Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 01, 2024

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Olympic Men’s triathlon postponed due to high levels of pollution in river Seine in Paris.

 ABOUT SEINE RIVER

• It is the second longest river of France, after the Loire.
• Length : 777 kilometers (483 miles).
• Source : The river begins in the Burgundy region at the Côte d’Or in the village of Source-Seine.
• Course : It flows northwest through the Paris Basin and empties into the English Channel near Le Havre.
• Drainage network of this river carries most of the French inland waterway traffic.
• Major Cities located : Paris, Rouen, and Le Havre are the major cities along its course.

ANSWER : C

Current Context : Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day was observed on 31st July.

 ABOUT SAHEED UDHAM SINGH 

• Shaheed Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary known for his significant role in the Indian independence movement.
• Birth : December 26, 1899 in Sangrur district (Punjab).
• He was deeply influenced by Bhagat Singh.
• He was deeply affected by the atrocities of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

CONTRIBUTIONS IN  INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE

• He formed Azad Party in Chicago as a part of Ghadar Party.
• He traveled extensively, visiting countries like the United States, Germany, and the Soviet Union, to garner support for India’s independence struggle.
• On 13th March 1940, he shot Michael O’Dwyer who was the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab when the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place.
• Udham Singh was sentenced to death and hanged on July 31, 1940, at Pentonville Prison in London.

ANSWER : A

Current Context : Union Minister for Education has launched the National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal.

• Portal will facilitate registration and application for apprenticeships.

ABOUT NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING SCHEME

• It is a flagship programme of Government of India.
• Launched under the provisions of Apprentices Act, 1961 for Skilling Indian Youth.
• Objective: To provide practical training to graduates and diploma holders in engineering and technology fields, thereby improving their employability and skill levels, duration ranging from 6 months to 1 year
• Administered by: The Ministry of Education, Government of India, through the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT).
• At the end of the training, apprentices will receive Certificate of Proficiency.

ANSWER : D

Current Context : The Defence Ministry approved proposals to acquire an Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS), ALNS Mk-II for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) for the Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard.

• It will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited.

ABOUT ADVANCED LAND NAVIGATION SYSTEM (ALNS) :

• It is a Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) based navigation system used primarily for accurate and reliable navigation and positioning in various environments, including challenging terrains and urban areas.
• It provides precise location information using a combination of GPS, inertial navigation systems (INS), and other sensors to ensure high accuracy, even where GPS signals are weak or unavailable.
• It offers real-time navigation and positioning data,

ABOUT ADVANCED LAND NAVIGATION SYSTEM (ALNS) MK-II 

• It is an upgraded and more advanced version of the existing land navigation systems.
• It is designed to provide precise navigation capabilities for AFVs.
• ALNS Mk-II is compatible with NaVIC and GLONASS.
• Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): These include tanks and other armored vehicles used by the Indian Army for combat operations. The ALNS Mk-II will enhance the operational capabilities of these vehicles.

ANSWER : C

Current Context : Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan is appointed as Chairperson of UPSC.

• She will take charge on 1st August.
• Ms Sudan will succeed Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month before the end of his tenure.

About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

• It is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting various examinations to recruit candidates for civil services and other government posts.
• It is established under Article 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the Indian Constitution, titled “Services Under the Union and the States.”
• Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States
• Article 316: Appointment and Term of Office of Members :
  • Appointed by the President or the Governor,
  • Tenure : Six years or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Article 317: Removal and Suspension of a Member

ANSWER : B

Current Context : India gets its first pond-based swimming pool to address the high rates of child drowning deaths in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal.

ABOUT :

• It is a community pond was modified with a platform and fencing to teach and encourage survival swimming to children between ages 6 to 10 years.
• This innovative project transforms a traditional village pond into a swimming pool by incorporating modern filtration and purification systems.
• Objective : to provide a clean and safe swimming environment for the local community while preserving the traditional pond structure.
• The project also highlights efforts to blend modern amenities with traditional practices in rural areas.

ANSWER : D

Current Context : Sado gold and silver mines in Japan added to UNESCO World Heritage List after South Korea’s objections dropped.

About :

• Located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
• They are renowned for their extensive production of gold and silver during Japan’s feudal period and are considered an important part of Japan’s industrial heritage.
• These mines are now a popular tourist attraction, are believed to have started operating as early as the 12th century and produced until after World War II.
• In 2021, the Sado Gold and Silver Mines were nominated for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site includes:
  • Yama-dera (Mountain Temple): A historical temple associated with the mining community.
  • Sado Kinzan Gold Mine Museum: Offers exhibits and displays related to the history and technology of the mines.
  • Underground Tunnels: Various tunnels and shafts that provide a glimpse into the mining operations.

SOUTH KOREA’S OBJECTION FOR MINES OF JAPAN :

• South Korea expressed concerns about the nomination due to historical issues related to forced labor during World War II.
• Officials argued that the site should acknowledge the suffering of Korean laborers who were forced to work under harsh conditions in the mines during the war.

ANSWER : B

Current Context : The Central government has rejected the ‘special category’ status for Bihar during the all-party meeting.

ABOUT SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

• The “special category” status for Indian states was introduced in 1969 based on the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission to provide certain states with preferential treatment in terms of financial assistance and other benefits.
• Criteria : factors such as hilly terrain, low population density, strategic location along borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness, and non-viable nature of state finances.

BENEFITS TO STATES WITH SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

• Higher share of central assistance for planned expenditure.
• Preference in receiving funds from various central government schemes.
• Concessions in tax rates and other central government policies.
• Significant portion of central assistance as grants rather than loans.

11 STATES WERE GRANTED SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS ARE :

• Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir (now Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.

ANSWER : C

Current Context : The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had granted the FCA Stage II clearance for the use of approximately 85 bighas for the 450 MW Shongtong Karchham hydroelectric project in Kinnaur.

About Project :

• The Shongtong Karchham hydroelectric project would significantly boost the state’s power generation capacity and contribute to its economic growth.
• Location: Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India
• River: Satluj River
• Installed Capacity: 450 MW
• Type: Run-of-the-river project