Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: November 9, 2022
Are you preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IAS, Railway-RRB, UPPSC, UGC NET, SBI, MPPSC, etc? If yes, you must be aware that the question papers include the Current Affairs section and scoring well in this section is not easy. Do not worry, we at Embibe have made it easy for aspirants like you.
The most recent events from around the globe have been selected by our experts at Embibe and are included in this post. Go through and start your preparation right away!
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India
The first-ever recording of the snow leopard from the Baltal-Zojila region has renewed hope for the elusive predator in the higher altitudes of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) has been concluded so far in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The estimated population of the great cat is 50 and 100 in these two States.
What Is a Snow Leopard?
The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a Felidae (a family of mammals in the order Carnivora) in the genus Panthera.
The Snow Leopard (also known as the Ghost of the mountains) acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live due to its position as the top predator in the food web.
The Snow Leopard lives at high altitudes in the steep mountains of central and southern Asia, and in an extremely cold climate.
They inhabit the higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the states/union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh.
Hemis National Park is the biggest, high-altitude national park in India, with a good presence of Snow Leopard.
What Are the Threats to Snow Leopards?
Factors contributing to the decline in the snow leopard populations include a reduction in prey populations, illegal poaching and increased human population infiltration into the species’ habitat and illegal trade of wildlife parts and products, among others.
Protection Measures of Snow Leopards:
IUCN Red List- Vulnerable
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)- Appendix I
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)- Appendix I
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972- Schedule I
Schedule I provides absolute protection and offences under this have the highest penalties
Question:
Recently the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) has been concluded in which of the following states/UT?
A. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
B. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh
C. Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand
D. Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Report and Index
UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2022
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently launched the 2022 edition of the Adaptation Gap Report in a virtual press conference leading up to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
The title of the report is “Too Little, Too Slow – Climate adaptation failure puts the world at risk”.
The report provides an update on the global status and progress of the adaptation process across three elements: planning, financing, and implementation.
This edition also focuses on the effectiveness of adaptation and considers adaptation-mitigation co-benefits.
What Is the Adaptation Gap Report (AGR)?
The Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) is an annual UNEP flagship publication.
The report’s primary objective is to inform the negotiators of the UNFCCC Member States and the broader UNFCCC constituency about the status and trends within climate adaptation at global and regional levels.
The AGR also provides a set of science-based options to policymakers and decision-makers to increase ambition in adapting to climate change across key climate-sensitive sectors.
What Are the Key Findings of the AGR 2022?
The current global efforts in adaptation planning, financing and implementation are insufficient to address the growing climate-related risks.
The world is currently on track for a 2.8°C increase in average global temperature over the average temperature obtained in the pre-industrialization era of 1850 to 1900. According to researchers, if global warming exceeds 2.0°C, it could cause a catastrophic climate crisis.
Question:
Consider the following statements
Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) is an annual UNEP flagship publication
The title of the report for 2022 is “Too Little, Too Slow – Climate adaptation failure puts the world at risk”
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. None of the above
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Days and Events
World Radiography Day-2022
World Radiography Day is commemorated on 8th November every year to mark the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays.
A procedure that is used so widely is often taken for granted, but this medical marvel has helped the healthcare system discover a myriad of health issues.
The day also celebrates the efforts of radiographers and radiologists around the world.
Theme:
The theme for World Radiography Day 2022 is “Radiographers at the Forefront of Patient Safety”.
History:
The day is commemorated to mark the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays by Professor Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen of the Wuerzburg University, Germany, in 1895.
This was an accidental discovery by Professor Röntgen when he was working with a cathode-ray tube in his laboratory.
This scientific breakthrough was extremely well-received.
In fact, just a month later, medical personnel began using radiographs in Europe and the U.S. Six months later, radiographs were also employed to help wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
A year later, in 1896, John Hall-Edwards used X-rays in a surgical operation for the first time.
Significance of This Day:
The discovery of X-ray has been one of the most important breakthroughs in science. It is able to help people identify several ailments and issues.
This is especially important since X-rays are not an invasive procedure and are quite quick when compared to other diagnostic scans like MRI or CT scans.
World Radiography Day marks the anniversary of his medical marvel.
It also aims to help raise awareness about getting regular medical check-ups done without it giving you a scare.
These medical check-ups can be easy, quick, and non-invasive as X-rays.
