UPSC EXAM QUIZ 12.07.2024

Explanation:

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled the prototype of India's indigenously developed light tank Zoravar which will now undergo extensive testing.
• It was jointly developed by DRDO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), with contributions from various micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• The requirement for a light tank (maximum 25 tonnes) was aroused during the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, which highlighted the need for lightweight, easily deployable tanks.

Zoravar Light Tank

• The Zoravar Light Tank is an indigenously designed and developed light tank.
• It has been jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and lead integrator Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• The tank is named after 19th-century military general Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who served under the kingdom of Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu.
• The Zorawar tank is named after 19th-century Dogra general Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who led a military expedition to Kailash-Mansarovar during the Sino-Sikh War in 1841

Explanation:

• 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in Moscow, brought together Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin to discuss a wide range of issues.
• The summit aimed to solidify the strategic partnership between the two nations, particularly in light of the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
• In another development Russia has reached a significant economic milestone by being upgraded from an upper-middle-income to a high-income country by the World Bank, despite ongoing Western sanctions.

Key Highlights of the  22nd India-Russia Annual Summit

Diplomatic Achievements

• President Vladimir Putin conferred Russia's highest civilian honour, the "Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle," on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle was established by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698 and reinstated in 1998, featuring a double-headed eagle emblem and a light blue silk moire ribbon.
• The award is named after Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Russia and Scotland, known for spreading Christianity across Europe and Asia.

Explanation:

Central government is considering changing the criteria for classical language status based on the report of the Linguistics Expert Committee of the Union Culture Ministry submitted in 2023.

Classical Languages

• In 2004, the Government of India decided to create a new category of languages called “classical languages”.
• In 2006, it laid down the criteria for conferring classical language status. So far, the 6 languages are granted classical language status.

Explanation:

• Rajasthan to become the first State to adopt an action plan for road safety for 10 years.
• Rajasthan’s action plan for road safety will aim to reduce road accidents in the State by 50% by 2030.
• The action plan is being formulated by the Transport Department’s road safety cell.
• This policy would generate awareness among the public about road safety provisions and will bring behavioural changes regarding road safety rules.
• This action plan will be implemented in three stages. The first stage will be from 2025 to 2027, the second phase will be from 2027 to 2030 and the third phase will be from 2030 to 2033.
• The action plan will focus on speed limit, safe distance, traffic signals, use of road barriers, pedestrian safety, use of seatbelts, helmets, and vehicle insurance.

Explanation:

• A chemical that smells like rotten eggs was found on a Jupiter-like alien planet.
• Discovered in 2005, the planet called HD 189733b was already known to be a pretty extreme place.
• It is an extremely hot gaseous giant, slightly larger than Jupiter, with a cobalt blue color and with its fierce atmospheric winds.
• Analyzing data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists found that the exoplanet contains hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas emitted by decaying organic matter that smells like rotten eggs.
• According to the study published in Nature on July 8, in addition to hydrogen sulfide, researchers also found carbon dioxide, oxygen, water and heavy metals in the atmosphere of this unique planet.
• According to the study, this exoplanet is located in the Vulpecula constellation, about 65 light-years away from Earth.
• Known for extreme temperatures and "vicious weather," scientists dubbed the exoplanet as "hot Jupiter" because it has scorching temperatures of 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.
• It is notorious for vicious weather, including raining glass that blows sideways on winds of 5,000 mph.