ALL EXAM QUIZ 02.08.2024

Explanation:

• The GEEF Global WaterTech Award honored to CWS at the Global Water Tech Summit 2024.
• The GEEF Global Watertech Award was presented to the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the ‘Water Department of the Year’ category at the prestigious Global Water Tech Summit 2024.
• The Global Energy and Environment Foundation (GEEF) organized the Global Water Tech Summit 2024 in New Delhi.
• The Global Awards recognise major achievements in the water sector, honoring innovation, technology, conservation, and sustainable development across water, sewage, and desalination fields.
• The Global Energy and Environment Foundation acknowledged the important role of the Central Water Commission (CWC) in hydro-meteorological data collection, flood forecasting, reservoir storage monitoring, water quality monitoring, and resolution of inter-state water issues.
• In addition, the Foundation recognized several initiatives of CWC, such as interaction with Water Resources/Irrigation/Jal Shakti Departments of all States/UTs to enhance synergy between the work being done by CWC and the States/UTs in various areas related to water resources.

Explanation:

• UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion (Amendment) Bill included a broader definition of "love jihad".
• Uttar Pradesh proposed significant amendments to the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion (Amendment) Bill in the state Assembly.
• This bill has now included a broader definition of "love jihad".
• It proposed life imprisonment for the 'love jihad' accused.
• The punishment for crimes previously defined in the Bill has been doubled.
• At present, the punishment for conversion ranges from one to 10 years.
• The earlier bill had declared conversions done solely for marriage as invalid and considered conversion by lying and cheating a crime.
• In the case of voluntary conversion, individuals have to inform the magistrate two months in advance.
• The Bill's main aim is to ensure that no person can convert another directly or indirectly.

Explanation:

• Engineering exports in June 2024 have grown 10.27% (year-on-year) to $9.39 billion.
• This increase is due to rise in shipments of electrical machinery, motor vehicles, products of iron and steel, auto components and parts, and Industrial machinery.
• Cumulative exports in April-Jun 2024-25 increased 4.34% to $27.92 billion.
• India’s overall goods exports in June 2024 rose at 2.6% (year-on-year) to $35.2 billion.
• In the April-June 2024-25, goods exports increased 5.84% to $109.96 billion.
• North America (21% share) and the EU (17% share) were India’s topmost destinations for engineering exports.
• In April-June 2024-25, the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Singapore, the UK, and Mexico were the export destinations that have shown growth.
• Exports to Germany, Italy, Korea Rep, Nepal and Bangladesh have shown a decline during the same period.
• In June 2024, exports of iron and steel, non-ferrous products, other products including industrial boilers and office equipment, declined.

Explanation:

• Sado gold and silver mines in Japan have become part of UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The mines were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List after South Korea dropped objections to their listing.
• South Korea opposed the proposal because of the use of involuntary Korean labour at the time of World War II, when Japan ruled the Korean peninsula.
• The mines are now a tourist attraction. It is believed that they began operations as early as the 12th century and continued to produce till the end of World War II.
• On July 27, the Beijing Central Axis was also added to the list. It is a collection of former imperial palaces and gardens in the Chinese capital.
• At its current committee meeting in New Delhi on July 27, UNESCO confirmed the listing of the mines. The UNESCO committee meeting ends on July 31.

Explanation:

• National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme 2.0 Portal has been launched by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
• He disbursed 100 crore rupees stipends to apprentices through the DBT mode.
• NATS Portal 2.0 is a significant effort to democratise apprenticeship, and bridge the skills gap.
• It is also an effort to fulfil youth aspirations and make them future-ready.
• Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan appealed to all educational institutions and industries to join NATS 2.0 portal.
• NATS 2.0 portal has been developed in-house by the Ministry of Education with the support of AICTE and Board of Apprenticeship Training / Practical Training (BOAT/BOPT).
• It is used by students, industries, institutions as well implementing bodies.

Explanation:

• Defence Ministry and the National Stock Exchange joined hands to help MSMEs in the Defense sector.
• To support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and emerging companies in the defence sector, the Defense Ministry signed a MoU with the National Stock Exchange.
• The Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to facilitate capital market access for MSMEs.
• Its main aim is to facilitate MSMEs in the defence sector to raise productive capital for their growth.
• The MoU was signed by the additional secretary of the Department of Defense Production (DDP) and the managing director, of NSE.
• The NSE will also help MSMEs connect with intermediaries like merchant bankers, registrars, transfer agents, depositories, etc.
• This MoU will help MSMEs and emerging companies in the defence sector.

Explanation:

• V. Vedachalam, an eminent Tamil epigrapher and historian, has received the V Venkayya Epigraphy Award for 2024.
• Dr. Vedachalam has written more than 25 books on subjects like epigraphy, numismatics, temple art, religion, and society.
• The award is named after V. Venkayya, the first Indian Chief Epigraphist to the government of India.
• Sunitha Madhavan instituted this annual award in association with the Tamil Heritage Trust.
• It commemorates the pioneering epigrapher and honors exceptional contributions to epigraphy in any Indian language.

Explanation:

• India has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council.
• Under the landmark Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement relating to Supply Chain Resilience, India and 13 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) partners have established three supply chain bodies.
• The inaugural virtual meetings of the Supply Chain Council (SCC), Crisis Response Network (CRN), and Labor Rights Advisory Board (LRAB) are an important step toward cooperation among partner countries.
• Through these inaugural meetings, 14 IPEF partners reaffirmed their commitments to facilitate closer cooperation.
• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal along with Ministers from other IPEF partner countries signed the first-of-its-kind IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement.
• Its main objective is to make IPEF supply chains more resilient, robust and well-integrated.
• It contribute towards economic development and progress of the Indo-Pacific region as a whole.

During the meetings, each of the three supply chain bodies elected a Chair and Vice Chair.

• Supply Chain Council: USA (Chair) and India (Vice Chair)
• Crisis Response Network: Republic of Korea (Chair) and Japan (Vice Chair)
• Labor Rights Advisory Board: USA (Chair) and Fiji (Vice Chair)

Explanation:

• Recently, former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has been selected as the next chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• A month ago, Union Public Service Commission Chairman Manoj Soni resigned from his post before the completion of his tenure. Preeti Sudan is a 1983 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
• She has about 37 years of experience.

Explanation:

• The Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) has recently installed a wind turbine to generate electricity for real-time cameras and Wi-Fi connectivity inside the forests.
• The PTR East Division comprises 17 forest blocks where mobile network connectivity is currently unavailable. The Periyar Tiger Reserve is located in the hilly Western Ghats of Kerala, southern India.