Daily Current Affairs Quiz: Julu 15, 2024

ANSWER : C

Current Context : President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed K P Sharma Oli as the new Prime Minister of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)-Nepali Congress (NC) coalition.

• K P Sharma Oli, 72, succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda who lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, leading to the formation of the new government process as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution.
• K P Sharma Oli served as Nepal’s Prime Minister from October 11, 2015, to August 3, 2016 and then, from February 5, 2018, to July 13, 2021.

 ABOUT NEPAL

• Nepal is a land-locked country of Asia.
• It shares territorial borders with India and China.
• It is a place of festivals.
• Area : 147,181 square kilometers.
• Population : 30 million.
• Capital ; Kathmandu
• Currency : Nepalese rupee (NPR)

ANSWER : D

Current Context : External Affairs Minister held bilateral meeting with the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs in New Delhi.

First edition of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was held in Bangkok Thailand in 2023.

 ABOUT BENGAL INITIATIVE FOR MULTI-SECTORAL TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION (BIMSTEC)

• It is a regional multilateral organization.
• Established in 1997 by signing Bangkok Declaration.
• 7 member states: Five are from South Asia : Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan.
  • Two are from Southeast Asia : Thailand, Myanmar.
• Permanent Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• BIMSTEC’s Principle: Sovereign equality, Political independence, Territorial integrity, Peaceful co-existence, Non-interference in internal affairs, etc.
• 7 Focus areas: Trade; Environment and Climate Change; Security; Agriculture and Food Security; People-to-People Contact; Science, Technology, and Innovation; Connectivity.

Significance of BIMSTEC for India : Regional cooperation, Geostrategic importance, Security.

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Recently, the Prime Minister of India wished everyone, particularly the people of Tripura, on the occasion of Kharchi Puja.

ABOUT

• It is an ancient traditional festival of Tripura and deeply associated with the religious heritage and culture of the region.
• Performed during the Ashadha month (July-August) on the eighth day of the new moon.
• It is It is also known as the Festival of 14 Gods.
• Theme of this year’s Kharchi festival and exhibition is ‘green is the future’.
• The meaning of Kharchi can be understood by splitting the word into two Tripuri words “Khar” or Kharta meaning sin and “Chi” or si meaning Hence it signifies the cleansing of our sins.
• It lasts for seven days and it takes place at old Agartala in the Fourteen Gods temple known as the ‘Chaturdasha Devata’ temple premises.
• The Kharchi Puja deities do not have a full body, they have only heads which are worshipped.
• On the day of the puja, the fourteen Gods are taken from the temple to the river Saidra by the Chantai members and given bathe with the holy river water, then carried back to the temple.

ANSWER : C

Current Context : Asur tribes in Netarhat of Gumla to get forest land rights benefits under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

ABOUT ASUR TRIBE

• Asur Tribe are an Austroasiatic ethnic group living primarily in the Indian state of Jharkhand mostly in the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu, and Latehar districts.
• They are included in the list of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Population of around 23,000.
• Language speak : Asur language, belongs to the Munda family of Austro-asiatic languages.
• Occupation : traditionally iron-smelters. They were once hunter-gatherers, having also involved in shifting agriculture. However, majority of them shifted into agriculture, with 91.19 percent enlisted as cultivators in the 2011 census.
• Religion followed : mixture of animism, animatism, naturalism, and ancestral worships.
• Festival : Sarhul, Phagua, Navakhans

ANSWER : A

Current Context : NASA’s CHAPEA project,  a year-long simulated Mars mission involved four volunteers of Nasa emerged from their 17,000 sq ft habitat at Johnson Space Centre.

ABOUT

• Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) is a series of analog missions conducted by NASA.
• It will simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars.
• Objective : to assess and collect data regarding NASA’s food system and understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face, which will help during future space missions.
• Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700-square-foot habitat.
  • Mars Dune Alpha is a 3D-printed structure located at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
  • It simulates a realistic Mars habitat to support long-duration, exploration-class space missions.
• The analog mission will be as Mars-realistic as feasible, which may include environmental stressors such as resource limitations, isolation, equipment failure, and significant workloads.
• During the mission, the crew will conduct simulated spacewalks and provide data on a variety of factors, which may include physical and behavioral health and performance.

INDIA’S PLANS FOR A MARS MISSION :

• ISRO is preparing for astronomy missions and exploratory missions to the Sun, Mars and Venus in the next few years.

ANSWER : D

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University gives NOC for transfer of 100 acre land for setting up tourism village in Palampur.

• It will help promote tourism in Kangra district and generate employment for the local youth.

ABOUT TOURISM VILLAGE

• The Tourism village will be set up by the Tourism Department with the help of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• The project is part of CM Sukhvinder Sukhu’s vision to make Kangra tourism capital of the state.
• Internationally-recognised agencies will be hired for giving shape to the concept of the tourism village.

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Shrikhand Mahadev yatra begins on 14 July from Kullu.

• Shrikhand Mahadev Kailash, also called Shikhar Kailash is one of the toughest pilgrimages in India, is known for Lord Shiva in Hindu Mythology.
• The yatra is counted among the most difficult pilgrimages of North India.
• The journey to pay obeisance at the 72-ft-high lingam of Lord Shiva starts from Jaon in Nirmand sub-division of Kullu.
• Devotees reach the 18,570-ft Shrikhand peak after a 32-km arduous trek, which takes around three to five days.
• The devotees have to cross many glaciers and slippery narrow paths.

ANSWER : A

Current Context : Chalda Mahasu Devta to reach Himachal for first time.

• Chalda Mahasu Devta, a symbol of divine faith for millions, will cross the Tons from Uttarakhand to reach Gawali Pashmi village, situated in Shillai of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh for the first time.
• Every 12 years, the Chalda Mahasu Devta moves from Shanthi-Bil in Uttarakhand’s Jaunsar region to Pashi-Bil for annual Barwaansh (a special worship).
• Historically, this journey remained within Uttarakhand. However, for the first time, the deity will reach Himachal Pradesh for a year-long stay.
• After spending a year in Himachal Pradesh, the Chalda Mahasu Devta will return to the Kandoi Bhram and Mashak regions of Uttarakhand.

ABOUT CHALDA MAHASU DEVTA :

• Chalda Mahasu Devta is a revered deity in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
• Known as the God of Justice among the communities of Jaunsar and nearby areas, he is one of the four divine brothers collectively called Char Mahasu Devta who are believed to be manifestations of Lord Shiva.