Category: science & Technology

Assam Current Affairs – August 13-15, 2024

Posted on by admin

Assam and North East Current Affairs & GK- August 13-15, 2024

(Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for August 13-15, 2024)

New Orchid Species Discovered in Sikkim

A unique orchid species- Gastrodia indica, was recently discovered in Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim, by botanist Madhusudan Khanal.

About Gastrodia indica: 

  • Gastrodia indica was found at an altitude of 1,950 to 2,100 meters.
  • It is the first orchid from India that never opens its flower. 
  • This is the first cleistogamous species of the genus Gastrodia discovered from India. 
  • The Gastrodia genus is known for terrestrial, herbaceous, and holomycotrophic orchids. 
  • Cleistogamous plants are highly specialized, as they do not depend on external pollinators like insects or wind for reproduction. 
  • Gastrodia indica is a holomycotrophic plant, meaning it depends entirely on fungi for its nutrients because it lacks chlorophyll.
  • It grows in moist, decaying leaf litter and is found near tree species like Magnolia doltsopa and Acer campbelli. 
  • Gastrodia indica faces potential threats due to its limited population and specific habitat requirements.

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): 2024

Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024. 

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 were released for 16 categories this year, three more than last year, with open universities, skill universities, and State public universities being the three new categories.

 

NIRF Ranking 2024:  

  • Engineering Institutes: IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay
  • Universities: IISc, Bengaluru JNU, New Delhi, JMI New Delhi 
  • Overall Institutes: IIT Madras, IISc, Bengaluru, IIT Bombay
  • Management Institutes: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode 
  • Medical Colleges: AIIMS, New Delhi PGIMER, Chandigarh Christian Medical College, Vellore 
  • Colleges: Hindu College, Delhi Miranda House, Delhi St. Stephen’s College, Delhi 
  • State Universities: Anna University, Chennai Jadavpur University, Kolkata Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 
  • Law Institutes: National Law School of India University, Bengaluru National Law University, Delhi NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad 
  • Architecture and Planning Institutes: IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, NIT Calicut 
  • Open Universities: IGNOU, Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad
  • Innovation: IIT Bombay IIT Madras IIT Hyderabad 
  • Agriculture and Allied Sectors: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 
  • Research Institutes: IISc, Bengaluru IIT Madras IIT Delhi
  • Medical: AIIMS Delhi topped the category. 
  • Dental: Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, and Manipal College of Dental Sciences retained the top two positions. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi,  secured third position. 

 

About NIRF: 

  • Introduced by: Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 2015 
  • Aims to provide a fair and transparent assessment of higher education institutions in India. 
  • Evaluation Parameters: NIRF evaluates institutions based on five broad categories.
  1. Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR) 
  2. Research, Professional Practice, and Collaborative Performance (RPC) 
  3. Graduation Outcomes (GO) 
  4. Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) 
  5. Perception (PR)

Gallantry Awards 2024

President Smt Droupadi Murmu has approved 103 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day 2024. 

These are:  four Kirti Chakras including three posthumous; 18 Shaurya Chakras including four posthumous; one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry); 63 Sena Medals (Gallantry) including two posthumous; 11 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry); and six Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). 

Gallantry Awards 

Kirti Chakra 

  • Total Awards: 4 (including 3 posthumous) 
  • Instituted in 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Class-II, renamed Kirti Chakra in 1967. 
  • Awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. 
  • The medal is circular in shape, made of standard silver. The obverse features an embossed replica of the Ashoka Chakra surrounded by a lotus wreath. 
  • The ribbon is green, divided into three equal parts by two orange vertical lines.

 

Shaurya Chakra 

  • Total Awards: 18 (including 4 posthumous)
  • Instituted in 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Class-III, renamed in 1967. Awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The medal is circular in shape with the Ashoka Chakra in the center, surrounded by a lotus wreath. 
  • Ribbon is green divided by three vertical lines. Bars are awarded for subsequent acts of gallantry. 

 

Sena Medal (Gallantry) 

  • Total Awards: 64 (including 2 posthumous and 1 Bar).
  • Awarded to personnel of the Indian Army for acts of bravery or exceptional service. 
  • The Bar recognizes additional acts of bravery. 

Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) 

  • Total Awards: 11 
  • Gallantry award for the Indian Navy, recognizing exceptional devotion to duty or courage. 

Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) 

  • Total Awards: 6 
  • Instituted in 1960 to recognize exceptional devotion to duty or acts of courage by Air Force personnel. 
  • Includes awards for individual acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

 

Mention-in-Despatches 

The President has also approved 39 Mention-in-Despatches, including to Army Dog Kent (posthumous) for their significant contributions in different military operations. 

The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Sahayata, Operation Hifazat, Operation Orchid and Operation Katchal.

  • Operation Rakshak: Ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir. 
  • Operation Snow Leopard: Response to standoff with Chinese forces along the LAC in Ladakh. 
  • Operation Sahayata: Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. 
  • Operation Orchid: Counter-insurgency in the Naga Hills and Tuensang area of Nagaland. 
  • Operation Hifazat: Counter-insurgency in the Nagaland-Manipur-Arunachal Pradesh area. 

 

Police Medals President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) 

President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG): The highest police decoration for bravery, awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, preventing crime, or arresting criminals. 

1 PMG awarded to Shri Chaduvu Yadaiah, Head Constable of Telangana Police, for his extraordinary bravery during a violent confrontation with criminals involved in chain-snatching and arms dealing. 

Medal for Gallantry (GM): 213 GMs awarded for acts of gallantry, with categories including decorations for firefighters and civil defence personnel. 

President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM): 94 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) awarded for exceptional and distinguished service in police work. 

Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM): 729 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) were awarded for valuable service characterized by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.

Three new wetlands added to the list of Ramsar sites

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that three more wetlands from India have been added to the list of Ramsar sites. This makes the total Ramsar sites count in India to 85. 

The new sites are the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

 

About the newly designated Ramsar Sites:

Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

  • Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in Tiruppur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
  • It is a home to species like the Eurasian coot, spot-billed duck, and various herons. 

 

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

  • Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in Villupuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
  • The sanctuary has the brakish shallow Kazhuveli lake, which is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the brackish Uppukalli creek and the Edayanthittu Estuary.

 

Tawa Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh): 

  • Tawa Reservoir is located in Itarsi of Narmadapuram District of Madhya Pradesh state, above Betul district. 
  • The reservoir was formed by the construction of the Tawa Dam. The dam provides for irrigation to several thousand hectares of farming land in Narmadapuram and Harda districts. 
  • Tawa Reservoir forms the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

One India-One Ticket Initiative

Indian Railways and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) have partnered to promote the ‘One India-One Ticket’ initiative, to enhance the travel experience for passengers on Indian Railways and Namo Bharat Trains.

Key Points

  • This initiative will enable a unified booking system, allowing commuters to seamlessly travel between Indian Railways and RRTS services.
  • It will allow passengers to book Namo Bharat tickets through IRCTC platform with flexible cancellation and payment.
  • RRTS ticket booking options will appear on the PNR confirmation page and within the user’s booking history.
  • Passengers can generate Unique QR code for Namo Bharat train ticket. The code will be valid for 4 days around the journey date options. 
  • Namo Bharat tickets can be booked up to 120 days in advance, aligning with the current Railway reservation window.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra assumes charge as Indian Ambassador to US

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra assumed charge as the Ambassador of India to the United States. Kwatra succeeds Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Kwatra has held various positions in many of India’s missions abroad and in India, bringing with him nearly 32 years of experience across a range of assignments. 

Kwatra has previously served at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office as Joint Secretary. He also served as Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., from May 2010 to July 2013. 

He headed the Policy Planning & Research Division of the Ministry of External Affairs between July 2013 and October 2015, and later served as the head of the Americas Division in the Foreign Ministry, where he managed India’s relations with the United States and Canada.

Huge reservoir of water under Mars, seismic data indicates

Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water deep under Mars’ surface, based on seismic data from NASA’s InSight mission.

The study, ‘Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust’, was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It was conducted by a team from the University of California San Diego, led by scientists Vashan Wright, Matthias Morzfeld, and Michael Manga.

