Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 07, 2023

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: C

• According to a new study, some people of African descent possess a gene variant- Chromodomain Helicase DNA Binding Protein 1 Like (CHD1L) that likely controls human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), lowering their risk of transmitting the virus and delaying the advancement of their own illness.
  • The researchers said between 4 to 13% of people of African origin could be carrying this particular variant.
• CHD1L contains information to make proteins that allow the body to repair DNA damage.
• CHD1L gene variant has been linked to reduced viral load (amount of HIV in blood) of HIV-1 (more common and severe retrovirus compared to HIV-2).
• The gene variant CHD1L is found on chromosome 1.

ANSWER: B

• In a significant development for agricultural technology, a revolutionary Internet of Things-based automated soil testing and agronomy advisory platform, Bhu-Vision (also known as KRISHI-RASTAA Soil Testing System) was officially launched at AICRP (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad.
• The KRISHI-RASTAA Soil Testing System represents a new era in precision agriculture.
• The technology has been jointly developed by ICAR-IIRR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Indian Institute of Rice Research) and KrishiTantra(an Agri-tech start-up).
• Manufactured by HiMedia Laboratories and marketed by BhoomiSeva (HCF Tech Services Pvt. Ltd.), this system seamlessly conducts 12 key soil parameter tests in just 30 minutes.
• It provides quick, accurate results directly to farmers and stakeholders through a soil health card on their mobile devices.

ANSWER: B

• Ministry of Education recently launched the Study In India (SII) portal with a vision to promote Indian education to foreign students and re-establish India as a global hub of education by welcoming students from diverse backgrounds.
  • On the occasion, students from Russia, Thailand, Japan, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Korea who are currently studying in India presented souvenirs from their cultures as a token of respect to dignitaries.
• It is a one-stop platform that will simplify international students’ academic journey in India.
• The portal will provide comprehensive information about Indian Higher Education Institutions and also present information about academic facilities, research support, and related information.
• It will also provide an integrated one-stop solution for the student registration and visa application processes.
• It will illustrate academic programmes covering but not limited to undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and doctoral-level programmes as well as courses in Indian Knowledge systems like Yoga, Ayurveda, classical arts, etc.
• It will have the provision for students to apply in more than one institute or course of their choice.

ANSWER: D

• The President of India recently inaugurated ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts, at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

About Unmesha

• It has been organised by Sahitya Akademi.
• It is India’s most inclusive and Asia’s largest literature festival in terms of the number of languages represented.
• More than 575 authors in 102 languages are expected to participate in over 75 events in ‘Unmesha 2023’, and writers from 13 countries will participate in the festival.
• This will be the second edition of ‘Unmesha’ after the first one held in Shimla in June 2022.

About Utkarsh

• It has been organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi.
• The festival stands as a tribute to India’s rich heritage of folk and tribal expressions.
• It serves as a vital platform for traditional artists and performers to showcase their art forms and preserve the cultural legacy of diverse communities.

ANSWER: D

• The government’s think-tank NITI Aayog has laid out a standard definition and approach of water neutrality for industries in a new report released.
• According to the Aayog, henceforth water neutrality will be defined as–
  • “total freshwater consumption which is referred to as the sum total of direct freshwater use as well as estimated indirect or virtual water use as a part of water critical supply chains, applicable as on current date referred to as the date on which the evaluation is done, should either be less than or equal to all the quantifiable (and verifiable) water savings achieved through strategies undertaken as well as to be further (and futuristically) executed towards improving operational water use efficiencies, water conservation efforts.”
• In its report, the Aayog has estimated that practicing water neutrality standards could lead to a total savings of 38.23 BCM (billion cubic metre) of water over the next 10 years till 2032.
• As per the report, the primary aim of the water neutrality concept is to reduce demand for water but not regarding it as a replacement for existing regulatory tools.
• Benefits- it will help save water, lead to its efficient use and enable evaluation and validation of the water neutrality claims made by industries.

ANSWER: A

• Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency in its second-largest region, Amhara, following days of clashes between the military and local Fano militiamen.
• The declaration gives the government the power to ban public gatherings, make arrests without warrants, and to impose curfews.

ANSWER: B

• Hattee Community, with over 2.53 lakh population of Trans Giri tract (GIRIPAR) in Sirmaur district, has been finally granted Schedule Tribe status after a long drawn battle.
• The battle took off slightly late as Girirpar areas ought to have got the ST status in 56 years back itself when Bawar-Jaunsar hills of the then Uttar Pradesh and now Uttarakhand were declared tribal by the Union Government.
• Historical facts and current circumstances reveal that villagers of Girirpar were deprived of their right despite the fact that their traditions, primitive culture of polyandry and ancient type of festivals, economic backwardness, illiteracy, etc. were identical to their brethren who got a privileged ST status in 1967.
• Hattees are a close-knit community and derive their name from the tradition of selling homegrown vegetables, crops, meat, wool etc. at small markets.