Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 09 2023

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: C

• Recently, for the first time, physicists at the University of L’Aquila, Italy have found a complete microscopic understanding of the superconductivity of Mercury.

About Mercury’s superconductivity

• In 1911, Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered superconductivity in mercury.
• He found that at a very low temperature, called the threshold temperature, solid mercury offers no resistance to the flow of electric current.
• Scientists later classified mercury as a conventional superconductor because its superconductivity could be explained by the concepts of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory.
• In BCS superconductors, vibrational energy released by the grid of atoms encourages electrons to pair up, forming so-called Cooper pairs.
• These Copper pairs can move like water in a stream, facing no resistance to their flow, below a threshold temperature.

What is Superconductivity?

• A material can conduct electricity without any resistance. It is observed in many materials when they are cooled below a critical temperature.

What is Mercury?

• It is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
• It is released into the atmosphere through natural processes such as weathering of rocks, volcanic eruptions, geothermal activities, forest fires, etc.

ANSWER: D

• Covering 10% of the world’s hydropower reservoirs with ‘floatovoltaics’ would install electrical capacity equivalent to that provided by all electricity-generating fossil fuel plants in operation worldwide.
• Floatovoltaics, floating solar plants, or FSPV (floating solar photovoltaic) are panel structures that are installed on water bodies like lakes, basins, and reservoirs instead of on solid structures like a roof or terraces.
• The biggest impetus behind the rise of large-scale FSPV has been that it doesn’t take up any land space, which could be then used for construction and agriculture.
• The world’s first large-scale FSPV system was installed in 2011, in Napa Valley, California.

India:

• In recent years, floating solar power plants have become part of India’s plans of solar expansion.
• According to a 2020 study by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) reservoirs cover 18000 square Kilometer in India and can generate 280 GW through floating solar panels.
• Currently less than 1% of solar installations are floating.
• The largest floating solar power plant in India is currently the Ramagundam in Peddapalli district of Telangana, with a capacity of 100 MW.
• Currently a plant is being built on the Narmada’ Omkareshwar Dam in Khandwa, Madhya Pradeshis being built with a capacity of 600 MW, which will soon be the largest floating solar power plant in the world.
• The project is touted to be worth Rs 3000 crore.
• What are the benefits of floating solar panels?
  • The water’s cooling effect makes them more efficient than land-based ones;
  • They don’t interfere with desert ecosystems; and
  • They keep precious water from evaporating.
  • Even though reservoirs are artificial ecosystems, they provide habitats for wildlife.

ANSWER: A

• India and Japan are all set to hold the joint Air Exercise, ‘Veer Guardian-2023’ involving the Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan from 12th of January

About ‘Veer Guardian-2023’:

• The Joint Exercise which will continue till 26th January aims at promoting Air Defence cooperation between the countries.
• The Indian contingent participating in the air exercise will include four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 and one IL-78 aircraft, while the JASDF will be participating with four F-2 and four F-15 aircraft.
• It will include the conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two Air Forces.
• They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices.
• Exercise ‘Veer Guardian’ will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence cooperation between the two Air Forces.

ANSWER: C

• The International Kite Festival 2023 begin in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

About International Kite Festival 2023:

• The festival is being organized by Gujarat Tourism on the G20 theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future.
• Ahmedabad first hosted the International Kite Festival on the occasion of Uttarayan in 1989.
• Apart from Ahmedabad, the International Kite festival will also be organized in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Dwarka, Somnath, Dhordo, and Kevadia.
• After a gap of 2 years, skies over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad will be adorned with colorful unique Kites.
• More than 800 kite flyers from across India and the world will participate and display their unique creations in this Festival.
• This year, kite enthusiasts from different countries will fly Kites at the same time attempting to create a Guinness World Record for the maximum number of kite flyers.
• A special Parade by international and national kite flyers, a theme pavilion displaying the history of kites, and workshops on making and flying kites are among the major attractions of the festival this year.