 

Key Points

  • This finding has big implications for understanding how water cycles and climate on Mars have changed over time.
  • Water is located 10-20 km deep, believed to have seeped from the surface billions of years ago. If widespread, this water could fill an ocean 1-2 km deep across Mars.
  • The existence of liquid water raises the tantalizing possibility of discovering a habitable environment on Mars.
  • This discovery could redefine the search for life on Mars, shifting the focus to deep underground environments. It also suggests that Mars may have vast reservoirs of water that could have shaped its geological history.

Australia, U.S., U.K. Sign Nuclear Transfer Deal for AUKUS Submarines

Australia has signed an important deal with the US and the UK to share nuclear secrets and materials. This agreement is a key step toward giving Australia nuclear-powered submarines, as part of the AUKUS security pact.

 

About AUKUS 

It is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, US and UK signed in 2021 to strengthen security and defence interests. 

It aims to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia

and to develop new military technologies together.

 

Key highlights of the deal 

  • Under the deal, the United States intends to sell Australia three US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines, in the early 2030s, with an option for Australia to buy two more if needed. 
  • The multi-stage project would culminate with British and Australian production and operation of a new submarine class – SSN-AUKUS. 
  • SSN-AUKUS will be a trilaterally developed vessel based on Britain’s next-generation design. It would be built in Britain and Australia and include cutting edge U.S. technologies. 
  • Britain would take delivery of its first SSN-AUKUS submarine in the late 2030s, and Australia would receive its first in the early 2040s.

 

Impact of this deal

For Australia: Australia will join a small group of countries with nuclear-powered submarines, improving its naval power in the Pacific. 

Australia is committed to not using these submarines for nuclear weapons. 

For U.S.: This is only the second time the U.S. has shared nuclear submarine technology, the first being with the U.K. in 1958. 

For U.K.: The SSN-AUKUS will be built in the U.K. and Australia, using advanced U.S. technology. 

First units will be delivered to the U.K. in the late 2030s and to Australia in the early 2040s.

For India: It can be a tool in strengthening India’s idea of ‘strategic autonomy’ in Indo-Pacific and can complement Quad grouping.

For France: France is not happy with the deal and has termed this deal a “stab in the back” because Australia canceled a previous contract for French submarines.

For Indo-Pacific Region: Under this partnership, technology, scientists, industries and defence forces of these three countries will work together to deliver a safer and more secure region. Some analysts feel that this partnership will lead to intensified arms race in the region.

Govt Issues Guidelines for Model Solar Village Scheme 

The Government has issued operational guidelines for the implementation of Model Solar Village under PM-Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana.

Key Highlights of the Draft Guidelines

  • Under the scheme component ‘Model Solar Village’, emphasis has been made on creating one Model Solar Village per district across India, with the goal of promoting solar energy adoption and enabling village communities to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs. 
  • Funding: A total financial outlay of ₹800 crore has been allocated for this component, providing ₹1 crore per selected Model Solar Village.

Criteria: 

  • In order to be considered a village under the competition mode, a village must be a revenue village with a population size above 5,000 (or 2,000 for special category states). 
  • The selection process involves a competitive mode where villages are assessed on their overall distributed renewable energy (RE) capacity installed 6 months after the declaration of the potential candidate by District Level Committee (DLC). 

The winning village in each district, with the highest RE capacity, will receive a central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore. 

Implementation: The implementation of this scheme will be done by State/UT Renewable Energy Development Agency under the supervision of District Level Committee (DLC).

About PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana 

  • It is a central scheme to promote the adoption of solar rooftop systems by providing substantial financial subsidies and ensuring ease of installation.
  • It aims to provide free electricity to one crore households in India, who opt to install roof top solar electricity units. 
  • The scheme has an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore and is to be implemented till FY 2026-27.

Release of Publication “Women and Men in India 2023

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, released the 25th issue of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2023”.

The publication is a comprehensive and insightful document that attempts to bring a holistic view of the situation of women and men in India and provides data on a wide range of topics such as Population, Education, Health, Participation in Economy, Participation in Decision making etc. among others. 

Key Highlights of the Publication

  • Population: By 2036, population of India is expected to reach 152.2 Crore, with a slightly improved female percentage of 48.8% as compared to 48.5 percent in 2011. 
  • Age Demographics: The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility. Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase during this period.
  • Sex Ratio: India’s population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, highlighting a positive trend in gender equality.
  • Age-Specific Fertility Rates: It is evident that from 2016 to 2020, Age Specific Fertility Rate in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29 has reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively. 

The ASFR for the age 35-39 for the above period has increased from 32.7 to 35.6 which shows that after settling in the life, women are thinking of expansion of family. 

  • Adolescent Fertility Rate was 33.9 for illiterate population whereas 11.0 for the literate in 2020. This rate considerably lower for even those who are literate but without any formal education (20.0) as compared to illiterate women reemphasizing the importance of imparting education to women.
  • Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): India has made notable progress in reducing MMR, achieving a rate of 97 per lakh live births for the period 2018-20. This is a significant step towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70 by 2030.
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased for both genders, with the rate for females equalizing with that of males at 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020. The Under-5 Mortality Rate has also reduced, indicating improvements in child health. Infant mortality rate (IMR) measures the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births.
  • Labour Force Participation: The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for both genders has increased. 

For men, it rose from 75.8% to 78.5% between 2017-18 and 2022-23, while for women, it increased from 23.3% to 37% during the same period. This indicates greater female involvement in the workforce. Voter Turnout 

  • Election Participation: Women’s voter turnout has increased over the years. In the 2019 elections, women’s participation reached 67.2%, surpassing men’s turnout for the first time. This reflects growing political engagement among women. 
  • Women Entrepreneurs: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized a total of 1,17,254 start-ups between 2016 and 2023. 

Among these, 55,816 start-ups are led by women, constituting 47.6% of the total recognized start-ups.

CSIR-NPL Launches Certification Process for Continuous Emission Monitoring 

The Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) is crucial for tracking pollution in India’s industries. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) made it mandatory to install CEMS in 2014.

To address concerns over the reliability of these systems, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) launched a certification process to ensure CEMS meet national and international standards.

The certification process includes four levels of quality assurance (QAL-1 to QAL-3) along with yearly checks to keep CEMS functioning well. QAL-1 focuses on proving the equipment’s suitability through thorough testing and audits. 

To further improve the quality of CEMS data, CSIR-NPL is working with the CPCB to develop additional quality assurance procedures, aiming to create a complete framework.

About CSIR-NPL 

  • The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) was set up in 1947. 
  • It focuses on measuring and setting standards. 
  • It helps industries by making sure their measurements are correct. 
  • The lab has advanced research facilities for many  scientific areas.

 

Assam Current Affairs – August 10-12, 2024

Posted on by admin

Assam and NE  Current Affairs & GK- August 10-12, 2024

(Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for August 10-12, 2024)

Five Assamese movies Shines at 70th National Film Awards

Five Assamese movies Shines at 70th National Film Awards. Three films from Assam bagged Rajat Kamal and two other films from the state got certificates of special mention at the 70th National Film Awards for the year 2024. 

Key Points

Emuthi Puthi (A very fishy trip), produced by Metanormal Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Kulanandini Mahanta, bagged the Rajat Kamal Award as the best Assamese film. 

  • Sikaisal (if only trees could talk) also bagged the Rajat Kamal Award as the best Tiwa film.
  • Xunyota (void) also got the Rajat Kamal Award as the best short film (up to 30 minutes). 
  • Two other non-feature category films from Assam—Birubala ‘Witch to Padmashri’ produced by Aimee Baruah Production Society and directed by Aimee Baruah and 
  • Hargila—The Greater Adjutant Stork, produced by PI Entertainment and directed by Partha Sarathi Mahanta—got certificates of special mention.

MEA and NSIL sign MoU for grant assistance for the launch of Munal satellite

An MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of External Affairs and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) to launch Nepal’s Munal satellite.

About Munal satellite

  • Munal Satellite is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal, under the aegis of NAST. APN, a Nepali space startup, has assisted Nepali students in the design and fabrication of this satellite. 
  • The satellite aims to build a vegetation density database of the Earth’s surface. 
  • This satellite is expected to be launched soon on NSIL’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Largest-ever Kashmiri folk dance at ‘Kashur Riwaaj’ cultural festival

Youth of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district created a world record by registering their names to the Universal Records Forum (URF) for the largest-ever Kashmiri folk dance performed by 10,000 young women at the ‘Kashur Riwaaj’ cultural festival. 

