UPSC QUIZ 07.05.2024

Explanation:

• UN has formed a panel specifically focused on critical energy transition minerals. These critical minerals are generally found in the underdeveloped nations, such as African nations.
• The heavy demand for these minerals is leading to emerging concerns of resource nationalism and environmental destruction.

Key Facts About the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals

• The panel will address issues relating to equity, transparency, investment, sustainability, and human rights in the context of critical minerals for renewable energy technologies.
• Developing countries see critical minerals as an opportunity to create jobs, diversify economies, and boost revenues, but proper management is essential to avoid trampling over the poor.
• The panel's objective is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change, and its Paris Agreement to harness the potential of critical minerals for shared prosperity and leaving no one behind.

Explanation:

• USA The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a blanket ban on all forms/types of the deadly carcinogen ‘asbestos’.

Asbestos

• Asbestos is a general term for a group of six silicate minerals with similar but distinct properties.
• It is a soft and hairy substance made of microscopic fibers whose fibers are sharp and needle-like.
• It is divided into two sub-groups ‘serpentine’ and ‘amphibole’ in which the only serpentine asbestos ‘chrysotile or white asbestos’ is most used.
• It has been widely used in many construction and fireproof products and machinery parts.

Explanation:

• According to recent reports, approximately 5 lakh Indian women are currently working in Global Capability Centers (GCC). Global Capability Centers are offshore units set up by multinational corporations to perform various strategic functions.

Key Highlights of the Report

GCCs Growth

• India hosts nearly 1,600 GCCs, with a substantial addition of 2.8 lakh employees in 2022-23, expanding its talent base to over 1.6 million.
• Nearly five lakh women currently work in Indian global capability centres (GCCs), comprising 28% of the total 16 lakh employees across GCCs in India. Gender diversity in the deep tech ecosystem stands at 23%.

Explanation:

• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has released a video capturing the occultation of the moon passing in front of the bright red star Antares (Jyeshtha).
• Since the moon is relatively close to the Earth, such occultations will be visible only from some locations on the globe, similar to why a solar eclipse is seen only from a particular part of the globe.

Occultation in Astronomy

• An occultation in astronomy occurs when one celestial body passes in front of another, obscuring it from view.
• Occultations can also be artificially produced to take a look at certain phenomena in detail. Perhaps the best-known use is blocking the light of the sun or a star to see what is nearby.
• In the case of lunar occultations, the Moon appears to move in front of other objects in the sky, such as stars, planets, or asteroids.

Explanation:

• Prime Minister of India addressed the 6th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI).
• ICDRI is the annual international conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in partnership with member countries, organizations and institutions.
• It aims to increase the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
• CDRI was launched in the year 2019 during the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York. This is India's second major global initiative after the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• The secretariat of CDRI is located in New Delhi, India.

CDRI Initiatives

• Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS): This initiative was initiated by India and focuses on capacity building with pilot projects in small island developing states (SIDS).
• Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund: This is a fund supported by both the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
• Some other CDRI programs are adaptive housing in Dominica, adaptive transportation networks in Papua New Guinea and advanced early warning systems in the Dominican Republic and Fiji.