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The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative.
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Consider the following statements
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A unicorn is a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion
As for decacorn, it is a term for a company valued at more than US $10 Billion, while hectocorn is used for a company valued over US $100 Billion.
Rather than being derived from its past years’ performances, the valuations that lead to startup companies becoming unicorns, decacorns and hectocorns stem from their growth opportunities and expected development for their potential market. Valuations for startups could also come from funding rounds of venture capital firms. Valuations of startup companies could also be considered from the numbers that are given when a much larger company buys them out.
Bengaluru has the maximum number of unicorns with one-third of country’s unicorns headquartered in the southern city, followed by Delhi-National Capital Region with 20 per cent.
India currently has three decacorns, companies with valuation of over $10 billion Byju’s, Paytm and Flipkart.
According to RBI reports, India is currently third on the global list of nations with the most unicorns, after only the United States and China.
Article Link: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/over-valued-unicorns-in-a-distressed-economy/article37653501.ece
A unicorn is a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion
As for decacorn, it is a term for a company valued at more than US $10 Billion, while hectocorn is used for a company valued over US $100 Billion.
Rather than being derived from its past years’ performances, the valuations that lead to startup companies becoming unicorns, decacorns and hectocorns stem from their growth opportunities and expected development for their potential market. Valuations for startups could also come from funding rounds of venture capital firms. Valuations of startup companies could also be considered from the numbers that are given when a much larger company buys them out.
Bengaluru has the maximum number of unicorns with one-third of country’s unicorns headquartered in the southern city, followed by Delhi-National Capital Region with 20 per cent.
India currently has three decacorns, companies with valuation of over $10 billion Byju’s, Paytm and Flipkart.
According to RBI reports, India is currently third on the global list of nations with the most unicorns, after only the United States and China.
Article Link: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/over-valued-unicorns-in-a-distressed-economy/article37653501.ece
Which of the following statements is/are not correct regarding National Automobile Scrappage Policy?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Solution (c)
Earlier in August 2021, Prime Minister launched the National Automobile Scrappage Policy to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles. Under this policy, consumers who scrap old vehicles will receive a certificate. Those having this certificate will not be charged any registration fee on the purchase of a new vehicle.
The vehicle scrappage policy is important not only to reduce vehicular pollution but also to strengthen the economy. The policy will ease the process of scrapping old cars, generate fresh investments and create employment.
It further recommends mandatory scrapping of all government vehicles that are more than 15 years old but is applicable only on four-wheelers.
The fitness tests will be done at government-certified fitness centers, appointments for which can be made online. Test reports will be generated in online mode.
Also, scrappage can be done anywhere in the country, regardless of the place of vehicle registration.
Under the new policy, the Centre had said the states and Union Territories (UTs) will provide up to 25 per cent tax rebate on road tax for vehicles that are purchased after scrapping old vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki Toyotsu India Private Limited’s (MSTI’s) government-approved End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) scrapping and recycling unit in Noida.
MSTI, a joint venture between Maruti Suzuki and Toyota Tsusho group, said the 10,993 sq m facility has a capacity to scrap and recycle over 24,000 ELVs annually and has been built with an investment of over ₹44 crores. All the equipment being used at the facility are manufactured in India
Article Link:
Solution (c)
Earlier in August 2021, Prime Minister launched the National Automobile Scrappage Policy to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles. Under this policy, consumers who scrap old vehicles will receive a certificate. Those having this certificate will not be charged any registration fee on the purchase of a new vehicle.
The vehicle scrappage policy is important not only to reduce vehicular pollution but also to strengthen the economy. The policy will ease the process of scrapping old cars, generate fresh investments and create employment.
It further recommends mandatory scrapping of all government vehicles that are more than 15 years old but is applicable only on four-wheelers.
The fitness tests will be done at government-certified fitness centers, appointments for which can be made online. Test reports will be generated in online mode.
Also, scrappage can be done anywhere in the country, regardless of the place of vehicle registration.
Under the new policy, the Centre had said the states and Union Territories (UTs) will provide up to 25 per cent tax rebate on road tax for vehicles that are purchased after scrapping old vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki Toyotsu India Private Limited’s (MSTI’s) government-approved End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) scrapping and recycling unit in Noida.
MSTI, a joint venture between Maruti Suzuki and Toyota Tsusho group, said the 10,993 sq m facility has a capacity to scrap and recycle over 24,000 ELVs annually and has been built with an investment of over ₹44 crores. All the equipment being used at the facility are manufactured in India
Article Link:
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Lithium?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Solution (a)
With Taliban nod, companies have begun ‘inspections’ of possible projects to tap lithium deposits
Lithium is one of many resources in Afghanistan present in large deposits but as yet untapped, largely because of years of political instability and the lack of infrastructure. A Chinese company secured the rights to mine one of the world’s biggest copper reserves in Afghanistan at Aynak more than a decade ago, but has not yet begun work on extraction.
Lithium is considered key to the new green global agenda of switching to electric vehicles. China had mandated last year that electric vehicles would make up 40 per cent of all auto sales by 2030.
Lithium is mostly used in rechargeable batteries including the ones used in laptops, mobile phones and (65 per cent); ceramics and glass (18 per cent); lubricating greases (5 per cent); and polymer production (3 per cent)
One third of the “lithium triangle” in South America – which also comprises second and third-placed Argentina and Chile – Bolivia is home to the world’s biggest lithium reserves.