About the festival

  • The mega event was organised by the Dagger Division of Chinar Corps in collaboration with Baramulla District Administration and Indrani Balan Foundation (IBF).
  • This was the largest-ever Kashmiri Folk Dance performed by 10,000 young women at Kashur Riwaaj Cultural Fest on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day.
  • The festival took place at Prof. Showkat Ali Indoor Stadium to showcase the vibrant traditions of Kashmir through traditional dances, music, calligraphy and cultural activities.

Aman Sehrawat clinches 57kg wrestling bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics

Aman Sherawat won a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Aman holds the distinction of being the youngest Indian to win an Olympic medal at just 21 years. It is India’s fifth bronze and sixth overall medal from the Paris Olympics 2024. 

Aman’s career has been marked by a series of impressive accomplishments. His significant achievement came in 2022 when he became the first Indian wrestler to secure a gold medal at the U23 Wrestling World Championships. 

This victory set the stage for further success, including gold medals at the U23 Asian Championships and the Senior Asian Championships in 2023.

In addition to his gold medals, Aman’s consistent performances in various ranking series events have demonstrated his skill and determination. His medal haul includes victories at the 2024 Ranking Series in Zagreb and the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial, as well as podium finishes in prestigious tournaments like the Yasar Dogu and Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov events.

India’s First Grain ATM Launched in Odisha

India’s first round-the-clock grain ATM was opened at Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This initiative is known as Annapurti Grain ATM which is designed and developed by the World Food Programme India.

About Grain ATM: 

  • This initiative would simplify the process for beneficiaries to access their entitled food grains; anyone with a Public Distribution System ration card valid in India, regardless of the State and Union Territory, can access their entitlement.
  • This user-friendly system ensures that beneficiaries can access their full ration of food grains without any complications.
  • It can dispense grain up to 50 kilograms in five minutes 24 hours a day, reducing waiting time by 70 percent. 
  • It is an automated multi-commodity dispensing solution that provides fast, clean and precise access to commodities (rice, wheat, grains) to beneficiaries, post biometric authentication.
  • It will dispense rice or wheat 24/7, providing a reliable and consistent source of food for the state’s residents.

Chhattisgarh Establishes India’s Third Largest Tiger Reserve

Chhattisgarh has recently approved the creation of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, due to the recent plunge in its tiger population.

About Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve 

  • Guru Ghasidas National Park and the Tamor Pingla Sanctuary, located in the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur, and Balrampur, to form the new reserve.
  • It is Chhattisgarh’s fourth tiger reserve, following Indravati, Udanti-Sitanadi, and Achanakmar.  
  • It aims to bolster conservation efforts and provide a protected habitat for tigers, thereby promoting eco-tourism and creating employment opportunities for local communities. 
  • It would promote eco-tourism and create employment opportunities for local communities.

Declining Population of Tigers 

  • According to a National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report released in July 2023, Chhattisgarh’s tiger population dropped from 46 in 2014 to just 17 in 2022. 
  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change highlighted this concerning trend in a 2023 statement, noting that states like Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh have reported worrisome declines in their small tiger populations.

About NTCA: 

  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
  • It was set up under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which was amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation.
  • It works on protecting habitats, stopping poaching, and involving communities.
  • It works with different states to improve monitoring.

IIT Indore develops e-shoes for live location tracking

IIT Indore has created advanced shoes incorporating Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) technology, which generates electricity from human motion and integrates GPS for real-time location tracking.

Key Points

  • The shoes are designed to improve safety and coordination among soldiers by providing real-time location data and power for essential devices. 
  • They offer the ability to analyze athletes’ movements, potentially enhancing performance. 
  • These shoes can be beneficial for monitoring movement of  Alzheimer’s patient’s, tracking school children, and managing factory worker attendance. 
  • The first set of 10 pairs of these high-tech shoes has been sent to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for testing and evaluation. This project is led by Professor Suhas Joshi at IIT Indore, with support from Professor I A Palani, demonstrating the institution’s dedication to developing cutting-edge technology.

India Names Three Underwater Structures in Indian Ocean

India has successfully proposed names for three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean. These are the Ashoka Seamount, Chandragupt Ridge, and Kalpataru Ridge. 

These names were proposed by India and approved by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

Key Facts About the Underwater Structures

Previously Named Structures: 

  • Raman Ridge (1992): Named after the famous physicist Sir CV Raman. 
  • Panikkar Seamount (1993): Honoring oceanographer NK Panikkar. 
  • Sagar Kanya Seamount (1991): Named after the Indian research ship. 
  • Wadia Guyot (1993): Recognizing geologist DN Wadia.

Recently named Structures 

  • Ashoka Seamount: Discovered in 2012 by a Russian research ship called Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, this underwater mountain covers about 180 square kilometers.
  • Chandragupt Ridge: Found in 2020 by the Indian research ship MGS Sagar, this ridge is elongated and oval-shaped, stretching across 675 square kilometers. 
  • Kalpataru Ridge: Also discovered in 2012 by the Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, this ridge covers 430 square kilometers and might serve as a habitat and food source for marine life.

Significance of Discoveries: These structures contribute to understanding marine life habitats and offer insights into the geological and biological processes of the Indian Ocean.

 

Assam Current Affairs – January 10-12, 2024

Posted on by admin

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 10-12, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 10-12, 2024)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Current Affairs Assamexam

January 10-12, 2024 

Chandubi festival

The 14th Chandubi Festival was recently held near the Chandubi Lake in Assam’s Kamrup district from January 1 to January 5.

About Chandubi festival

  • It is an annual five-day celebration that takes place at Chandubi Lake in Assam’s Kamrup district.
  • Chandubi Lake is a natural lake that was formed due to massive landslides during the 1897 Assam earthquake, blocking the flow of the Chandubi River.
  • The festival’s main goal is to encourage eco-tourism and protect the lake, which has been losing water. 
  • Preserving the lake and helping the tribes like Rabhas, Garos, Gorkhas, and tea tribes are reasons for holding the festival. 
  • The festival is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the region, celebrating the diversity, customs, and traditions of the local communities. 
  • It represents the confluence of various indigenous tribes and communities, each contributing their unique rituals, arts, crafts, and cultural practices. 
  • The festival features a rich tapestry of cultural performances including traditional dances like Bihu, Sattriya, and tribal dances, showcasing the vibrant folk culture of Assam.

National Sports Awards 2023

The national sports awards are given annually to recognize and reward excellence in sports, highlight extraordinary performance at the national and international competitive events, encourage sportsmanship and promote nation-building by creating a sense of national pride and unity in a country as diverse as India. 

The awards are administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.

The six categories of the National Sports Awards are: 

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: 

  • It is considered India’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna was established in 1991-92.
  • The award is named after the Indian hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand.
  • The award is given for outstanding performances in sports spanning over a period of four years and the Khel Ratna winners receive a medallion, certificate and a cash prize. 
  • Legendary sports figures like MC Mary Kom, S. MirabaiChanu, PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Vijender Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli amongst others have received this highest sporting honour in the past.
  • In 2023, Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (badminton) were awarded with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Arjuna Award

It is awarded for consistent good performance over a period of four years. The winners of the Arjuna Award receive a statuette of Arjuna, a certificate and a cash prize.

Dronacharya Award: It was instituted in 1985, is India’s highest sports honour for coaches. It is awarded to individuals for producing medal winners at prestigious international events. Awardees receive a bronze statue of Dronacharya, a certificate and a cash prize.

Ganesh Prabhakaran (mallakhamb), Mahavir Saini (para athletics), Lalit Kumar (wrestling), RB Ramesh (chess), Shivendra Singh (hockey) were awarded with Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games 2023. 

Major Dhyan Chand Award: This award represents India’s highest honour for lifetime achievements in sports. Presented for good performance and contributing towards the promotion of sports in an individual capacity since 2002, the winners get a Dhyan Chand statuette, a certificate and a cash prize. 

Manjusha Kanwar (badminton), Vineet Kumar Sharma (hockey), Kavitha Selvaraj (kabaddi) were awarded with Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award 2023

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA): It was instituted in 1956–1957. It is given to an institution or university for top performance in inter-university tournaments over the last one year. 

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (winner), Lovely Professional University, Punjab (1st runners-up), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (2nd runners-up).

