Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 13, 2024

Answer: B

Hindi Diwas, or Hindi Day, is celebrated annually on September 14th in India.

• The day commemorates the adoption of Hindi as one of the official languages of India.
• Aim : to commemorate the date 14 September 1949 on which a compromise was reached during the drafting of the Constitution of India—on the languages that were to have official status in the Republic of India.

Answer: D

Current Context : The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for implementation of scheme titled ‘PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme’. 

• The scheme has an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over a period of two years and a Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) of ₹3,435.33 crore under PM-eBus Sewa in a boost to electrification of vehicles.

The major components of the scheme are as under:

• Subsidies and Incentives :Total subsidies/demand incentives of Rs.3,679 crore.
• Targets:79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, 14,028 e-buses.

Features:

• e-Vouchers System : Introduction of Aadhaar-authenticated e-vouchers for EV buyers.
  • Process involves buyer and dealer signatures, and e-voucher submission on the PM E-DRIVE portal.
• e-Ambulances : Allocation of Rs.500 crore for e-ambulances.
  • Performance and safety standards to be set in consultation with relevant ministries.
• e-Buses : 4,391 crore allocated for 14,028 e-buses for STUs/public transport agencies.
  • Focus on nine major cities and intercity/interstate buses.
  • Preference for buses replacing old vehicles through authorized scrapping centers.
• e-Trucks : Rs.500 crore allocated for incentivizing e-trucks.Incentives for trucks with scrapping certificates from approved centers.
• Public Charging Stations:2,000 crore for installing 22,100 fast chargers for e-4Ws, 1,800 for e-buses, and 48,400 for e-2W/3Ws.

Answer: C

Current Context : Nagaland government has approved the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Chumoukedima, Niuland, and Dimapur districts.

About ILP :

• The permit is an official travel document issued by the state government which allows entry of foreigners and Indian citizens of other states into Nagaland for a limited period.
• It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for entering into the protected state.
• The ILP system is based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, which established an “inner line” to limit movement in certain areas. The ILP is intended to protect the region’s wildlife, natural resources, and culture, and to help resolve illegal migration.
• The states which require the permit are: Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland

Answer: D

Current Context :  Afghanistan set to begin work on TAPI pipeline.

• Progress on the TAPI pipeline running through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India has been repeatedly delayed because of security issues in conflict-ravaged Afghanistan.

ABOUT TURKMENISTAN-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA (TAPI) GAS PIPELINE :

• It is an ambitious international infrastructure initiative aimed at transporting natural gas from Turkmenistan to India.
• Length : Approximately 1,814 kilometers long
• Capacity to transport up to 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year.
• Participant nations :
• Turkmenistan : Source of the gas.
• Afghanistan : Transit country, expected to gain from transit fees and infrastructure development.
• Pakistan : Transit country and an importer of gas.
• India : Final destination and major consumer of the gas.
• Supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Answer: B

Current Context:  Cabinet approves ‘Mission Mausam’ to create a more weather-ready and climate-smart Bharat with an outlay of Rs.2,000 crore over two years.

About Mission Mausam 

• It is envisaged to be a multi-faceted and transformative initiative to tremendously boost India’s weather and climate-related science, research, and services.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
• Timeframe : The mission runs until 2026.
• Procurement Goals :
• Up to 60 weather radars.
• 15 wind profilers.
• 15 radiosondes.
• Purpose: To provide regular updates on windspeeds, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature at different atmospheric elevations.

Answer: D

Current Context :  Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal launched the Trade Connect ePlatform provide comprehensive information on exports and imports.

• The online platform will be a one-stop medium for information about regulations, Free Trade Agreements, events, partnerships, customs, tariffs and concessions, and an overview of overseas buyers.
• it aims to assist both new and existing entrepreneurs by offering real-time access to trade-related data.
• The platform will be regularly updated and expanded to include additional services by 2025.
• It is developed in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME, EXIM Bank, TCS, Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Answer: A

Current Context : The SBI Foundation has launched the 3rd edition of its Asha Scholarship Program, supporting 10,000 meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds.

• Aim : to identifying and supporting meritorious students from the most underserved backgrounds, with a mission to make quality higher education accessible for young Indians.
• Eligibility : Students from Class 6 to the postgraduate level can avail of scholarships ranging from Rs15,000 to ₹20,00,000 in a year.
• It offers specialised categories for school students, undergraduates, postgraduates, as well as those enrolled in IITs and IIMs in India.
• The program includes categories for those in IITs, IIMs, and a special ‘Study Abroad’ category for SC and ST students.

Answer: B

Current Context :  Two anti-submarine warfare shallow watercrafts vessels (ASWCWC) of the Indian Navy were launched at Cochin Shipyard.

• The vessels are the fourth and fifth ships in the series of eight such watercraft.

ABOUT SHIPS

• Length : 78 meters long, 11.36 meters wide, and have a draught of about 2.7 meters.
• Speed of 25 knots and have an endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.
• Named as INS Malpe and INS Mulki.
• Each vessel has a displacement of approximately 900 tons.
• They are designed to accommodate an indigenously developed sonar for underwater surveillance.
• Each vessel has a total installed propulsion power of about 12 MW.
• Equipped with lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rockets, and mines and have a close-in weapon system with a 30mm gun. 

Answer: A

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh government has appointed retired IFS officer Rajiv Kumar as the new chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog, Hamirpur.

• Rajiv Kumar, a 1988 batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, previously served as the Chief Conservator of Forests in the state.
• In addition, two new members also been inducted into the Hamirpur Commission.
• The new members include retired Navy officer Rupan Bembe, a resident of Summerhill, Shimla, and Sukhdev Singh, a 2005 batch HAS officer.