Consider the following statements regarding Hypersonic Cruise vehicle test
- It was a technology demonstrator vehicle developed and tested by ISRO
- It has capability to travel at 6 times the speed of sound
- India became the fourth country to have demonstrated this technology after the USA, Russia and China
Which of the above statements are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1,2 and 3
Correct Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
In News: DRDO successfully tests Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). Hence statement 1 is incorrect
Key Points
- About: HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft that can travel at hypersonic speed.
- It uses hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology.
- The vehicle travelled its desired flight path at a velocity of six times the speed of sound i.e. Mach 6. Hence statement 2 is correct
- Mach number: It describes an aircraft’s speed compared with the speed of sound in air, with Mach 1 equating to the speed of sound i.e. 343 metre per second.
- Conducted at: The test was conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.
- Implications: India became the fourth country to have demonstrated this technology after the USA, Russia and China. Hence statement 3 is correct
- China successfully tested its first waverider hypersonic flight vehicle in 2018.
- The indigenous development of the technology will boost the development of the systems built with hypersonic vehicles at its core.
- It can be developed as a carrier vehicle for long range cruise missiles in the defence sector.
- This includes both offensive and defensive hypersonic cruise missile systems,
- Due to its high speed, most RADARs will be unable to detect it. It will also be able to penetrate most missile defence systems.
- This technology will be helpful in the space sector in development of low-cost, high efficiency reusable satellites.
Source: The Hindu
Consider the following statements with respect to Scramjet Engine
- A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine as it efficiently operates at hypersonic speeds
- It is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor
Which of the above statements are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- None of the above
Correct Answer: c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In news: Explained: The significance and capability of the scramjet vehicle
Air-breathing engines use oxygen from the atmosphere in the combustion of fuel. This system is lighter, efficient and cost-effective than other systems in use.
Types of Air Breathing engines
Ramjet: A ramjet is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor.
Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds but they are not efficient at hypersonic speeds.
Scramjet: A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine as it efficiently operates at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion.
Source : Indian Express
The term “Yanomami” was seen in news recently,
- Indigenous people in amazon rainforest
- Russia’s new hypersonic anti-ship missile
- new species of underground-dwelling ant found in Goa
- None of the above
Answer: a) Indigenous people in amazon rainforest
Explanation:
The Yanomami live in the rainforests and mountains of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela, largest relatively isolated tribe in South America. The Yanomami practise an ancient communal way of life. They live in large, circular houses called yanos or shabonos, some of which can hold up to 400 people.
Since the 1980s, the Yanomami have been facing an onslaught from illegal gold miners. Yanomami land was invaded by up to 40,000 miners who killed the indigenous people, destroyed their villages, and brought them deadly diseases. A fifth of the Yanomami population perished in just seven years.
They proposed that the gold which has come from Yanomami territory is Blood Gold, gold at the cost of indigenous blood. As a message to the people of India, to the Indian government and the companies which import, that they must stop buying Blood Gold.
Which of the following committees was appointed by RBI to make recommendations on the financial parameters to be considered for loan restructuring impacted by the Covid-19?
- K V Kamath
- Bibek Debroy
- Rangarajan
- Raghuram rajan
Answer: a) K V Kamath
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India today released the K V Kamath-led Committee report, which had recommended financial parameters to be factored in the resolution plans under the ‘Resolution Framework for Covid19-related Stress’ along with sector specific benchmark ranges for such parameters.
The committee has recommended financial ratios for 26 sectors which could be factored by lending institutions while finalizing a resolution plan for a borrower. The financial aspects include those related to leverage, liquidity, debt serviceability.
According to IMD, Monsoon rain this year in August has been the highest since 1926, which of the following can be attributed as reasons for this?
- Increase in Low Pressure cells over Bay of Bengal
- Climate change
- Cooler conditions in the equatorial Central Pacific
- All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation:
The heavy rain in August was due to several longlasting lowpressure systems, or rainbearing winds, that formed in the Bay of Bengal and were vigorous enough to travel all the way from the southeastern coast up to northwest India. Long periods of heavy rain followed by extended dry periods are a feature of climate change and is part of a general change in monsoon patterns over India Cooler than normal conditions in the equatorial Central Pacific contributed to the increased rainfall.
Consider the following statements regarding United Nations
- India was among the founding members of United Nations
- India has never been a member of the Security Council
Select the correct answer using the code given below
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: a) 1 only
Explanation:
India was among the founding members of United Nations.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions; it is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
Members: The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States—serve as the body’s five permanent members. These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.
Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of a total of 10, for a two-year term.
Distribution of seats: These 10 seats are distributed among the regions thus: five for African and Asian countries; one for Eastern European countries; two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; two for Western European and other countries.
Of the five seats for Africa and Asia, three are for Africa and two for Asia; there is an informal understanding between the two groups to reserve one for an Arab country. The Africa and Asia Pacific group takes turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate.
Elections for terms beginning in even-numbered years select two African members, and one each within Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Terms beginning in odd-numbered years consist of two Western European and Other members, and one each from Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Votes: Irrespective of whether a country is a “clean slate” candidate and has been endorsed by its group, it needs to secure the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly session (a minimum of 129 votes if all 193 member states participate). When contested, the elections for non-permanent seats can be fraught and can go on for several rounds
India has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council eight time previously: 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2011-12.
Chushul sometimes seen in news is located in?
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Uttarkhand
- Ladakh
- Assam
Answer : c
There is an ongoing standoff between India and China at Chushul in Ladakh.
Chushul is critical because it has an airstrip, and its connectivity by road to Leh gives it a unique operational vantage.
Indian troops have now secured the ridgeline in this sub-sector that allows them to dominate the Chushul bowl on the Indian side.
The Chushul sub-sector lies south of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh.
It comprises high, broken mountains and heights of Thatung, Black Top, Helmet Top, Gurung Hill, and Magger Hill besides passes such as Rezang La and Reqin La, the Spanggur Gap, and the Chushul valley.
Consider the following statements with respect to Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
- An FCRA license is a mandatory requirement for any non-profit organisation operating in India to receive foreign funds
- The editor, owner, printer or publisher of a registered newspaper cannot accept foreign money under FCRA.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : c
Recently, the Government suspends FCRA clearance of four Christian groups.
An FCRA license is a mandatory requirement for any non-profit organisation operating in India to receive foreign funds.
The correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer or publisher of a registered newspaper cannot accept foreign money under FCRA.
The FCRA falls into the purview of Home Ministry and not the Reserve Bank of India.
Consider the following pairs:
Which of the pair given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: b
Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?
(a) Clouds absorb the radiation released from the Earth’s surface.
(b) Clouds reflect back the Earth’s radiation.
(c) The Earth’s surface would have the low temperature on cloudy nights.
(d) Clouds deflect the blowing wind to ground level.
Answer: b