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar:

Instituted in 2009.

Awarded to organisations or corporates (both private and public) and individuals for playing a role in the area of sports promotion and development over the last three years. 

In 2023, JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University), Odisha Mining Corporation Limited won this award.

DRDO conducts successful flight-test of New Generation Akash missile

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. 

The flight-test was conducted against a high-speed unmanned aerial target at  very low altitude. 

During the flight-test, the target was successfully intercepted by the weapon system and destroyed. It has validated the functioning of the complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control & Communication system.

About AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile

  • It is a new generation state-of-the-art surface-to-air missile (SAM) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to destroy high manoeuvring low radar cross section agile aerial threats. 
  • It has been indigenously designed and developed by the DRDO and produced by defence public sector units along with other industries. 
  • Multiple advanced versions of the missile are under development by the team.

Global Risks Report 2024

The World Economic Forum recently released the Global Risks Report 2024. 

Key Highlights of the Report

  • Various global events in 2023, including lethal conflicts, Extreme Weather Conditions, and societal discontent, have contributed to a predominantly negative outlook. 
  • Misinformation and disinformation are listed as the most severe risks over the next two years, highlighting how rapid advances in technology also are creating new problems or making existing ones worse.
  • A persistent cost-of-living crisis may lead to uncertainties in the global economic stability.
  • Inflation and economic downturn have emerged noteworthy top risks.
  • The risk of interstate armed conflict is the immediate concern. The ongoing conflicts, coupled with underlying geopolitical tensions pose the risk of conflict contagion. 
  • In the absence of secure livelihood options, individuals may be prone to crime, militarization, or radicalization. 
  • The countries with a history of conflict or vulnerability to climate change may face growing isolation from investment, technologies and job opportunities. There is continued dominance of environmental risks in the World. 
  • Extreme weather events, critical shifts in Earth systems, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, natural resource shortages, and pollution emerge as severe risks over the next decade.

Global Risks Report 2024: Key Recommendation 

  • To mitigate the risks of AI-enabled misinformation campaigns, the report suggests: Increasing societal resilience through renewed focus on critical thinking, media literacy, and civic responsibility education Governments collaborating with tech firms to promote information integrity while respecting digital rights Fostering international cooperation for early identification and containment of misinformation campaigns
  • Policymakers need to balance measures to control inflation with targeted relief for vulnerable groups to maintain social cohesion, as per the WEF.
  • Urgent climate mitigation and adaptation efforts are essential to prevent catastrophic outcomes, the WEF stresses. Similarly, reversing nature loss through conservation and restoration initiatives is vital for our collective future.
  • The collective actions of individual citizens, companies and countries may seem insignificant on their own, but at critical mass they can move the needle on global risk reduction. 

ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare launched Anubhav Portal in 2015, for sharing experiences of retiring/retired Central Government employees while working with the Government. It is envisaged that this culture of leaving notes by retirees will become the foundation stone of good governance and administrative reforms in future.

About ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024

  • The scheme aims to create a database of significant suggestions and work experiences. 
  • It channels the human resource of retiring employees for nation building and also enables Ministries/ Departments to take crucial steps while considering useful and replicable suggestions.
  • To participate in the scheme, retiring Central Government employees/pensioners are required to submit their Anubhav write ups, 8 months prior to retirement and up to 1 year after their retirement. 
  • Thereafter, the write-ups will be published after assessment by concerned Ministries/Departments. The published write-ups will be shortlisted for Anubhav Awards and Jury Certificates. 
  • The last date for submission under ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024 is 31.3.2024. 
  • To encourage broader participation in the Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2024, the DOPPW has undertaken an Outreach Campaign to reach out to every pensioner to submit his ANUBHAV experience. 
  • As of now, 54 ANUBHAV Awards have been conferred since the inception of the scheme.

Ujjain Unveils India’s First Hygienic Food Street ‘Prasadam’

Union Minister of Health, Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav jointly inaugurated the country’s first Healthy and Hygienic Food Street (Prasadam) at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok, Ujjain.

Key Points

  • It is in line with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. 
  • The initiative aims to connect people in every corner of the country with pure and safe local and traditional food. 
  • The ‘Prasadam’ initiative aims to enhance Ujjain’s tourism attraction and preserve its culinary heritage while also playing a role in promoting economic development.
  • The newly launched food street is designed to provide various facilities including a kids’ play area, drinking water facility, CCTV surveillance, parking, public conveniences and seating spaces. 
  • In addition to enhancing Ujjain’s tourism appeal and preserving its culinary traditions, “Prasadam” will also contribute to economic growth and community engagement.

Indian Navy gets first India-made long endurance Drishti 10 Starliner drone 

The Indian Navy has recently received its first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, the Drishti 10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

About Drishti 10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

  • It is developed by Adani Defence and Aerospace with technology transfer from Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems.
  • It is India’s first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone. 70% of the drone is made using indigenous components.
  • With an endurance of 36 hours and the ability to carry a payload of 450 kg, the drone is well-equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
  • It is a variant of Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 Starliner drones.

Divyakriti Singh Becomes 1st Indian Woman Arjuna Awardee for Equestrian Sports

Divyakriti Singh has been conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award for Equestrian Sports, making her the first woman from Rajasthan to achieve this honour.

Divyakriti Singh’s remarkable journey in the equestrian world reached new heights with the Arjuna Award, recognizing her outstanding contribution to the sport. 

She underwent three years of training in Germany at the Hof Kasselman dressage yard in Hagen. She secured an Individual Silver and two Bronze medals at the International Dressage Competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Assam Current Affairs – January 04-06, 2024

Posted on by admin

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 04-06, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the January 04-06, 2024)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Current Affairs Assamexam

January 04-06, 2024 

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) sanctions over ₹750 crores for 5,300 Northeast Projects

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) has sanctioned Rs 766.47 crore and disbursed Rs 547.11 crore for 5338 projects in the NorthEast region, in diverse sectors – education & training food processing, handlooms & handicrafts, healthcare, hotels & tourism, microfinance etc.

Important Initiatives of NEDFI

  • NEDFi in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in setting up ₹100 crore North East Venture Fund to promote regional startups.
  • It also partners with banks, microcredit organisations and NGOs for last-mile delivery to remote areas.
  • North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) plays an important role in facilitating setting up of new industrial and service sector projects in the NE Region.
  • ₹547 crore disbursed at concessional interest rates to micro and small businesses 
  • ₹41 crore credit extended via microfinance institutions ₹53 crore direct micro lending to benefit over 9 lakh individuals.
  • ₹98 crore venture capital commitments to 67 startups.

About North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) 

  • It is a public limited company registered under the Companies Act 1956 on August 9, 1995.
  • It provides financial assistance to MSMEs in the NE region for setting up industrial, infrastructure and agriculture-related projects. 
  • It also provides micro financing through MFIs/NGOS. It also provides consultancy and advisory services to state governments, private sectors and other agencies.

Three New Frogs Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

The Scientists have reported three new frog species belonging to new genera from Arunachal Pradesh’s Namdapha-Kamlang protected area network along the Myanmar border.

About the discovery 

  • Gracixalus patkaiensis – A translucent green tree frog with jelly-like appearance and insect-like call
  • Alcalus fontinalis – A tiny brown frog inhabiting fast-flowing hill streams with unique trickling vocalization 
  • Nidirana noadihing – A marsh-dwelling “music frog” named after the Noa-Dihing river

About Namdapha Tiger Reserve: 

  • It is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, near the international border with Myanmar.
  • It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary under the Assam Forest Regulation 1891 on 2nd Oct.’1972. 
  • In the 1983 year it was declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger Scheme of the Govt. of India on 15th March 1983.

India, Nepal hold Seventh Joint Commission Meeting

The Seventh Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission was held in Kathmandu. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepal counterpart NP Saud recently attended the 7th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.

 

Key Points

  • Nepal and India signed a long-term agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power to India for the next 10 years. 
  • Inauguration of Cross-Border Inauguration of 3 cross-border transmission lines which was completed with the help of India (132 kV Raxaul-Parwanipur, 132 kV Kushaha-Kataiya and New Nautanwa-Mainahiya lines). 
  • An agreement for the launch of Nepali satellites was formalized between the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and NewSpace India Limited under the Indian Space Research Organisation.
  • Inaugurated 3 132-kV cross-border transmission strains, which include the second circuits of the Raxaul-Parwanipur line and the Kataiya-Kusaha line, and the New Nautanwa-Mahiya line.