Question:
World Radiography day is observed on which of the following dates?
A. 3rd February
B. 10th June
C. 8th November
D. 12th December
Answer: C
Current Affairs: National
K Radhakrishnan Committee
The Ministry of Education has set up a high-level panel to strengthen the assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions, officials said on November 4, 2022.
The panel will be headed by Dr K Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIT Kanpur. He is also the chairperson of the Standing Committee of the IIT Council.
Rationale:
The mandate of the committee includes strengthening the assessment and accreditation processes and preparing a road map for the National Accreditation Council envisioned in the National Education Policy, 2020.
India has one of the largest and most diverse education systems in the world.
Accreditation plays a vital role in making quality assurance an integral part of the functioning of higher educational institutions.
Accreditation assists the institutions in understanding their strengths and weaknesses through an informed review process, thus facilitating the identification of internal areas of planning and resource allocation.
Other Members:
Other members of the committee include Mridul Hazarika, Vice-Chancellor, Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya, Assam; Bharat Bhasker, Professor, IIM, Lucknow and Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Question:
K Radhakrishnan committee has recently been set up by the Ministry of Education for
A. Assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions
B. Improvement Of Gross Enrolment Ratio
C. Checking Dropout Rate
D. Assessment of vocational education
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
Falcon Heavy Launch
Recently, Elon Musk-owned SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket into a geosynchronous earth orbit from the Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S.
This is considered a National Security Space Launch for the U.S. military.
The company hails this as the most powerful operational rocket in the world.
This is the fourth launch of the giant rocket system and the first one in nearly three years since its last launch in 2019.
What Is Its Current Mission?
The rocket is carrying satellites to space for the U.S. military in a mission named U.S. Space Force (USSF)-44.
The mission deployed two spacecraft payloads, one of which is the TETRA 1 microsatellite created for various prototype missions in and around the geosynchronous earth orbit.
The other payload is for national defence purposes.
It will place the satellites for the Space Systems Command’s Innovation and Prototyping.
Space Systems Command (SSC) is the oldest military space organisation in the United States Armed Forces.
It is responsible for developing, acquiring, equipping, fielding and sustaining lethal and resilient space capabilities.
What Is a Falcon Heavy Rocket?
SpaceX claims Falcon Heavy to be the most powerful rocket in the world today by a factor of two.
With a lifting capacity of around 64 metric tonnes into orbit, Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy.
The rocket has a height of 70 m, a width of 12.2 m and a mass of 1,420,788 kg.
Falcon Heavy has 27 Merlin engines that generate more than five million pounds of thrust at lift-off, equalling around eighteen 747 aircraft at full power.
This makes it the most capable rocket flying. The rocket can lift the equivalent of a fully loaded 737 jetliner, complete with passengers, luggage and fuel, to orbit.
What Is SpaceX?
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is an American spacecraft manufacturer, space launch provider, and satellite communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California.
It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonisation of Mars.
Question:
From which of the following Launching stations was the Falcon Heavy rocket launched recently into a geosynchronous earth orbit?
A. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
B. Vandenberg Space Force Base
C. Kennedy Space Center
D. Huntsville International Air and Space Port
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Defence
DRDO Launched the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) Facility
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) launched the Hull module of the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) facility at Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in Kochi recently.
Significance:
It is a state-of-the-art testing and evaluation facility for sonar systems developed for use by the Indian Navy onboard various platforms, including ships, submarines and helicopters.
This will be mainly utilised for evaluating sonar systems, allowing for quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific packages such as sensors and transducers.
What Is SPACE?
SPACE is a one-of-a-kind facility in the world.
The uniqueness of this facility lies in the specially designed submersible platform, which can be lowered up to depths of 100 metres using a series of synchronously operated winches.
The design and construction of the platform meet all the statutory needs of the Indian Register of Shipping and the vessel classifying authority and strictly adhere to the inspection and registration criteria as per Kerala Inland Vessel Rules.
Question:
Where did the DRDO recently launch the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) facility at the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL)?
A. Kochi
B. Thiruvananthapuram
C. Bhubaneswar
D. Madurai
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Ecology
New Honey Bee Species Identified in Western Ghats, After 200 Years
A new species of endemic honeybee has been discovered in the Western Ghats. The new species has been named Apis karinjodian and given the common name Indian black honeybee.
