UPSC QUIZ 18.01.2024

Explanation:

• India and Nepal recently signed a long-term agreement for the export of power. The agreement was inked during the 7th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission, highlighting the strengthening ties between the two nations.

Key Takeaways From the 7th Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission

• Power Export Agreement: India and Nepal signed a bilateral agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power in the next 10 years.
• Cross-Border Transmission Lines Inauguration: Three cross-border transmission lines were jointly inaugurated including the 132 kV Raxaul-Parwanipur, 132 kV Kushaha-Kataiya, and New Nautanwa-Mainahiya lines.
• Renewable Energy Cooperation: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Nepal Electricity Authority and India's National Thermal Power Corporation Limited for cooperation in renewable energy.
• Agreement for Satellite Service : The Service Agreement for Munal Satellite developed by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology between Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and NewSpace India Limited was launched.This satellite developed by Nepali students shall be launched on a gratis basis on an Indian launch rocket.

Explanation:

• World Economic Forum along with Bain & Company has released a report titled- Green Hydrogen: Enabling Measures Roadmap for Adoption in India, highlighting that Green Hydrogen production cost needs to be reduced to less than or equal to USD 2 per kg.

Key Highlights of the Report

India’s Demand for Energy is Set to Surge

• India is currently the third-largest economy in the world in terms of energy needs, and the country’s demand for energy is set to surge – demand is estimated to grow 35% by 2030.
• In 2022, India's energy import bill reached USD 185 billion, which is likely to increase if the country continues to meet its growing energy demand through traditional methods.
• At the same time, India has set a commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2070 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), held in 2021.

Explanation:

• Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus chanco), a prominent lupine predator found across the Himalayas has been assessed for the first time in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List.

Key Facts About Himalayan Wolf

• The Himalayan Wolf is a mysterious lupine predator that inhabits the high elevations of the Himalayas.
• Characterized by distinctive genetic markers, its mitochondrial DNA suggests a genetic foundation predating the Holarctic grey wolf.
• It is found in parts of China, Nepal, India, and Bhutan and typically lives in alpine meadows and grasslands at elevations of 10,000 to 18,000 feet.
• They usually travel in small packs and hunt wild sheep and goats, sometimes even preying on marmots, hares, and birds.
• Population estimate of 2,275-3,792 mature individuals, all within a subpopulation across the Himalayan range of Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Plateau.

Explanation:

• The President of India conferred Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).Indore and Surat were jointly awarded the cleanest city title. Maharashtra secured the top position among states in the annual cleanliness rankings for urban areas.

Major Highlights of Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023

• Swachh Survekshan, conducted by the MoHUA since 2016, is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.
• It has been instrumental in fostering a spirit of healthy competition among towns and cities to improve their service delivery to citizens and towards creating cleaner cities.
• It has evolved, covering an increasing number of cities each year. The 2023 round encompassed 4,416 urban local bodies, 61 cantonments, and 88 Ganga towns.
• Ranking of Cities: Indore has retained its cleanest city title for the 7th consecutive year. Surat, consistently second behind Indore in recent years, claimed the top spot for the first time.

Explanation:

• National Startup Day is celebrated every year on 16 January to appreciate and promote the Indian startup ecosystem.
• The Startup India initiative was launched on January 16, 2016 with a vision to promote innovation, support startups and encourage investment.
• The eighth anniversary in 2024 marks significant growth, with the program growing from 400 startups in 2016 to over 1.18 lakh startups.
• Accredited organizations enjoy various government benefits, such as compliance self-certification, patent application assistance, and tax exemptions.
• Notably, the SIDBI Fund of Funds scheme has given 2,977 income tax exemptions and funded 3,658 startups with an emphasis on financial assistance.
• The Startup India program includes initiatives like Seed Fund Scheme and Credit Guarantee Scheme, which provide further support to startups.