ANSWER: C

• Recently, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology launched this campaign at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

About One Week One Lab Campaign:

• The One Week One lab campaign of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), will highlight India’s global excellence in technology, innovation and Start-ups.
• In this campaign, each of CSIR’s 37 constituent laboratories, spread Nationwide, will showcase their legacy, exclusive innovations and technological breakthroughs every successive week.
• During the campaign each CSIR lab shall be organizing week-long events including industry & start-up meet, students connect, society connect, display of technologies, etc.
• The campaign will also focus on academia and skill development, where interested students from varying domains get to know about the research activities and facilities of the CSIR laboratories and get a connection with prospects.
• Industries & MSMEs Meets are targeted to establish an understanding between Science and Industry based on the requirement of the society or regional needs and to identify potential industries for co-development of Next Gen technologies and products.
• It will be an opportunity to create networks of Govt- Academia-Industry for faster deliveries and deployments of technologies.

What is CSIR?

• It is the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India which was set up in 1942.
• It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology

What is the Structure of the Organisation?

• The Prime Minister of India (Ex-officio) is the President of this organisation.
• Vice President: Union Minister of Science and Technology (Ex-officio)
• Governing Body: The Director-General is the head of the governing body.
  The other ex-officio member is the finance secretary (expenditures).

ANSWER: C

• Cultivation of mountain yam vegetable crop can be an alternative source of income for farmers of the state, reveals a study conducted by Dr Tara Devi Sen, assistant professor of botany at Government College, Mandi.
• Mature tubers of mountain yam are sold at a price of Rs 250 to Rs 500 per kg because of its organic value.
• Mountain yam is commonly seen growing as a vine in miscellaneous forests and shrub jungles up to an altitude of 1,500 m.
• The tubers, bulbs, inflorescences and young leaves of mountain yam are eaten cooked. The tubers are usually eaten as a seasonal delicacy.
• A variety of traditional dishes like ‘bhale, ‘siddu’, ‘parantha’ and ‘kachouri’, etc can be prepared with the stuffing of tubers.

Medicinal value

• Mountain yam is extremely beneficial in treating high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems.
• Its tubers are a good source of vitamins and minerals and help in boosting immunity.
• Tubers are useful in treating stomach pain, anaemia and rheumatic swellings.
• Tuber paste is applied on swelling of joints.
• The inflorescence of mountain yam is eaten to recover from weakness.

ANSWER: B

• The Chintpurni Temple Trust will launch e-vehicle services for devotees, which will shuttle between Mai Das multi-purpose tourist complex situated near the bus stand to the shrine premises.
• Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma, who is also chairman of the trust, given green flag to the test run of the e-vehicle on 7th January 2023.
• As per an official communiqué, the temple trust has decided to launch green initiatives and successful test runs of e-rickshaws was conducted some time ago. The test ride for seven seated e-vehicles conducted on 7th January  so as to check whether these vehicles can manipulate the road inclines with the load of devotees.
• Once the e-vehicles pass the test, they will enable the devotees, particularly the elderly and physically challenged persons, to gain direct access to the flight of stairs leading to the sanctum sanctorum as private vehicles are not allowed beyond the police barrier, from where the shrine is about half a kilometre away.

About multi-purpose tourist complex, Mai Das.

• The multi-purpose tourist complex is named after Mai Das, a priest. As per the legend, he had a dream that Goddess Chintpurni, in the form of a stone slab, was lying buried at a particular place in the nearby forest area. The next day, he dug up the place and found the slab, which he began worshiping. The revered rock formation represents the deity and is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum.
• The Mai Das tourist complex was constructed with the funding of the Asian Development Bank. Devotees have to first get themselves registered at this place for ‘darshan’. A computerised slip is issued to the devotees, which allows them entry into the shrine. The complex also has facilities for boarding, lodging and vehicle parking.

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C