Weekly Current Affairs: Quizzes 08/08/2022 to 15/08/2022

EXPLANATION:

• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) stipulated that state governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco fragile zones or Eco Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. However, the Environment Protection Act, 1986 does not mention the word “Ecosensitive Zones". Hence statement 1 is not correct. 
• The same criteria have been used by the government to declare No Development Zones also. While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general principle, the extent of its application can vary. Areas beyond 10-km can also be notified by the Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically important “sensitive corridors.” Eco-sensitive zones may not be uniform all around and it could be variable width and extent. Hence statement 2 is not correct. (148 words)

EXPLANATION: 

• Varanasi has been selected as the SCO region’s first “Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2022-23. Varanasi’ “Cultural and Tourism Capital” has been decided under a new rotating initiative to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states. Each year a city of the cultural heritage of a member country that will take over the rotating Presidency of the organisation will get the title to highlight its prominence. Hence option 1 is correct. 
• Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan, are the member states Turkmenistan is not the member of SCO. Hence statement 2 is not correct. 
• SCO objectives are, Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states. Promoting effective cooperation in -politics, trade & economy, research & technology and culture. Enhancing ties in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, etc. Maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region. Establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political & economic order. Hence statement 3 is correct. (159 words)

EXPLANATION: 

• It would be portrayed as a customer who is aware of their rights as consumers and seeking answers to the issues they are having. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. 
• It would help to generate consumer awareness about the various government initiatives like: Provisions of Consumer Protection Act 2019 Hallmarking National Consumer Helpline toll free number 1915 Provisions of weights & measures Act Decisions of the Central Consumer Protection Authority Testimonials by consumers on grievance redressal The Department of Consumer Affairs Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has introduced Jagriti Mascot. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. 
• In numerous media campaigns, it would be displayed with the slogan "Jago Grahak Jago."

EXPLANATION:

• Project 17A Frigates calls for the development of seven stealth frigates that will be hard to detect using radar or sonar equipment. Hence, statement 1 is correct. 
• The key advanced stealth characteristics of the P-17A include the ship's lower radar crosssection, which is achieved by using a modified superstructure form that decreases radar wave reflections. The ships under Project 17A are: INS Nilgiri INS Himgiri INS Udaygiri INS Dunagiri, Hence, statement 2 is correct. 
• Brahmos SSM, LRSAM (Forward & Aft configuration) with MF STAR radar, indigenous Sonar, and Triple tube Heavy Torpedo launcher are the main armament and sensor suite of P-17A ships. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. (108 words)

EXPLANATION: 

• Union Culture Ministry and Google launched ‘India Ki Udaan’ initiative, which will capture the milestones the country has achieved in its 75 year journey since independence. The project which has been launched in collaboration with Search Giant Google, the initiative is aimed at celebrating India’s achievements through an online repository of arts and cultural artifacts. Hence, statement 1 is correct. 
• The project is being spearheaded by Google Arts and Culture, which has developed an online repository of artistic illustrations to tell the story of India. The central theme of the India Ki Udaan project is ‘the unwavering and undying spirit of India over these past 75 years". Under this theme, Google India will put-up an online exhibit of informative content that showcases India’s contributions and journey in the last 75 years. The initiative is being organized as part of the Government's year-long 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' programme" - country-wide celebrations to mark 75 Years of India’s Independence. Hence, statement 2 is correct. 

EXPLANATION:

• Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had earlier served as the Governor of West Bengal, has been elected as the 14th Vice President of India with 528 votes against Opposition Candidate Margaret Alva's 182. Ms Alva, who is an ex-Union Minister and 5-time Congress MP, was an Opposition candidate for Vice President’s Post. Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar was Vice Presidential Candidate for BJP-led NDA alliance. Mr. Dhankar began his political journey in 1989–91, when he became a member of parliament from the Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha constituency under the aegis of Janata Dal. but quickly shifted to BJP in 2008. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The vice president is elected indirectly, by an electoral college consisting of members (elected as well as nominated) of both Houses of Parliament, by the system of proportional representation using single transferable votes and the voting is by secret ballot. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Ramsar Sites in India 2022: India has designated 10 more wetlands as Ramsar sites, taking the total tally of Ramsar Sites in India to 64. The Ramsar sites in India now cover a total area of 12,50,361 ha. The 10 new Ramsar sites in India include six in Tamil Nadu and one each in Goa, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. India had earlier designated five new Ramser sites, three wetlands in Tamil Nadu, one in Mizoram and one in Madhya Pradesh. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The designation of these sites as Ramsar sites will help in the conservation and management of these wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, which is also known as The Convention on Wetlands.It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The world's largest floating solar power plant will be built on Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh at an estimated cost of over Rs 3000 crores. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The floating power plant is expected to generate about 600 Megawatt of power by 2022-23. The world's largest floating solar power plant in India is being built to increase the power generation capacity and address electricity problems in Madhya Pradesh. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The world's largest floating solar power plant will be spread over 100 square kilometers. The hydel project will involve producing energy from water. The new floating solar plant will make Khandwa the only district in Madhya Pradesh to have all three things- thermal power station, hydel and solar power. This will enable the generation of over 4,000MW of power from a single district. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Justice Uday U Lalit is set to become the 49th Chief Justice of India. The Chief Justice of India NV Ramana recommended Justice UU Lalit's name as his successor on August 4, 2022. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The current Chief Justice of India NV Ramana is scheduled to retire on August 27, 2022. The new Chief Justice of India will have a short tenure of less than three months. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• He will be the only second judge after Justice SM Sikri (CJI from 1971-1973) to be elevated from the bar to the post of the Chief Justice of India.Justice UU Lalit was appointed a judge in the Supreme Court of India in August 2014. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• AzaadiSAT was an Indian Earth observation 8U Cubesat weighing around 8 kg developed by Space Kidz India as a test payload on the maiden launch of the small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV). It was hitching a ride with EOS-02, the primary satellite of the mission. The launch on 7 August 2022 was a failure leading to an imminent return to the atmosphere for the rocket and the satellites (AzaadiSAT and EOS-02) it carried, destroying them all. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It was created to mark India’s 75th year of independence. This anniversary was marked in 2022 by the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations throughout the country, and the CubeSat was part of this campaign. AzaadiSAT was built by schoolgirls from 75 schools across India. 10 girls from each school were involved, for a total of 750 students involved. The mission was created to give girls from lower-income backgrounds the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of spaceflight, as part of the United Nations theme of “women in space.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Breaking the glass ceiling, Dr. Kalaiselvi N has become the 1st Woman Director-General of CSIR. This is not the first time that Dr. Kalaiselvi is in news. Prior to taking over as CSIR’s 1st Woman Director, she was also the first woman director of the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute at Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu. In her role as the Director-General of CSIR, she will lead the network of 38 laboratories and nearly 4,500 scientists for a period of two years. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is India’s largest research organization and is run as a consortium of 38 state-run research institutes across the country. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, abbreviated was established by the Government of India in September 1942 as an autonomous body that has emerged as the largest research and development organization in India. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Dr Kalaiselvi is known for her work on lithium-ion batteries. During her tenure at CSIR-CECRI, she focused on electrochemical power systems and the development of electrode materials. This is the first time in its 80 years that CSIR has appointed a woman Director-General. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• On August 8, 2022, Him Drone-e-thon Programme was unveiled by the Indian Army, in association with the Drone Federation of India. The programme was launched in line with “make in India in defense manufacturing”. India has avoided importing drones and its components with the objective of encouraging domestic drone manufacturing, boosting investments and incentivizing domestic drone manufacturers. Import of drones is allowed for limited activities only, after getting import authorization. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It aims to catalyze and provide focused opportunities for the Indian drone ecosystem, in a bid to build drone capabilities for meeting the needs of Indian troops at the frontline. The Indian Army is supporting the indigenous drone ecosystem based on the notion that; ‘good available indigenously’ is better as compared to ‘best available globally. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The ‘Him Drone-a-thon’ is a pan-India programme. It seeks to connect all the stakeholders including industry, software developers, academia, and drone product manufacturers. The programme will be conducted in stages, in which quantifiable parameters such as weight, altitude, range, endurance etc, would be enhanced progressively on the basis of demonstrated capabilities. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.