About India-Nepal Joint Commission: 

It was established in 1987 as a platform for the Foreign Ministers of both countries to review all aspects of the bilateral partnership.

Raghuram Iyer appointed as CEO of Indian Olympic Association 

Raghuram Iyer has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

His appointment follows a meticulous selection process conducted by the nomination committee of the IOA.

The appointment comes after a significant delay and repeated reminders from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Raghuram Iyer’s extensive experience in sports management and administration, particularly his previous roles as CEO of Indian Premier League teams Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants, has been recognized as making him an ideal candidate for this position.

XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the PSLV-C58 XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission.

About XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite)

  • XPoSat is designed to study X-ray polarization in the medium X-ray band, offering insights into celestial sources’ radiation mechanisms and geometry. 
  • This study is crucial for understanding the physics behind these celestial bodies.
  • The satellite carries two main payloads, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
  • It is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources.
  • It is designated for observation from low earth orbit.
  • After this launch, India became the second nation after the US to send an observatory to study astronomical sources, such as black holes, and neutron stars, among others.

Wetland City Accreditation

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted three nominations from India for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA).

The nominated cities include Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Udaipur (Rajasthan).

 These are the first three Indian cities for which nominations have been submitted for WCA based on the proposals received from respective State Wetlands Authorities in collaboration with the Municipal Corporations.

About Wetland City Accreditation:

  • The Ramsar Convention during COP12 held in the year 2015 approved a voluntary Wetland City Accreditation system.
  • The scheme aims to promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
  • It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands and also recognizes the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments and to take appropriate measures to conserve and protect these wetlands.
  • This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.

About the cities nominated for WCA

  1. Indore: Founded by Holkars. Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site in the city has been recognised as an important site for water bird congregation and is being developed as a Bird Sanctuary. 

A strong network of wetland mitras is engaged in bird conservation and sensitising the local community to protect Sarus Crane. 

  1. Bhopal: Bhoj Wetland, Ramsar Site is the city’s lifeline, equipped with the world-class wetlands interpretation centre, Jal Tarang. Additionally, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has a dedicated Lake Conservation Cell. 
  2. Udaipur: The city is surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai. These wetlands are an integral part of the city’s culture and identity, help maintain the city’s microclimate, and provide a buffer from extreme events.

Union Cabinet approves overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)”

The Union Cabinet recently approved the comprehensive scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This overarching initiative, with an allocation of Rs 4,797 crore for the period 2021-26.

About PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Scheme

Objectives:

The major Objectives of the overarching Prithvi Scheme are: 

  • Augmentation and sustainance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid earth to record the vital signs of the Earth System and change 
  • Development of modelling systems for understanding and predicting weather, ocean and climate hazards and understanding the science of climate change 
  • Exploration polar and high seas regions of the Earth towards discovery of new phenomena and resources; 
  • Development of technology for exploration and sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for societal applications ·
  • Translation of knowledge and insights from Earth systems science into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.

The Prithvi scheme integrates five existing sub-schemes: 

  1. Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS) 
  2. Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) 
  3. Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) 
  4. Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE) 
  5. Research, Education, Training, and Outreach (REACHOUT).

Additionally, the scheme focuses on providing advanced warning services for natural disasters like cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and earthquakes, facilitating prompt and effective disaster management. 

The scheme ensures precise weather forecasts for both land and oceans, enhancing safety and minimizing property damages in adverse weather conditions.

‘Clean and Green Village’ Programme  for Solar Power Expansion

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is prioritizing the ‘Clean and Green Village’ theme as part of its Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). 

About ‘Clean and Green Village’ Programme

  • Clean and Green Village’ is the fifth theme under the GPDP.
  • The programme aims to install solar power capacities on a commercial basis. 
  • It aims to develop sustainable business models for solar initiatives at the grassroots level. 
  • The programme focuses on access to safe water, sanitation, and low pollution environments for healthier lives. 
  • It emphasizes sustainable natural resource management for better livelihoods, food security, and environmental protection.
  • It aims to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG13 (climate action). 

Areas of Action: Includes 10 specific areas like Open Defecation Free (ODF) Village, Clean and Green School, promotion of Organic Farming, and more.

Initiatives and Schemes for Clean and Green Village: 

  • Organic and natural farming initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. 
  • Reducing chemical fertilizers through schemes like PM-PRANAM. Waste to wealth initiatives like GOBARdhan and SATAT.

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru have observed a significant shift in the habitat of numerous bird species in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary due to the escalating temperatures in the region.

About Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

  • It is a protected area of India in the Himalayan foothills of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • It conjoins Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve across the Kameng river to the east. 
  • It is situated in the biodiversity hotspot of Eastern Himalayas and home to over 500 bird species.
  • It is also a part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve. 
  • It derives its name from the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army The temperate cloud forest is intermixed with dense bamboo patches and broadleaved evergreen forest across a wide altitudinal range, with conifers and rhododendrons at the higher elevations.

Important Inventions and Discoveries – ADRE 2023 Exam Notes

Posted on by admin

Important Inventions and Discoveries – ADRE 2023 Exam Notes

General Knowledge (GK) is an important section for Assam Direct Recruitment ADRE 2023. Science and Technology is a part of GK section.

List of some of Important Inventions and Discoveries:

Invention/Discovery

Name of the Inventor

Year of Invention

Automatic Calculator

Wilhelm Schickard

1623

Air Conditioner

Willis Carrier

1902

Anemometer

Leon Battista Alberti

1450

Animation

J. Stuart Blackton

—

Atom Bomb

Julius Robert Oppenheimer

1945

Aspirin

Dr. Felix Hoffman

1899

Airplane

Wilber and Orville Wright

1903

Adhesive tape

Richard G. Drew

1923

Bifocal Lens

Benjamin Franklin

1779

Barometer

Evangelista Torricelli

1643

Barbed Wire

Joseph F. Glidden

1873

Blood Group

Karl Lansdsteiner

1900s

Ball Point Pen

John Loud

—

Bicycle Tyres

John Boyd Dunlop

1888

Pedal Driven Bicycle

Kirkpatrick Macmillan

1839

Celluloid

Alexander Parkes

1861

Chloroform

Sir James Young Simpson

—

Cine Camera

Wm. Friese-Greene

1889

Circulation of blood

William Harvey

1628

Clock Mechanical

Hsing and Ling-Tsan

1725

Diesel Engine

Rudolf Diesel

1892

Centigrade Scale

Anders Celsius

1742

Chlorine

Carl Wilhelm Scheele

1774

Dynamite

Alfred B. Nobel

1867

Diesel Engine

Rudolf Diesel

1895

Electric stove/cooker

William S. Hadaway

1896

Electroscope

William Gilbert

1600s

Electric Fan

Schuyler Wheeler

1882

Electric Battery

Volta

1800

Elevator

Elisha G. Otis

1852

Electric Motor (DC)

Thomas Davenport

1873

Electromagnet

William Sturgeon

1824

Fountain Pen

Petrache Poenaru

1827

Fluorine

André-Marie Ampère

1810

Gramophone

Thomas Edison

1878

Hydrogen

Henry Cavendish

1766

Helicopter

Igor Sikorsky

1939

Hovercraft

Christopher Cockerell

1959

Hot Air Balloon

Josef & Etienne Montgolfier

1783

Helium

Jules Janssen

1868

Insulin

Sir Frederick Banting

1923

Jet Engine

Hans Von Ohain

1936

Lightning Conductor

Benjamin Franklin

1752

Locomotive

George Stephenson

1804

Laser

Theodore Maiman

1960

Light Bulb

Thomas Edison

1854

Motorcycle

Gottlieb Daimler

1885

Microscope

Zacharis Janssen

1590

Microphone

Alexander Graham Bell

1876

Machine Gun

Richard Gatling

1861

Neon Lamp

Georges Claude

1915

Oxygen

Joseph Priestley

1774

Ozone

Christian Schonbein

1839

Piano

Bartolomeo Cristofori

1700

Printing Press

Johannes Gutenberg

1440

Parachute

Louis-Sebastien Lenormand

1783

Polio Vaccine

Jonas Edward Salk

–

Periodic Table

Dmitri Mendeleev

1869

Penicillin

Alexander Fleming

1928

Pacemaker

Rune Elmqvist

1952

Petrol for Motor Car

Karl Benz

1885

Refrigerator

William Cullen

1748

Radium

Marie & Pierre Curie

1898

Rubber (vulcanized)

