Daily Quiz

Solution (a)
Explanation:
• The SPADEX mission is specifically designed to test and demonstrate technologies for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking. These capabilities are essential for future advancements in satellite servicing, space station maintenance, and interplanetary missions. (Option (a) is correct)
• The Gaganyaan mission is India’s human spaceflight program and is unrelated to SPADEX. Gaganyaan focuses on sending astronauts to low Earth orbit and safely returning them.
• Although SPADEX involves a collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology for exploring biological applications in space, this is not the primary objective of the mission. The mission’s focus remains on docking technology.
• The Aditya-L1 mission is a separate ISRO mission focused on studying the Sun and its impact on Earth’s space environment, not related to spacecraft docking.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/pslvc60-lifts-off-with-spadex-spacecraft-from-sriharikota/article69044491.ece#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20rocket%20has%20placed%20the,panels%20have%20been%20deployed%20successfully. & https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2089047#:~:text=The%20primary%20objectives%20of%20SPADEX,power%20transfer%20between%20docked%20satellites.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• International maritime disputes deal with laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning territorial waters, exclusive economic zones, and maritime boundaries. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• Climate change mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing policies like the Paris Agreement to combat global warming. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• The principle of non-refoulement is a cornerstone of international refugee law, primarily under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. It prohibits the expulsion or return of refugees to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. This principle also extends to customary international law, making it binding even on states not party to the Refugee Convention. (Option (c) is correct)
• Cybersecurity and data privacy concern frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or international conventions on cybercrime, which regulate the handling of digital data and protect against cyber threats. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-international-obligations-towards-rohingya-refugees-explained/article69015375.ece#:~:text=The%201951%20Refugee%20Convention%20and,human%20rights%20violations%20upon%20return.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) significantly enhances the underwater endurance of diesel-electric submarines by reducing the need to surface or use a snorkel to recharge batteries, allowing submarines to remain submerged for longer periods.
• AIP does not replace diesel engines but complements them. Submarines still require diesel engines for surface propulsion and to charge their batteries. AIP is used for underwater propulsion, minimizing the need for surfacing. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• AIP technologies include fuel cells, Stirling engines, and closed-cycle steam turbines. These systems generate power without relying on atmospheric oxygen, making them ideal for underwater operations.
• By providing a means to generate power underwater without atmospheric oxygen, AIP reduces the frequency at which a submarine needs to surface, enhancing its stealth and operational capabilities.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-ministry-signs-two-contracts-on-aip-modules-heavy-torpedoes-for-scorpene-submarines/article69043810.ece

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to “touch” the Sun when it entered the Sun’s corona in December 2021. This historic milestone allows the probe to gather data directly from the Sun’s outer atmosphere. (Statement 1 is correct)
• The primary objective of the Parker Solar Probe is to study the Sun’s outer corona to better understand the solar wind, magnetic fields, and the processes that heat the corona to extreme temperatures. These insights are critical for predicting space weather that can affect Earth. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The probe uses multiple gravitational assists from Venus (not Jupiter) to gradually decrease its orbital distance to the Sun. This technique helps it achieve unprecedented proximity to the Sun while conserving energy. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/nasa-probe-makes-closest-ever-pass-by-the-sun/article69042696.ece#:~:text=NASA's%20pioneering%20Parker%20Solar%20Probe,temperatures%20topping%20930%20degrees%20Celsius.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Good Governance Index (GGI) is released by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), which operates under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions. The DARPG specifically handles matters related to governance reforms and is the nodal department for GGI. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• The GGI measures performance across key sectors, including:
  • Agriculture and Allied Sectors
  • Commerce and Industries
  • Human Resource Development
  • Public Health
  • Judiciary and Public Safety
  • Environment
  • Citizen-Centric Governance
  • Social Welfare and Development
• This comprehensive approach ensures a holistic evaluation of governance performance in states and UTs. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The GGI ranks Indian states and Union Territories into three groups:
  • Big States
  • North-East and Hill States
  • Union Territories
• This categorization ensures fair comparison among regions with different geographical, economic, and population characteristics. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-release-of-good-governance-index-2023-plans-next-edition-in-2025-9751461/