UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 30 July 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Union Budget 2024-25 proposes to set up ₹1000 crore venture capital fund for the space economy
• Venture capital funds are pools of capital provided by investors to startups and small businesses with strong growth potential. These funds are managed by venture capital firms, which seek to identify and invest in early-stage companies that have the potential to scale rapidly.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: July 26 is International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, declared by UNESCO to raise awareness and promote sustainable management of mangroves, vital for coastal protection, storm mitigation, and carbon sequestration.
• World Mangrove Day, also known as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, is celebrated on July 26 to raise awareness about the critical importance of mangrove ecosystems. These ecosystems are crucial for protecting coastlines from erosion, reducing the impact of storms and tsunamis, and supporting a rich biodiversity. The day was officially designated by UNESCO in 2015 to promote the conservation and sustainable management of mangrove forests globally.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: July 26 is International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, declared by UNESCO to raise awareness and promote sustainable management of mangroves, vital for coastal protection, storm mitigation, and carbon sequestration.
• S1: Correct. The Global Mangrove Alliance aims to restore and conserve mangrove ecosystems worldwide, recognizing their critical role in coastal protection, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation.
• S2: Correct. Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) was established at the World Ocean Summit in 2018.
• S3: Correct. The GMA works with a wide range of partners, including non-profits, governments, and the private sector, to achieve its goals.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The World Bank published the report “The Impact of Climate Change on Education,” which examines the effects of climate change on educational systems globally and suggests measures for adaptation and resilience to ensure educational continuity and quality​
• Key findings: Climate change intensifies extreme weather, disrupting schooling and causing learning losses.
  • From 2005-2024, schools closed during 75% of extreme weather events, impacting over 5 million people.
  • Rising temperatures and food insecurity also negatively affect learning outcomes and school enrollment.
  • Climate events particularly harm girls in low-income countries, preventing at least 4 million from completing their education.

Refer: https://insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: The Monastery of Saint Hilarion/Tell Umm Amer in Palestine has been inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO.
• The “World Heritage in Danger” list is an initiative by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This list is part of the World Heritage Program, which aims to identify, protect, and preserve cultural and natural heritage around the world deemed to be of outstanding value to humanity. When a site is listed as “in danger,” it means that it faces threats that could have adverse effects on its characteristics, which justified its inclusion as a World Heritage Site. These threats can include environmental factors, developmental pressures, or conflict situations. By listing these sites, UNESCO aims to mobilize international support for their preservation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest draft guidelines require banks to hold more liquid assets to handle potential bank runs, potentially slowing credit growth. Banks must now account for outflows from digital deposits when calculating the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)
• What is the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)?
  • The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is a regulatory standard requiring banks to hold a sufficient amount of high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) that can be quickly converted to cash to meet their short-term obligations over a 30-day stress scenario. The goal is to ensure banks can survive a period of significant financial stress without needing external assistance. LCR in banking resulted from the Basel III agreement.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: India’s first fully robotic telescope, the GROWTH-India telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Ladakh, captured a building-sized asteroid as it approached Earth.
• The telescope, part of a joint venture by IIT Bombay and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, tracked the asteroid’s rapid movement, causing background stars to appear as streaks. This 0.7m wide-field telescope specializes in time-domain astronomy and is part of the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) initiative. The project is funded by India’s DST-SERB and the NSF.
• The telescope is not designed for ultraviolet, radio, or cosmic microwave background studies, but rather for capturing and analyzing transient events in the optical wavelength range.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: India has taken over as Chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) for 2024-25, with Rajendra Singh from NDMA assuming the role.
• The Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) is a regional resource center that emphasizes disaster risk reduction and management across Asia. Its mission involves enhancing the capacities of countries to prepare for and manage disasters more effectively, rather than providing direct relief or financial aid. The ADPC supports various countries in the region through training, capacity building, and technical assistance to improve their disaster resilience and response capabilities.

Refer : https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Australia has banned mining at the Jabiluka uranium site, located within Kakadu National Park, in a victory for the Indigenous Mirarr people who have fought for decades to protect their land. This decision aligns with the wishes of the Mirarr, who have cared for the land for over 60,000 years.
• Australia has around one-third of the world’s uranium deposits. Uranium deposits in India are primarily found in crystalline rocks. Jharkhand state holds 70% of the country’s uranium reserves.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The New Development Bank (NDB) was not set up by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). It was established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation, and other financial instruments. The headquarters of the New Development Bank is indeed in Shanghai, China.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/29/upsc-current-affairs-29-july-2024/