture and nutrients.
● Hydroponics gardens can provide plants with optimum qualities of the necessary nutrients
during the different seasons. This will enable maximize growth to be achieved
● A small hydroponics garden can be set up almost anywhere, even upstairs, balconies and
open areas and protected structures because the land is not necessary.
● Hydroponics products generally taste better and are higher in nutritional value than field- grown crops.
● The occurrence of soil borne disease and nematode damage is not possible, so hydroponic production is exported safely
● There is no need for crop rotations as growing media can be reused continuously or replaced.
● The plants are uniform in growth and maturity.

3. The primary purpose of geoengineering techniques is to

4. Which of the following principles are adhered to by regenerative agriculture?
1) Minimize soil distribution through conservation tillage
2) Diversify crops to replenish nutrients
3) Retain soil cover using cover crops

Answer: C
Explanation
● Geoengineering is a deliberate, large-scale intervention carried out in the Earth’s natural
systems to reverse the impacts of climate change, according to the Oxford
Geoengineering Programme. This involves techniques to physically manipulate the global
climate to cool the planet.
● These techniques fall primarily under three categories:
○ Solar radiation management (SRM)
○ Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and
○ Weather modification.
● Specific technologies include
○ Solar geoengineering or ‘dimming the sun’ by spraying sulfates into the air to
reflect sunlight back into space;
○ Ocean fertilization or the dumping of iron or urea to stimulate phytoplankton
growth to absorb more carbon;
○ Cloud brightening or spraying saltwater to make clouds more reflective and more.

1. Which of the following are potential challenges associated with Direct Seeding of Rice
(DSR)?
1. Weed management
2. Uniform seed distribution
3. Higher water requirement compared to transplanting
4. Increases Greenhouse gas emissions

Answer: A
Explanation
● Direct seeding is a crop establishment system wherein rice seeds are sown directly into
the field, as opposed to the traditional method of growing seedlings in a nursery, then
transplanting into flooded fields.
Traditional Method
● In the traditional method paddy farmers prepare nurseries where seeds are
first sown. After 25-35 days, the young seedlings are uprooted and replanted,
in the flooded main field.
● While this method is labor and water-intensive, it is known to maximize yields
and maintain better crop health.

● Types of DSR:
○ Dry Seeding: Seeds are sown directly into dry soil, followed by irrigation or pre-
monsoon rains.
○ Wet Seeding: Pre-germinated seeds are drilled into puddled (wet) soil.

Procedure of DSR
● Paddy seeds are directly sown, roughly 20-30 days prior to when they would have been
transplanted.
● The field is irrigated and laser leveled (leveling ground or an object utilizing a laser
beam) prior to the seeding process which is carried out using a seed drill.
● The seeds are then treated by soaking in a fungicide solution for eight hours, then dried
for half a day before sowing. Treatment of seeds is crucial.
● The first round of irrigation is carried out 21 days after sowing, followed by 14-17 more
rounds at 7-10 day intervals, depending on soil type and the quality of the monsoon. The
final irrigation takes place 10 days before harvest.
Benefits of DSR
Direct seeded rice is seen to be one of the most efficient, sustainable, and economically-viable rice
production systems. It offers the following benefits:
● Reduces water consumption:
○ The traditional method requires 3,600 to 4,125 litres of water to grow every
kilogram of rice. It also requires 25-27 rounds of irrigation in all. DSR reduces the
water consumption in cultivation by 15% to 20%. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

● Reduces labor by eliminating seedling uprooting and transplanting
● Reduces cultivation time, energy, and cost of cultivation.
● Lowers Greenhouse gas emissions. Hence statement 4 is incorrect.
● Mechanized DSR provides employment opportunities for youth.

● Increases total income of farmers by reducing the cost of cultivation.
Factors for the successful implementation of DSR
Soil suitability is crucial for the successful implementation of DSR. There are two factors here.
● Soil Texture: DSR is best suitable for heavy or medium-to-heavy-textured soils.
Farmers should avoid DSR in light-textured soils. Heavy-textured soils contain more clay
and less sand, whereas light-textured soils have less clay and more sand. Light-textured
soils do not retain water well.
● Iron content of the soil: Soil with severe iron deficiency, and weed problems must not be
cultivated using this technique. Lack of iron content can severely impact yields and lead
to major financial losses for farmers. Sometimes, farmers might even have to transplant the
crop anyway, after a month or so, leading to DSR losing its labour-saving benefits.
Current constraints
● Higher seed rates. Hence statement 2 is correct.
● Seeds being exposed to birds and pests
● Weed management. Hence statement 1 is correct.
● Higher risk of lodging ( plants that lean excessively or fall over)
● Risk of poor or non-uniform crop establishment

2. The term ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ is related to

3. Consider the following statements about the speaker of Lok Sabha

1) The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha and holds office until the dissolution of the House.
2) The Speaker, like any other member of the House, can face disqualification.
3) The salary of the Speaker is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Answer: A
Explanation:
● Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC) is a
principle within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) that acknowledges the different capabilities and differing responsibilities of
individual countries in addressing climate change.
About UNFCCC
● The UNFCCC was signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (also known as Rio Earth Summit)
● It constitutes the foundational climate agreement that has provided the platform for most subsequent international climate agreements.
● The agreement is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.
● The UNFCCC entered into force in 1994.
● The 198 countries (including India) that have ratified the Convention are called Parties to the Convention.
● Conference of Parties is the main decision-making body of the UNFCCC. It includes representatives of all the ‘Parties’, i.e. countries that have agreed to participate in and be bound by the UNFCCC.
● The UNFCCC COP takes place every year, and is an opportunity to negotiate new measures, and review Parties’ progress against the overall goal of the UNFCCC to limit
climate change.

4. Besides its culinary uses, capsaicin also has potential applications in which of the following?
1) Pain relief medications
2) Food preservatives