ANSWER: B

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: D

ANSWER: B

• This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Maputo Protocol.
• It was adopted by the African Union in Maputo, Mozambique in 2003 in the form of a Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
  • It came into effect in 2005.
• It covers a wide range of issues, including political, economic, social, and cultural rights of women.
• It guarantees women’s rights to dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, as well as emphasizes their right to participate in decision-making processes at all level.
• Of the 55 AU member states, 44 have ratified the protocol.
• Full domestication of the Protocol provisions into the national legislature has, in many cases, been slow or ineffective.
• The Protocol guarantees extensive rights to African women and girls and includes progressive provisions on-
  • Harmful traditional practices, e.g. child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
  • Reproductive health and rights.
  • Roles in political processes.
  • Economic empowerment.
  • Ending violence against women.

ANSWER: C

• The Namda craft of Kashmir is being successfully revived under a Skill India’s Pilot Project as part of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), with nearly 2,200 candidates from across six districts of the state, receiving training in the dying art form.

ABOUT NAMDA ART

• Namda craft is a rug made of sheep wool through felting technique instead of normal weaving process.
• Namda Art is said to have begun when Mughal Emperor Akbar wanted to get a covering for his horses to protect them from the cold.
• It originated in the 16^th century and was introduced by a Sufi saint named Shah-e-Hamdan.
• Namda works are used in the form of carpets, rugs, floor mats and are used as floor coverings and home decor.

ANSWER: A

• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched BHARAT Campaign for banks under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
• It is a month-long Campaign with a target of Rs 7200 crore.
• It aims to get active involvement and support of members of commercial Banks in the public and private sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks in promoting the Scheme of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

ABOUT AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

• It is a Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 2020.
• AIF is a financing facility for creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets.
• The duration of the scheme is from FY2020 to FY2029 (10 years).
• AIF provides support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loan of up to 2 crore and facility of convergence with other Central and State Government schemes.
• Eligible beneficiaries include farmers, FPOs, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, SHGs etc.

ANSWER: A

• Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar led a three-member Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation to Cartagena, Colombia to attend the 11^th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).

ABOUT A-WEB

• The Association of World Election Bodies is the largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide with 119 EMBs as Members & 20 Regional Associations/Organisations as Associate Members.
• A-WEB was founded in October, 2013 in Seoul, South Korea on the shared vision among its members of achieving sustainable democracy around the world through the strengthening of the processes of election management in member countries.
• ECI has been very closely associated with the process of formation of A-WEB since 2011-12 and has been its Executive Board Member, since its inception in October 2013 for two consecutive terms (2013-15 and 2015-17).
• ECI took over as Vice-Chairperson of A-WEB for 2017-19 term; as Chair for 2019-22 term and is presently a member of its Executive Board for 2022-24 in its capacity as immediate former Chair of A-WEB.
• In November 2022 ECI handed over the A-WEB Chairmanship from ECI to Election Commission of South Africa, after leading the EMBs successfully during the covid pandemic (2019-2022).
• A-WEB organises capacity building programmes for its member EMBs and undertakes Election Visitor and Observation Programmes in various countries to study election management practices and share knowledge with other member EMBs.
• In India A-WEB Centre has been established at New Delhi for documentation and research for sharing the best practices and training and capacity building of officials of A-WEB members.

ANSWER: B

• ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 was launched successfully recently.

ABOUT CHANDRAYAAN-3

• Chandrayaan-3 was launched using LVM3 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III).
• It was a follow on mission to Chandrayaan-2, which was a partial success, because its lander Vikram, and rover Pragyaan, crashed on Moon’s surface.
• Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) (previously known as GSLV-MK III) is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellants S200 strap-ons on its sides and a core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.
• The vehicle is also dubbed as one of the heaviest for its ability to carry satellites up to 8,000 kg.
• Chandrayaan-3 consists of an indigenous propulsion module, lander module, and a rover to develop and demonstrate new technologies required for inter-planetary missions.
• Lander and rover will collect invaluable data for scientific research on lunar surface for 14 Earth days (a single day on moon).
• The mission objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are:
  • To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface
  • To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and
  • To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

PAYLOADS

• Lander payloads:
  • Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature;
  • Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site;
  • Langmuir Probe (LP) to estimate the plasma density and its variations.
  • A passive Laser Retroreflector Array from NASA is accommodated for lunar laser ranging studies.
• Rover payloads:
  • Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of landing site.

ANSWER: D

• Extensive deposits of phosphate rocks, enough to meet the electric power demand for the next 50 years, have been discovered in Norway, according to Norge Mining, a government organisation.
• Phosphorus plays a key role in the production of lithium-iron phosphate batteries which are utilised in electric cars.
• In addition to vanadium and titanium, the Norwegian phosphates are said to contain valuable materials.

ANSWER: C

• The centuries-old Panchvaktra temple of Mandi district has emerged as a centre of immense religious faith as it emerged intact in flooded Beas after torrential rains.
• The temple of Lord Shiva is stated to be over 300 years old.
• Temple is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).