Correct Answer :   Adani Power Limited

---

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has recently secured an order worth over ?3,500 crore from Adani Power Limited to set up a thermal power project at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

BHEL is an Indian central public sector power generation equipment manufacturing company.

Correct Answer :   Bihar

---

India has declared Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuaries as its new wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

These wetland areas are located within the Jhajha forest area in the Jamui district of Bihar. With this, the number of 'Ramsar sites' in India has increased to 82.

India now ranks joint third with China in terms of Ramsar sites. The UK tops the list with 175 sites.

Correct Answer :   Indore (Madhya Pradesh)

---

In the Lok Sabha elections 2024, more than 2 lakh votes were cast on 'NOTA' in the Indore seat of Madhya Pradesh.

It is noteworthy that Congress candidate from Indore Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination on the last day of withdrawal of nomination and joined BJP.

This is a new record for the highest number of votes received by NOTA (2,18,674). BJP's Shankar Lalwani registered the biggest victory on this seat..

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Defence

---

The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) of the Ministry of Defence has signed MoUs with four banks to onboard them as SPARSH service centres across 1,128 branches of these banks in the country, officials said.

The System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) or SPARSH is a web-based system for processing pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary.

DAD has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank in New Delhi to onboard them as SPARSH service centres across 1,128 branches of the four banks, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The MoUs will provide last-mile connectivity to pensioners, especially in remote areas where they do not have the technical wherewithal to log on to SPARSH.

These service centres will become an interface for pensioners for SPARSH, providing an effective medium to update their profile; register grievances; digital annual identification; data verification, besides fetching detailed information regarding their monthly pension, the statement said.

The access to these centres would be provided free of cost, with nominal service charges being borne by the DAD, it said.

With these MoUs, SPARSH services would now be available at over 26,000 branches of a total of 15 banks across the country. This is in addition to 199 dedicated service centres of the DAD, and more than 3.75 lakh common service centres across the country, the statement said.

SPARSH is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence to provide a comprehensive solution to the defence pensioners. It is a fundamental change in managing defence pensions as it focuses on bringing in efficiency, responsiveness and transparency, it said..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Slovenia

---

Slovenia has become the latest European country to formally recognize Palestinian statehood, after the country’s parliament approved the move with a majority vote on Tuesday (4th June 2024).

The decision follows those of Spain, Ireland and Norway, who formally recognized Palestinian statehood in late May.

The growing momentum in Europe is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause, but could further strain relations with Israel.

Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood. More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them.

The vote passed with 52 votes in favor and zero against, Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenija reported. The vote passed during an extraordinary parliament session after numerous procedural hurdles, according to the outlet.

Slovenia is the latest country to formally recognize a Palestinian state :

The decision follows Spain, Ireland and Norway, which formally recognized Palestinian statehood in May. They have joined more than 140 countries that have recognized a Palestinian state since 1988. None of the G7 countries — United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy or Japan — do.

Correct Answer :   Haryana

---

Haryana Chief Secretary T V S N Prasad recently said the state government will soon launch a World Bank-funded Rs 10,000 crore project to tackle air pollution.

This project will be implemented phase wise first in the districts falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) and later it will be implemented in the entire state.  

Correct Answer :   SEBI

---

* The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched a personal finance-focused mobile app 'Saarathi 2.0' for investors with an aim to simplify complex financial tasks.

* This app is available on Google Play Store iOS App Store. The first version of the Sarathi app was launched in January 2022. SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India.

Correct Answer :   Shravasti

---

The China Temple, a significant cultural and religious landmark, is located in the Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh, India’s fourth largest state by area, covers approximately 240,928 square kilometers, accounting for about 7.33% of the entire country. Known for its diverse culture and unique traditions, this state holds significant historical and religious importance, attracting both domestic and international tourists. Among its many attractions, there is a remarkable place known as the China Temple. This article explores the connection between Uttar Pradesh and the China Temple.

An Overview of Uttar Pradesh :

Located in northern India, Uttar Pradesh is renowned for its rich history, diverse culture, and unique traditions. The state is home to numerous religious cities, making it a significant destination for pilgrims and tourists alike. With 75 districts, 18 divisions, 822 community development blocks, 351 tehsils, and 17 municipal corporations, each district in Uttar Pradesh has its own distinct identity and significance.

The Largest and Smallest Districts in Uttar Pradesh :

Lakhimpur Kheri is the largest district in Uttar Pradesh, covering an area of 7680 square kilometers, while Hapur is the smallest district, spanning 660 square kilometers. The easternmost district is Ballia, the northernmost is Saharanpur, the westernmost is Shamli, and the southernmost is Sonbhadra.

District of Uttar Pradesh Related to China Temple :

The China Temple, a significant cultural and religious landmark, is located in the Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh. This temple, near the sacred Jetavanaramaya site where Buddha spent 45 rainy seasons, is managed by the Mahabodhi Society of India. It was established following the wishes of the late Rev. Ren Chen, a Chinese Buddhist monk, highlighting the historical ties between Indian and Chinese Buddhism.

