UPSC EXAM QUIZ 21.01.2025

Explanation:

• United Nations will observe 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, with 21st March marked annually as World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025.

Glaciers

• Glaciers are large, slow-moving masses of ice formed from compacted snow over centuries. They form on land and move due to gravity, slowly moving downward.
• Historical Context: Most glaciers today are remnants of the massive ice sheets that covered Earth during the Ice Age (around 10,000 years ago). During Earth’s history, there have been glacial periods (or ice ages) when glaciers formed and interglacial periods when glaciers melted.
• Global Distribution: Most glaciers are found in polar regions such as Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, and Antarctica because of low solar insolation received in higher latitudes. Tropical glaciers exist in mountain ranges near the Equator, like the Andes in South America at high altitudes. Approximately 2% of the Earth's water is stored in glaciers.

Explanation:

• Researchers from Columbia University and Pennsylvania State University have discovered a particle called a semi-Dirac fermion.

Discovery process

• Selected material: The researchers studied zirconium silicon sulfide (ZrSiS), a layered crystal material, and chose it as the host for the unusual particles.
• Research findings: When a strong magnetic field was applied to ZrSiS, the energy of the electrons (cyclotron energy) increased on the B²/³ scale, a feature associated with semi-Dirac fermions. This was different from the energy scaling of materials such as graphene, where the energy increases on the B¹/² scale.
• Quasiparticles: Semi-Dirac fermions are quasiparticles made up of many smaller particles and behave like particles, although they have abnormal mass in different directions.

Explanation:

• A special summit of the African Union was held in Kampala, Uganda. This summit was based on the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP). During this summit, African leaders announced the adoption of the Kampala Declaration for the transformation of Africa's agri-food systems.

Highlights of African Union Summit 2025

• The Kampala Declaration was adopted for the transformation of Africa's agri-food systems from 2026 to 2035.
• The CAADP action plan for the next decade aims to build sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.
• This summit replaced the Malabo Declaration.
• African leaders approved climate-smart innovations to address food security amid climate change.
• The African Union has set ambitious goals to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030.

Explanation:

• On 17 January, Union Communications Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched Sanchar Saathi mobile app, National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 and inauguration of intra circle roaming facility on DBN funded 4G mobile sites.
• Sanchar Saathi Mobile App is a user-friendly platform designed to strengthen telecom security and empower citizens.
• Launched in 2023, the Sanchar Saathi initiative has made progress in addressing cyber fraud and telecom security issues.
• The app provides tools for managing telecom-related concerns, including reporting suspected fraudulent communications, identifying unauthorized mobile connections, and blocking lost or stolen devices.
• Additionally, the app helps users verify the authenticity of a mobile handset.
• National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 is based on the success of NBM 1.0, under which around 8 lakh towers were installed.
• NBM 2.0 will expand optical fibre connectivity to 270,000 villages by 2030, increase broadband speeds to the national average of 100 Mbps, and achieve 30% sustainable energy use for mobile towers by 2030
• Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) at DBN-funded 4G mobile sites aims to enhance connectivity in rural and remote areas.
• The initiative allows customers of different telecom service providers (TSPs) to use the same DBN-funded tower.
• This reduces operators' costs and increases service availability.
• This facility is currently implemented on around 27,000 DBN-funded towers, providing seamless 4G connectivity to over 35,000 villages.
• TSPs like BSNL, Airtel and Reliance are participating in this collaboration.

Explanation:

• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will launch a centralized online registration system for local cable operators (LCOs).
• The Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued a notification to amend the Cable Television Network Rules to streamline the Local Cable Operator (LCO) registration.
• LCOs registrations will now be conducted entirely online. The registration certificates will be issued in real-time.
• Earlier, the registration process was conducted offline at the local head post office in the area where the LCO’s office was located.
• Now, LCOs have to apply for a new or renewed registration online through the Broadcast Seva Portal of the Ministry.
• LCO registrations will be granted or renewed for a period of five years.
• Before the expiration of registration, renewal applications have to be submitted at least 90 days in advance.