Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 26 August 2024 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
India and Denmark have joined hands to establish a ‘smart laboratory on clean rivers’ (SLCR) in Varanasi to bring excellence in small river rejuvenation and management. To begin with, the lab aims to leverage the expertise of both nations to rejuvenate Varuna, a tributary of Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, using sustainable approaches within 2-3 years.
The alliance is a tripartite initiative between the Government of India, the Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), and the Govt of Denmark.
The SLCR secretariat will receive initial funding of Rs. 16.8 crore from the Jal Shakti (water resources) ministry and an additional Rs 5 crore grant from Denmark to support long-term sustainability and project development.
“Its objectives include creating a collaborative platform for govt bodies, knowledge institutions and local communities to share insights and develop solutions for clean river water. The initiative features a hybrid lab model at the IIT-BHU and an on-field living lab at the Varuna river to test and scale solutions in real-world settings,” said the Jal Shakti ministry in a statement.
The commitment includes developing a decision support system (DSS) for water management to analyse basin water dynamics through hydrological models, scenario generation, forecasting and data analytics. This 2-3-year project will integrate groundwater and hydrological models to create a comprehensive river management plan, with key outcomes including real-time monitoring, data visualisation tools and scenario simulations.
“The SLCR is expected to bring out a unique confluence of academia, sub-national and national government working in partnership with another country to co-create solutions for identified problems and issues pertaining to river health in general and small river rejuvenation in particular,” said the ministry.
[Excerpt from TOI "India-Denmark Launch Smart Laboratory for Clean Rivers Initiative" Dated 26/08/24]

Q1: What is the main goal of the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) project?
(a) To build new dams along the Varuna River
(b) To improve the health of the Varuna River and boost the local economy and social conditions
(c) To create more trade routes along the Varuna River
(d) To increase the length of the Varuna River

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Q2: How much funding did the SLCR project receive from India’s Jal Shakti Ministry?
(a) ₹10 crore
(b) ₹20 crore
(c) ₹16.8 crore
(d) ₹5 crore

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Q3: What advanced technique will be used in the final phase of the SLCR project to find the best places for managed aquifer recharge?
(a) Soil sampling
(b) Hydrogeological Model
(c) Satellite imaging
(d) Tree planting

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Q4: Which country is collaborating with India on the SLCR project?
(a) Norway
(b) Denmark
(c) Sweden
(d) Germany

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Q5: What will the SLCR use to make better decisions about managing the Varuna River?
(a) Historical records
(b) Local legends
(c) Real-time monitoring tools and data visualization
(d) Tourist surveys

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