SIPVS Knowledge is Power
1) Which state government during January 2018 came up with a unique way of preserving trees by allowing people to forge fraternal ties with trees? – Sikkim
Explanation: The Government of Sikkim came up with a unique way of preserving trees by encouraging people to forge a relationship of brotherhood or sisterhood with trees through a practice locally known as Mith/Mit or Mitini.
– As per the notification titled “Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity & Reverence) Rules 2017” issued during January 2018, “State government shall allow any person to associate with trees standing on his or her private land or on any public land by entering into a Mith/Mit or Mitini relationship.”
– The notification also states that a person can also adopt a tree “as if it was his or her own child in which case the tree shall be called an adopted tree.” A third way to forge a relationship with a tree is by “preserving a tree in remembrance of a departed relative in which case the tree shall be called a smriti tree.”
– The notification is in consonance with the age-old tradition of promoting amity between man and nature, particularly trees. Sikkim is one of the cleanest and greenest states of the country.
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2) Which was the most important satellite that was carried on-board PSLV-C40 rocket in ISRO’s historic 100th satellite launch on 12 January 2018, a launch that altogether carried 31 satellites? – Cartosat-2
Explanation: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 12 January 2018 successfully launched a Cartosat-2 series weather observation satellite, along with 30 other spacecraft, using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40). While this was the 100th satellite launch by ISRO, it was the 42nd flight for PSLV.
– The 710-kg Cartosat-2 series remote sensing satellite was the main satellite to be carried in this launch that lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Other 30 satellites included 2 Indian nano-satellites (Nanosat and Microsat) and 28 other small satellites of 6 other countries, including those from the US and the UK.
– The rocket first injected the Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation about 17 minutes after lift-off while other 30 satellites were released into orbit one by one in a space of about seven minutes.
– This launch came about four months after ISRO’s PSLV-C39 failed following a technical snag involving its heat shield.
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3) In an unprecedented event, four senior sitting judges of the Supreme Court on 12 January 2018 met the media to complain that the administration of the apex court was not in order and criticised its distribution of cases to judges. Who are these four judges who jointly came out against Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra? – Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurian Joseph
Explanation: Exposing a rift with Chief Justice Dipak Misra, some of the Supreme Court’s most senior judges, four justices of the Supreme Court of India on 12 January 2018 in an unprecedented move publicly aired the alleged problems affecting India’s highest court. The 4 judges told a news conference the issues involving its administration were serious enough to prompt them to go public.
– These four judges are Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurian Joseph. The news conference was held at Chelameswar’s official residence in New Delhi, who is the senior-most judge after the Chief Justice.
– The justices gave few details of the incidents they were referring to, but released a letter they had written to the Chief Justice. They disclosed that efforts to alert the Chief Justice that certain things were not in order and that remedial measures were needed had failed, prompting the news conference
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4) IDFC Bank Ltd. will acquire which non-bank financial firm for about $1.5 billion, as was announced on 13 January 2018? – Capital First Ltd.
Explanation: IDFC Bank Ltd, one of India’s two newest banks, will acquire non-bank financial firm Capital First Ltd in a share swap deal valued at about $1.5 billion. This deal was announced on 13 January 2018.
– Capital First Ltd. is owned more than a third by private equity firm Warburg Pincus. Capital First’s founder and chairman V. Vaidyanathan will become chief executive of the combined entity. Under the deal shareholders in Capital First will receive 139 shares of the bank for every 10 shares held. The deal is conditional on central bank and other regulatory approvals.
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5) The 4th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference was held at which place from 11 to 13 January 2018? – Rajgir (Bihar)
Explanation: The 4th edition of the International Dharma-Dhamma Conference was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rajgir (Nalanda) in Bihar on 11 January 2018. The theme of the 3-day conference was “State and Social Order in Dharma-Dhamma Traditions”. It concluded on 13 January 2018.
– The conference was organized by Nalanda University, in collaboration with the Centre for Study of Religion and Society, India Foundation, Ministry of External Affairs and the Vietnam Buddhist University.
– Addressing the gathering, the President said that Buddhism promoted pluralism and diversity of thoughts. He said anyone who has been touched by Lord Budha has embraced the process of ceaseless and constant striving to become a better person.
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Source: nirdeshak.com
