UPSC EXAM QUIZ 27.08.2024

Explanation:

• Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways announced plans to centralize all transportation systems —roadways, railways, airways, waterways, and ropeways—into single hubs and terminals across India to streamline and enhance passenger convenience.
• These terminals will serve as a one-stop solution for connecting various modes of transport, catering to 87% of passenger traffic that moves via roads in the country.
• It will reduce urban congestion and improve economic activity through the creation of city centres.
• It will also facilitate easy transfers between different modes of transport. Two pilot hubs will be developed in Katra and Tirupati, along with another two in Varanasi and Nagpur through National Highways Logistics Management (NHLM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NHAI.
• NHLM is responsible for spearheading pivotal initiatives aimed at improving transport logistics, infrastructure, and asset monetization.

Explanation:

• A meeting of the Regional Rural Bank (RRB) operating in 5 states was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on 22 August 2024.
• The meeting, which reviewed the performance of these regional rural banks, was chaired by the Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and attended by other senior officials.

Performance of RRB of which States were reviewed

• The Udaipur meeting reviewed the performance of nine regional rural banks operating in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Who attended the meeting

• Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting, which was attended by M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Union Ministry of Finance.
• The meeting was also attended by the Chairpersons of these nine Regional Rural Banks, the Chief Executive Officers of the sponsoring banks of these Regional Rural Banks, representatives of the Reserve Bank of India, Small Industrial Development Bank of India( SIDBI), National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD), and the senior officers of these five states.

Explanation:

• Union Power Minister has launched three online platforms - PROMPT, DRIPs and Hydro-DPR to enhance efficiency, transparency and effectiveness of the power sector.
• These online portals have been developed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) with the assistance of NTPC.
• All these online portals have been developed by the Central Electricity Authority under the Union Ministry of Power.
• NTPC helped the Central Electricity Authority in developing the PROMPT platform.

PROMPT Portal

• The PROMPT (Portal for Online Monitoring of Projects—Thermal) will facilitate real-time analysis and tracking of thermal power projects under construction in India online.
• This is expected to quickly identify and resolve the issue that leads to delays in the construction of thermal power plants.

Explanation:

• Anil Ambani banned from capital markets for five years by SEBI.
• Market regulator SEBI has barred Anil Dhirubhai Ambani from capital markets for five years and imposed a fine of Rs 25 crore on him for siphoning off funds from Reliance Home Finance.
• SEBI has banned key officials of Reliance Home Finance and 27 other entities from the capital markets.
• Anil Ambani will not be able to hold any position such as directorship or key managerial role in any listed company or any intermediary registered with SEBI for a period of five years.
• The market regulator imposed a total fine of Rs 6 lakh on Reliance Home Finance and also barred it from the securities market for six months.
• SEBI has asked the entities to pay the fine within 45 days of receiving the order.
• Noticee No. 1 (RHFL) is prohibited from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling, or dealing in securities, directly or indirectly, for 6 months from the date this order takes effect.
• Additionally, RHFL is barred from any association with the securities market in any manner during this period.
• RHFL offers home loans, loan against property, construction finance etc. as a part of its business.

Explanation:

• ‘RHUMI-1, India’s first reusable hybrid rocket, has been developed by the Tamil Nadu-based start-up Space Zone India with Martin Group.
• It has been launched from Thiruvidandhai in Chennai.
• The rocket carried 3 cube satellites and 50 PICO satellites. It has been launched into a suborbital trajectory through a mobile launcher.
• These satellites will be used to collect data for research purposes on global warming and climate change.
• The RHUMI Rocket is equipped with a generic fuel-based hybrid motor and an electrically triggered parachute deployer. It is 100% pyrotechnic-free and 0% TNT.
• The RHUMI mission is led by Anand Megalingam, the founder of the Space Zone.
• The RHUMI-1 rocket used both liquid and solid fuel propellant systems to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
• Space Zone India is an aero-technology company that is working to provide low-cost and long-term solutions in the space industry.