The finding was published in the September issue of the journal Entomon, a peer-reviewed journal brought out by the Association for Advancement of Entomology.
Details:
A new species of the honeybee has been spotted in the Western Ghats after a gap of more than 200 years.
The last honeybee described from India was Apis indica in 1798 by Fabricius. Although Fabricius named the Indian bee Apis indica, it was not considered a valid species till now.
The research team restored the status of Apis indica based on a new measure for species discrimination in honeybees termed ‘Radio-Medial Index (RMI)’.
Facts:
Indian black honeybee has the ability to produce higher quantities of honey, which is thicker in consistency.
Distribution: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Status: The species has been classified as near threatened (NT) in the state based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The new find has increased the species of honeybees in the world to 11.
Question:
A new honey bee species named Apis karinjodian has been recently identified after 200 years in which of the following geographical regions of India?
A. Himalayas
B. Western Ghats
C. Coastal Plains
D. Peninsular Plateau
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Defence
Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022
A Maritime Partnership Exercise involving Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac and Indian Navy ships Jalashwa and Kavaratti, along with their embarked helicopters, was held in the Bay of Bengal from 2nd to 3rd November 2022.
The exercises included tactical manoeuvres, helicopter landings and amphibious operations, which signified the high degree of interoperability between IN and RAN.
What Is Indo-Pacific Endeavour?
IPE began in 2017 as an annual activity coordinated by the Australian Defence Force to deliver on the promise of the 2016 Defence White Paper to strengthen Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces.
IPE aims to promote security and stability in Australia’s near region through bilateral and multilateral engagement, training and capacity building.
IPE 2022 will see engagements with the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.
Details:
RAN ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac visited Visakhapatnam from 30th October to 1st November 2022.
This was part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE 22). The Australian Defence Forces were hosted by the Eastern Naval Command.
Ships of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and personnel from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force participated in various joint activities.
Question:
Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 exercise was recently held in the Bay of Bengal with which of the following countries?
A. USA
B. Australia
C. Russia
D. Japan
Answer: B
Current Affairs: National
Ganga Utsav-2022
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) initiative of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry recently held the Ganga Utsav- The River Festival 2022 to celebrate rivers and spread awareness of the significance of river rejuvenation across basins in India.
What Is Ganga Utsav?
Ganga Utsav was first organised in 2017 with a different name – Ek Shaam Ganga Ke Naam. It was then renamed Bal Ganga Mela in 2018.
The third edition was a three-day virtual event because of the Covid-19 pandemic and returned to a physical event in 2021.
Objectives of Ganga Utsav 2022?
One of the main objectives of Ganga Utsav 2022 is to celebrate our rivers and spread awareness of the significance of river rejuvenation across river basins in India.
Dedicating the grand event to the 75 years of Indian Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav), the aim is to hold similar events at more than 75 locations in states to celebrate the rivers of India.
About the Event 2022:
The main event was held in New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, with dance and musical performances by several renowned personalities.
Activities such as puppet shows, film screenings, painting, pottery and nest-making workshops were also organised.
The ministry also felicitated big contributors to the Clean Ganga Fund.
Question:
The National Mission for Clean Ganga, an initiative of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, has recently organised the Ganga Utsav- The River Festival 2022 in which of the following States/UT?
A. Delhi
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D. West Bengal
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Defence
Indian Army Approves Five Make-2 Projects
Indian Army has approved project sanction orders for five Make-II projects providing Impetus to Atma Nirbhaarta.
What is the Make-II Project?
Make II projects are essentially industry-funded projects involving design, development and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for the development of prototypes.
22 out of 43 projects are now in the prototype development stage, which is 66% of projects by cost, ₹18,000 crores out of ₹27,000 crores.
The Rationale of the Project:
Make II procurement scheme has given an impetus to increase the Design and Development in the defence industry to achieve the indigenisation of high-end technology systems in various types of weapon systems, ammunition and modern training systems, which are currently not available in the country
Products Developed under This Project:
High-Frequency Man Packed Software Designed Radio
Drone Kill System
Infantry Training Weapon Simulator
155mm Terminally Guided Munitions
Medium Range Precision Kill System
Question:
Which of the following is not a product developed under the Make-II Project?
A. High-Frequency Man Packed Software Designed Radio
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