10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : May 1, 2018

Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds.Lightning is extremely hot—a flash can heat the air around it to temperatures five times hotter than the sun’s surface. This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate, which creates the pealing thunder we hear a short time after seeing a lightning flash.Ball lightning,is a type of lightning a small, charged sphere that floats, glows, and bounces. Lightning’s extreme heat will vaporize the water inside a tree, creating steam that may blow the tree apart.Many houses are grounded by rods and other protection that conduct a lightning bolt’s electricity harmlessly to the ground.

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) is a programme for the research and development of  comprehensive range of missiles.It is implemented by the Ministry of Defence. The programme is also managed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Ordnance Factories Board. It includes the following missiles:

1)Prithvi

2)Tejas

3)Agni

4)Trishul

5)Akash

6)Nag

For every point on the Earth between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer, there are two Zero Earth Days. One occurs during the upward movement of the sun and the other during the downward movement. It occurs because of the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to its plane of revolution around the Sun.Zero Shadow occurs when the sun reaches its zenith, or the highest point in the arc it describes over the earth.

At the informal summit held in the Chinese city of Wuhan held between India and China, amongst others, it was decided to work jointly on a project in Afghanistan. Experts feel that the this marks a new milestone in India-China relationship as this can lead to joint projects in other countries. In the summit it was also decided to strengthen border security measures so as to prevent another Doklam like standoff. China took into consideration India’s stand on its Belt and Road Initiative and issued a statements that it would not compel India to join its Belt and Road Initiative.

It aims to immunize all children under the age of 2 years, as well as all pregnant women, against seven vaccine preventable diseases.

The diseases covered under Mission Indradhanus are:

1)Diphtheria

2)Whooping cough

3)Tetanus,

4)Polio,

5)Tuberculosis

6)Measles

7)Hepatitis B

In addition to these, vaccines for Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae type B are also being provided in selected states.In 2016, four new additions namely Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, Injectable Polio Vaccine Bivalent and Rotavirus were made. In 2017, pneumonia was added to the Mission by incorporating Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine under Universal Immunization Programme.

Backhaul spectrums connects the mobile towers amongst themselves.They work on higher frequency bands, i.e., between 3 GHz and 70 GHz. Backhaul spectrum is as important as access spectrum, as any “clogging” in the backhaul would mean that a call would not be completed.Recently TRAI(Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) recommended allocating Backhaul spectrum without auction as it would help in reducing call drops and improve voice and data quality. Backhaul spectrum, unlike access spectrum is from point to point and not area wise. Even at present, Backhaul spectrum between 11 and 20 Ghz is given on administered price only as it cannot be auctioned. Backhaul spectrum is a prerequisite for even offering services and hence it cannot be auctioned.Backhaul spectrum cannot be used as access spectrum as it has very low propagation property.