UPSC EXAM QUIZ 01.02.2025

Explanation:

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching its 100th mission from its Spaceport -Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota (SHAR), Andhra Pradesh on 29 January 2025.
• The GSLV-F-15 rocket carrying the NVS-02 satellite was launched from the second launch pad of the SHAR.In 1971 the first rocket- a sounding rocket RH -125 was launched from Sriharikota.

Key Points of GSLV-F15 Rocket

• The GSLV-F15 rocket was launched from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, India.
• GSLV-F15 was the 17th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
• It was the 11th successful launch using India's indigenous cryogenic stage.
• The rocket's payload fairing was a 3.4 meter diameter metal enclosure designed to provide protection to the satellite during flight.
• GSLV-F15 successfully placed the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• This mission was the 8th operational flight of GSLV's indigenous cryogenic stage.

Explanation:

The Government of India has launched the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MCGS-MSME) with the objective of addressing the credit crunch and boosting the growth of the manufacturing sector.

Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme

Objective

• The scheme provides 60% guarantee coverage by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).
• Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) will be given guarantee for credit facility up to Rs 100 crore.
• This assistance will be given to eligible MSMEs for purchasing equipment/machinery.

Explanation:

• The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor in China maintained plasma in a stable state for more than 1,000 seconds (17 minutes), setting a new record in fusion research.
• The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) maintained plasma for 1,000 seconds, which is more than the previous record of 403 seconds set in 2023. This is an important step towards the development of clean and sustainable energy.

Nuclear Fusion

• Nuclear fusion is a process in which two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus and a lot of energy is released.
• This process provides energy to the Sun and other stars.

Explanation:

• The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the implementation of the Himachal Pradesh Sadhbhawana Legacy Cases Resolution Scheme, 2025.
• Under this scheme, cases related to petroleum products up to the financial year 2017-18 will be resolved.
• It aims to reduce the backlog of cases under non-subsumed enactments.
• This scheme aims to resolve about 3,500 cases, with an anticipated revenue realization of Rs 10 crore.
• So far, the state government has introduced three Legacy Cases Resolution Schemes to resolve tax-related cases and disputes.
• The Chief Minister also announced the upgradation of Chadiyar Sub-Tehsil to a Tehsil.

Explanation

• National Critical Mineral Mission approved by the government with an outlay of Rs. 34,300 crores over seven years.
• The launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) has been approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, with an expenditure of Rs. 16,300 crore and an expected investment of Rs. 18,000 crores by PSUs, etc.
• This decision has been taken to create a resilient value chain for critical mineral resources required to promote green technologies.
• In line with this vision, the setting up of the Critical Mineral Mission was announced by the finance minister in the Union Budget for 2024-25 on 23rd July 2024.
• The National Critical Mineral Mission will cover all stages of the value chain, including mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, and recovery of end products.
• It aims to create a fast-track regulatory approval process for mining projects involving critical minerals.
• Additionally, the price for ethanol procurement from sugarcane feedstock has also been approved by the government.
• The sugarcane feedstock includes C-heavy molasses, B-heavy molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar, and sugar syrup.
• The price of 57.97 rupees per litre for C-heavy molasses, 60.73 rupees per litre for B-heavy molasses, and 65.61 rupees per litre for sugarcane juice, sugar, and sugar syrup has been approved by the cabinet.
• Ethanol blending has helped the country's economy, resulting in foreign exchange savings of Rs 1 lakh 13 thousand crores.
• The Ethanol blending program has also benefited farmers, with over Rs. 40,000 crores paid to them in the last ethanol supply year.