Daily Current Affairs Date 22nd of June 2021
TOPICS
A. Laurel Hubbard: 1st Trans Olympian.
B. SEBI Reconstitutes Takeover Panel.
C. Cassava: Feedstock for Bioethanol Production.
D. Japan to allow 10,000 local fans at Olympics.
E. Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority.
F. Virtual Water analysis.
G. India to host Summit on Green Hydrogen initiatives
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Questions-
Q- Which of the following options is or are correct?
1.Tashnuva Anan Shishir World’s first transgender news anchor
2.Naaz Joshi World’s first trans woman to win international beauty pageant with cisgender women.
3.Narthaki Nataraj India’s first Transgender to First Transgender to Be Awarded Padma Shri
Options-
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only
Laurel Hubbard: 1st Trans Olympian.
A. New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) has selected weightlifter Laurel Hubbard to contest women’s +87 kg category.
B. 43-year-old weightlifter had competed in men’s weightlifting competitions before gender transition in 2013.
C. Hubbard has been eligible to compete at Olympics since 2015.
D. In 2015, International Olympic Committee issued guidelines to allow any transgender athlete to compete as woman on the condition that their testosterone levels are below 10 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months before they take part in first competition.
About Laurel Hubbard
A. Hubbard is a New Zealand weightlifter who has been selected to compete at 2020 Summer Olympics.
B. She will be the first transgender athlete to compete in Olympic Games after gender transition.
C. Before her gender transition, Hubbard had set New Zealand junior records in 1998 in newly established M105+ division with snatch 135 kg, clean & jerk 170 kg.
D. However, these records were later surpassed by David Liti. Hubbard transitioned to female and became Laurel Hubbard in 2012.
E. She won a silver medal at 2017 World Championships and gold in 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
F. She also competed at 2018 Commonwealth Games but a serious injury set back her career.
Question
Q- Consider the following statements about SEBI ‘s Takeover Panel.
- Panel looks into application that seeks exemption from mandatory open.
- Panel is chaired by Dinesh Kumar Khara
- Panel is chaired by N K Sodhi
Which of the following given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 3 only
SEBI Reconstitutes Takeover Panel.
- Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reconstituted its Takeover Panel.
About Takeover Panel
A. The takeover panel looks into application that seeks exemption from mandatory open offer which as acquirer needs to make to minority shareholders.
B. N Venkatram MD and CEO of Deloitte India has been appointed as the new member of Takeover Panel.
C. Panel is chaired by N K Sodhi, former chief justice of high courts of Karnataka and Kerala.
D. He was also the former presiding officer of Securities Appellate Tribunal.
E. Panel was constituted in accordance with regulation 11(5) of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.
Function of takeover panel
- This panel makes its recommendations to Sebi on applications following which SEBI gives an opportunity to concerned parties before passing any order.
Other members of takeover panel are:
A. Darius Khambata, who was former advocate general in Maharashtra and
B. Thomas Mathew T who was former chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India.
Background
- First ever takeover panel was constituted in November 2007. It was a four-member panel under chairmanship of former Bank of Baroda chairman, K Kannan.
QUESTION
Q- Which Institute have found CASSAVA as a raw material for bioethanol production?
a) National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS)
b) Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT)
c) Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI)
d) None of the above
Cassava: Feedstock for Bioethanol Production.
A. CAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) have found CASSAVA as a raw material for bioethanol production to meet Ethanol Blending Petrol (EBP) programme target of 2025 by India.
B. As a biofuel crop, cassava has several advantages over sugarcane.
C. Cassava is having a high starch content and ability to grow under low management conditions.
D. It has been globally recognised as a potential candidate for bioethanol production.
E. However, economic viability to scale-up production from cassava varieties has to be ascertained because of failure of an alcohol plant set up in Palakkad in 1990s.
Pas biofuel crop
A. Its starch is having a unique physicochemical and functional properties which finds extensive applications in food and industrial sectors.
B. Agricultural residues of cassava like peels, stems and leaves are the potential feedstock for 2G bioethanol production.
Production of Cassava in India
A. Cassava, also known as Tapioca, production in India is estimated to be 4.98 million tonnes.
B. Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala accounts for major amount of production.
C. Its cultivation is also extending towards non-traditional areas like Maharashtra in order to meet projected demand for starch.
National Policy on Biofuels 2018
A. This policy ensures the availability of biofuels to meet demand of 20 per cent ethanol produced from molasses, sugarcane juices & biomass in form of grasses & agricultural residues, sugar-containing materials like sugar beet, & sweet sorghum or starch-containing materials like rotten potatoes, corn, cassava, and damaged food grains.
B. India has a target to produce 1,016 crore litres of ethanol for its blending programmes
Questions
Q- Consider the following statements regarding 2020 Summer Olympics.
- It will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
- Olympics organizers has set the number of spectators to10,000.
- International spectators will be allowed .
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1, 2
b) 2, 3
c) All of the above
d) None of the above Japan to allow 10,000 local fans at Olympics
A. Olympics organisers has capped the number of spectators at 10,000 for each venue in the 2020 Tokyo Games following the warnings of experts that event without fans will be a least risky option during the Covid-19 pandemic.
B. This decision was taken because, vaccine roll-out has been slow in Japan and medical system pushed to the brink. Though, Japan has avoided explosive coronavirus outbreaks which has devastated other countries.
