Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 31,2021

ANSWER: B

WHY IN NEWS?

The United States announced the end of its 20-year-old war in Afghanistan before the deadline of August 31, 2021

About:

• This announcement was made after the last American military flight flew out of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul before the August 31 deadline.
• America announced the formal end of America’s longest war, just before the 20th anniversary of the September 9/11, in which Al Qaeda terrorists hit the twin towers in New York.
• The 9/11 terrorist strike had forced the US to enter Afghanistan and overthrow the Taliban rule who had provided safe havens to the Al Qaeda leadership.
• The Taliban rule was overthrown and replaced by US-backed Afghans. They then ruled the country for 20 years. In last 20 years several during general elections were held.
• US-backed Afghan rule was overthrown by the Taliban again on August 15 when the president Ashraf Ghani fled the country and 3,00,000 Afghan armed forces troops, who were trained by United States, gave up without any fight.
• The Taliban is now ruling Afghanistan and it welcomed the departure of the US troops from the country.

War in Afghanistan

It was a conflict, took place from 2001 to 2021, in Afghanistan. The war started with the invasion that led to the United States and its allies to topple the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan so that they could deny al-Qaeda a safe base of operations in Afghanistan. War was officially fought by allied NATO & Afghan Armed Forces against Taliban insurgents. The Taliban defeated the Afghanistan Army after majority of NATO forces left the country. This was the longest war in the history of United States.

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS?

The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has launched a regular Jungle Tea Toy Train Safari on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Route.

About:

• Toy-train safari will run from Siliguri junction to Rongtong station in West Bengal.
• This is the NRF’s second attempt to attract tourists and improve tourism business in Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR).
• Existing direct DHR Toy train service was discontinued for one and a half years due to covid-19 pandemic

Existing toy train services

• The heritage toy train services, launched earlier, started again in between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal. The service was halted for 17-month amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Currently, one train is running between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, each day to cover a distance of 88 kilometres.
• The train climbs from New Jalpaiguri (100 metres above sea level) to Darjeeling (2,200 metres above sea level).
• Steepness of the route was the most challenging part for the train. To tackle this challenge, oops and zig-zags were incorporated along the train route.
• In order to gain altitude while going up the hill, this train moves forward, reverses and moves forward again.
• DHR toy train is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it was declared by the UN body on December 5, 1999.

Tea Toy Train by NFR

Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) launches tea toy train from Siliguri West Bengal to Rongtong, regularly. Such trains feature a heritage steam engine and view dome dining car. Tourists take in the spectacular views of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding hills from trains.

Significance of the Train

The toy trains are expected to boost the tourism sector in the region. Locals will be having the opportunity to participate in weekend tours regularly.

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS?

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and IIT Roorkee have developed an app, in a joint venture, that can predict natural disasters.

About:

• App will alert about possible natural calamities in advance.
• Uttarakhand cabinet has also formed an expert committee that will tell us about the quantum of rainfall in each area in order to make arrangements in advance.
• According to minister, Doppler Radar has started functioning at Mukteshwar. Radar will also be installed at Surkanda Devi within 1-1.5 months.
• Third Doppler radar will be installed in Lansdowne.

Background

The development of the app is in line with the proposal by the Central Government to simplify the disaster parameters of 2011.

Doppler radar

Doppler radar is specialized radar that makes use of Doppler Effect to produce velocity data about the distant objects.

Doppler Effect

When the source and signal are in relative motion to each other, observer witness a change in the frequency. If they move closer, frequency increases and vice versa. This effect is called as Doppler Effect.

What is Radar?

Radar, expanded as Radio Detection and ranging, is a device that uses electromagnetic waves in the microwaves region in order to detect location, range & direction; altitude; intensity and movement of moving & non-moving objects.

How does a Doppler radar work?

Radars emit a beam of energy, called radio waves, from an antenna. When the radio waves strike an object in the atmosphere, energy scatters in all directions. Some of the energy is reflected directly back to the radar. Larger the object deflects the beam as well as amount of energy that the radar receives in return. Weather forecasting department observes the time required for the beam to be transmitted & returned to the radar and see raindrops in the atmosphere & measure their distance from the radar.

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS?

The Chief Justice of India (CJI), NV Ramana, will administer oath of office to Nine new judges, including three women on August 31, 2021.

