The oceans play a key role in regulating climate. Yet the world’s understanding is still insufficient to design solutions for multiple ocean crises and validate new technologies that aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, according to the State of Ocean Report.

“In this State of the Ocean Report 2024, the message remains that observations and research are falling short and hence there is a lack of adequate and aggregated data,” Vidar Helgesen, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, wrote in the report.

The upper 2,000 metres (m) of oceans warmed at a rate of 0.32 ± 0.03 watt per square metre (W/m2) from 1960 through 2023. It is expected to warm in the future as well, leading to irreversible changes in the centennial to millennial time scales.

Source – https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/unesco-s-state-

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Passage 2

Chief Minister of a state has reiterated the State’s long-standing demand to be granted the special category status by the Centre, a move that would increase the amount of tax revenues that the State gets from the Centre.

The special category status was introduced based on the recommendations of the Finance Commission. The intent was to help States that are disadvantaged in terms of their geographic, social or economic status to improve their position on par with other, more developed Indian States.

Source- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihars-call-for-special-

15th JUNE 2024 CLAT

Name

Mobile

Passage 1

1. The State of Ocean report is released by which of this?

A. UNESCO

B. WWF

C. World Bank

D. IMF

2. As per report, upper 2,000 meters of oceans warmed at a rate of about 0.32 Watt/m² from 1960 to 2023, which has accelerated to what Watt/m² in the past two decades?

A. 0.45

B. 0.52

C. 0.66

D. 0.71

3. EEI is the balance between incoming energy from the Sun and outgoing energy from the Earth. About __% of the EEI is being absorbed by oceans, resulting in a cumulative increase in ocean heat content (OHC) in the upper 2,000 m of the water column.

A. 60%

B. 70%

C. 80%

D. 90%

4. Which of this ocean, as per report, is warming faster than other oceans, with the potential for irreversible changes like cyclones and heatwaves?

A. Indian

B. Pacific

C. Atlantic

D. None

5. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? 1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits. 2. Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor. 3. Methane in atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Passage 2

6. Which state Chief Minister reiterated the State’s long-standing demand to be granted special category status by the Centre, a move that would increase the amount of tax revenues that the State gets from the Centre?

A. Andhra

B. Kerala

C. Bihar

D. West Bengal

7. The special category status was introduced in 1969 based on the recommendations of the ___ Finance Commission.

A. 4th

B. 5th

C. 7th

D. 8th

8.Which of this is incorrect?

A. Initially, Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland were granted the special category status to aid their economic development.

B. Subsequently, other States including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were granted the special status.

C. Thus, 13 out of 28 States, or more than a third of Indian States, already enjoy the special category status.

D. None

9. Which of this state has also been requesting the SCS, highlighting its vulnerability to natural calamities such as cyclones and a large tribal population (nearly 22%)?

A. Bihar

B. Kerala

C. Chhatisgarh

D. Odisha

10. Which of this is not a benefit of this?

A. The Centre pays 90% of the funds required in a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme to special category status states as against 60% or 75% in the case of other states, while the remaining funds are provided by the state governments.

B. Unspent money in a financial year does not lapse and is carried forward.

C. Significant concessions are provided to these states in excise and customs duties, income tax and corporate tax.

D. 40% of the Centre’s Gross Budget goes to Special Category states.