Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 13, 2022

ANSWER: A

• Ukraine has become an associate member of the Multilateral Interoperability Program (MIP), which takes care of the technical cooperation of the armies of NATO member states.
• According to the ministry, the associate membership in the MIP gives Ukraine a right to join the development and introduction of key NATO standards related to the interaction of combat control systems and related practices.
• The MIP is a program of technological cooperation between the Armed Forces of NATO member states, which was established at the level of national developers of combat control information systems and aims to achieve interoperability of national C2IS systems.
• Recently, the western military alliance formally invited Sweden and Finland to join during the NATO summit.

ANSWER: C

• The Health Department has sounded alert over reports of deadly Nairobi fly sneaking into the eastern region of Bihar from neighbouring West Bengal and Sikkim and attacking some local residents.
• According to Reports the deadly fly has invaded at least three eastern Bihar districts, such as Purnia, Kishanganj and Araria, causing panic in the border region. Health officials said the fly took seven days to reach Kishanganj from Sikkim and given their flying speed, this fly can reach Patna in the next 21 days.
• Nairobi flies, also called Kenyan flies or dragon bugs, are small, beetle-like insects that belong to two species, Paederus eximius and Paederus sabaeus. They are orange and black in colour, and thrive in areas with high rainfall, as has been witnessed in Sikkim in the past few weeks. Like most insects, the beetles are attracted by bright light.
• As per the Health Department, Nairobi flies do not bite or sting. However, if disturbed while sitting on anyone’s body, they release a potent acidic substance that causes burns.
• The toxin causing these burns is called pederin. Usually, the insects attack pests that consume crops and are beneficial for humans — but at times, they come in contact with humans directly and cause harm.

ANSWER: D

• According to Iranian Embassy After signing its first memorandum of obligations in Uzbekistan at this year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in Samarkand in September, Iran’s accession to the full membership of the Euroasia-spanning organization will be finalized by April 2023.
• Samarkand is a city in southeastern Uzbekistan, where the 2022 annual summit of the SCO Heads of State Council is to be held on September 15-16.
• Earlier, according to Russia that Iran is slated to join the SCO as a full-pledged member state this year and a memorandum of Iran’s obligations as a SCO member will also be signed in Samarkand.
• Iran has also approached the SCO with a proposal to create a new single currency for carrying out trade among SCO members, in a push to counter the increasing weaponization of the US dollar-dominated global financial system.

ANSWER: C

• The Financial Stability Board (FSB) would propose “robust” global rules for cryptocurrencies in October, following the recent turmoil in markets that has highlighted the need to regulate this “speculative” sector.
• The FSB – a body of regulators, Treasury officials and central bankers from the Group of 20 (G-20) economies – has so far limited itself to monitoring the crypto sector, saying the industry does not seem to pose a systemic risk.
• But the recent turmoil has highlighted the crypto markets’ volatility, structural vulnerabilities and increasing links to the wider financial system.
• According to FSB, the failure of a market player, in addition to imposing potentially large losses on investors and threatening market confidence arising from crystallisation of conduct risks, can also quickly transmit risks to other parts of the crypto-asset ecosystem.
• The value of Bitcoin – the largest cryptocurrency – has slumped some 70 per cent since its November record of US$69,000 (S$97,000). It was trading at US$20,422 on Monday, leaving many investors nursing losses.
• The Terra USD stable coin collapsed earlier this year, and withdrawals and transfers from major crypto firms Celsius Network and Voyager Digital have rattled markets.
• According to FSB, Stable coins should be captured by robust regulation if they are to be used as a means of payment.
• FSB would report to the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors in October “on regulatory and supervisory approaches to stable coins and other crypto assets”.
• The FSB has no law-making powers, but its members commit to applying its regulatory principles in their own jurisdictions.
• Many countries require crypto firms to have anti-money laundering controls.