About:

• Three out of these nine new judges namely, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice PS Narasimha, are in line to become the CJI.
• With the addition of 9 judges, total strength of the Supreme Court would increase to 33 out of the sanctioned strength of 34, including the CJI.
• This will happen for the first time in the history of Supreme Court when nine judges will take oath of office in one go.
• Swearing-in ceremony would be held in auditorium of the Supreme Court’s additional building complex as opposed to oath in CJI’s courtroom.

Background

A collegium of Supreme Court recommended the names of these nine judges on August 17, 2021 for appointment as judges of the Apex court. President Ram Nath Kovind then signed the warrants of their appointment.

Women Judges

The apex court has appointed very few women judges since its inception. In over 71 years, only eight women judges have been appointed till date. First women judge was M Fathima Beevi, appointed in 1989. Justice Indira Banerjee is the lone serving woman judge in the supreme court after her elevation on August 7, 2018.

Appointment of SC Judges

The President of India appoints the Judges of the Supreme Court. The CJI is appointed by the President following a consultation with judges of the Supreme Court as well as high courts (HCs). Other judges of the SC are appointed by the President following a consultation with the CJI and such other judges of the SC and the HCs. The consultation with CJI is obligatory for appointment of judges other than Chief justice.

ANSWER: B

WHY IN NEWS?

Russia issued a warning about the possibility of rise in cases of West Nile Virus  infections this autumn because mild temperatures and heavy precipitation are the favourable circumstances for mosquitos carrying the virus.

About:

• More than 80% of West Nile fever cases are registered in the southwest Russia.
• According to the reports, human cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus were increasing in North Dakota region of Russia.
• So far, five people have confirmed cases.

What is West Nile virus?

It is a single-stranded RNA virus causing West Nile fever. Virus is the member of family Flaviviridae, which also comprises the Zika virus, dengue virus, as well as yellow fever virus. This virus is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes and mostly by species of Culex. Primary hosts of the virus are birds. Genetically, the virus is related to the Japanese encephalitis family. Humans and horses both exhibit disease symptoms from this virus. First human case of the disease was reported in 1937 in Uganda and now it is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in continental United States.

Origin of the virus

West Nile virus was originated in Africa. It has now spread to Europe, Asia, and North America. Virus is mostly transmitted by mosquito bites, causing a deadly neurological condition in humans.

When does this disease mostly occur?

Most of the West Nile virus cases occur during mosquito season, starts in the summer and lasts until the fall.

Symptoms of the disease

Majority of people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not exhibit any symptoms. Some infected people develop fever along with symptoms like headache, body aches, joint pains, rash, vomiting or diarrhoea.

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS?

To pay homage to Jallianwala Bagh brave hearts, PM dedicated renovated complex of Jallianwala Bagh Smarak to the nation. PM also inaugurated Museum Galleries at the Smarak.

What is Jallianwala Bagh massacre?

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre also known as the Amritsar Massacre took place on 13th April 1919 under the command of General Dyer who ordered firing against the protestors who were gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to condemn the arrest of two national leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.

Why April 13 is special?

• It is the celebration of Baisakhi, a spring harvest festival.
• It marks the establishment of “Khalsa Panth” by the 10^thGuru, Guru Gobind Singh, which had the objective of “Sarbat da Bhala” (blessings for everyone).

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS?

The Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

• It is the last vessel in the series of seven OPVs built by Larsen & Toubro (Private Company) under an Ministry of Defence contract signed in 2015

About:

• It is about 98 metres long, 15 metres wide, has 3.6 metres draught, with 2,140 tonnes displacement and a range of 5,000 nautical miles.
• It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots.
• It is fitted with advanced technology radars, navigation & communication equipment, sensors and machinery capable of operating in tropical sea conditions.
• It is also equipped with an integrated bridge system, integrated platform management system, automated power management system and high-power external fire-fighting system.
• It is armed with a 40/60 Bofors gun and fitted with two 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Gun with fire control system.

ANSWER: D

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana, US. It is an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm and one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the US.

About:

Hurricanes are the biggest and most violent storms on the planet.

• Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over warm Equatorial water.

Mechanism:

• When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of low air pressure below.
• When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.
• An eye forms in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.
• When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.
• This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean’s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.
• Such storm systems rotate faster and faster.
• Storms that form towards the north of the equator rotate counterclockwise, while those that form to the south spin clockwise because of the rotation of the Earth.

Names in Different Regions of the World:

• Typhoons: Tropical cyclones are known as Typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.
• Hurricanes: In the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
• Willy-willies: In north-western Australia and
• Tropical Cyclones: In the Indian Ocean Region.