Charles Goodyear

1841

Rocket Engine

Robert H. Goddard

1926

Radio

Guglielmo Marconi

1894

Richter Scale

Charles Richter

1935

Ship (Turbine)

Charles Parsons

1894

Steam Ship

Robert Fulton

1807

Steam Boat

Robert Fulton

1786

Submarine

Cornelis Drebbel

1620

Stethoscope

Rene Laennec

1816

Saxophone

Adolphe Sax

1846

Sewing Machine

Elias Howe

1846

Steam-Powered Airship

Henri Giffard

1852

Soft Contact lenses

Otto Wichterle

1961

Synthesizer

Dr. Robert Arthur Moog

1964

Thermometer

Galileo

1593

Theory of Evolution

Charles Darwin

1858

Typewriter

Christopher Latham Sholes

—

Transistors

John Bardeen, William Shockley & Walter Brattain

1948

Telephone

Graham Bell

1874

Valve. Radio

Sir J.A Fleming

1904

Vacuum Cleaner

Hubert Cecil Booth

1901

Vitamin A

Frederick Gowland Hpokins

1912

Vitamin B

Christiaan Eijkman

1897

Vitamin C

Albert Szent-Gyorgi

–

Vitamin K

Henrik Dam

1929

Vitamin E

Herbert McLean Evans & Katherine Scott Bishop

 

Windshield wipers

Mary Anderson

1903

World Wide Web

Tim Berners Lee with Robert Cailliau 

1989

X-ray

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen

1895

Xerox Machine

Chester Carlson

1928
ADRE 2023 Test Series Assamexam

APSC CCE Prelim 2020 General Studies GS Paper 1 – Art & Culture, Literature & Sports Questions Analysis

Posted on by admin

APSC CCE Prelim 2020 General Studies (GS) Paper 1 Questions Analysis

Questions from Art & Culture, Literature & Sports sections

Go to APSC CCE Prelim Previous Years Paper Analysis 

APSC prelims questions

Q82. Bhogeswar Baruah was the first Arjuna Award winner from Assam in 1966. Who was the 2nd Assamese to win this coveted award of Indian sports in 1987?

  1. Tayabun Nisha
  2. Monalisa Baruah Mehta
  3. Madalisa Hazarika
  4. Toshen Bora

Correct option: (B) Monalisa Baruah Mehta.

Five Arjuna Award winners from Assam

Arjuna Award is India’s second highest sporting honour. Started in 1961, the Arjuna Awards are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize outstanding achievement in sports. Since then five sports persons from Assam had been awarded with this prestigious award.

Bhogeswar Baruah

Bhogeswar Baruah is the first Arjuna Award winner from Assam. He received the prestigious award in 1966. He won gold medal in the 800 metres race at Bangkok Asian Games in 1966. Baruah’s birthday is celebrated on September 3 every year in Assam, called Abhiruchi Sports Day.

Monalisa Baruah Mehta.

Ace table tennis player Monalisa Baruah Mehta is the second Assamese to receive Arjuna Award. She received the prestigious award in 1987. Monalisa is married to ace table tennis player Kamalesh Mehta. Monalisa was the 12 time state champion and won the national table tennis championship eight times.

Jayanta Talukdar

Ace archer Jayanta Talukdar received the Arjuna Award in 2006. He is the third sports person from Assam, after Bhogeswar Baruah (1966) and Monalisa Barua Mehta (1987) to receive this prestigious award. Jayanta Talukdar made it to the Indian men’s recurve archers team for London Olympics 2012.

Shiva Thapa

World Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa is the fourth Assamese player to receive the prestigious award in 2016. Thapa was the only boxer recommended in 2016 for Arjuna Award. Shiva Thapa participated in the 2012 London Olympics. He was the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics.

Hima Das

India’s track queen Hima Das is the latest addition to the list of Arjuna awardees from Assam this year. She is the second athlete after Bhogeswar Baruah (1966) and fifth Assamese player to receive this award.

 

Q83.

Q83. Which Assamese film won the first-even National Film Award (the President’s Certificate of Merit) for regional language category in 1955?

  1. Piyoli Phukan
  2. Maniram Dewan
  3. Indramalati
  4. Ronga Police

(A) Piyoli Phukan

The 1955 Phani Sarma directorial film Piyali Phukan received the first Certificate of Merit.

The film is based on the life and struggle of a historical character of Assam, Piyoli Phukan, son of Badan Borphukan, who revolted against British occupation. He was sentenced to death and hanged in 1830 at Jorhat. The film is produced by Gama Prasad Agarwalla under the banner of Rupjyoti Production, Tezpur, Assam. Piyoli Phukan is the first Assamese film, which got national reorganization.

Film Ronga Police, directed by Nip Barua, became the first film to receive the president’s Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Assamese.

 

Q84. Great Footballer Talimeren Ao was born in undivided Assam (in Naga Hills

district), and went on to study at Cotton College and RG Kar Medical College for his degree in medicine. He holds an unique status in Indian football. What is that?

  1. He scored the first goal for India in international matches.
  2. He was the first captain of Indian football team in 1948 London Olympics.
  3. He was the flag bearer of Indian contingent in 1948 London Olympics.
  4. Both b and c

Correct option: (D) Both b and c

Talimeren Ao was an Indian footballer and physician. He is best known as the captain of Indian team in their first ever match. He was born on 28 January 1918 in the then Naga Hills District of Assam. He was a figurehead of India’s football history, and his name is resonant in the collective memory of the people.

Ao was the captain of the India national football team in the 1948 Summer Olympics, in the team’s first official game and was the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent.

 

Q85. Aximat Jar Xeral Xima is a landmark in Assamese Novel written by Kanchan Baruah and was published in 1945. But Kanchan Baruah is the pen name. What is the author’s real name?

  1. Brajamohan Sarma
  2. Bhubanmohan Baruah
  3. Medini Choudhury
  4. None of them

Correct option: (B) Bhubanmohan Baruah

 

Q86. The Tale of Nomadic Soul is the English translation of a famous Novel by Syed Abdul Malik. Which is that novel among the following?

  1. Parashmoni
  2. Adharshila
  3. Aghari Atmar Kahini
  4. Ruptirthar Yatri

Correct option: (C) Aghori Atmar Ka Hinee

The Tale of Nomadic Soul: Translated in English by R.P.Khaund from the Original Assamese Novel “Aghori Atmar Ka Hinee” by Malik Syed Abdul.

 

Q87. The novel Abhijatri is based on the life and achievements of

  1. Nalini Bala Devi
  2. Aideu Handique
  3. Chandraprabha Saikiani
  4. Rajbala Handique

Correct option: (C) Chandraprabha Saikiani

Go to APSC CCE Prelim Previous Years Paper Analysis 

APSC Prelims 2020 General Studies GS Paper 1 – Science & Technology section Questions Analysis

Posted on by admin

APSC CCE Prelim 2020 General Studies (GS) Paper 1 Questions Analysis

Questions from Science & Technology sections

Go to APSC CCE Prelim Previous Years Paper Analysis 

APSC prelims questions

Q31. Which ministry is carrying special scientific schemes like KIRAN IPR and Vigyan Jyoti for women scientists of India?

  1. The Ministry of Women and Child Development
  2. The Ministry of Science and Technology
  3. The Ministry of Human Resource Development
  4. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Correct option: (B) Ministry of Science and Technology

DST support empowering women scientists | Department Of Science & Technology

 

Q43. Wooden Doors often swell up and get stuck during rainy season. This is due to the phenomenon of

  1. Endosmosis
  2. Imbibition
  3. Endocytosis
  4. Capillarity

Correct option: (B) Imbibition

The swelling of wooden doors is caused by the process of imbibition. Imbibition is the absorption of water by solid particles of a substance without forming a solution.

Q44. Who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of the law of photoelectric effect?

  1. Wilhelm Roentgen
  2. Albert Einstein
  3. Issac Newton
  4. Ernest Rutherford

Correct option: (B) Albert Einstein

The Nobel Prize in Physics 1921 was awarded to Albert Einstein “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.”

