ANSWER: C
WHY IN NEWS?
World Suicide Prevention Day was observed on September 10, 2021.
About:
Cases of Suicide
Suicide is an act of intentionally taking one’s life. It has become a major public health issue in the time of Covid-19 pandemic and periods of lockdowns. As per report, every 40 seconds someone take their life in world. Around 75% of the cases are reported from low and middle-income countries. In 2019, 1.3% of deaths were due to suicide. According to the World Health Organization, suicide is a global phenomenon, which was the 17th leading cause of death in 2019.
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
IASP is an international suicide prevention organization, which was founded by Erwin Ringel and Norman Farberow in 1960. The organization is dedicated to prevent suicidal behaviour and provide a forum for mental health professionals, suicide survivors, crisis workers and other people affected by suicidal behaviour. It comprises of professionals and volunteers from 50 countries.
ANSWER: A
WHY IN NEWS?
World’s largest plant that has been designed to suck carbon dioxide (CO2) from air and turn it into rock was started recently in Iceland.
About:
Who constructed the plant?
Orca plant has been constructed by Switzerland’s Clime works and Iceland’s Carbfix.
Plant’s capacity
When the plant will operate at its full capacity, it will draw 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) from air every year. As per US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this amount is equal to the emissions from about 870 cars.
How CO2 will be collected?
In order to collect the CO2, Orca plant uses fans to draw air into the collector comprising of filter material inside. Once the filter material is filled with carbon dioxide, collector is closed and temperature is raised to release the carbon dioxide from the material. Following this process, highly concentrated gas can be collected. Collected CO2 is mixed with water and are injected at a depth of 1,000 metres into nearby basalt rock where it is petrified.
Significance of the plant
As per the proponents of carbon capture and storage (CCS), these technologies can become a major tool towards the fight against climate change.
What are the concerns?
This technology is still prohibitively expensive and will take decades to operate at larger scale.
ANSWER: A
WHY IN NEWS?
Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri and U.S. Secretary of Energy Ms. Jennifer Granholm, co-chaired a virtual Ministerial meeting and launched the revamped U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).
About:
Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP)
India-US cooperation on renewable energy fuel
Both sides will put emphasis on upscaling cooperation under renewable energy pillar by working on various projects and system-friendly practices in the renewable energy sector. They also seek to strengthen electric grid in India to extend support to large-scale integration of renewables including smart grids, flexible resources, energy storage, and distributed energy resources.
Gas Task Force
They also announced renaming the Gas Task Force to India-US Low Emissions Gas Task Force. This task force will continue to forge collaboration between Indian and US companies on innovative projects to provide support to India’s vision of gas-based economy.
ANSWER: C
WHY IN NEWS?
Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Bharati Pravin Pawar, inaugurated “Digital Population Clock”.
About:
Highlights of the minister’s address
Population Research Centres (PRCs)
Minister noted the role played by Population research centres in carrying research on contemporary issues because population estimation is critical in distribution and access to public goods.
What is the purpose of Population clock?
Population clock was launched in order to provide minute by minute estimate of India’s population. It will also capture data on Total Fertility Rate, Infant Mortality Rate as well as Maternal Mortality Rate. It will help in raising awareness in young generations and conducting research
ANSWER: C
WHY IN NEWS?
Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh met Minister for Climate, Energy & Utilities of Denmark, Dan Jorgensen in New Delhi.
About:
Green Strategic Partnership
India and Denmark launched the Green Strategic Partnership in the year 2020 to deliver the sustainable solutions in India. For this, Ministry of Commerce & Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Intellectual Property (IP) Cooperation with Denmark. Green Strategic Partnership focuses on expanding green growth, economic ties and cooperation on global challenges like climate change.
What is green growth?
Green growth is the path of economic growth which uses natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Key points of Green Strategic Partnership
ANSWER: B
WHY IN NEWS?
According to Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Government inked a ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) Khaplang (K), led by Nikki Sumi.
About:
Background
Nikki Sumi had expressed his willingness to sign the ceasefire agreement with the government in December 2020. However, he was not able to present to sign the deal because of ill health.
Why peace pact was needed?
According to Ministry of Home Affairs, this peace process was signed with the aim of fulfilling Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘insurgency free and prosperous North East. It will also be a significant step for the Naga peace process.
Pact between Government and other factions of NSCN
Central Government has also signed peace pact with other factions of National Socialist Council of Nagaland- NSCN (NK), NSCN (R), and NSCN (K)- Khango.
Naga Peace Accord
The framework agreement for Naga Peace Accord was inked between Central Government and NSCN (IM) group on August 3, 2015. Before this framework agreement, NSCN (K) had revoked the peace pact with the government in March 2015. This pact was signed to end the insurgency in Nagaland.
ANSWER: B
WHY IN NEWS?
Minister of State of Jal Shakti Ministry, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, launched the “Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021” under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase -II.
About:
Aim of the Phase two of SBM (G)
This programme was launched with the aim of supporting acceleration of ODF (Open defecation free) Plus interventions and increase momentum of improving ODF Sustainability and Solid & Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) activities in villages. It seeks to achieve the goal of comprehensive cleanliness.
ODF Declaration
India achieved the challenge of ODF declaration of all villages in mission mode in five years period of 2014-2019. The vision of Swachh Bharat triggered the Behavior Change to end open defecation by construction of more than 10 crore toilets. It also led to Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to address water security.
SSG 2021 mobile App
Under this phase, a mobile app named “SSG 2021 mobile app” will also be made available in major local Indian languages. App will help in getting feedback from citizens and using it survey will be well monitored through frequent field visits.
Swachh Bharat Initiative
Swachh Bharat initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. Under it, a national behaviour change movement was started comprising of two primary yardsticks that is, Transparency and people’s participation. With the help of this movement, Swachh Bharat initiative succeeded in achieving its goal of safe sanitation across rural India.
ANSWER: D
WHY IN NEWS?
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over the first deliverable Firing Unit (FU) of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) System to Indian Air Force (IAF).
About:
Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM)
MRSAM is an advanced network centric combat Air Defence System. It was jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in collaboration with Indian industry consisting of private and public sectors as well as MSMEs. It is a surface-to-air-missile, 4.5m in length. Contract for MRSAM programme was signed in February 2009. Under the contract, IAF was to buy 450 MRSAMs and 18 firing units at the value of $2bn.
Firing Unit
Firing unit of MRSAM comprises of Missiles, Mobile Launcher Systems (MLS), Combat Management System (CMS), Advanced Long-Range Radar, Reloader Vehicle (RV), Mobile Power System (MPS), Radar Power System (RPS), and Field Service Vehicle (FSV).
Significance of MRSAM system
MRSAM system provides point and area air defence for ground assets against threats like fighter aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, sub-sonic & supersonic cruise missiles guided & unguided munitions, etc. This system is capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges up to 70 kms in severe saturation cases. It is powered by indigenously developed rocket motor and control system which helps in achieving high manoeuvrability during the terminal phase.
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