Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2024

Notes:
Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-caste of Karnataka’s Lingayat community, seek inclusion in Category 2A of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) for better reservations in jobs and education. Karnataka’s OBC categories are 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, with 2A being the most backward. The Lingayats follow 12th-century reformer Basavanna, who advocated for a casteless, non-discriminatory society, and are considered Shaivites.

Notes:
The Finance Ministry has allocated Rs 500 crore for the Namo Drone Didi scheme, aimed at providing drones to 15,000 women self-help groups (SHGs) from 2023-24 to 2025-2026. This initiative trains women to become drone pilots, helping farmers with tasks such as fertilizer spraying, seed sowing, and crop monitoring. The program seeks to modernize agriculture and boost productivity by subsidizing up to 80% of drone costs, up to Rs 8 lakh per SHG.

Notes:
Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have studied the atmospheric conditions of brown dwarfs. These objects, larger than planets but smaller than stars, are between giant planets and small stars in size. They accumulate material like stars and have hot silicate cloud formations. Unlike stars, brown dwarfs cannot sustain nuclear fusion, which is why they are called “failed stars.” They retain hydrogen and helium better than planets and have low metal content.

Notes:
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched the first indigenously-built Talwar class frigate, ‘Triput.’ Part of a 2016 India-Russia deal, Triput is among four Admiral Grigorovich class frigates, with two built in India via technology transfer. The Indian Navy already operates six of this class. INS Triput, 124m long and 15.5m wide, is powered by four gas turbines, reaching speeds of 28 knots with a 3200-ton displacement. It features stealth-enhancing hull design, advanced weapons and sensors, an Integrated Platform and Bridge Management System, and a robust air defense system with vertical launch long-range surface-to-air missiles.

Notes:
The Finance Minister announced NPS Vatsalya, a new scheme under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) to help parents and guardians plan for their children’s future financial needs. Parents can open an account for their minor children, with funds accumulating until the child turns 18. Upon adulthood, the amount transfers to a standard NPS account and can be converted into a non-NPS plan. NPS, a voluntary retirement scheme, enables individuals to build a retirement corpus through regular contributions. Open to all Indian citizens, including non-residents, NPS invests in market-linked instruments, offering potentially higher returns than traditional fixed-income options.

Notes:
The Finance Minister announced a revision to the model Skill Loan Scheme, now facilitating loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh, backed by a government-promoted fund guarantee. Introduced in July 2015, the scheme offers institutional credit for skill development courses aligned with National Occupations Standards and Qualification Packs, conducted by NSQF-compliant training institutes. It applies to all Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) member banks and RBI-advised financial institutions. Any Indian National admitted to ITIs, Polytechnics, recognized schools, affiliated colleges, or NSDC training partners is eligible, with no age restrictions. The courses lead to certifications, diplomas, or degrees.

Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) received $215.6 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for financing mitigation and adaptation projects (FMAP). The GCF, the world’s largest dedicated climate fund, was established at COP 16 in 2010 and operates under the UNFCCC. It supports transformative climate action in developing countries using flexible financing solutions. The FMAP will provide nearly 10,000 concessional loans to MSMEs for low-emission, climate-resilient technologies, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35.3 million tonnes. This is SIDBI’s second GCF-approved project, following the Avaana Sustainability Fund.

Notes:
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently unveiled the “Wind Demon,” an advanced air-to-surface cruise missile designed for precise, long-range attacks at low cost. Developed by IAI, it can be launched from helicopters or aircraft to strike mobile and stationary targets without operator intervention. The missile has a range of over 200 kilometers, weighs 140 kg, and boasts a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1 meter. It flies at low altitudes to avoid detection and features an advanced electro-optical seeker with thermal and laser spot tracking capabilities. The missile includes a Man-in-the-Loop control system for human supervision during critical mission phases.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered “dark oxygen,” a phenomenon where oxygen is produced in complete darkness thousands of feet below the ocean surface. This challenges the belief that oxygen is only created through photosynthesis, which requires sunlight. Traditionally, oceanic plankton, drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria produce oxygen via photosynthesis. However, at these depths, oxygen is generated by polymetallic nodules resembling lumps of coal. Composed of metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, these nodules produce oxygen through electrochemical activity, splitting H2O molecules into hydrogen and oxygen without light.

Notes:
NASA’s Perseverance rover, nicknamed “Percy,” recently made a discovery that could reveal insights into Mars’s ancient history and potential past microbial life. Part of NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission, Perseverance is a semi-autonomous rover launched on July 30, 2020, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and landed in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Its primary mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect rock and soil samples for future return to Earth. The rover, about the size of a small car, is powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) and features a robotic arm, drill, cameras, and scientific instruments.