 

Q45. The filament string of an electric bulb is made up of

  1. Copper
  2. Silver
  3. Platinum
  4. Tungsten

Correct option: (D) Tungsten

Tungsten is a metal with a high resistivity. Tungsten has a high melting point, making it ideal for light bulbs. Tungsten is used to make the filament of an electric bulb because it has the highest melting point, lowest vapour pressure, and greatest tensile strength of any metal.

 

Q46.Which of the following is the chief constituent of biogas?

  1. Carbon Dioxide
  2. Hydrogen
  3. Ethane
  4. Methane

Correct option: (D) Methane

Typical composition of biogas

Compound

Formula

Percentage by volume

Methane

CH4

50–75

Carbon dioxide

CO2

25–50

Nitrogen

N2

0–10

Hydrogen

H2

0–1

Hydrogen sulfide

H2S

0.1 –0.5

Oxygen

O2

0–0.5

 

Q47. Which of the following is an egg laying mammal?

  1. Platypus
  2. Bat
  3. Whale
  4. Seal

Correct option: (A) Platypus

The Extant Species of Egg-laying Mammals Are:

  • The Duck-Billed Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus is a bizarre-looking animal that’s found in streams with banks suitable for burrowing. They are sleek and brown, with a beaver-like flat tail. Their face has a large, duck-like bill. The males have venomous spurs on their rear ankles. This species eats bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as crabs. They live in eastern Australia, including Tasmania.

  • The Short-Beaked Echidna. Tachyglossus aculeatus is a widespread animal that’s found across Australia and into New Guinea. They are spikey and have powerful front limbs made for burrowing. These echidnas eat insects and hibernate through the winter.

  • The Eastern Long-Beaked Echidna. Zaglossus bartoni eats almost exclusively earthworms. They are also spined. They live in humid forests, especially above sea level, in New Guinea. There are four subspecies of eastern long-beaked echidna, primarily separated by geographic area.

  • Sir David’s Long-Beaked Echidna. Zaglossus attenboroughi lives in the Cyclops mountains of New Guinea. These are the smallest of the Zaglossus genus. It is feared that this species is highly endangered or even extinct, as a specimen has not been collected since 1961. Interviews with locals in 2007 (and signs of digging) suggest that the species is still alive – but no scientists have seen one yet.

  • Western Long-Beaked Echidna. Zaglossus bruijni is the largest extant monotreme, tipping the scales at 5 to 10kg. They prefer to live in alpine meadows and montane forests. They are considered critically endangered. They live in New Guinea.

 

Q48. Which of the following diseases is not caused by a virus?

  1. Influenza
  2. Anthrax
  3. AIDS
  4. Dengue

Correct option: (B) Anthrax

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis.

 

Q49. A washing machine works on the principle of

  1. Gravitation
  2. Acceleration
  3. Centrifugation
  4. Linear Motion

Correct option: (C) Centrifugation

The working principle of a washing machine is centrifugation. Centrifugation is a separation process which uses the action of centrifugal force to promote accelerated settling of particles in a solid-liquid mixture. The washing machine consists of centrifuge for this purpose.

 

Q50. Raindrops are spherical in shape because of

  1. Viscosity
  2. Velocity
  3. Residual Pressure
  4. Surface tension

Correct option: (D) Surface tension

Raindrops start to form in a roughly spherical structure due to the surface tension of water. On smaller raindrops, the surface tension is stronger than in larger drops. The reason is the flow of air around the drop. As the raindrop falls, it loses that rounded shape.

 

Q51. Name the clinical procedure in which blood is transfused from recovered COVID-19 patient to a COVID-19 affected patient in critical condition.

  1. Dialysis therapy
  2. Plasma therapy
  3. Solidarity technique
  4. Hydroxychloroquine administration

Correct option: (B) Plasma therapy

Convalescent plasma therapy uses blood from people who’ve recovered from an illness to help others recover. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency authorization for convalescent plasma therapy with high antibody levels to treat COVID-19.

sun sun ke khaan phaak gaya hamara!!

 

Q52. A man suddenly encounters a tiger in the jungle, and his heartbeat goes up, blood pressure increases and gets nervous. Which hormone is released more at this point in his body?

  1. Thyroxine
  2. Insulin
  3. Adrenaline
  4. Aldosterone

Correct option: (C) Adrenaline

Adrenaline is also known as the “fight-or-flight hormone.” It’s released in response to a stressful, exciting, dangerous, or threatening situation. Adrenaline helps your body react more quickly. It makes the heart beat faster, increases blood flow to the brain and muscles, and stimulates the body to make sugar to use for fuel.

Go to APSC CCE Prelim Previous Years Paper Analysis 

Assam Current Affairs – September 19-21, 2022

Posted on by admin

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – September 19-21, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the September 19-21, 2022)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 316: July 2022, Week 4 

September 19-21, 2022

Hemkosh becomes first Braille dictionary in South-east Asia

South-East Asia’s first Braille version of the prestigious Assamese dictionary “Hemkosh” was formally launched at a program held at the Vivekananda Kendra in Guwahati. 

The dictionary was launched by the Sadin Pratidin Group to give a new dimension to the Assamese language with an aim to help in improving the educational quality of visually impaired children in the state.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the minister for ports, shipping, and waterways, as well as other officials, were present on this occasion. The dictionary was formally presented to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

The first Assamese language dictionary “Hemkosh” was first published in 1919 by Hem Chandra Baruwa.

Government of Assam will use portable device ‘SAANS’ to prevent neonatal deaths

The Assam government has decided to utilize the air pressure machine ‘SAANS,’ in all of its hospitals to minimize infant mortality 

SAANS’ is a portable neonatal Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) system built by a Bangalore-based start-up.  

Key Points

  • The machine can provide lifesaving breathing support to infants in hospital settings as well as during travel. 
  • More than 50 SAANS devices have been deployed across medical colleges in Assam to date with more deployments underway to district hospitals. 
  • InnAccel Technologies, incubated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), partnered with the SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility to build the equipment to improve respiratory assistance for babies and paediatric populations in Assam.
  • SAMRIDH is a multi-stakeholder innovation and funding platform operated by IPE Global and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
  • The partnership between InnAccel, C-CAMP, and SAMRIDH, with backing from the National Health Mission, , Assam and the Government of Assam will help deploy 307 units of SAANS in the state. 
  • The distribution of these machines is projected to cover practically all of the state’s current demand for respiratory support technology.

Bhaichung Bhutia becomes new president of Hamro Sikkim Party

Legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia has been recently elected as the new president of the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP). He was elected by party leaders and members at a national conference.

Bhutia pledged to put endless effort to serve the people of Sikkim and represent their hopes and aspirations.

He said “We shall make unending efforts to ensure social equality and justice and provide limitless possibilities for every Sikkimese to realize the full potential of our state,” 

He also expressed gratitude towards the outgoing HSP president Bina Basnett for successfully completing her tenure of three years.

India will host next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023

The rotational presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been handed over to India in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in India in 2023.

Delhi will hold the presidency of the grouping for a year until September 2023. Next year, India will take over as the next Chair of SCO from Uzbekistan and will also host the summit. 

During the SCO Summit, the Member States noted the various global challenges and threats in the global economy. They expressed deep concern over the security threat posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism and strongly condemned terrorist acts around the world.

They will seek to develop common principles and approaches to form a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organizations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the SCO member states. 

The Member States also made commitments to build a sustainable economic system by promoting green and environmentally friendly technologies.

In the Samarkand Declaration, the member states supported the efforts of the countries of the region to ensure prosperity, peace and sustainable development. They advocated strengthening the role of SCO in enhancing stability and socio-economic development in the region. 

About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

  • Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an international alliance consists of 8 member states: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 
  • The Secretariat of the SCO, headquartered in Beijing, China.
  • The official languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian.
  • It is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year.

Science magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati’, received the National Rajbhasha Kirti Award

CSIR’s (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) popular science magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati Received the National Rajbhasha Kirti Award (first position). 

Vigyan Pragati is one of India’s most popular science magazines. It is popular among children, teachers, researchers, and the public across India as well as the world. 

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) started publishing this magazine in 1952. It carries a legacy of seven decades and over these many years.

