Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2021

Notes:
A research initiative named ‘Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (FIRE)’ has been initiated by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) in association with DST and Intel. This is aimed to increase research opportunities in fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) etc.
SERB is a statutory body established by the SERB Act 2008, under the Dept. of Science and Technology.

Notes:
The Department of Space, Government of India has recently come out with the draft space transportation policy, under which it has encouraged private participation in space technology.
The policy also lays special emphasis on Research and Development in green fuel, robotic space exploration and reusable rockets.

Notes:
Indian Navy’s Hydrographic Survey Ship INS Sarvekshak successfully completed survey action around the site of ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl on July 2 and handed over the survey data to the Sri Lankan authorities. The X-Press Pearl reported an onboard acid leak and caught fire just as it was due to enter the Colombo harbour on May 20. The fire was put out only after 13 days.

Notes:
F-35 Lightning II is a next generation fighter jet developed by the US-based Lockheed Martin. This stealth multirole aircraft is capable of conducting airstrikes, reconnaissance missions and air-to-air combats. Its development was funded by the US and several of its NATO allies. The fighter jet faced several criticisms for its large size, complexity, delivery delays, high costs etc.

Switzerland has ordered these fighter jets, making it the 15^th nation to be part of the world’s largest weapons project, Joint Strike Fighter program. This 5.5 million USD deal was criticised as the small Alpine country does not require such capability to secure itself since these supersonic jets can cross it in 10 minutes.

Notes:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced its plans to build freight smart cities to improve urban freight efficiency. This is aimed to reduce the logistics costs.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched a website on ‘Freight Smart Cities’. Initially, 10 cities would be identified, and it can be expanded to 75 cities in the next phase before launching it throughout the country.

Notes:
WAKO India Kickboxing Federation has been granted recognition as the National Sports Federation by the Sports Ministry recently.
Popularly known as “WAKO India”, it was formed in 1993 and its Headquarter is in Faridabad. It is affiliated to World Association of Kickboxing Organization (WAKO).

Notes:
President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar cultural centre in Lucknow.
The cultural centre will have a 25-feet high statue of Dr Ambedkar and will also have an auditorium with a capacity of 750 people, library, research centre, picture gallery, museum and a multi-purpose convention centre.

Notes:
India’s first Agriculture Export Facilitation Centre has been established in Pune. It will work as a one-stop centre for the exporters in agricultural sector.
The centre was established by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) in association with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

Notes:
The Indus water treaty between India and Pakistan was signed in the year 1960, after 9 long years of negotiations. This treaty aims to establish how the two countries would utilize the water resources of six rivers—Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
India has been recently working to exercise its rights over the Indus Treaty to stop the flow of excess water from India to Pakistan and use the water for irrigation.

Notes:
Valmiki National Park and Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the India-Nepal border in Bihar, on the bank of river Gandak. It is the only National Park in the state of Bihar.
The Authorities of the Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) have identified 150 vultures in different ranges of the protected area. A proposed plan for vulture conservation is sent to the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH).