Answer: C

• Defence Research and Development Organization, DRDO has recently test-fired the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo or SMART.

About Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo or SMART

• India has recently test-fired a long-range Supersonic missile assisted torpedo or popularly called SMART from the Balasore coast in Odisha.
• The weapon has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Navy.
• This is a next-generation missile-based standoff torpedo delivery system.
• The system of this missile has been designed for the enhancement of anti-submarine warfare capability. It would work beyond the conventional range of the torpedo.
• It is also a canister-based missile system consisting of advanced two-stage solid propulsion, electromechanical actuators and precision inertial navigation.
• The missiles launch was done from a ground mobile launcher and it is capable of covering a range of distances.

Answer: B

• National Energy Conservation Day is observed on December 14, every year. The day focuses on making people aware of global warming and climate change and promotes efforts towards saving energy resources. The day is also known as Energy Efficiency Day.

Aboiut National Energy Conservation Day 2021

• A large number of events such as discussions, conferences, debates, workshops, and competitions are all held across the country to observe the day.
• The National Energy Conservation Day 2021 aims to spread awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation of energy. Energy conservation is one of the key action points in fighting climate change.
• The Union Ministry of Power is celebrating National Energy Conservation Week under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav from December 8-14, 2021. Various programmes have been organised as a part of the celebration including workshops and discussions on the outcomes of Energy and Resource Mapping of MSME Clusters.

National Energy Conservation Day 2021 Theme

• The theme for this year is ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Energy Efficient India” and ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Cleaner Planet’.

Answer: C       

• The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has developed a portable testing device that can detect the soil health in just 90 seconds through a mobile application using merely five grams of the soil as sample.

About portable device for soil testing developed by IIT Kanpur

• The portable and wireless soil testing device requires five grams of dry soil as a sample for detecting macronutrients present in it.
• This first-of-its-kind invention is based on near Infrared spectroscopy technology that provides real-time soil analysis report on smartphones with an embedded mobile application, named Bhu Parikshak, available on Google Play Store.
• The technology has been transferred to an agri-tech company, AgroNxt Services Private Limited.
• Once the soil is poured into a 5 cm-long cylindrical shaped device, it connects itself with the mobile through Bluetooth and starts analysing the soil for 90 seconds.
• After the analysis, the results appear on the screen in the form of a soil health report, which is accessible on Bhu Parikshak cloud service with a unique ID. The report also comes with a recommended dose of fertilisers.
• The device can detect six important soil parameters, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon.
• It also recommends the required dose of fertilisers for the field and crops. The rapid soil testing device will assist individual farmers for obtaining soil health parameters of agricultural fields with recommended doses of fertilisers.
• The device can test up to one lakh soil test samples, which is the highest testing capability of a device among its predecessors.
• The mobile application is made user-friendly through the user interface, which is available in local languages, so that even a Class 8 passout can easily handle the device and the mobile application.

Answer: A

• PM Modi inaugurated Rs 9,800 crore Saryu canal project in UP’s Balrampur.

About Saryu canal project in UP’s Balrampur

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Saryu Canal National Project which will provide assured water for irrigation to over 14 lakh hectares of land and benefit about 29 lakh farmers, mainly in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• The project has been completed at a cost of over Rs 9,800 crore, out of which more than Rs 4,600 crore was provisioned in the last four years.
• The Saryu canal project also involves interlinking of five rivers — Ghaghara, Saryu, Rapti, Banganga and Rohini –– to ensure optimum usage of water resources of the region.
• The work on the project started in 1978 but due to lack of continuity of budgetary support, interdepartmental coordination and adequate monitoring, it got delayed and was not completed even after nearly four decades.

Answer: A

• India has been re-elected to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2022-2023 biennium under category B states.
• The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization has elected the Members of its Council for the 2022-2023 biennium.

About International Maritime Organisation

• The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
• The International Maritime Organization is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping.
• The IMO was established following agreement at a UN conference held in Geneva in 1948 and the IMO came into existence ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959.
• IMO is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
• The IMO’s primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes maritime safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.
• IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members elected from the assembly.
• The work of IMO is conducted through five committees and these are supported by technical subcommittees.

Answer: D

• Recently, the United Arab Emirates has announced to change its existing five-day workweek to a four-and-a-half day starting January 1, becoming the world’s first country to make the employee-friendly transition as part of its efforts to improve productivity and work-life balance.

About 4.5 day work week

• According to the new schedule, Monday to Thursday the work timings would be from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm, followed by a half-day on Friday from 7.30 am to 12.00 pm.
• Saturdays and Sundays are full-day holidays under the new rule.
• The government’s move is expected to make it come closer to the timings of the US, the UK, and Europe, boosting commerce.