This monthly Hindi publication imparts the knowledge of the recent national-international S&T related developments. The magazine contents aim at igniting curiosity about science among the young and strive to develop an interest in them to pursue science. 

Rajbhasha Kirti Award was introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs. which aims to encourage the implementation of the Official Language Policy. It is given on the day of Hindi Diwas. 

Andaman and Nicobar Islands become India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh.

With this achievement, all the villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have received the Har Ghar Jal certification and also have been verified as ODF (open defecation free) and ODF Plus. 

Swachh And Sujal Key Components

Three important components of Sujal and Swachh states are given below

  • Safe and secure drinking water supply and management; 
  • ODF Plus: ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) 
  • Cross-cutting interventions like convergence, IEC, action planning, etc.

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – August 2022 

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – September 2022

Quiz Home Page

Assam Current Affairs – July 13-15, 2022

Posted on by admin

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – July 13-15, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for July 13- 15, 2022)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 314: July 2022, Week 2 | Watch Quiz Video

July 13-15, 2022

Government of Assam and Arunachal sign ‘Namsai Declaration’ to resolve vexed boundary dispute 

The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma inked the ‘Namsai Declaration’ for resolving the vexed inter-state boundary dispute between the two states.

The declaration was signed by the two chief ministers in the presence of several cabinet ministers of both states.

Key Points

  • The Chief Minister of both the states agreed in principle on restricting the number of contested villages to 86 instead of 123. Of the 123 disputed villages, a consensus has been reached on 37 and 86 others are left. 
  • According to the Namsai Declaration’, both the Chief ministers agreed that out of the 37 disputed villages, 28 which are within the constitutional boundary of Arunachal Pradesh shall remain with the state while, three villages on which claims were withdrawn by Arunachal Pradesh, will be with Assam.
  • Six other villages which could not be located on the Assam side would also remain with the frontier state if they exist in Arunachal Pradesh, the agreement stated. 
  • Both the states have agreed to form 12 regional committees to resolve the border issues. These committees will submit their report on 15th September. The draft MoU will be referred to the union government for its approval.

Mizoram has the highest ratio of women working as legislators and managers

As per the latest additional data of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July 2020-June 2021, Mizoram has the highest proportion of women workers working as legislators, senior officials and managers, followed by Sikkim and Manipur.

In Mizoram, there was a 70.9% ratio of female-to-male workers who were working as legislators, senior officials and managers. Sikkim with 48.2% and Manipur at 45.1%, Meghalaya at 44.8% Andhra Pradesh recorded 43%. 

The other northeastern state among Assam had 16.1% while Nagaland had a ratio of 9.1%.

Among the larger states and Union Territories with a low ratio were Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Punjab and Andaman and Nicobar. Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu had the lowest ratio of 1.8%.

In terms of senior managerial jobs, Mizoram again topped the charts with 40.8%, followed by Sikkim with 32.5 and Meghalaya at 31%. Andhra Pradesh with a ratio of 30.4%. 

Bonn Global Biodiversity Conclave 2022

Bonn Global Biodiversity Conclave is being organised in Bonn, Germany. This conclave is mainly focusing on sustainable use of wild species. 

Assessment on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species report will be published at the 9th conference of Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

New Assessment on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species report 

  • It will incorporate the details on diverse uses of wild species and practices that are connected with them, these practices include, Gathering, Logging, Fishing, observing and Terrestrial animal harvesting (shearing and hunting). 
  • It will investigate what ‘sustainable use’ implies and how it is associated with United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals. 
  • Authors of the report will also look after tools and methods to assess, measure and manage the sustainable use of wild species. 
  • They will also read about the effectiveness of policy options, in order to govern the sustainable use of wild species in a better manner. Such policies include trade & incentives, and governance. 
  • They would also highlight why and for whom the sustainable use of wild species is unavoidable. 
  • Report will also explore the links between sustainable use of wild species and challenges associated with it, including climate change & land use.

India’s first floating terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Maharashtra

India’s first Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) has arrived at H-Energy’s Jaigarh Terminal in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, on the west coast of India. 

The port is the first deep water, 24×7 operational private port in Maharashtra. This will be the first year-round Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Maharashtra. 

Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) based LNG Terminals aims at providing the ability to enhance the pace of natural gas import capability in an environment friendly and efficient manner.

Key Points 

  • The LNG terminal  built in 2017, has a storage capacity of 170,000 cubic metres and installed regasification capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day. 
  • Höegh Giant will deliver regasified LNG to the 56-km long Jaigarh-Dabhol natural gas pipeline, thereby connecting the LNG terminal to the national gas grid.
  • The facility is capable of reloading LNG onto small-scale LNG vessels for bunkering services and delivering LNG through truck loading facilities for onshore distribution.
  • H-Energy plans to further develop small-scale LNG markets in the region and use the floating storage and regasification unit for storage and reloading LNG onto smaller vessels.

NASA released James Webb Space Telescope’s first images

National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) released James Webb Space Telescope’s first images in a preview event at the White House in Washington. 

This first image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. 

Key points

  • It is a joint venture of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency. 
  • Thousands of galaxies including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time. 
  • The James Webb Space telescope first photo covers a patch of sky that is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length by someone on the ground.
  • It is a composite made from images at different wavelengths, totaling 12.5 hours.
  • The first images from the James Webb Space Telescope achieves depths at infrared wavelengths beyond the Hubble Space Telescope’s deepest fields, which took weeks.
  • It will be able to study Old and distant galaxies, which is not currently possible with Hubble. 
  • It will show images from 250 million years after the Big Bang- taking us closer to the starting point of the Universe.

India ranks 135 in the Global Gender Gap Index 2022

Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146 countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for 2022. 

In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries. India’s overall score has improved from 0.625 (in 2021) to 0.629.

About Global Gender Gap Report

  • The Global Gender Gap Index is an index designed to measure gender equality.
  • It was first published in 2006 by the World Economic Forum. 
  • It assesses countries on how well they are dividing their resources and opportunities among their male and female populations, regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities.
  • It is an index designed to measure gender equality by tracking progress towards closing gender gaps over time.
  • The Global Gender Gap index “benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions– 
  • Economic Participation and Opportunity, 
  • Educational Attainment, 
  • Health and Survival, and
  • Political Empowerment.

India’s Performance on Global Gender Gap Index 2022

  • Economic Participation and Opportunity: India ranks 143 out of the 146 countries. (In 2021, India was pegged at 151 out of the 156 countries.)
  • Educational Attainment: India ranks 107th out of 146. (In 2021, India was ranked 114 out of 156.)
  • Health and Survival: India ranks 146 in health and survival
  • Political Empowerment: India ranks the highest (48th out of 146). 

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 314: July 2022, Week 2 | Watch Quiz Video

APSC Prelim 2018 GS Paper – Analysis of Science & Technology Section Questions

Posted on by admin
APSC Prelim 2018 GS Paper – Science & Technology Section Questions Analysis

Science & Technology is very important sections in any General Studies papers and in APSC GS Paper too, a significant number of Questions are asked from these sections. So, analyzing the previous year’s Qs from this section can be very helpful to understand Focus Areas to study more extensively.

 

Q32. How does Calcium carbide ripen mangoes?

a. It reacts with moisture and releases ethylene

b. It reacts with moisture and releases ethyne

c. It reacts with moisture and released acetaldehyde which in turn releases ethylene

d. It reacts with starch and releases acetylene

 

Q33. Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight as compared to other three?

a. Sand desert

b. Paddy cropland

c. Land covered with fresh snow

d. Prairie land

 

Q34. Which of the following is a bio-fertilizer?

a. Rhizobium

b. Azobacter

c. Blue-green algae

d. all of the above

 

Q35. Which country approved medical and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives on 19th October, 2017?

a. Cambodia

b. Qatar

c. Pakistan

d. Peru

Q36. Vermicomposting is done by

a. fungus

b. bacteria

c. worms

d. animals

 

Q37. Group of organisms which converts light into food is called

a. autotrophs

b. heterotrophs

c. decomposers

d. omnivores

Focus Areas: General Science Processes

 

Q38. What does India’s first all-weather tracked-chassis QR-SAM stand for?

a. Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile

b. Quotient Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile

c. Quicker Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile

d. None of the above

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile is a missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army, meant for protecting moving armoured columns from aerial attacks. QRSAM has a fully automated Command and Control System.