Argentina has the world’s second-largest lithium reserves,
Lithium is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a prescription medication for use in bipolar disorder. People also sometimes use lithium supplements as medicine, but these supplements contain much lower doses of lithium.
Article Link:
Solution (a)
With Taliban nod, companies have begun ‘inspections’ of possible projects to tap lithium deposits
Lithium is one of many resources in Afghanistan present in large deposits but as yet untapped, largely because of years of political instability and the lack of infrastructure. A Chinese company secured the rights to mine one of the world’s biggest copper reserves in Afghanistan at Aynak more than a decade ago, but has not yet begun work on extraction.
Lithium is considered key to the new green global agenda of switching to electric vehicles. China had mandated last year that electric vehicles would make up 40 per cent of all auto sales by 2030.
Lithium is mostly used in rechargeable batteries including the ones used in laptops, mobile phones and (65 per cent); ceramics and glass (18 per cent); lubricating greases (5 per cent); and polymer production (3 per cent)
One third of the “lithium triangle” in South America – which also comprises second and third-placed Argentina and Chile – Bolivia is home to the world’s biggest lithium reserves.
Argentina has the world’s second-largest lithium reserves,
Lithium is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a prescription medication for use in bipolar disorder. People also sometimes use lithium supplements as medicine, but these supplements contain much lower doses of lithium.
Article Link:
Which of the following is the fourth Stealth Scorpene Class Submarine under Project 75 recently commissioned by the Indian Navy?
Solution (c)
What is INS Vela, the submarine commissioned by Indian Navy?
Vela is named after a decommissioned submarine Vela, which served the Navy from 1973 to 2010. The earlier Vela belonged to Foxtrot class submarine of Soviet origin.
What is Project 75?
Conceptualized for the acquisition for 25 submarines at the time of the IK Gujral government, P 75 evolved into a 30-year plan for building submarines. In 2005, India and France signed a $ 3.75 billion contract for building six Scorpene class submarines. The executing company on the Indian side is Mazgaon Docks Ltd, and on the French side, it is DCNS, which is now called Naval Group.
After INS Kalvari, two more submarines under the contract, INS Khanderi and INS Karanj, were commissioned. INS Vela is the fourth, and sea trials are ongoing for INS Vagir, while the sixth, INS Vagsheer, is under construction.
Article Link:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-ins-vela-submarine-indian-navy-7639778/
Solution (c)
What is INS Vela, the submarine commissioned by Indian Navy?
Vela is named after a decommissioned submarine Vela, which served the Navy from 1973 to 2010. The earlier Vela belonged to Foxtrot class submarine of Soviet origin.
What is Project 75?
Conceptualized for the acquisition for 25 submarines at the time of the IK Gujral government, P 75 evolved into a 30-year plan for building submarines. In 2005, India and France signed a $ 3.75 billion contract for building six Scorpene class submarines. The executing company on the Indian side is Mazgaon Docks Ltd, and on the French side, it is DCNS, which is now called Naval Group.
After INS Kalvari, two more submarines under the contract, INS Khanderi and INS Karanj, were commissioned. INS Vela is the fourth, and sea trials are ongoing for INS Vagir, while the sixth, INS Vagsheer, is under construction.
Article Link:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-ins-vela-submarine-indian-navy-7639778/
Consider the following statements with respect to coral spawning:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution (d)
What is coral spawning?
Coral spawning is an annual event where corals simultaneously reproduce.
During this synchronized breeding, coral polyps release millions of tiny egg and sperm bundles into the water.
Each bundle must find another bundle from the same species to fertilize. By spawning on mass, corals increase the likelihood of finding and fertilizing a matching bundle.
When does coral spawn?
This depends on a number of factors including their location, the water temperature and tides.
Spawning follows a full moon and water temperatures must have risen enough to stimulate the maturation of the egg and sperm bundles. The timing of spawning is also impacted by the length of the day, the tide and salinity levels in the water.
Spawning only happens at night and lasts from a few days up to a week. Different species of coral spawn on different days to prevent cross-breeding.
Even those that make it to the ocean floor must find a spot that is clear of algae and sediment, but with enough sunlight to grow, otherwise they perish.
Article Link:
https://www.barrierreef.org/news/blog/what-is-coral-spawning-great-barrier-reef
Solution (d)
What is coral spawning?
Coral spawning is an annual event where corals simultaneously reproduce.
During this synchronized breeding, coral polyps release millions of tiny egg and sperm bundles into the water.
Each bundle must find another bundle from the same species to fertilize. By spawning on mass, corals increase the likelihood of finding and fertilizing a matching bundle.
When does coral spawn?
This depends on a number of factors including their location, the water temperature and tides.
Spawning follows a full moon and water temperatures must have risen enough to stimulate the maturation of the egg and sperm bundles. The timing of spawning is also impacted by the length of the day, the tide and salinity levels in the water.
Spawning only happens at night and lasts from a few days up to a week. Different species of coral spawn on different days to prevent cross-breeding.
Even those that make it to the ocean floor must find a spot that is clear of algae and sediment, but with enough sunlight to grow, otherwise they perish.
Article Link:
https://www.barrierreef.org/news/blog/what-is-coral-spawning-great-barrier-reef
