UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 02-01-2025

One Liners 02-01-2025

History, Art and Culture

Blood money

• It is also known as diya, a part of the legal systems of several Islamic countries.
• In Sharia law – The victim's family is entitled to decide how the murderer should be punished.
• The murderer might be forgiven if he/she is repaid with 'diyya' (monetary compensation).

Glass Bridge in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu

Tamil Nadu has recently opened an innovative glass bridge spanning the sea, improving access between 2 iconic sites.

• Connection – It connects the Tiruvalluvar Statue with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari.
• The occasion commemorated the Tiruvalluvar statue’s 25th anniversary, underlining its importance in Tamil culture.

Statue of Wisdom

• It is the Tiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu
• Opened in – 2000, erected on a rocky island in the sea
• Height – It towers at 133 feet, symbolizing the 133 chapters of the Tirukkural.
• Importance – It illustrates the principle of social equality conveyed in the Thirukkural: “Pirapokkum ella uyirkkum” (Everyone is equal at birth).

International Relations and Issues

Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme of U.S.

• It authorises international students, who are in the US on an F-1 visa, to work for up to 12 months in an area “directly related” to their major area of study.
• Indian students make up the largest international cohort in U.S.
• Eligibility - International students who are enrolled full-time for at least 1 academic year in the US can apply for OPT.
• Pre-completion OPT - Work before completing their studies, up to 20 hours a week while the academic session is underway, and full-time when the session is not.
• Post-completion OPT - Work after completing their studies, at least 20 hours a week or full-time.
• Students who have obtained a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) can extend their post-completion OPT by another 24 months (Total 3 years).

Economy

Non-performing assets (NPAs)

30% jump in gold loan NPAs in April-June on slowing economy, debts.

• NPAs - They are loans or advances that have not been paid back on time, or that have stopped generating income for the lender
• An asset is considered an NPA if the interest or principal payment is overdue for 90 days or more.
• Substandard asset - An asset that has been classified as an NPA for 12 months or less
• Doubtful asset - An asset that has remained in the substandard category for 12 months
• NPA ratio - It is calculated by dividing the non-performing assets by total loans and multiplying by 100.

Security

Z Plus security

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur will continue to be guarded by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) under Z-plus category.

• It is the highest level of protection provided to some of the most powerful yet most vulnerable citizens.
• Protection force – It includes a 55-person entourage, of which, usually, 10 personnel are NSG commandos, while the rest may be the civil police.
• SPG coverage – These people sometimes also get an additional Special Protection Group covering which usually, the Prime Minister and their family members are provided.

Cyber Volunteer Framework

• Initiative by - Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
• Objective – To enable citizens to enrol as cyber volunteers for reporting unlawful content, dissemination of cyber hygiene, and as cyber expert to aid law enforcement.

Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

• It is also known as the Pakistan Taliban.
• Alliance of – Formerly disparate militant groups that came together in 2007 following Pakistan military operations against Al-Qaida-related militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
• Formation – Under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud.
• Regions – It is rooted along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.

Science

Willow

• It is a quantum processor.
• Launched by – Google.
• Features – The coherence time of data qubits on Willow is about 100 microseconds, which is more than the coherence time of the physical qubits.
• Advantages – It has significantly better error correction and is significantly faster than other quantum computers.

Chemicals in Flame Retarding Plastics

• Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) - It is used in many products, including electronics, furniture, and textiles.
• It is known to be hazardous and persistent in the environment.
• 2,4,6-Tribromophenol - It is in black plastic and it is associated with thyroid disruption in humans and mice and has been detected in serum, breast milk, and placenta.