Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 04 2023

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: C

• Distribution: The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of southern Nepal.
• Characteristics: It has a single black horn that can grow up to 60 cm, and a tough, grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives the animal its characteristic armour-plated look.
• Conservation: The Indian rhino is listed as vulnerable (better than endangered, worse than near threatened) in the IUCN Red List; it was earlier placed in the endangered category.
• Population: According to the WWF, there are around 3,700 Indian rhinos in the wild today. Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) alone has 2,613 animals, according to a census carried out in March 2022. There are more than 250 other rhinos in the Orang, Pobitora, and Manas parks.

Rhino poaching:

• Rhinos have been poached for their horn, which is prized in some cultures.
• Ground rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a range of ailments, from cancer to hangovers, and also as an aphrodisiac”; in Vietnam, a rhino horn is considered a status symbol.

ANSWER: D

• Full name of scheme:Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II).
• Implementing agency:Department of Heavy Industry.
• Objective:Promotion of Electric and hybrid vehicle in the country by offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles and by establishing charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.
• Salient features of the scheme:
  • The scheme with total outlay of Rs 10,000 Crores over the period of three years (2019-20 to 2021-22) will be implemented with effect from 1st April 2019.
  • This scheme is the expanded version of the present scheme titled ‘FAME India1 which was launched on 1st April 2015, with total outlay of Rs. 895 crores.
  • Target is to support 10 Lakhs e-2Wheeler, 5 Lakhs e-3Wheelers, 55000 4Wheelers and 7000 Buses.
  • Under the scheme of FAME-II, the demand incentive for e-2W has been increased to Rs. 15,000/KWh from Rs. 10,000/KWh with an increase in cap from 20% to almost 40% of the cost of the vehicle to increase the adoption of e-2W.
  • The phase II of FAME-India Scheme has been extended for a period of two years after 31st March 2022.
• Benefits:The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.

ANSWER: D

• Ministry of Coal converts suitable mine areas, after exhaustion of reserves, into eco-parks, sites for water sports, underground mine tourism, golf grounds, adventure, bird watching etc. These sites have good potential for recreation, revenue generation and employment for local people.

About Mudwani Dam Eco-park:

• Mudwani Dam Eco-park, developed by Northern Coalfields Limited in Singrauli and AnanyaVatika Eco-Restoration Park cum Pit Lake developed by South Eastern Coalfields Limited in Dola, both in Madhya Pradesh are unique examples for such initiatives.
• Mudwani Dam Eco-park in Singrauli, is spread over an area of 84,000m2and inaugurated during Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2021.
• Located in Jayant area, Mudwani Dam Eco-park is developed with beautiful water front, walking pathways, children sports area, restaurants and shops for local products will also be part of this eco-park.

AnanyaVatika Eco-Restoration Park:

• AnanyaVatika Eco-Restoration Park cum Pit Lake is developed after reclamation of abandoned OB dump of Sector “D” of Rajnagar Opencast Project of Hasedo Area located in Dola, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is one of the best examples of reclamation and sustainable development in Open Cast Mining Project.

ANSWER: C

• The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively, have launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals)

About ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) Program:

• It is aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
• The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• The eligible Ayurveda academic institutions may apply by 10 January, 2023.
• All details regarding contact information, eligibility criteria and application process has been shared to all recognized academic institutions and hospitals through NCISM.
• The ‘SMART’ program will motivate teachers for taking up projects in designated areas of healthcare research and create a large database.

ANSWER: B

• In a move that is expected to help India develop a manufacturing ecosystem for high-end drones, a top US drone manufacturer has announced a partnership with a leading Indian forging company to manufacture main landing gear components, subassemblies, and assemblies of remotely piloted aircraft in the country.
• San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), a subsidiary of General Atomics, said its partnership with Bharat Forge Limited would result in significant capability-building for both companies and provide an impetus to the Indian large, unmanned aircraft industry.
• GA-ASI is eagerly looking forward to working with Bharat Forge in the critical field of aero-structure manufacturing,” said Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation.
• With over five decades of experience in manufacturing a wide range of high-performance, critical safety components, Bharat Forge offers full-service supply capability from concept to product design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and validation.
• Bharat Forge’s expertise in the field of forging is known globally, and their outstanding contributions in the aerospace sector has inspired us to work together for building the next generation of the world’s most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles,” Lall said.
• Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited, said that aerospace is a high ‘technology intensive’ domain, which relies on product integrity, reliability, and zero defect.
• “This is a culture by itself and demands a strong focus on people and processes. As part of our Aerospace Growth Strategy, our collaboration with GA-ASI is a strong testimony of our culture in Bharat Forge Aerospace to assimilate and demonstrate the same, as partners to General Atomics, in making India Atmanirbhar,” Kalyani said.

ANSWER: B

• The 30th state-level Children’s Science Congress concluded on the campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, at Kamand. Congress MLA Rajesh Dharmani was the chief guest on the occasion.
• The four-day programme, which began on December 31, was organised by the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE).
• Dr SS Randhawa is Principal Scientific Officer of HIMCOSTE.
• Satpal Dhiman, Joint Member Secretary of the council, gave an overview of the congress. By giving an example of renowned inventor Thomas Alva Edison, he reflected upon the thought that each child has his own potential and that needs to be nurtured for achieving success.
• About 25,000 students participated in the programme from across the state covering about 2,000 schools.

ANSWER: C

• The Palampur-Thathri-Chunja glacier ropeway project has been hanging fire since long in the absence of financial approval from the Central Government.
• Initially, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was to execute the Rs 605 crore project. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, had conveyed to the state government in December 2021 that the NHAI had approved the 13.5-km ropeway project. However, no headway has been made till date.
• According to the official sources, there was a proposal to set up 13 ropeway projects in Himachal and the Palampur-Thathri-Chunja glacier ropeway project was one of them.
• About six of these projects are at the final stage of completion. The state government has failed to get approval for funding the Palampur ropeway project either by the NHAI or NABARD.
• The ropeway will connect Palampur with the Chunja glacier in the Dhauladhars at a height of 12,000-ft.
• Tourists will be able to reach snow-covered peaks within 31 minutes from Palampur.
• The state had also prepared a project report for the ropeway in 2019, trying to seek investors. However, no one turned up because of the high project cost and reserved forests.

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C