Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 02, 2025

Answer: a

Current Context : The government plans to borrow ₹3.94 lakh crore through T-Bills in the fiscal year 2024-25.

About T-Bills :

• T-Bills are short-term debt instruments issued by the Government of India to meet its short-term funding needs.
• Issuer: Issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through an auction on its E-Kuber platform.
• Tenure: T-Bills are issued in three tenors: 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days.
• Zero-Coupon: They are zero-coupon securities, issued at a discount and redeemed at face value upon maturity.
• Participants: Major participants include commercial banks, primary dealers, insurance companies, mutual funds, co-operative banks, and retail investors.
• Liquidity: Considered low-risk and highly liquid investment options.

NOTE: In India, the Central Government issues both T-Bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, called the State Development Loans (SDLs).

Answer: b

Current Context : The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first human-made object to fly close to the Sun.

• Objective:The mission aims to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, to enhance our understanding of solar wind and space weather phenomena.
• Speed: The probe reached speeds of 700,000 km/h, making it the fastest human-made object.
• Instruments: Carries instruments like the Fields Experiment (FIELDS) and Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) for measuring solar activity and space weather.
• Thermal Protection: Equipped with a carbon foam heat shield to protect from extreme temperatures exceeding 1,800°F (982°C).

Answer: c

Current Context : Recent excavations at Rakhigarhi, a prominent Harappan site in Haryana, have unveiled advanced water management systems dating back approximately 5,000 years.

Water Storage Area: Found between mounds, 3.5-4 feet deep for water conservation.

Dried Riverbed: Chautang (Drishavati) River’s dried bed discovered, indicating water management.

Harappan Water Management Techniques:

• Elaborate Drainage: Underground drains for sewage, connecting houses to public drains.
• Small Bunds: Lothal built bunds to store rainwater for irrigation and drinking.
• Dockyard at Lothal: Channels for water flow to support maritime activities.
• Dholavira Reservoirs: Stone-built canals and reservoirs for water storage and management.
• Mohenjodaro Tanks: Rainwater harvested in tanks and supplied to wells via an efficient drainage system.

Rakhigarhi Site: Largest Harappan city in Haryana, yielding DNA evidence and artifacts such as residential structures, craft areas, and burial grounds.

Answer: c

Current Context : PM CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund) Funds received Rs 912 crore crore in 2022-23, as per the latest audited accounts.

About PM CARES Funds 

Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund.

Purpose: To provide relief and assistance during emergencies, calamities, and public health crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, and accidents.

Legal Framework:

• Registered under the Registration Act, 1908as a Public Charitable Trust.
• Not funded by government budget allocations, operates separately.

Governance:

• The Prime Ministeris the ex-officio Chairperson of the fund.
• Membersinclude the Defence Minister, Home Minister, and Finance Minister.

Answer: b

Current Context : Recently, the U.S. FDA proposed new rules to ensure cosmetics are free from asbestos contamination, especially in talc-containing products.

About Asbestos

• Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring mineral fibers, primarily used for their heat and corrosion resistance.
• Types: There are six main forms of asbestos; chrysotile(white asbestos) is the most commonly used.
• Applications: Used in building materials, automobile industry, and various industrial products due to durability and heat resistance.

Health Risks: Exposure to asbestos can cause:

• Lung Cancer
• Laryngeal Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Mesothelioma(a rare cancer affecting the pleura and peritoneal linings).

Answer: c

Current Context : Recently, strong Western Disturbances brought snow to parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand causing changes in weather.

About Western Disturbances

• Extra-tropical storms originating in the Mediterranean region, moving eastward and bringing winter rain to north-western parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• Movement: Carried eastward by westerly winds, particularly the Subtropical Jet Stream.
• Weather Impact: Cause rain, snow, or hailstorms in northern and northwestern India.

Significance for India :

• Agriculture: Crucial for Rabi crops like wheat and mustard.
• Glacier Replenishment: Aid in replenishing glaciers in the Himalayan region.

Answer: b

Current Context : Under the shadow of China’s plan to build the world’s largest dam, India pushes for a counter project in Arunachal Pradesh.

About the Upper Siang Hydropower Project

• Location: Upper Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India, on the Siang River (upper Brahmaputra).
• Capacity: Proposed 11,000 MW hydropower plant.
• Developers: NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) and NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation).
• Project Cost: Estimated ₹1,13,000 crore.
• Reservoir Storage: 9 billion cubic meters (BCM).
• Strategic Purpose: Countermeasure to China’s proposed 60,000 MW dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet.
• Local Impact: Area inhabited by Adi Tribe; relies on ‘pani kheti’ (settled agriculture) for sustenance.