UPSC QUIZ 20.04.2024

Explanation:

• ISRO has achieved a significant milestone in reducing space debris, stating that its PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission emitted zero debris in Earth orbit.
• The milestone was achieved by reusing the fourth stage into 'PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3' (POEM-3), effectively converting it into an orbital station.

POEM

• POEM is an innovative space platform developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• It repurposes the fourth stage of a PSLV rocket into a stable orbital station for conducting in-space scientific experiments with diverse payloads.
• Its inaugural use occurred during the PSLV-C53 mission in June 2022.

Explanation:

• Tiranga Barfi of Varanasi, associated with India's independence on 16 April 2024, has been given the status of GI product. Besides, another product of Varanasi, Dhalua Murti Metal Casting Craft, has also been included in the GI category.
• On April 16, 2024, the Geographical Indication (GI) Registry Office based in Chennai has released the list of new products.

A total of 75 products of Uttar Pradesh have received GI tag

• After this tag, these products of Varanasi will now get a special identity in the world. In this way, a total of 34 products in Banaras region and 75 products in Uttar Pradesh have now received the GI tag. Kashi is also called the most diverse GI city.
• This is believed to be the record for the highest number of intellectual property rights in the name of a particular land area.

Explanation:

• Time magazine has released the list of 100 most influential personalities of the world on 17 April 2024.
• In this list, along with various well-known personalities of the world, many famous personalities of India were included. Actor Alia Bhatt and wrestler Sakshi Malik are prominently involved in this.
• Yulia Navalnaya, wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has also been included in this list.This time, 15 artists, 15 titans, 16 icons, 24 leaders, 15 innovators and 15 pioneers have been included in Time magazine.

Many people of Indian origin included in Time's list

• Many people of Indian origin have also been included in this list of Time. In which the names of World Bank President Ajay Banga, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and actor-director Dev Patel are prominently included.
• The Time list includes America's Energy Loan Programme Office Director Jigar Shah. Priyamvada Natarajan, professor of astronomy and physics at Yale University, is also included. Apart from these, Indian origin restaurant owner Asma Khan has also been included.

Explanation:

• ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSCC) has developed a lightweight carbon-carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines. Carbon–carbon (Si–Si) composites are advanced materials made by combining carbon fibers with a carbon matrix.

Features

• The nozzle has been developed using sophisticated processes like green composite carbonization, carbon vapor infiltration, high temperature treatment.
• ‘Converting green composites to carbon’ means converting eco-friendly composite materials into carbon-based materials.
• In this process composites are made at high temperatures to remove non-carbon elements and enhance their properties for specific applications.
• Carbon composite materials refers to a technique of adding specific chemicals, allowing them to fill the gaps between carbon fibers using a vapor-based process. It enhances the properties and performance of the material.

Explanation:

• World Organization of Writers (WOW) awarded the World Literary Prize to Kannada poet, playwright, and academic, Mamta G Sagar for her contribution to literature.
• The event was held as a part of WOW's first congress in Abuja, Nigeria.
• The three-day congress was held at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Writers Village, a community started by renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe in 1981.
• The event was organized in collaboration with both the ANA and the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA).
• The Bengaluru-based author seeks to address issues related to gender, politics, and human rights violations with anthologies like 'Kaada Navilina Hejje' (published in 1992) and 'Nadiya Neerina Teva' (1999).