Day-525 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

Answer: A
Explanation:
● The importance of Kappaphycus alvarezii, also known as “cottonii seaweed,” gained attention in India due to its potential as a sustainable source of biofuel production. Kappaphycus alvarezii is a red algae species that is rich in carbohydrates, particularly in the form of agar, carrageenan, and other polysaccharides. These carbohydrates can be converted into biofuels through processes such as fermentation, hydrolysis, and pyrolysis.
● Biofuels derived from seaweed are considered more sustainable than those derived from traditional feedstocks like corn, sugarcane, and soybean, as seaweed cultivation does not require arable land, freshwater, or chemical fertilizers. This reduces competition for resources with food crops and mitigates environmental impacts such as deforestation and eutrophication. Additionally, seaweed cultivation can help absorb excess nutrients from the water and improve water quality, providing benefits to local marine ecosystems.

Answer: A
Explanation:
● ‘Floatovoltaics’ refers to an innovative approach to installing solar panels on water bodies, which can help reduce land use and increase efficiency.
● Floating solar farms, also known as “floatovoltaics,” involve mounting solar panels on floating structures anchored to a water body, such as a lake, reservoir, or pond.
There are several advantages to floating solar farms compared to traditional land-based solar installations:
● Reduced land use: By utilizing water surfaces, floating solar farms help conserve valuable land resources, which can be especially important in densely populated countries like India where land availability is limited.
● Increased efficiency: Solar panels on water bodies can benefit from the cooling effect of the water, which helps maintain lower temperatures for the panels. This can improve their efficiency, as solar panels tend to perform better at lower temperatures.
● Water conservation: Floating solar farms can help reduce water evaporation from the water bodies they are installed on by shading the surface, which can be particularly useful in regions facing water scarcity.
● Algae growth reduction: By covering the surface of water bodies, floating solar farms can inhibit the growth of algae, which can be detrimental to water quality and the surrounding ecosystem.

Answer: D
Explanation:
● The term “Swarm Robotics” refers to a group of small, coordinated robots that work together to accomplish tasks. Swarm robotics is inspired by the natural behavior of social insects like ants, bees, and termites, which work collectively to perform complex activities, such as foraging for food or constructing nests. The robots in a swarm are usually simple and operate autonomously, relying on local sensing and communication with nearby robots to coordinate their actions.
● Swarm robotics has several advantages over traditional robotic systems:
1. Scalability: Swarm robotic systems can be easily scaled up or down by adding or removing robots, making them adaptable to various task requirements.
2. Flexibility: The robots in a swarm can adapt to changes in the environment or task by adjusting their behavior, making the system more versatile and resilient.
3. Robustness: Since the swarm operates as a collective, the failure of individual robots does not significantly impact the overall performance of the system. This makes swarm robotic systems more robust and reliable.
4. Cost-effectiveness: Swarm robots are typically small and simple, which can result in lower production and maintenance costs compared to more complex robots.

Answer: B
Explanation:
● Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) is an innovative energy storage technology with potential environmental advantages over traditional methods.
● LAES is an energy storage technology that uses cryogenic air as the storage medium to store excess electricity. LAES systems work by compressing and cooling air to extremely low temperatures until it becomes a liquid. This cryogenic liquid air is then stored in insulated tanks, effectively storing the energy for later use.
● During periods of high electricity demand, LAES systems release the stored energy back to the grid by expanding the cryogenic air to drive a turbine. When electricity is needed, the stored liquid air is released from the tanks, warmed, and expanded back into a gaseous state. This expansion process drives a turbine, generating electricity that is fed back into the grid.
● One of the advantages of LAES technology is that it has a lower environmental impact compared to traditional energy storage methods, such as lithium-ion batteries. LAES systems use air, a readily available and environmentally benign material, as their storage medium. They do not require scarce or hazardous materials like those used in lithium-ion batteries, making them a more sustainable option for large-scale energy storage.
Thus, only 1 and 2 statements given in the question are correct.

Answer: A
Explanation:
The correct answer is (a) 1 only.
● Sponge Cities are designed to absorb, store, and purify rainwater through the use of green infrastructure and permeable surfaces. Sponge Cities are designed to mimic the natural hydrological cycle by using green infrastructure and permeable surfaces, such as rain gardens, bioswales, and green roofs, to absorb and store rainwater. This helps to reduce the impact of flooding and improve water quality.
● The Sponge City concept was first developed in China, where it has been implemented in several cities to reduce the impact of flooding. The Sponge City concept was first introduced in China in 2015 as part of the country’s efforts to combat flooding and improve water quality. Since then, several cities in China have implemented the Sponge City concept, including Wuhan, Shanghai, and Xiamen.
● Sponge Cities rely on a combination of green and grey infrastructure to manage stormwater, with an emphasis on green infrastructure to mimic natural water systems.