Daily Current Affairs Quiz: Julu 31, 2024

ANSWER : D

Celebrated on 1 August

• Theme : Close the Care Gap: Everyone Deserves Access to Cancer Care.
• It serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against one of the most prevalent and deadly forms of cancer.
• Aim : to educate, support, and inspire action in the fight against lung cancer, which continues to be a significant global health challenge.
• It was established on August 1, 2012, as a unified effort to raise awareness about lung cancer and its impact on global health.

ANSWER : C

Celebrated on August 1 every year.

• The day is observed to commemorate the World Wide Web (www) and its impact on the world.
• The World Wide Web, or simply ‘the Web’, was made by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while he was working at CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research).

ANSWER : A

Observed annually on 30^th July

• Aim : to raise awareness about human trafficking and promoting efforts to combat this serious issue.
• Theme : “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”.
• The day highlights the plight of victims, the need for effective responses, and the importance of global cooperation in tackling trafficking.

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Bathinda police started an initiative of ‘Nigraani’ (keeping a watch) by reconnecting village chowkidars (watchmen) with local police stations in Punjab.

• ‘Mission Nigraani’ is started on a pilot project basis in around 70 villages which are affected by drug-related issues.
• Additionaly, ‘Mission Nishchay’ was launched by Fazilka police in collaboration with the BSF and the village-level defence committees, reaching out to residents of villages along the India-Pakistan border to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs.

ANSWER : D

Current Context : India’s first integrated agri-export facility, set to be established at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, is a significant development for the country’s agricultural export sector.

• It will boost India’s agricultural export and import capabilities,
• The facility will cater to exports of prominent items like non-basmati rice, maize, spices, onion, and wheat.

ABOUT JAWAHAR LAL NEHRU PORT

• It is the largest container port in India and a crucial hub for international trade.
• It also known as Nhava Sheva Port.
• Location : Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra,
• It handles a significant portion of the country’s container cargo.

IMPORTANCE :

• Strategic Location: Situated on the Arabian Sea coast, JNP benefits from its proximity to major global shipping routes, making it a vital link in international trade.
• Capacity and Infrastructure: The port has extensive infrastructure, including multiple container terminals, cargo handling facilities, and warehousing.
• Economic Impact: It supports numerous industries by ensuring the efficient movement of goods.
• Integrated Facilities: The planned integrated agri-export facility at JNP reflects the port’s role in enhancing India’s export capabilities and supporting specific sectors like agriculture.

ANSWER : A

Current Context: Recently, The Central Water Commission (CWC) has been honoured with the  GEEF Global WaterTech Award under category ‘Water Department of the Year’.

ABOUT CWC

• The Central Water Commission (CWC) is a key organization in India responsible for water resources management and planning.
• Objective : to promote integrated and sustainable development and management of India’s water resources by using state-of-the-art technology and competency and by coordinating all stakeholders.
• Established in 1945 on advice of B.R. Ambedkar.
• Headed by Chairman, an Ex-officio Secretary to Government of India.
• Operated under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Three technical wings: Designs and Research Wing; Water Planning and Projects Wing; River Management Wing.
• Headquarters: in New Delhi, India.

 RECENT INITIATIVES:

• National Hydrology Project : This project aims to improve the management of water resources by modernizing the country’s hydrological data systems and enhancing forecasting capabilities.
• Integrated River Basin Management : Efforts to implement integrated approaches to managing river basins, focusing on balancing ecological needs with human demands.

ANSWER : C

Current Context : China is planning to build the world’s first nuclear power plant using molten thorium salt.

• It is a groundbreaking development in nuclear energy technology.

ABOUT MOLTEN SALT REACTORS (MSRS):

• MSRs are a type of nuclear reactor where the nuclear fuel is dissolved in a molten salt mixture.
• This technology differs from conventional reactors that use solid fuel rods.
• They are known for their potential safety benefits, higher efficiency, and reduced nuclear waste.

ABOUT THORIUM FUEL:

• Thorium is a naturally occurring element with radioactivity,is found at trace levels in soil, rocks, water, plants  and
• It is an alternative nuclear fuel to uranium.
• It is more abundant and has certain advantages, such as producing less long-lived radioactive waste compared to uranium and having a lower risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.
• Due to its physical characteristics, thorium cannot be used directly to produce nuclear energy. It has to be first converted to U-233 in a nuclear reactor. 
• Thorium reactors can also be more efficient in utilizing the nuclear fuel.
• Its reactor does not need water for cooling because it utilizes liquid salt or carbon dioxide to transfer heat and make electricity.
• Unlike the water-cooling model, this design significantly reduces the chances of meltdowns.

IN INDIA :

• Kerala and Odisha have rich reserves of monazite, which contains about 8 – 10% thorium.
• Monazite is also prominent in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

ANSWER : D

Current Context : Recently, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched Ideas4LiFE portal.

The portal ‘Ideas4Life.nic.in’ will allow participants to submit their ideas and innovations online.

ABOUT IDEAS4LIFE PORTAL

• Ideas4LiFE (Ideas for Low Carbon and Circular Economy) is an initiative designed to promote innovative solutions for reducing carbon emissions and fostering a circular economy.
• Aim : to encourage and motivate students, faculty and research scholars to contribute their innovative ideas to the global initiative of Mission LiFE.
• It focuses on bringing behavioral changes related to environmentfriendly lifestyles.

MISSION LIFE (LIFESTYLE FOR ENVIRONMENT)

• Launched in 2022.
• It is a significant initiative launched by the Government of India to promote environmentally sustainable practices and foster a culture of sustainability among citizens.
• By focusing on public engagement, collaboration, and innovation, the initiative seeks to create lasting positive impacts on the environment and contribute to global sustainability efforts.

ANSWER : B

Current Context : Recently, Uttar Pradesh government approved a 1,200 MW pumped storage power project in Sonabhadra district.

ABOUT PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER

• It is a type of hydroelectric power generation used to store and manage electrical energy.
• Pumped storage plants use the principle of gravity to generate electricity.
• It is a configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power as water moves down from one to the other (discharge), passing through a turbine.
• The system also requires power as it pumps water back into the upper reservoir (recharge).
• Central Electricity Authority estimates on-river pumped storage hydro potential in India to be 103 GW.

GLOBAL EXAMPLES OF PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER

1. Bath County Pumped Storage Station (USA): It is one of the largest pumped storage plants in the world, located in Virginia, with a capacity of around 3,000 MW.
2. Daya Bay Pumped Storage Station (China): A significant facility in Guangdong province, contributing to grid stability and energy storage in the region.
3. Festiniog Pumped Storage (UK): An older but still operational facility in Wales, providing valuable grid support and energy storage.

ANSWER : A

Current Context : ChaudharySarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur received  the ‘Outstanding Natural Farming Krishi Vigyan Kendra’ (KVK) award during the progress review-cum-awareness workshop on “Out Scaling of Natural Farming through KVK”.

 ABOUT AWARD :

• The “Natural Farming Krishi Vigyan Kendra” (KVK) award is given to institutions or individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of natural or sustainable farming practices.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) are agricultural extension centers in India that focus on training farmers and promoting innovative farming techniques.

 ABOUT NATURAL FARMING :

• Natural farming, also known as ecological or sustainable farming, is an agricultural approach that focuses on working with natural ecosystems rather than against them.
• Objective : to maintain or improve soil health, conserve biodiversity, and reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and artificial inputs.