Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – August 11-12, 2022 [Mock Test]
August 14, 2022 August 14, 2022
1. Which of the following are the advantages of sodium ion batteries over lithium-ion batteries?
- These can store more energy per unit weight.
- These are less likely to experience thermal runaway.
- The element is abundant in nature.
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:- Sodium ion batteries are cheaper to produce than their lithium counterparts because of the abundance of the raw materials required to make them. The element is abundant in nature—the Earth’s crust has 2.9 per cent of the element while lithium’s share is only 0.01 per cent. Sodium can be found naturally in seawater and also mined from soda ash.
- The cost of extracting sodium is at least 20 per cent lower than lithium.
- These are energy dense, non-flammable, and operate well in colder temperatures.
- These can store more energy per unit weight, this could make them well-suited for larger applications such as electric vehicles.
- These are less likely to experience thermal runaway, a condition that can cause fires in lithium-ion batteries.
2. Goal of decarbonization of road sector and power sector by 2030 and 2035 respectively was signed at which of the following summits?
[A] QUAD Leaders’ Summit 2022
[B] 14th BRICS Summit
[C] G7 summit 2022
[D] 20th India-France Joint Staff talks 2022
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [G7 summit 2022]
Notes:- G-7 nations assembly held recently in Berlin had introduced a goal to have a “highly decarbonised road sector by 2030,” that means that zero emission autos would dominate the gross sales by the tip of the last decade.
- These nations have also planned for power sector decarbonization by 2035 i.e. finish greenhouse fuel emissions from their energy sectors by 2035.
- France has plan to phase out coal by 2023, Italy by 2025, UK by 2024, Germany and Canada are aiming for 2030. US administration has set a goal of ending fossil gas use for electrical energy era within the United States by 2035.
3. Investment Incentive Agreement and Initiative on Critical Emerging Technologies were signed between which of the following nations?
[A] India and US
[B] US and Japan
[C] India and Japan
[D] India, US and Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India and US]
Notes:- India and US have signed the Investment Incentive Agreement which enables the US Development Finance Corporation to continue providing investment support in India in sectors of shared priority such as healthcare, renewable energy, SMEs, infrastructure etc. The agreement supersedes another similar pact signed between the governments of India and the US in 1997. The agreement is a legal requirement for the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to continue providing investment support in India.
- Both sides launched an India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) to facilitate outcome-oriented cooperation. Co-led by the National Security Council Secretariat in India and the U.S. National Security Council, iCET would forge closer linkages between government, academia and industry of the two countries in areas such as AI, quantum computing, 5G/6G, biotech, space and semiconductors.
- Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) has been launched by India, Japan and Australia to reduce the dependency on a single nation (at present China).
