Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 16,2021

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered the loss of an important earth observation satellite (EOS-03) during launch when the GSLV rocket carrying it malfunctioned about five minutes from the lift-off.

About the EOS-03:

• It was capable of imaging the entire country four to five times every day.
• It was riding on a GSLV rocket (GSLV-F10), which has a new payload carrier designed to significantly reduce aerodynamic drag and thus carry larger payloads.
• The rocket was supposed to deposit the satellite in the geostationary transfer orbit, from where the satellite’s onboard propulsion system will guide it to a geostationary orbit, 36,000 km from earth’s surface.
  • Geostationary transfer orbit is a circular orbit positioned approximately 35,900 km above Earth’s equator and having a period of the same duration and direction as the rotation of the Earth.
  • An object in this orbit will appear stationary relative to the rotating Earth

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, a bat amazed the scientists by flying a distance of more than 2,000 km from London to the Pskov region in northwestern Russia. The bat is dubbed as the “Olympian bat” and has generated keen interest in climate scientists.

About:

• The bat belongs to the Nathusius’ pipistrelle species of bats.
• The journey is significant because it is the longest one undertaken by a bat from Britain across Europe.
• Bats belonging to the Nathusius’ pipistrelle species typically weigh less than 10 grams.
  • They are known to migrate from summer breeding grounds in northeastern Europe to warmer areas of the continent where they hibernate in trees in buildings.
• The ‘Olympian’ bat’s record is topped by another bat from the same species that flew from Latvia to Spain in 2019 covering a distance of 2,224 km.
• For climate scientists, the journey is a window into studying bat migration and its connection with climate change.
• Increased variation in climatic extremes raises the possibility of bats emerging from hibernation early or at a greater frequency.
  • That would not only put hibernating bats at risk from depleted energy stores, but could also affect the birth and survival of pups.
• Thus, Nathusius’ pipstrelle’s range expansion is linked to climate change and future changes in climate will further impact this species.
• The Bat Conservation Trust launched a project called the National Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Project in 2014.
  • The project aims to improve understanding of the ecology, current status and conservation threats for Nathusius’ pipistrelles in Great Britain.
  • One of the goals of this project is to determine the migratory origins of this species of bats since they might help in understanding its links to climate change.
  • There is already some evidence of birds migrating early because of a warming planet.
• IUCN status of Nathusius’ pipistrelle species of bats: Least concern.

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS?

The Ministry of Culture has planned to inaugurate new museums on Jammu and Kashmir, Gautam Buddha, Indian armour and the freedom struggle by the end of 2021.

Museum on Jammu and Kashmir(J&K):

• The museum on Jammu and Kashmir will capture the essence and spirit of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as an integral part of the nation since ages.
• The museum elaborates this by tracing the roots of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh since prehistoric times to the present day and telling unheard stories of the region and people which have been lost in the centuries of time.

Museum on Gautam Buddha:

• The museum on Gautama Buddha focuses on the religious and traditional aspects of Buddhist heritage in India.
• The museum would have over 200 objects from the 1st Century CE to 19th Century CE, including stone and bronze sculptures, terracotta heads and costumes.

Museum on Freedom Struggle:

• The museum will narrate the story of the country’s freedom struggle in an interactive manner. Further, the museum will provide more emphasis on the unheard stories of people’s participation in India’s freedom movement representing contribution of all regions.
• Another museum will be developed which would showcase arms and armour of India through the ages.
• Moreover, the Ministry is also in the process of setting up a museum dedicated to freedom fighters at the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata, called ‘Biplobi Bharat’

ANSWER: B

WHY IN NEWS?

• The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill.
• It is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
• The most prominent feature of the Great Hornbill is the bright yellow and black casque (hard structure on the head of some birds) on top of its massive bill.
• Festival: The Hornbill Festival celebrated in Nagaland is named after the bird – Hornbill, which is the most revered and admired bird for the Nagas.
• Cultural Symbol: They are the cultural symbols of some ethnic communities in the northeast, specifically the Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh.
• State Bird: Great Hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Indian Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I

ANSWER: D

WHY IN NEWS?

