UPSC Quiz – 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 89

Solution (a)

The Chalukyas ruled over the Deccan plateau in India for over 600 years. During this period, they ruled as three closely related, but individual dynasties. These are the “Chalukyas of Badami” (also called “Early Chalukyas”), who ruled between the 6th and the 8th century, and the two sibling dynasties, the “Chalukyas of Kalyani” (also called Western Chalukyas or “Later Chalukyas”) and the “Chalukyas of Vengi” (also called Eastern Chalukyas).

It was spread over Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Solution (c)

The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON)[7] is a satellite designed to investigate changes in the Earth’s ionosphere, the dynamic region high in our atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather from above. ICON studies the interaction between Earth’s weather systems and space weather driven by the Sun, and how this interaction drives turbulence in the upper atmosphere. It is hoped that a better understanding of this dynamic will mitigate its effects on communications, GPS signals, and technology in general. It is part of NASA’s Explorers program and is operated by UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory.

Solution (c)

Elastocaloric materials are solids capable of stress-induced reversible phase transformations during which latent heat is released or absorbed. The elastocaloric effect occurs when stress is applied or removed, and a phase transformation is induced. As a result of the entropy difference between the two co-existing phases, the material heats up or cools down. A good elastocaloric material must exhibit a large latent heat, a large adiabatic temperature change, good thermal conductivity, long fatigue life, and low cost. Shape memory polymers can also exhibit elastocaloric effect.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/this-word-means-elastocaloric-effect-6065022/

Solution (c)

Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)

Under the scheme, pregnant women, mothers up to 6 months after delivery, and all sick newborns will be able to avail of free healthcare benefits. The beneficiaries visiting public health facilities are entitled to several free services. There will be zero expense access to the identification and management of complications during and after the pregnancy. The government will also provide free transport from home to health institutions. There will be assured referral services with the scope of reaching health facility within one hour of any critical case emergency and Drop back from institution to home after due discharge (minimum 48 hrs). The pregnant women will have a zero expense delivery and C-section facility in case of complications at public health facilities. It will ensure respectful care with privacy and dignity, with early initiation and support for breastfeeding, zero dose vaccination and free and zero expense services for sick newborns and neonates.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/government-launches-suman-scheme-assures-free-medicines-for-pregnant-women-11570704991082.html

Solution (b)

It will be a 1,400km long and 5km wide green belt from Gujarat to the Delhi-Haryana border, on the lines of the “Great Green Wall” running through the width of Africa, from Dakar (Senegal) to Djibouti, to combat climate change and desertification.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/government-plans-1400km-long-great-green-wall-of-india/articleshow/71496260.cms