Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 25, 2022

ANSWER: A

• Prime Minister has unveiled Varuna, India’s first passenger drone. PM Modi is seen watching the demonstration of the drone.
• Prime Minister asserted that the current government has ensured last-mile delivery of services with the help of technology, including drones.
• The Prime Minister was there to address the Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organization (NIIO)seminars Swavlamban which took place at Dr Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi.

Varuna drone:

• The makers of this indigenous pilot-less Varuna drone startup Sagar Defense Engineering demonstrated this in his presence.
• This Varuna drone has been designed and developed by a startup and has the capacity to carry one person inside.
• Varuna, India’s first drone that can carry a human payload, has a range of 25 km. The drone can carry a 130 kg payload and has 25-33 minutes of flight time.

ANSWER: D

• Aadi Krithigai is an important festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Adi or Aadi. In 2022, the date of Aadi Krithigai is July 23.
• The festival is dedicated to Lord Muruga or Subramanya. Incidentally, the festival is also referred as Aadi Krittika, Kirthigai, Kritika and Krithika.
• The festival is celebrated with fervor in the Murugan Temples in Tamil Nadu.

Story of Observing Aadi Krithigai

• As per some beliefs Muruga first appeared on earth on Aadi Krithigai day.
• Aadi Krithigai in some regions is celebrated to symbolize the victory of good over evil when Murugan slew the demon Surapadman. After the annihilation of the demon, Muruga blessed devotees with boons.
• According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Muruga was born as six different babies. And he was looked after by the six Krittika stars. Later, Lord Muruga was combined as a single baby with six heads by Goddess Parvati on Aadi Krithigai day. There are many variations to this legend. This is another reason for observing Aadi Krithigai.
• Krittikas, the six stars of the Pleiades, who happened to be traversing the skies, happened to hear the gurgling of a happy baby from the Saravana lake – a marshy lake in the Himalayas filled with a thicket of reeds.
• Flooded with maternal love, the six maidens rushed to pick up the charming infant. Each wanted to pick up the child. It is said that to fulfill the motherly affection of the six maidens, Muruga metamorphosed into six individual forms. The delighted krittikas each gathered a baby in their arms and suckled the infants and lavishing care on them.

The six babies represent synergy of

• Desire (Kama)
• Consciousness (Shiva)
• Earth (Parvati)
• Fir (Agni)
• Water (Ganga)
• Space (Krittika)

ANSWER: C

• PM Narendra Modi urges people to take part in paying digital tributes to freedom fighters.
• A sky beam light has been installed at Central Park in Delhi and every tribute paid will intensify the illumination of the Digital Jyot.
• Digital Jyot uses technology and enables people to share a heartfelt message of gratitude to freedom fighters.
• As per the Ministry of Culture, “the Digital Jyot symbolises the glow of freedom that illuminates our lives. It is surrounded by an illuminated metallic floral sculpture inspired by the courage and determination of our freedom fighters and martyrs.”
• The design is inspired by the “nature and flowers linked to ideas of hope, strength, and positivity.”

ANSWER: C

• Jodhpur’s Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) scientists for the first time have devised a ‘Calcium-Magnesium’ made a battery that is flawless and non-problematic in all aspects, low cost in their raw material availability and viability in manufacturing commercially.
• According to the researchers, Next-generation rechargeable batteries based on zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and aluminum (Al) are the most promising options.

Advantages:

• Lithium batteries’ fabrication and their reaction with nitrogen in the atmosphere is always dangerous leading to the fire. Whereas Calcium and Magnesium abundantly exist in marbles, tolerate heat up to 50 degrees Celsius of temperature, are available at a very low cost, have potential for recyclability, and have no disposable problems like Lithium made batteries.

Limitations:

• Besides the benefits, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have limitations and drawbacks that hinder their application for large-scale marketing and industrial applications.
• The main crisis of existing Lithium is going to be its import from Bolivia, Chilli, Brazil, USA, and China in the future as it is not produced enough in India’s Karnataka from original ore and whatever is available is usually required for Atomic Energy.

Industry expectation:

• There is an industry expectation that the market for lithium-ion batteries will expand from $30 billion in 2017 to $100 billion by 2025

ANSWER: C

• Israel has announced a plan to restore and develop the southern course of the Jordan River.
• The plan aims to increase the amount of water and cut pollution in the Israeli section of the river, with the establishment of a new desalination facility that will treat the polluted and salty water and make it suitable for agricultural purposes.
• The rehabilitation of the southern Jordan River is more essential than ever and is possible due to the restoration of Israel’s relations with Jordan, which allow both sides to address the issue jointly, along with international support.
• The Israeli section of the river will develop into a clean habitat with rich biodiversity and a tourist attraction.
• Presently, only about 70 million cubic meters of water flow in the southern course per year, mostly polluted and salty due to the activity of a nearby sewage treatment plant.

