ALL EXAM QUIZ 22.08.2024

Explanation:

• The government will start a programme called ‘Kisano Ki Baat’ once a month to ensure that farmers get the benefits of science immediately.
• Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that this program will start next month.
• This programme will be broadcast on radio.
• Scientists, and officials from the agriculture department, and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfar will also be present and whatever information is necessary will be provided to the farmers.
• There is a need to connect the Krishi Vigyan Kendra with the farmers completely.
• Efforts will be made to ensure that the scientific benefits reach the farmers immediately.
• Apart from this, Mr Chouhan said that earlier the budget for farmers was only Rs 27 thousand crore, which the Prime Minister has increased to Rs 1.52 lakh crore.

Explanation:

• Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been appointed as the bowling coach of the Indian men's cricket team.
• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Morkel will be part of the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19.
• Morkel, who was Gambhir's teammate at Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, was appointed by Lucknow Super Giants as the bowling coach, while Gambhir was the team's mentor.
• Before being appointed as head coach last month, Gambhir had pushed for Morkel's inclusion in the squad along with Abhishek Nair and Ryan ten Doeschate.
• Apart from his experience as a bowling coach in franchise cricket around the world, Morkel also served as the bowling coach of the Pakistan men's team during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Explanation:

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chamber of Accounts, Republic of Uzbekistan.
• The aim of this agreement is to enhance collaboration and exchange of expertise in the field of auditing between the two nations.
• The signing of the MoU is a significant step in promoting closer ties and collaboration among the SAIs of India and Uzbekistan.
• This MoU will establish a collaboration platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience amongst auditing professionals to develop capacity for conducting audits.
• This MoU will encapsulate the urgency for institutions to embrace a new phase of collaborative engagement.

Explanation:

• India and Israel have inked a pact to establish a new water technology centre at IIT-Madras.
• Both countries issued a Joint Statement of Intent to establish a Center of Water Technology at IIT, Madras.
• This tripartite agreement has been signed by the Embassy of Israel, IIT Madras, and the AMRUT mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The Center of Water Technology’s aim is to become a hub for innovation, research, and capacity-building in water technologies.

Explanation:

• A groundbreaking initiative has been launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to tackle the growing problem of microplastic contamination in the Indian food supply.
• On August 18, the project was announced, titled “Micro- and Nano-Plastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: Establishing Validated Methodologies and Understanding the Prevalence in Different Food Matrices.”
• It aims to develop and standardize methods for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in food products, as well as assess their prevalence and potential risks to consumers.

Explanation:

• The central government has decided to reduce the windfall tax on petroleum crude from Rs 4,600 per tonne to Rs 2,100 per metric tonne.
• The government has also scraped windfall tax on export of diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
• The central government started imposing a windfall tax on crude oil producers in July 2022.
• It was later extended to the export of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel.
• It encouraged private refiners to sell fuel internationally to get refining margins.
• Oil prices have dropped by about 2 per cent and Brent crude is trading at just below $80 per barrel.
• A windfall tax is a higher tax levied by the government on specific industries when the industry experiences unexpected and above-average profits.

Explanation:

• Karnataka governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave the nod for the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramiah in an alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam.
• The alleged MUDA scam involves the "fraudulent" allotment of around 14 plots of land in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah's wife.
• As per the allegation, the land meant for members of the Dalit community was granted to Siddaramiah's wife by using forged documents.
• The case involves allegations against top officials of MUDA as well.
• What is the MUDA scam?
• Under this scam, a 3.2-acre parcel of land was gifted to the Chief Minister's wife, Parvathi, by her brother Mallikarjunaswamy in 2010.
• The opposition parties claim that the total value of the scam could be within the range of Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.

Explanation:

• India has launched an anti-dumping investigation on certain steel products imported from Vietnam.
• The anti-dumping investigation will analyze the threat to the domestic industry.
• The probe is based on a request from domestic steel producers citing negative impacts on market performance.
• This decision has been taken after a significant downturn in the Indian steel market.
• India, despite being the world's second-largest crude steel producer, became a net importer of steel in this fiscal year.
• The period of investigation is January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024 (15 months).
• India has set a target of achieving 300 million metric tons (mt) steel capacity by 2030–2021.

Explanation:

• Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, inaugurated the 17th Divya Kala Mela in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, on 17 August 2024. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was also present on the occasion.
• The 17th Divya Kala Mela has been organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
• The week-long Mela will be held from 16 August to 23 August 2024.
• The Divya Kala Mela was started by the government of India in 2022 to economically empower disabled (Divyang) artists by providing market access to their products. It also aims to develop their skills.
• Since 2022, a series of Divya Kala Melas has been organised in various cities across the country, and the Raipur Mela is the 17th in the series.
• Speaking on the occasion, Dr Virendra Kumar said that his ministry will set up a Divyangjan park in Raipur if the state government provides land for the purpose. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai agreed to the proposal and announced that the state government would allot 5 acres of land for the purpose in Raipur.