C. Limit for Games will be set at 50% of venue capacity.
D. This limit is subject to reduction after July 12, on the basis of provisions of any emergency or anti-infection measures.
2020 Summer Olympics
A. It is officially called as Games of XXXII Olympiad and also known as Tokyo 2020. It is an upcoming international multi-sport event which will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
B. Earlier, it was scheduled to from July 24 to August 9 2020.
C. But it was postponed in March 2020 because of COVID-19 pandemic.
D. Event will not allow international spectators.
E. Even though it has been rescheduled for 2021, it retains Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes.
F. This was the first time that Olympic Games have been postponed and rescheduled.
Key Facts to remember
A. 2020 Games will be the second time that Japan has hosted Summer Olympic Games.
B. First Summer Olympic was held in Tokyo in 1964.
C. This also makes Tokyo, the first city in Asia to host Summer Games twice. 2020 games will be the fourth Olympic Games to be held in Japan.
D. Japan also hosted Winter Olympics in 1972 at Sapporo and in 1998 at Nagano.
Question
Q- Consider the following statements regarding Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority
1) This Authority is a 15-member body which will be constituted to protect & improve the quality of coastal environment.
2) It will also regulate all developmental activities in CRZ areas
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority
- Union ministry of Environment, forest & Climate Change has notified about constituting a Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority. Notification was issued under Environment Protection Act, 1986.
About authority
A. Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority is a 15-member body which will be constituted to protect & improve the quality of coastal environment.
B. Its primary work is to prevent, abate and control environmental pollution in Coastal Regulation Zone of Karnataka.
C. It is headed by Additional Chief Secretary, State Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Bengaluru.
D. Term of office of present members is for three years.
Functions of authority
A. Authority will examine the application received for approval of project proposal, if it is in accordance with approved Coastal Zone Management Plan.
B. It will also regulate all developmental activities in CRZ areas as specified in the 2011 notification.
C. It is responsible for enforcing and monitoring provisions of notification.
D. It will examine the proposals received from Karnataka government for changes or modifications in classification of CRZ areas.
E. It will inquire into cases of alleged violation of provisions of Act or rules and review cases involving violations or contraventions of provisions of the act or rules.
F. It will inquire or review cases of violations or contraventions of notification suo moto.
G. Authority has been authorised to file complaints under Section 19 of Act.
Questions-
Q- Consider the following statement regarding Virtual Water analysis.
1- This study was led by IIT-Guwahati professor Anamika Barua.
2- Virtual Water (VW) is water involved in production & trade of food.
3- This study was led by IIT Kharagpur Prof. Seema Singh
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) All of the above
d) 2, 3
Virtual Water analysis
A. Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati have found way for better water management policies in India through Virtual Water analysis.
B. This study was led by IIT-Guwahati professor Anamika Barua.
Virtual Water
A. According to the professor, Virtual Water (VW) is water involved in production & trade of food & non-food commodities & services.
B. Virtual water is that “invisible” water that has been consumed in the entire lifecycle of product or service.
Virtual Water Analysis
A. Results obtained from study of IIT Guwahati will help in bridging knowledge governance gap to mitigate water scarcity in Virtual Water flows assessment.
B. As per the study, states with chronic water scarcity, planning & implementation of sustainable agriculture are crucial to achieve water and food security.
C. Study finds that, pressure on freshwater resources in water parched states can be reduced by diversifying production areas by using Virtual Water flows analysis to produce agro-climatically suitable food grains.
Background
- Concept of Virtual Water was first conceived in 1990s to understand how water-stressed countries can provide people with essential items like water-intensive products including food, clothing, and shelter.
Aim of Virtual water flows assessment
A. Assessment is done with the aim of inducing sustainable use which can lead to water security.
B. It will also address the gap between science & policy on water scarcity by analysing water flows hidden in agriculture products which are moving across states in India.
C. It can also help in framing evidence-based water policies and establishing link between hydrological-economic-institutional aspect of water scarcity.
Q- Which one of the following Country is going to host Green Hydrogen Initiatives?
a) India.
b) Australia.
c) Germany.
d) New Zealand.
India to host Summit on Green Hydrogen initiatives
A. India is to host a two-day summit on Green Hydrogen Initiatives. Summit will start on June 22, 2021 involving the BRICS nations.
B. This prestigious event offers a platform to share their respective Green Hydrogen initiatives & views on how to take it to next level in their countries.
C. Online event will be hosted by India’s largest power producer and global energy majors called NTPC Ltd.
D. Summit will bring best brains, policy makers and major stakeholders from BRICS nations deliberating and discussing at length future of Hydrogen in energy mix.
E. Summit will witness panel discussions on ideas integrating hydrogen in overall energy policy framework.
What are different types of Hydrogen?
A. Hydrogen which is produced from fossil fuels is called grey hydrogen and those generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture & storage options is called blue hydrogen.
B. On the other hand, Green Hydrogen is obtained entirely from renewable power sources.
Advantages of Green Hydrogen
A. Green hydrogen is Environment friendly because its usage led to zero emissions.
B. It is a clean burning molecule which can decarbonise sectors like iron & steel, chemicals, and transportation.
C. Green Hydrogen will also help in transition towards clean electric mobility and will help in reducing dependency on minerals & rare-earth element-based battery for energy storage.
Also Read : Daily Current Affairs Date 20th And 21st of June 2021
