UPSC QUIZ 31.08.2023

Explanation :

• China and Bhutan held the 13th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in Beijing, focusing on boundary delimitation. The meeting marked the establishment of a Joint Technical Team on the Delimitation of the China-Bhutan Boundary.
• As both nations aim to expedite boundary resolution, this move holds implications for the broader regional context, including India.

Key Highlights of the 13th Expert Group Meeting Meeting

• Both nations expressed their commitment to expedite efforts towards achieving a resolution on the disputed boundary.
• Plans were laid out for the upcoming 14th round of boundary talks to maintain the encouraging pace.
• The meeting addressed the implementation of the Three-Step Road Map, reflecting the commitment to follow the outlined strategy for expediting boundary negotiations.

Explanation :

• Gujarat government has increased the existing reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in panchayats and urban local bodies from 10% to 27% on August 29, 2023.

Main point

• The state cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appointed retired High Court judge K.S. The decision on reservation was taken on the basis of the report of the panel headed by Jhaveri.
• Jhaveri Commission was constituted by the state government in July, 2022 with the aim of collecting and analyzing data about the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies.
• This was necessary to fix OBC quota in local body elections.
• The cabinet took this decision while accepting a report of the cabinet sub-committee constituted to study the recommendations of the Jhaveri Commission.
• The sub-committee was chaired by Rushikesh Patel, with seven other ministers of state as members.
• Earlier, OBC reservation in local bodies in Gujarat was 10%.

Explanation :

• Deendayal Port Authority and Dubai-based DP World, a multinational logistics company, partnered for the Mega Container Terminal Project at Tuna Tekra, Gujarat.
• The initiative was initiated by India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).With the aim to enhance port capacity, foster multimodal logistics, and promote global connectivity, this venture signifies a pivotal step in public-private partnership.

Key Highlights of Container Terminal

• The terminal will have an annual capacity to handle 2.19 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) with capability to handle next-generation vessels carrying more than 18,000 TEUs.
• Mega Container Terminal Project is fully compliant with the green port guidelines.
• The terminal will connect Northern, Western and Central India with the Global market.
• The project aligns with India’s Vision 2047 to quadruple port handling capacity.

Explanation :

• India and Greece have taken a significant step by upgrading their relationship to a strategic partnership.
• The partnership aims to double trade, enhance defence and security collaboration, and address shared challenges.
• On this occasion, the Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou conferred the Prime Minister(PM) of India with “The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour”.The Indian PM paid tribute at the ‘Tomb of Unknown Soldier’ in Athens.
• India and Greece agreed to intensify their defence and security cooperation, especially in maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and the defence industry.
• Decided that there should also be an India-Greece dialogue framework at the level of National Security Advisors (NSAs).

Explanation :

• The lander module of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission created history on the evening of 23 August by landing on the south pole of the Moon.
• Its rover is now roaming on the moon. Chandrayaan-3's rover 'Pragyan' has crossed the first hurdle on the moon. Pragyan came across a 100mm pothole which he negotiated with ease.

Pragyan Rover

• It is a rover to travel on the lunar surface and collect data, which has been landed on the moon by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• The previous version of the rover was released as part of Chandrayaan-2 on 22 July 2019 and was destroyed along with its lander Vikram when it crashed into the Moon on 6 September.