Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 07-09, 2024
( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the January 07-09, 2024)
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January 07-09, 2024
Aditya-L1 successfully placed in a Halo Orbit around L1 Point
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone by placing the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point (L1).
About Aditya-L1
- Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun, was launched in September 2023, using a PSLV-C57 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
- Aditya-L1 is in a periodic halo orbit around L1, approximately 1.5 million km from Earth.
- The satellite carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layer of the Sun (corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors.
- With a mission life of five years, Aditya-L1 aims to study the sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, and corona, along with in-situ studies of particles and fields at L1.
Lagrange Point
- Lagrange Points are positions in space where a small object can maintain its position relative to two larger bodies due to the gravitational balance.
- Spacecraft leverage these points to minimize fuel consumption and allow spacecraft to maintain their position efficiently.
Ministry of Education launches PRERANA program
The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India has launched ‘Prerana: An Experiential Learning program’, aiming to offer a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all participants, thereby empowering them with leadership qualities.
About PRERANA program
- Prerana is a week-long residential program for selected students of Class IX to XII.
- It is an experiential and inspirational learning program for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation.
- A batch of 20 selected students (10 boys and 10 girls) will attend the program, every week from various parts of the country.
- It will run from a Vernacular School, established in 1888, in one of the oldest living cities of India, Vadnagar, district Mehsana, Gujarat.
- The curriculum of Prerana School prepared by IIT Gandhi Nagar is rooted in nine value based themes: Swabhiman and Vinay, Shaurya and Sahas, Parishram and Samarpan, Karuna and Sewa, Vividhta and Ekta, Satyanishtha and Shuchita, Navachar and Jigyasa, Shraddha aur Vishwas, and Swatantrata and Kartavya.
- The program based on the above themes will inspire the youth and foster respect for Bharat’s unity in diversity, embodying the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and will contribute by making the youth of today, a flame holder for Viksit Bharat.
- The day-wise program schedule will feature yoga, mindfulness, and meditation sessions, followed by experiential learning, thematic sessions, and hands-on interesting learning activities.
Rejupave Technology
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has utilised road construction technology i.e. Rejupave technology to construct parts of the world’s highest Sela Road Tunnel and the LGG-Damteng-Yangste (LDY) road near the China border in Arunachal Pradesh.
About the Rejupave Technology
- It is developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI).
- Rejupave asphalt modifier is a bio-oil-based product that lowers the heating requirement of bituminous mixes besides preserving the bituminous mix’s temperature during transit.
- It is beneficial in constructing high-altitude bituminous roads at low and sub-zero temperature conditions.
- It brings down the temperature of bituminous mixes by 30 to 40 degrees Celsius with negligible heat loss in the bituminous mix during transit.
Raghuram Iyer’s extensive experience in sports management and administration, particularly his previous roles as CEO of Indian Premier League teams Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants, has been recognized as making him an ideal candidate for this position.
India will host the 46th Session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee
This will be the first instance for India to chair the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and host its 46th session in New Delhi from July 21 to 31, 2024.
About the World Heritage Committee:
- It is a committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
- It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed.
- It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Structure:
- The World Heritage Committee is composed of representatives from 21 member states, elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention.
- According to the World Heritage Convention, a Committee member’s term of office is for six years.
World’s First Functional Semiconductor Made From Graphene
Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have successfully developed the world’s first functional semiconductor composed of graphene.
About Graphene
- Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the building-block of Graphite.
- It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
- It is almost perfectly transparent, as it absorbs only 2% of light.
- It is impermeable to gases, even those as light as hydrogen and helium.
- It can be used to enhance the strength of other materials.
- It is a great material for making heat-spreading solutions, such as heat sinks or heat dissipation films.
- This could be useful in both microelectronics and in larger applications, for example, thermal foils for mobile devices.
- It also has an extremely high surface-area-to-volume ratio.
This makes graphene a very promising material for use in batteries and supercapacitors.
Graphene may enable batteries and supercapacitors (and even fuel cells) that can store more energy and charge faster, too.
India Signs Bilateral Hajj Agreement 2024
The Indian government has recently signed a Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), marking a significant development in the facilitation of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj 2024 with 1,40,020 seats being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Hajj Committee of India and 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through Haj Group Operators.
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.
It takes place during Dhu’al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and is performed over five to six days.
The pilgrims wear simple white garments (Ihram) to symbolize equality and purity.
The first meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council held in Kolkata
The first meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) concluded on January 8, 2024 in Kolkata to strengthen the inland water transport system in the country. It was organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for inland waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
Key Points
- The agenda of the first IWDC meeting had sessions centered around fairway development, enhancing cargo and passenger transport in IWT, potential of river cruise tourism to boost economic activity, sustainability practices in terms of non-fossil fuel-based vessel operations among others.
- One of the key highlights of the meeting was the launch of Harit Nauka- Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels and River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047.
- The agenda also includes promoting eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring economic advantages in river cruise tourism, and advocating for sustainable practices in inland waterways development.
- The River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 focuses on four vital pillars, including Infrastructure, Integration, Accessibility, and Policy for promoting river cruise tourism.
- As a part of the roadmap, over 30 possible routes and tourist circuits along inland waterways have been identified for further development.
- MoPSW stressed upon the importance of State-level institutional structure and rules in ensuring that the planning and development of the state’s inland waterway ecosystem accounts for its unique characteristics and requirements.
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, also known as Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Day is an annual event celebrated every year on 9th January to honor the Indian diaspora and the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the country’s development.
About Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas
- Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day is celebrated to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915.
- It was first celebrated in 2003. It was an annual event earlier, but in 2015, the government revised its format to celebrate PBD once every two years.
- It has become a platform to connect the Indian diaspora with their roots and encourage their continued engagement with India’s progress.
- It is held in different cities, to showcase the diversity and progress of different regions of India.
- Till date, 17 conventions have been held. The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated in the Indore of Madhya Pradesh in 2023 with the theme “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.”