General Knowledge Quiz

NASA Seeks Cost-Effective Ways to Bring Mars Samples Home!

NASA explores cost-effective strategies to bring Mars samples back to Earth, aiming to unlock the red planet’s secrets without breaking the bank.

Key Points :

• NASA awards funding to companies for studies on a more affordable Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission.
• Current plans for MSR face high costs (estimated $11 billion) and logistical challenges.
• Goal: Develop simpler mission architectures for faster completion, reduced risks, and lower costs.
• About MSR Mission: A collaborative project between NASA and ESA to return Martian samples for in-depth study.
• Challenges with Original Plan: Complex, multi-launch approach with a Mars Ascent Vehicle and orbit rendezvous highly expensive.
• In a notable shift toward efficiency, companies like Lockheed Martin and SpaceX are actively engaging in industry and academia collaborations, a fact that might feature in a general knowledge quiz highlighting their innovative, cost-saving proposals.
• Focus: Streamlining mission design to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs, that’s it for first general knowledge quiz facts.

PM Announces 3 Crore Additional Homes Under PMAY!

Prime Minister announces the addition of 3 crore homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), reinforcing the commitment to affordable housing for all.

Key Points :

• In a decisive move post re-election, PM Modi approves an ambitious expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), aiming to add 3 crore rural and urban homes. This initiative prioritizes housing needs and underscores the government’s commitment to accessible housing solutions.
• Enhanced financial support for PMAY-G beneficiaries includes an increase in construction costs, now raised from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh in plains regions and from Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in hilly areas. These adjustments come in addition to the existing PMAY-G targets to better meet the housing needs of the population.
• The funding mechanism for this expansion features varied Centre-State cost-sharing ratios, including 60:40, 90:10, or 100%, depending on the region. This strategy builds on previous successes and aims to meet the comprehensive target of constructing 3 crore homes under PMAY (Gramin), addressing the critical demand for affordable housing across the country, that’s it for second general knowledge quiz facts.