Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
The Mediation Bill, 2023 has been recently passed by the Rajya Sabha. It aims to cut down the time to complete the mediation proceedings to 180 days.
The bill halves the time for completing mediation proceedings. Under the other key recommendation of the Parliamentary committee accepted by the government, pre-litigation mediation has been made voluntary instead of mandatory.

Notes:
India’s Defence Ministry has decided to replace Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all its computers that can connect to the Internet with Maya.
Maya, which has been developed by Indian government agencies within six months, and is aimed at preventing malware attacks by cybercriminals. The new OS will be backed by a protection system called Chakravyuh.

Notes:
Archaeologists excavating in Keeladi site situated 12 km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, have discovered a crystal quartz weighing unit from the Sangam period.
Located 175 cm below the surface, this is the first such find since the start of the Keeladi excavations in 2014. The crystal artifact, distinctively designed, boasts a roughly spherical form.

Notes:
India’s greenhouse emissions rate dropped by 33% between 2005 and 2019 in 14 years as renewable energy generation rose and forest cover increased, as per the latest assessment made for submission to the United Nations.
The report’s findings showed India is on the way to meeting a commitment to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to reduce emissions intensity by 45% from the 2005 level by 2030.

Notes:
The ‘Icon of the Seas’, set to be the world’s largest cruise ship, is nearing completion at a Finnish shipyard in Turku.
This grand vessel, owned by Royal Caribbean, is scheduled for its maiden voyage in January 2024. The passenger volume is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels with 31.5 million passengers in 2023.

Notes:
In a move to address climate change and advocate for eco-friendly transport, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has launched an innovative program, CarbonLite Metro Travel, to inform riders about their role in decreasing carbon footprints.
It educates riders on how their choice of metro trains contributes to reducing carbon emissions.

Notes:
Indian telecommunications major, Reliance Jio has completed the work related to connecting Maldives with a High-Speed Optic Fibre cable.
A ceremony was held in Hulhumale in Maldives on Friday to land the Ocean Connect Maldives-India Asia Express (OCM-IAX) Submarine Cable System. The IAX cable system originates in Mumbai and connects Singapore, with branches and landings in India, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Notes:
Pennsylvania State University researchers tested the ‘wet bulb temperature,’ where sweat no longer evaporates, leading to potential heatstroke.
It is the lowest temperature that can be reached under current ambient conditions by the evaporation of water only. Their findings revealed that the critical limit is 30.6°C, significantly lower than previously thought.

Notes:
The RATIONS (Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status) trial, published in the Lancet, discovered that nutritional support could reduce tuberculosis incidence by 39%-48% among close contacts of confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
This study involved 10,345 household contacts across four Jharkhand districts and was integrated into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

Notes:
Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha.
It proposes the setting up of a 3-member committee led by the Prime Minister for appointing future chief election commissioners and election commissioners.