Prelims Facts Corner – 17 August 2023

Places in News
ContextLocationsDetails
Ukrainian grain depots and ports hit by Russian drones.Danube RiverOrigin: Black Forest mountains (western Germany)
2nd longest river in Europe after the Volga.
Longest tributary – Tisza
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Distributary – Sulina Channel
Drains into Black Sea
Odesa PortA warm-water port (water remains free of ice year-round)
Location – Ukraine
Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site
Water levels fall to historic lows in Lake TiticacaLake TiticacaHighest of the world’s large lakes
A freshwater lake
Largest lake in South America after Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo
Situated between Peru and Bolivia (Andes Ranges)Tiquina Strait separates the lake into two bodies.
Lake Maracaiba  A brackish lake Connected to Caribbean Sea and Brazil’s Lagoa dos Patos.
Location – Venezuela.
More than 60 people are believed to have died after a migrant boat from Senegal was found off West Africa’s Cape Verde islands.  Cape Verde islandsAn Atlantic archipelago.
Situated on west coast of Africa.
Active volcano – Fogo island  

The Union Cabinet approved a scheme to add 10,000 e-buses to city bus services across the country.

PM-eBusSewa

  • Covers cities with a population of over 3 lakhs as per 2011 census.
  • Scheme will support bus operations for 10 years.
  • 2 Segments –
    • City Bus Augmentation
    • Green Urban Mobility Initiatives

Navroz is observed worldwide.

Nowruz

  • Iranian and Persian New Year.
  • Marks onset of spring.
  • Celebrated byParsi community worldwide.
  • Uses Shahenshahi calendar.
  • Recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in India.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found instances of irregularities in projects under BharatmalaPariyojana.

Bharatmala Pariyojana

  • Launched in 2017.
  • Aim – To enhance road traffic efficiency across the country.
  • Ministry – Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
  • Major Categories:
    • Border Road & International Connectivity
    • Port Connectivity & Coastal Road
    • Green Field Expressway

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