Union Minister of Science & Technology has launched “IndiGau”.

About:

• IndiGau is India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.
• Developed by: National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology.

Significance of IndiGau Chip:

• Firstly, IndiGau is purely indigenous and the largest cattle chip in the world. It has 11,496 markers (SNPs) more than that placed on 777K Illumina chips of US & UK breeds.
• Secondly, the chip will have practical utility in the Government’s schemes to achieve the goal of conservation of our own breeds with better characteristics and help towards doubling farmers income by 2022.

About SNP Chip:

SNP stands for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism. It is a type of DNA microarray which is used to detect polymorphisms within a population.

SNP chips are DNA microarrays that test genetic variation at many hundreds of thousands of specific locations across the genome. SNP chips have proven to be excellent for studying common genetic variation, which can be used to assess ancestry as well as predisposition to many complex multifactorial diseases.

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS?

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.

Main Purpose of the Rules:

• The rules aim to prohibit the use of specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022.

Key Provisions of the Rules:

Range of Plastics Banned:

• The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the following single-use plastic commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022:
  • Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
  • Plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards,  and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

The thickness of Plastic bags:

• The permitted thickness of the plastic bags, currently 50 microns, will be increased to 75 microns from 30th September 2021, and to 120 microns from 31st December 2022.
• This is because plastic bags with higher thickness are more easily handled as waste and have higher recyclability.

Plastic Wastes not banned:

• Compostable Plastics: The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
  • Instead of using plastic made from petrochemicals and fossil fuels, compostable plastics are derived from renewable materials like corn, potato, and tapioca starches, cellulose, etc. These plastics are non-toxic and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted.

Plastic Packaging waste which is not covered under the phase-out of identified single-use plastic items should be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

• Extended Producer Responsibilityis a policy approach in which producers take responsibility for the management of the disposal of products they produce once those products are designated as no longer useful by consumers

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS?

The Union Government of India has decided to allow the import of genetically modified (GM) soymeal.

Background:

• Soymeal is the protein-rich solid left after the oil is extracted from the bean. It is used as a raw material for poultry feed.
• Since the last few months, domestic prices of soymeal have risen from Rs 40/kg to Rs 110/kg.
• As a result, the production cost for poultry farmers has increased, which was already impacted by the Covid-19 and Avian Influenza.
• Hence, due to this, the poultry industry has been asking the government to import soy meal to overcome domestic shortages and high prices. But the import was not being allowed due to Government’s regulation regarding genetically modified ingredients.

Why has the Government allowed the import of Soymeal?

• The import of genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms is restricted in India.
• However, soya de-oiled cake or meals do not fall under these categories. It falls under the non-living organism category.
• Hence, on this basis, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change ruled that the import of Soymeal would not require permission from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and has allowed the import of Soymeal.

ANSWER: D

WHY IN NEWS?

India’s renewable energy capacity, excluding large hydroelectric projects, hit 100 GW (gigawatts) on 12th Aug 21, making it the world’s fourth largest in terms of total installed green energy capacity.

The 100 GW renewable capacity accounts for 26% of India’s total installed generation capacity of 383 GW.

• It should be noted that in 2015, India had announced its plan to build 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022. This target has been enhanced to install 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
  • Significance
• The milestone is commendable for the world’s third-largest polluter, as it has been achieved in a short span of five years.
• This milestone of reaching 100 GW, will help us to resist international pressure to declare a net-zero goal and India can call out the developed countries to increase their efforts to reduce carbon emission.
• It also shows India’s commitment to decarbonize its economy and will meet its NDC (nationally determined contributions) targets for power generation from non-fossil fuel sources and emission reductions.

ANSWER: D

WHY IN NEWS?

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched ‘SonChiraiya’.

About SonChiraiya:

• SonChiraiya is a brand and logo for the marketing of urban Self-Help Group (SHG) products.
• This will help in improving visibility and global access for the products made by urban SHG women.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) has focussed on equipping the urban poor women with adequate skills and opportunities and enabling them to promote sustainable micro-enterprises.