21st July 2024 Daily Current Affairs
1. Davis Strait, recently seen in the news, is located between which two regions?
[B] Greenland and Canada
[C] Iceland and Norway
[D] Siberia and Canada
Correct Answer: B [Greenland and Canada]
Notes:
A microcontinent has been discovered in the Davis Strait, between Canada and Greenland. Formed millions of years ago due to tectonic plate shifts, it features a 19–24 km thick continental crust, now named the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent. The strait, spanning 650 km north to south and 200-400 miles wide, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Northwest Passage, but is impassable in winter due to ice.
2. What is the ‘MV Sea Change’, recently seen in news?
[A] The world’s first electric ferry[B] The world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% hydrogen fuel
[C] The world’s largest cargo ship
[D] None of the Above
Correct Answer: B [The world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% hydrogen fuel]
Notes:
The MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% hydrogen fuel, launched at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Built by All American Marine Shipyard for SWITCH Maritime and designed by Incat Crowther, it carries 75 passengers and operates for 16 hours, covering 300 nautical miles per refueling. Emitting only heat and water vapor, it reaches speeds up to 20 knots and features drinkable water emissions.
3. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), recently seen in the news, is under the operational domain of which ministry?
[B] Ministry of Defence
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Rural Development
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Finance]
Notes:
Recently, officials reported a 6% Non Performing Assets (NPA) rate under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), launched by India in 2020 to aid businesses hit by Covid-19. The scheme, managed by the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Financial Services and National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC), provides 100% guaranteed coverage to lenders. Phases ECLGS 1.0 to 4.0 expanded its scope across sectors. Sanctions are based on borrower assessments, with no collateral or fees.
