DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS-8th August 2023



BharatNet Project 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Important Policies

Why in News?

The cabinet has approved 1.39 lakh crore for the BharatNet Project.

 BharatNet Project: 

 · It was originally launched as the National Optical Fiber Network

 · It was launched in the year 2011.

 · It was later renamed as the Bharat Net in the year 2015. 

 · It works under the Ministry of communications.

 · It is implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Ltd

 · It is one of the biggest rural telecom project in the whole world. 

 · It’s main objective is to deliver e-Governance, e-Health, e-Education, e-Banking, Internet and also other required services to the rural areas in our country. 

 · It provides connectivity to about 2.5 Lakh grama panchayats through an optical fiber. 

 · The project is funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund. (USOF) 

 · USOF was introduced to improve telecom services in rural and remote areas of the country.

 · It is implemented in 3 phases. 

 · First Phase: It was introduced to provide 1 Lakh grama panchayats with broadband connectivity by 2017. 

 · Second Phase: It was introduced to provide connectivity to all the grama panchayats in our country by using an optimal mix of underground fiber, radio, and satellite media by the year 2019. 

 · Third Phase: It was introduced to provide fiber between districts and blocks with ring topology to provide redundancy from 2019-2023.

BRICS 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-International Relations 

 Why in News? 

 Union Commerce and Industry Minister has participated in the 13th BRICS Trade summit

 BRICS:

 · The acronym of BRICS is Brazil, Russia, India, China and Switzerland

· The term BRIC was coined by the British Economist Jim O’Neil in the year 2001.

· Then the group was formed in the year 2006.

 · South Africa has joined the group in the year 2010. 

 · These five countries represent 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of the global trade.

 · The chairmanship is rotated annually among the members in accordance with the acronym BRICS.

Initiatives:

 · New Development Bank: 

 · It was formed in the year 2014 with its headquarters in Shanghai

· Contingent Reserve Arrangement

 · It was formed in 2014 to forestalling short-term balance of payments pressures. 

 · BRICS Payments System

 · These countries are trying to create a payment system as an alternative to the SWIFT payment system. 

 · Remote Sensing Satellite:

 · A Remote Sensing constellation of satellites has launched.

ASEAN 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-International Relations

Why in News?

The meeting of the Governing Council of ASEAN-INDIA Science and Technology Development fund has highlighted the importance of India’s ASEAN Technology partnership

 Association of Southeast Asian Nations: 

 · It was established by signing the Bangkok Declaration in the year 1967.

 · The founding members of ASEAN are:

1. Malaysia 2. Indonesia 3. Philippines 4. Singapore 5. Thailand 

 · Later the countries Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia had joined.

 · Secretariat-Indonesia, Jakarta · Motto-One Vision, One Identity, One Community. · ASEAN Day-8th August.

· Chairmanship-It rotates annually based on the Alphabetical order of the English name among the member states. 

 · ASEAN Summit-It is the supreme policy making body of the ASEAN. 

 · ASEAN Ministerial Councils: There are four new Ministerial bodies. They are: 

1. ASEAN Coordinating Council 2. ASEAN Political-Security Community Council 3. ASEAN Economic-Community Council 4. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council. Objectives: 

 · To accelerate the economic growth. 

 · To promote the social progress and cultural development. 

 · To maintain the regional peace and stability.

 · To promote mutual assistance on the matters of common interest.

Malabar Exercise 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Defense 

Why in News?

The 31st edition of the Malabar Exercise from August 11th-21st in Australia

 Malabar Exercise: 

 · It was started in the year 1992. 

 · It is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise.

 · It was first initiated as a bilateral exercise between India and United States.

 · Japan and Australia participated in the year 2007.

· From the year 2014, India, the U.S and Japan have participated in the exercise. 

 · Australia has joined the Malabar Exercise in the year 2020

 · It was started to support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

 Importance: 

 · It will enhance the strategic partnership.

 · It builds a sustainable Indo-Pacific coalition.

 · It provides peace through Sea. 

 Important Exercise with Quad Countries: 

a) India-Japan: · JIMEX · Shinyuu Maitri · Dharma Guardian 

b) India-US: · Yudha Abhyas · Vajra Prahar · Spitting Cobra · COPE INDIA 

c) India-Australia: · AUSINDEX · Pitch Black · AUSTRA Hind

Supernova

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Science & Technology

Supernova: 

· It is the explosion of a star.

 · It is the largest explosion which takes places in space.

 · They are seen in other galaxies.

 · It is difficult to see in our own Milky Way galaxy because dust blocks in our view. Causes: 

 · A supernova occurs when there is a change in the core or centre of a star. 

 · There are two types of Supernova. They are: 

 · The first type of supernova takes place in binary star system. 

 · Binary stars are the two stars which orbits the same point. 

 · Either of the stars, a carbon-oxygen white dwarf, steals matter from the companion star. 

 · Then the white dwarf accumulates much matter which makes the star to explode, results in supernova.

 · Other type of supernova occurs at the end of the Single star’s lifetime. 

 · If the star runs out of the nuclear fuel, then some of its mass flows into its core. 

 · Then the core is so heavy that it cannot withstand its own gravitational force. 

 · It results in the collapse of core, which results in the explosion of a supernova.

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding BharatNet Project:

 1. It works under the Ministry of communications

 2. It is one of the biggest rural telecom project in the whole world. 

 3. It provides connectivity to about 2.5 Lakh grama panchayats through an optical fiber 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three 

 d) None

2.Consider the following statements regarding BRICS: 

 1. BRICS was formed in the year 2001. 

 2. New Development Bank was formed under BRICS with its headquarters in Brazil. 

 Which of the above statements are correct? 

 a. Only 1 

 b. Only 2

 c. Both 1&2 

 d. Neither 1 nor 2

3.Consider the following statements regarding ASEAN:

 Statement-I: ASEAN Day is celebrated on 5th August

 Statement-II: Indonesia is one of the founding members of the ASEAN 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

4.Consider the following statements regarding MALABAR Exercise: 

 1. It was first initiated as a bilateral exercise between India and United States

 2. It is a Military exercise between 5 countries 

 Which of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only 1 

 b) Only 2 

 c) Both 1&2 

 d) Neither 1 nor 2

6.Consider the following statements regarding Super Nova: 

 1. It is the largest explosion which takes places in space 

 2. It is easy to see in our own Milky Way galaxy 

 3. A supernova occurs when there is a change in the core or centre of a star

 How many of the above statements are correct?

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

{{Ankitha Manyala}}

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