UPSC EXAM QUIZ 18.02.2025

Explanation:

• Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. SP Singh Baghel released report on ‘Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States’ in New Delhi.
• The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) was mandated to conduct the study for 2023-24 and has prepared a report comparing devolution of functions, finances and functionaries.
• IIPA provides a comprehensive assessment of the achievements of high performing states as well as a framework for other states to enhance their rural governance structures.

Devolution Index report:

• The Devolution Index, based on meticulous research and empirical analysis, provides insights into the progress of decentralization across States and Union Territories in India.

Explanation:

• Scientists have detected a high-energy neutrino using an observatory being built under the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily.
• The energy of the newly discovered neutrino is estimated to be about 30 times greater than any neutrino discovered before.
• The new “ultra-high-energy” neutrino was detected by ARCA in February 2023 and measured about 120 quadrillion electronvolts (units of energy).
• This is trillions of times more energetic than particles of light, called photons, and 10,000 times more energetic than particles produced by the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s most powerful particle accelerator located near Geneva.
• Scientists from the KM3NeT collaboration (Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Telescope) believe that Neutrinos originate from outside the Milky Way galaxy.

Explanation:

• Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India inaugurated Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) Smart Village Centre (RSVC) at Mandoura village, Sonipat, Haryana.
• RSVC aims at technology-driven rural development where communities, local entrepreneurs and various stakeholders work together to reduce the rural-urban divide.
• The RSVC model will be expanded and there are plans to open 20 new centres across India.

Key Features of RuTAG Smart Village Centre (RSVC) Model

• RSVC is designed to function as a permanent presence at the Panchayat level, providing intensive support to meet the technology needs of 15-20 villages for a number of years.

Explanation:

• This agreement has been signed to scale up green finance solutions for Indian MSMEs.
• A credit line of $100 million will be provided by AFD to SIDBI.
• Under the agreement, the credit line will be to deploy the funds to expand access to affordable financing for MSMEs.
• This will be for MSMEs investing in energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy solutions, and climate-friendly business practices.
• AFD is a public financial institution. It implements the development and international solidarity policies of France.

Explanation:

• Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana contributes only 14% of PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR.
• As per a study, there is no linear correlation between stubble-burning events in Punjab and Haryana and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in Delhi-NCR.
• According to the study, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana contributes only 14% to the particulate matter concentration in Delhi-NCR.
• PM2.5 in Delhi-NCR remained stable and constant despite the stubble-burning events in Punjab and Haryana declining by over 50% from 2015 to 2023.
• The number of stubble-burning events in Punjab and Haryana declined by 31% and 37%, respectively in 2023 and 2022.
• The air quality index in the Delhi-NCR region remained “very poor” to the “severe” category due to stagnant winds, lower mixing heights, and inversion conditions.
• The results of this study were published in the journal Climate and Atmospheric Science.