Significance of the China Temple :

The China Temple is renowned for its unique history and cultural significance. According to the Mahabodhi Society of India, the Shravasti Center (Chinese Buddhist Temple) was entrusted to them according to the last wishes of the founder monk, the late Rev. Ren Chen, a Chinese Buddhist monk and a lifetime member of the Mahabodhi Society of India. The center is situated near Jetavanaramaya in Shravasti, a sacred site where Buddha spent 45 rainy seasons and delivered most of his sermons.

Activities and Religious Importance of the China Temple :

The China Temple serves as a hub for pilgrims, offering various religious activities such as meditation and chanting. It stands as a testament to the deep-rooted connections between Indian and Chinese Buddhist traditions, promoting cultural and spiritual exchange.

Correct Answer :   IIT Dharwad

---

A group of teachers and students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad, directed by Profs. Sudheer Siddapureddy and Ameer Mulla, with funding from the TiHAN Foundation, IIT Hyderabad (NMICPS, Indian government), has created a drone for fire rescue assistance.

During the two-day workshop on Drone design and autonomous navigation in fire rescue (DDANFR 2024), organized by the Fire and Thermal Research Laboratory (FLRL) and the Control System and Robotics Laboratory at IIT Dharwad on May 31 and June 1, there was an unveiling and demonstration of what is purported to be the first fire rescue assistance drone.

About Fire Fighting Drone :

Drones with thermal cameras installed on them, or drones with thermal imaging capabilities, are frequently used by firefighters. The infrared radiation that objects, including flames, emanate can be detected and captured by the specialist thermal sensors fitted to these drones. Thermal drones assist firefighters with hotspot identification, fire spread tracking, and flame intensity assessment by evaluating temperature differences in the acquired photos. Especially at night or in low visibility situations, thermal drones are extremely useful for early fire detection, situational awareness, and assisting firefighting efforts.

Design and Capabilities of this Drone :

Fighting fires in challenging environments requires a drone that can fly through tight spaces and hot weather. Professor Siddapureddy discussed the challenges involved in creating a device that is both incredibly compact and powerful. Important contributions came from the Fire and Thermal Research Laboratory (FTRL), which created flexible protection shields after extensive fire testing and sensors resistant to soot.

Navigation and Application :

The guidance issue in smoke-filled areas was further discussed by the Expert Professor, marking a significant advancement over the Control Systems and Robotics Laboratory’s work. In addition to helping in fire situations, this technology might also be used to manage large crowds in areas like train stations, malls, and pilgrim centers, improving their safety and effectiveness.

Collaboration and Inspiration :

The head of IIT Dharwad, Prof. Venkappayya Desai, also offered his opinions regarding the IITs’ founding tradition. He highlighted the important contributions these organizations have made to the development of cutting-edge technology and creative solutions to pressing issues in society; the creation of biotoilets for Indian Railways being one such example. This thought-provoking session was opened by Prof. Pratyasa Bhui, dean of R&D, and featured keynote speakers such as Prof. Bhaskar Dixit of Jain University and Siva Bathina of IIT Madras.

Correct Answer :   ISRO

---

ISRO, through its Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), has introduced the PraVaHa software, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool aimed at facilitating aerodynamic design and analysis for aerospace vehicles.

Aerodynamic Design and Analysis :

PraVaHa, acronym for “Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis,” is tailored to simulate both external and internal flows on various types of vehicles, including launch vehicles, winged, and non-winged re-entry vehicles.

Functionality and Applications :

This CFD software enables the understanding of airflow around aircraft, rocket bodies, and Crew Modules during earth re-entry, crucial for shaping design elements such as structure and Thermal Protection Systems (TPS). It addresses the challenges posed by unsteady aerodynamics, including flow disturbances and acoustic noise generation during missions.

Capabilities and Scope :

PraVaHa leverages advancements in CFD technology, offering accurate predictions for complex aerodynamic flows and faster simulation turnaround times, particularly on High-Performance Computing Clusters. Its versatility extends to CPU and GPU architectures, making it adaptable to current and upcoming supercomputing facilities.

Application in Gaganyaan Program :

PraVaHa has played a significant role in the Gaganyaan program, facilitating aerodynamic analysis for human-rated launch vehicles like HLVM3, Crew Escape System (CES), and Crew Module (CM). Its collaborative framework allows for partnerships with academic institutes and government labs.

Future Prospects :

With ongoing validations and enhancements, PraVaHa aims to incorporate simulations for scenarios involving chemical reactions during air dissociation and combustion, particularly relevant for vehicles like scramjets. Its eventual integration is anticipated to replace commercial software in many aero characterization simulations, benefiting academia and institutions engaged in aerospace design endeavors. Through PraVaHa, ISRO aims to contribute to India’s self-reliance aspirations in aerospace technology.