UPSC Quiz – 2024 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 27th January 2024

·       Depth: Its depth averages55 meters, and the deepest part is approximately 459 meters below the sea’s surface.

·       The Baltic Sea contains three major gulfs: the Gulf of Bothnia to the north, the Gulf of Finland to the east, and the Gulf of Riga slightly to the south of that.

·       The seven biggest rivers (Daugava, Gota, Nemunas, Neva, Oder, Tornio and Vistula) cover 50% of the Baltic Sea catchment area and therefore it is important to evaluate the changes in the nutrient loads of those rivers.

·       It extends northward from the latitude of southern Denmark almost to the Arctic Circle and separates the Scandinavian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe.

·       The Baltic sea connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Straits.

·       It is the largest expanse of brackish water in the world. Its water salinity levels are lower than that of the World Oceans due to the inflow of fresh water from the surrounding land and the sea’s shallowness.

Coal Gasification

·       It is a thermo-chemical process that converts coal primarily into carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

·       Coal is partially oxidised by air, oxygen, steam, or carbon dioxide under controlled conditions to produce a liquid fuel, known as syngas or synthesis gas, dimethyl ether, ammonium nitrate and methanol, among others.

·       Synthetic natural gas can be used as a substitute for LPG and for electricity generation, while dimethyl ether is an alternative to be used in diesel engines.

·       Ammonium Nitrate can be used for explosives.

·       It is expected to reduce imports by 2030.

·       It envisions the adoption of indigenous technologies for the production of chemical products and their derivatives.

·       It is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on imports of natural gas, methanol, ammonia, and other essential products.

Major suggestions made

·       More focus on R&D: The DRDO should focus on its original goal of research and development for defence and refrain from involving itself in productization, production cycles, and product management, tasks that are more suitable for the private sector.

·       Concentrate on few sectors only: There are numerous technologies that DRDO doesn’t necessarily need to get into. It asked, why should DRDO engage in drone development?

·       Identify expertise: There is a necessity to identify expertise within India and internationally for various technologies.

·       Creation of a separate department: Under the Defence Ministry, the Department of Defence Science, Technology, and Innovation can be created.

·       This department is proposed to be headed by a technocrat.

·       It will promote defence research and development in the academic and start-up ecosystem and also serve as the secretariat for the Defence Tech Council, chaired by the Prime Minister.

·       Defence Tech Council: The committee recommended a top level body called the Defence Technology Council.

Defence Technology Council

·       Chaired by: Prime Minister of India, with the Defence Minister and the National Security Advisor as its Vice Presidents.

·       Mandate: To determine the country’s defence technology roadmap and decide on major projects and their execution, a

·       Executive committee: Chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff.

·       The Principal Scientific Advisor, along with the three service chiefs and their vice chiefs, will also be its members.

·       Furthermore, it will include representation from academia and industry, with two members from each sector.

·       Using scrap in steel production is considered less polluting, and it is expected to contribute to environmental sustainability. India’s steel sector accounts for 12% of India’s CO2 emissions. India currently ranks as the World’s 2nd Largest Producer of Crude Steel

·       It is a colourless, odourless gas that makes up a significant portion of Earth’s atmosphere.

·       It is inert and non-flammable, commonly used in various industrial applications, including food packaging and electronics manufacturing.

·       An inert gas is a gas which does not undergo chemical reactions under a set of given conditions.

·       The noble gases often do not react with many substances, and were historically referred to as the inert gases.

·       The method typically includes placing a respirator-type face mask over the nose and mouth to replace breathable air with nitrogen, causing death from lack of oxygen.

·       The state predicts that the gas will cause the inmate to lose consciousness within seconds and death within minutes.

·       Critics argue that the untested method raises unknowns and potential risks, violating constitutional prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.