UPSC Quiz – 2024 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 31st August 2024

·       Samudra Pratap is the first indigenously developed Pollution Control Vessel of Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

·       The Ship has been built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the ICG.

·       The vessel will help to check the oil spillage in the country’s sea coast.

·       It features side-sweeping arms to contain oil spills while in motion, an advanced radar system for oil spill detection, and facilities to recover and store various types of oil.

·       The vessel is a crucial addition to the Indian Coast Guard’s fleet, enhancing its capacity to manage oil spill response operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond.

·       This launch is a proud moment for India, showcasing its growing prowess in indigenous shipbuilding and maritime environmental protection.

·       It would lower barriers between different financial services and systems, drastically reducing the complex clearing and messaging chains and other frictions that hinder financial systems.

·       Working: Finternet would be built on unified ledgers which will bring multiple financial markets such as tokenized assets, shares, bonds, real estate, on a single programmable platform.

·       This has the capability to enable individuals and businesses to transfer any financial asset they like, in any amount, at any time, using any device, to anyone else, anywhere in the world. Financial transactions would be cheap, secure, and near-instantaneous.

·       Significance: This would reduce the complex processes that happen behind-the-scenes today and make transactions slower and expensive.

·       Central banks would remain at the core of the system, ensuring trust in money, but (like today) work closely with commercial banks.

·       It is an advanced form of concentrating solar power (CSP) technology.

·       It not only enhances the efficiency of solar energy capture but also addresses the limitations that have long plagued traditional photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Working?

·       Solar paraboloids operate using a Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) system.

·       These systems consist of long, parabolic mirrors that focus sunlight onto a receiver tube placed at the focal line of the mirror.

·       The concentrated solar energy heats a fluid within the receiver, which can then be used to generate electricity or provide direct heat for industrial processes.

Benefits:

·       Solar paraboloids are highly efficient in concentrating solar energy, which means that more electricity can be generated from the same amount of sunlight.

·       This efficiency could lead to lower costs per unit of electricity produced, making solar energy more competitive with traditional fossil fuels.

·       Another key benefit is its ability to operate at higher temperatures, up to 300°C, which significantly increases thermal efficiency. This is achieved by reducing heat losses through a smaller absorbing surface area.

·       The technology can produce energy even in low-light conditions, making it a versatile solution for diverse environments.

·       Solar paraboloid systems are scalable and can be deployed in various configurations, from small-scale applications to large solar farms.

·       The Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training Programme is aimed at empowering our retired sportspersons who have played for the country and brought immense laurels to the nation.

·       It will support retired athletes on their career development journey by empowering them with the necessary knowledge and skills and making them more employable.

·       It represents a significant step towards recognizing and utilizing the invaluable experience and expertise of our retired athletes.

Eligibility:

·       The athletes, who have retired from an active sports career and are aged between 20-50 years and who have been winners of an International Medal/participants in international events or have been National medallists/State medallists/participants in competitions recognized by National Sports Federations/Indian Olympic Association/Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are eligible to apply for courses under RESET Programme.

·       Initially, the programmes will be of two levels based on educational qualifications viz., Class 12th and above and Class 11th and below.

·       For this pilot phase of the RESET Programme, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) will be the lead institute to implement the Programme.

·       The programme will be offered in hybrid mode consisting of self-paced learning through a dedicated portal, along with on-ground training and internship.

·       Internships will be provided in sports organizations, sporting competitions/training camps, and leagues. Further, placement assistance, guidance for entrepreneurial ventures, etc. will be provided upon successful completion of the course.

·       It is a centralized platform for registering and monitoring complaints of sexual harassment of women in the workplace.

·       It serves as a centralized repository of information related to Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) formed across the country, encompassing both the government and private sectors.

·       It offers a common platform to file complaints, track their status, and ensure time-bound processing of complaints by ICs.

·       It provides assured redressal of complaints and a streamlined process for all stakeholders.

·       The portal will also enable real-time monitoring of complaints through a designated nodal officer.

·       The portal will ensure that complaints can be safely registered without personal information being publicly accessible.

·       The SHe-Box portal can be accessed at https://shebox.wcd.gov.in/.

Points to Remember:

·       In 2017, an upgraded version of SHe-Box was launched based on The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, where women who are harassed at any workplace can register their case on this, SHe-Box, file their complaint, and then two types of committees will be formed.

·       One, for private institutions, an internal committee will be formed, and for government institutions, a local committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the DM or DC or an officer appointed by them, and actions will be taken by them from time to time.