ANSWER: D

• China launched the second of three modules to its permanent space station, in one of the final missions needed to complete the orbiting outpost by year’s end.
• The 23-tonne Wentian (“Quest for the Heavens”) laboratory module launching on the back of China’s most powerful rocket, the Long March 5B, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan.
• China began constructing the space station in April 2021 with the launch of the Tianhe module, the main living quarters, in the first of 11 crewed and uncrewed missions in the undertaking.
• The Wentian lab module, 17.9 metres (59 feet) long, will be where astronauts can carry out scientific experiments, along with the other lab module yet to be launched – Mengtian (“Dreaming of the Heavens”).
• Wentian features an airlock cabin that is to be the main exit-entry point for extravehicular activities when the station is completed.
• It will also serve as short-term living quarters for astronauts during crew rotations on the station, designed for long-term accommodation of just three astronauts.
• Mengtian is expected to be launched in October and, like Wentian, is to dock with Tianhe, forming a T-shaped structure.
• On board the space station are Shenzhou-14 mission commander Chen Dong and team mates Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe. They are slated to return to Earth in December with the arrival of the Shenzhou-15 crew.

ANSWER: C

• Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said it would be doing away with the practice of reverse auctions — when companies bid to offer the lowest price — while awarding contracts for setting up wind ¬energy projects.
• India has committed to installing 60,000 MW of wind power projects by 2022, but has met only two thirds of the target.
• According to Indu Shekhar Chakravarty, Secretary, MNRE, there were complaints from the industry that e¬-reverse auctions are leading to tariffs being artificially lowered leading to unhealthy competition.
• While reverse auctionswere the norm for all renewable energy projects, including solar and wind projects since 2015, the government’s change of stance signals that the rock¬bottom prices associated with clean energy projects — per unit solar power costs have fallen to ₹2.40 a unit — do not reflect the true costs of renewable energy.

Reason for dip in health

• The cost of large tracts of land required to install wind turbines is among the reasons cited for the dwindling health of the sector.

ANSWER: C

• Tokyo Olympics javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra ended India’s 19-year-long wait for a medal at the World Athletics Championships after he clinched the silver medal at the 2022 meet with historic throw of 88.13m.
• This was India’s second medal at the World Championships and the first podium finish since Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal in long jump at Paris in 2003.
• It was only the fifth time that the javelin throw final was won with a 90m-plus throw in the 18 editions of the World Championships.

ANSWER: C

• Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar inaugurated a week-long Minjar Mela at the historic Chowgan in Chamba.
• This was Arlekar’s first visit to Chamba as Governor.
• Arlekar also talked about famous art works of the district — Chamba Rumal and Chamba Chappal.
• The Governor inaugurated the fair by hoisting the Minjar flag amid traditional ‘Kunjadi Malhar’ singing — a seasonal song of the Chamba region. He also inaugurated exhibitions organised by various departments and social organisations.
• Chamba Municipal Council president Neelam Nayyar presented Minjars to the Governor.
• The Minjar, which is a silk tassel worn on the costumes by men, women and children during the fair, symbolises maize and paddy shoots.
• A procession was also taken out, which passed through the main market of the city to Laxminath temple and reached the Pink Palace.
• In Minjar Mela, traditional singers sings ‘Kunjadi Malhar’ in the evenings. Kunjadi refers to Kunja birds (Great Egrets) which fly over the Chowgan ground in the evenings during monsoon and Malhar is the raga for monsoon.
• During the time of the royals or before the Partition, Abdals — a community of Muslim singers who had migrated to Chamba state from Avadh — used to sing ‘Kunjadi Malhar’ in the evenings.

ANSWER: A

• Recently, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur called on Vice-Chairman of the Niti Aayog, Suman Bery, in New Delhi.
• CM discussed various important issues pertaining to the state with him and apprised him about the efforts of the state towards strengthening of air connectivity in the state.
• He said that a joint venture agreement has been signed between the state government and Airports Authority of India (AAI) for construction of Greenfield Airport in Mandi.
• He also requested for a special assistance grant of Rs 1,000 crore during the current financial year for strengthening air connectivity in the state.