UPSC QUIZ 29.01.2024

Explanation:

Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled the first cohort of fellows under the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) scheme, a strategic initiative aimed at fostering short-term collaborations with Indian-origin scientists based abroad.Vaibhav scheme finds similarities with the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (Vajra) scheme initiated in 2018.

VAIBHAV Scheme

• The Government has launched VAIBHAV fellowships programme in 2023 to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) diaspora with Indian academic and R&D institutions for collaborative research work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and best practices in the frontier areas of science & technology.
• The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months there in a year for a maximum of 3 years.
• The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and help initiate research activities in the host institution in the cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.

Explanation:

• Cameroon launched a historic malaria vaccine program on January 22, which will cover 2.5 million children over two years. 95% of global malaria mortality occurs in Africa, so curbing infections here is vital.

Burden of disease in Africa

• There are 250 million cases of malaria annually in sub-Saharan Africa, including 600,000 child deaths.
• Vaccination will relieve this enormous burden on the continent's health systems and economies while saving the lives of families.
• Cameron aims to demonstrate the benefits of the vaccine as a proof of concept.

Explanation:

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awards took place on January 23, 2024 in Hyderabad. The glittering ceremony honored outstanding Indian cricketers across domestic and international formats.
• The event featured a star-studded guest list and presence of esteemed board stalwarts.

Award winner

• Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill and Ravichandran Ashwin headlined the awards for their international performances in the 2022-23, 2021-22 and 2019-20 seasons respectively.
• Ashwin took the most wickets in the India vs West Indies Test series and also won the second Polly Umrigar Award.
• The women's awards recognized the outstanding performances of Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma over the last 5 seasons.
• The list of award winners includes U-19 players, India legends and domestic circuit stars.

Explanation:

• The setting up of two coal gasification plants in West Bengal and Odisha approved by Cabinet.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) will set up two coal gasification plants with the aim of achieving the target of 100 MT coal gasification by the year 2030 and fulfilling India's twin objectives of self-reliance and energy independence.
• In the joint venture of CIL and GAIL, the total investment for the proposed coal-to-synthetic natural gas in the Sonpur Bazari area of Eastern Coalfields Limited in West Bengal will be Rs 13,52 crore.
• In the CIL and BHEL joint venture, the proposed coal-to-ammonium nitrate at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited in the Jharsuguda district of Odisha will be worth Rs 11,782 crore.
• These projects will be operational by 2028-29.
• The proposal for equity investment for setting up a coal-to-synthetic natural gas project through a joint venture between CIL and Gas Authority of India Limited(GAIL) has also been approved by the Center.
• The setting up of a coal-to-ammonium nitrate project through a joint venture between CIL and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited-BHEL has also been approved by the Centre.
• The Union Cabinet has also approved the scheme to promote coal and lignite gasification projects of Government PSUs and the private sector.
• The total outlay of this scheme is Rs 8,500 crore for incentives for coal gasification projects under three categories.

Explanation:

• The merger of Fincare Small Finance Bank with AU Small Finance Bank (SFB) has been approved by CCI.
• In October 2023, the board of the bank had approved the merger.
• The proposed merger received shareholders’ approval in November 2023.
• After approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the approval of RBI is awaited.
• The merged entity should become effective from February 1, 2024, subject to necessary approvals.
• It is expected that the share exchange ratio for the amalgamation will be 579 equity shares of AU SFB for every 2,000 equity shares of Fincare SFB.