UPSC EXAM QUIZ 02.01.2025

Explanation:

• Data provided by the Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs sheds light on the growing use of electronic and electrical devices across the country.

E-Waste

• Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to electrical and electronic devices that have become obsolete or are not functional.
• E-waste contains a number of toxic chemicals including metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and nickel.

Status of e-waste in India

• Increase in volume: India has witnessed a 72.54% increase in e-waste generation over the last five years (from 1.01 million metric tons (MT) in 2019-20 to 1.751 million MT in 2023-24).
• About 57% of e-waste (equivalent to 990,000 MT) remains untreated every year.
• 65 cities in India generate more than 60% of the total e-waste while 10 states account for 70% of the total e-waste.
• Recycling gap: Only 43% of e-waste will be recycled in 2023-24 (22% in 2019-20).

Explanation

• Indian Space Research Organisation is set to achieve a significant milestone with the launch of the Space Docking Experiment Mission on December 30, 2024.
• The mission aims to demonstrate satellite docking capabilities, an important technology for future space missions.

SPADEX

• SpaDeX is a technology demonstration mission developed by ISRO to demonstrate docking technology in space.
• The mission aims to demonstrate the ability of two small spacecraft to rendezvous, dock and undock with each other, marking a significant advance in India's space capabilities.
• Objective: The primary goal of SpaDeX is to develop docking technology for two small spacecraft, SDX01 (chaser) and SDX02 (target), in low Earth orbit. They will dock autonomously using advanced sensors and propulsion systems. Secondary objectives include testing electrical power transfer and demonstrating spacecraft control.

Explanation:

• World Bank launched the Business Ready (B-READY) report 2024 to replace the Ease of Doing Business report.
• The Ease of Doing Business report was paused in 2020 due to data manipulation issues and concerns over the integrity of certain rankings, leading to an independent review and methodology changes.

Meant by Business Ready

• Benchmarking Tool: B-READY evaluates the global business climate to promote inclusive private sector growth.
• Ten Core Topics: B-READY is organized around key topics for private sector development, covering the stages of a firm's life cycle, including market entry, operation (or expansion), and closure (or reorganization). Ten Core topics covers Business Entry, Business Location, Utility Services, Labor, Financial Services, International Trade, Taxation, Dispute Resolution, Market Competition, and Business Insolvency.

Explanation

• A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled at an altitude of 14,300 feet on the banks of Pangong Tso.
• It was unveiled soon after India and China completed the withdrawal of troops in Demchok and Depsang, ending the 4.5-year-long border standoff.
• However, it has become a topic of discussion among army veterans and locals, with a retired colonel proposing a statue of Dogra General Zorawar Singh, whose 1834-1840 expedition annexed Ladakh to the Dogra Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Pangong Tso: It is an inland lake located at an altitude of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft) in the Himalayas.
• It is one of the highest saltwater lakes in the world, formed as a tectonic lake during the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate.
• This event resulted in the Tethys Ocean being displaced by a lake, which also led to the formation of the Himalayas.

Explanation:

• The 18th edition of Indo-Nepal Joint Training Exercise “Surya Kiran” between India and Nepal is being held at Saljhandi, Nepal.
• The 17th edition of the exercise was held in Uttarakhand in December 2023.
• Surya Kiran Exercise: It is a military exercise held annually between India and Nepal, which is held alternately in both the countries.
• To enhance interoperability between the two armies in counter-terrorism operations, jungle warfare and mountain operations.
• To improve coordination in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) under the United Nations (UN) Charter.
• To focus on enhancing operational preparedness, aviation aspects, medical training and environmental protection.
• India-Nepal Relations: Nepal shares a 1,850-km-long border with five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• The Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in the year 1950 provides the foundation for the special bilateral relations of these countries.
• The Koshi Agreement (1954, amended 1966), the Mahakali Treaty (1996) and the Gandak Agreement (1959, amended 1964) are the major water-sharing agreements between India and Nepal.