ANSWER: D

• According to recent health report by ASSOCHAM, Air pollution is the topmost cause for the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in India.
• According to the report, 76 percent of the population with NCDs is exposed to high air pollution. It also suggests that nearly 29 per cent of the population is exposed to high levels of household pollution, while 20 per cent is exposed to air pollution at the workplace.
• According to the report, after pollution, low physical activity and high stress levels are the most prevalent factors, while alcohol consumption, smoking and excessive intake of sugary drinks and red meat are the least prevalent factors leading to NCDs.
• “The report makes an alarming observation that NCDs increase after 18 years and show a quantum leap when an individual crosses the age of 35. More than two-thirds of people suffering from these diseases are in the most productive life age group – between 26 and 50 years.
• The recent Covid onslaught and the higher mortality rate among patients with NCDs (comorbidities) have brought the focus back on preventive healthcare. “Despite challenging circumstances, several laudable steps have been taken by the Government of India to address this mounting concern. A population-based initiative for screening, prevention, and control of common NCDs has been rolled out under the National Health Mission and as part of Comprehensive Primary Healthcare.
• The preventive aspect of NCDs is also strengthened through the Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centre scheme by promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level.
• The rising levels of pollution across the country especially pose a serious threat to expecting mothers. Multiple studies have established a direct link between air pollution and premature birth.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the annual deaths caused by NCDs will increase to 55 million by 2030, if timely preventive interventions are not made.
• For India, a vast population combined with rapid urbanization and people’s changing lifestyle makes the problem even more complex.

ANSWER: C

• According to the Ministry of Science and Technology that Scientists have identified co-dopants that can increase the photovoltaic performance of transparent metal oxides such as ZnO, In2O3 and SnO2 thereby creating potential for more efficient, better performing and more stable solar cells.
• The study has been published in the Journal of Power Resources shows the benefits of codopants in increasing the photovoltaic performance, repeatability, and stability in solar devices.
• Perovskites are a leading candidate for eventually replacing silicon as the material of choice for solar panels. Perovskite solar cell consists of a perovskite layer as the light absorber, sandwiched between the electron transport layer (ETL) coated with transparent conducting glass and hole transport layer (HTL) coated with a metal back contact electrode.
• A research team from Department of Physics, Alagappa University group focused on the electron transport layer of solar cell devices which is made up of transparent metal oxides.
• Cross-sectional morphologies of Perovskite films that had been prepared were analysed utilising Field emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, while elemental and chemical characteristics were examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, Kratos AXIS Supra) supported by DST-Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE).
• The study concluded that perovskite materials-based solar cells are cost-effective compared to commercial silicon-based solar cells.

ANSWER: A

• Arjun Babuta came up with a stunning performance to register a scintillating victory against Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Lucas Kozeniesky of America to win the men’s 10m Air Rifle event in the ongoing ISSF World Cup.
• According to Arjun Babuta , Khelo India has helped a lot in shaping and preparing for big events and taught me how to handle pressure. Khelo Games acts as a launchpad for Indian athletes and does help a lot in the overall development.
• The 23-year-old shooter is from Punjab.

ANSWER: B

• The Himachal Government and Skye Air signed an agreement to enable drone delivery within the state, which faces severe connectivity issues due to difficult terrain.
• The agreement was formalised in the presence of Mukesh Repaswal, Managing Director, HPSEDC, and Anil Semwal, General Manager, HP State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC), and Shrikant Sarda, co-founder and director (Govt Business), Skye Air Mobility.
• The drone technology-based logistics firm has entered into an agreement with the HPSEDC to lend its support by offering payload as service throughout the state.
• The empanelment of various drone service providers and companies is being carried out as part of the Project GARUD. Skye Air has been empaneled with the HPSEDC for the provision of drones as a service.
• Skye Air will be using its most reliable UAV, Skye Ship One, to facilitate real-time deliveries. It has already undertaken two successful drone delivery projects in Himachal in the past.
• It delivered vaccines and medicines over a distance of 12 km from Dharamsala to Tanda Medical College using its small category drone named Skye Ship One.
• In February this year, the technology was used in Chamba district to connect six primary health centres and community health centres via multiple flights between points covering an aerial distance of 170 km throughout the trial.

ANSWER: D

• Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, visited the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Saloh village in Haroli.
• He also interacted with IIIT Director S Selva Kumar and Registrar Amarnath Gill.
• The campus of the IIIT, one of the premier institutes, had been constructed on a 560-acre plot.
• According to the Union Minister, a sum of Rs 128 crore has been spent on the construction of the academic campus and hostels, adding that the newly constructed IIIT building would be dedicated to the nation as soon as the sports infrastructure was complete.

ANSWER: A

• Under the Go Green Initiative of the Union and State governments, 417 households in Una district have installed roof top solar power plants and received a subsidy amounting to Rs 5.4 crores.
• According to Sohan Singh, Project Officer at the Una office of HIMURJA, the Union government provides a subsidy of 40 per cent on the total cost of solar plant up to 3-kilowatt capacity, while there is a subsidy component of 20 per cent for plants having capacity above 3 kilowatts and up to 10 kilowatts.
• According to Project Officer, the expenses per kilowatt of installation is Rs 48,000 to Rs 50,000 and the consumers can sell extra power generated to the state electricity board.
• Power sale proceeds get deposited in the bank account of the beneficiary.