Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Sep 04, 2016

ANSWER: EU-US Privacy Shield Framework

Explanation:
American tech giants Microsoft, Google and Salesforce have adopted the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework enabling them to receive personal data from the EU in compliance with fresh standards

• They are among 103 companies out of 5536 signatories that have signed up to replace the defunct Safe Harbour framework
• Facebook, Apple and Twitter are yet to adopt the Privacy Shield according to Britain based Ars Technica website
• European Commission adopted the Privacy Shield in July to facilitate the transfer of personal data from the EU to the US
• Privacy Shield is a voluntary scheme whereby companies promise to treat EU citizens data in compliance with European Union data rules-pledges are then enforced by the US Department of Commerce
• As per the EU, the arrangement was necessary because the US does not meet the data protection standards required by Europe.
• European Court of Justice annulled the previous law in October 2015
• Following the introduction in 2000, the previous agreement was relied on by 4400 businesses including internet giants such as Amazon, Google and Facebook
• It was annulled following the declaration of the agreement as invalid according to the European Court of Justice

ANSWER: ASSOCHAM

Explanation:
Cybersecurity Solutions provider TAC Security on 2nd September received the Startup of the Year award in the IT/ITeS category at apex body ASSOCHAM’s Startup Summit and Tech Awards.

• They are a homegrown company providing end to end security solutions
• Award corroborates strength as a startup having a whole array of offerings in terms of network, applications and web security solutions
• Event was organised in association with Software Technology Parks of India, Punjab and Haryana government
• Summit aims at developing the entire startup ecosystem in north India from informing startups about capital requirements, incubation, marketing and financial support to scale up their businesses

ANSWER: Fertile soil

Explanation:
Chinese scientists have converted sand into fertile soil using a new method which can be used to fight desertification.

• Researchers from Chongqing developed a paste of plant cellulose that when added to sand helps it to retain water, nutrients and air.
• A 1.6 hectare sandy plot in Ulan Buh Desert, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China has been transformed into fertile land, yielding rice, corn, tomatoes, watermelon and sunflowers after being treated with a new method.
• New method will turn desert areas into ideal habitat for plants
• Plants in the sandy test plot need about the same amount of water as those grown in regular soil, but required less fertiliser and bore higher yields according to estimates by experts.
• Since 2013, scientists have been experimenting with outdoor cultivation at two sites with areas of 550 and 420 square metres in Chongqing where scientists simulated desert landform conditions.
• According to scientists, plants have survived the heavy rains and temperature, marking the typical climate conditions in Chongqing.
• Crops including rice, corn, and potatoes flourished in the newly converted soil.

ANSWER: All India Trinamool Congress

Explanation:
Election Commission of India accorded national party status to All India Trinamool Congress making it the seventh party contesting Lok Sabha and assembly polls across the country on its own symbol.

• Recognition comes when TMC chief and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is looking to expand beyond her home state and secure a larger role in federal politics for herself and her party
• A recent amendment of rules by EC helped the TMC to live up to its name and secure recognition as a national party
• The other six national parties are INC, BJP, BSPP, SP, CPI and CPI (M)
• Under the revised rule of EC, party’s performance over two consecutive Lok Sabha or assembly elections is considered as opposed to one previously for granting recognition as a national party
• TMC will not have qualified as a state party in AP had this not happened- it had performed poorly in the 2014 general elections there
• Recognition as a national party also means TMC will get an audience with the EC more frequently according to Chattopadhyay
• EC invites national parties only to certain sessions

ANSWER: UPSC

Explanation:
Transgender or third gender may soon be introduced as a new category in UPSC application forms. Delhi HC has directed the state to take necessary steps to expeditiously modify riles regarding prestigious civil services examinations to incorporate transgender or third gender in exam application forms.

• In regard to the landmark judgement passed by the SC court on April 15, 2014 granting legal recognition to transgenders or eunuchs as a third category of gender, according to the bench asked to take urgent steps in this regard with the Centre
• ASG has told the bench regarding this, as an application seeking clarification that an April 2014 judgement was related only to transgenders and did to include bisexual, gay or lesbians was disposed in June 2016 by apex court which had held that lesbians, gays and bisexuals were not a third gender

ANSWER: Bhubaneswar

Explanation:
This first of its kind event will deliberate on the need for an LPG enabled household problem arising due to absence of cooking gas, the usage of traditional biomass cooking fuels and their impact on both health and environment.

• Event will have a session on the successful Give It Up scheme that has given birth to a silent revolution and encouraged a large part of India’s affluent sections to voluntarily give up their LPG subsidy
• Delegates from dozen developing countries such as Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal and Sri Lanka will participate in the conference

ANSWER: Indian Medical Association

Explanation:
Cardiologist KK Aggarwal has been unanimously elected as the National President of the Indian Medical Association for the year 2016-2017

• Aggarwal is currently the Secretary General of the doctor’s association
• Dr. Ravi Wankhedkar from Maharashtra will be the National President for 2017-2018
• Dr. RN Tandon will take over as Honorary Secretary General- new team will take over on December 28
• Indian Medical Association is the only national voluntary organisation of doctors of modern scientific system of medical which looks after the interest of doctors and well being of the community
• The Indian Medical Association is a national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine in India established in 1928
• It was initially called All India Medical Association and was renamed as the Indian Medical Association in 1930
• It was a society registered under The Societies Act of India
• It has 29 state/UT branches
• IMA has over 2,53,000 doctors as its members through more than 1650 active local branches spread across the country.

ANSWER: 24th

Explanation:
Former pacer Zaheer Khan has become an honorary life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club becoming the 24th Indian cricketer to be bestowed the honour.
MCC has elected Zaheer who played 92 matches for his country during a successful career, taking 311 wickets at 32.94 runs apiece.

• The 37 year old also had memorable ODIs, making his debut in 2000, taking 282 wickets in 200 ODIs at average of 29.34
• He is the second former Indian International cricketer to be elected in recent weeks following Virender Sehwag who became an Honorary Life Member last month
• List also includes Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar who were inducted in previous years
• Zaheer retired from international and first class cricket in 2015 and is highly sought after in the Indian Premier League.
• There are more than 300 Honorary Life Members of MCC; its full membership is 18,000.

ANSWER: Jackie Chan

Explanation:
Veteran action star Jackie Chan is one of four people slated to receive an honorary Oscar this year, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Honorary Oscars are awarded to “to honour extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”

• Though these are not considered lifetime achievement wards, the awards were given to individuals with decades of experience under their belts
• Chan has been acting since he was 8 years old and broke into Hollywood in 1996 with the release of Rumble in the Bronx
• He also starred in international hits including Rush Hour series, Shanghai Noon and many more
• Chan has made more than 30 martial arts films in Hong Kong
• Along with Chan, the 3 other recipients of the honorary Oscars are Anna Coates, Lynn Stalmaster and Frederick Wiseman
Coates worked on legendary projects such as Lawrence of Arabia for which she won an Oscar and was nominated for four other awards
• Stalmaster’s 6 decade career as a casting director spans Harold and Maude, Tootsie and the Right Stuff

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
NE is home to numerous tribes with distinct culture and rich heritage.

• Adi tribe of AP recently celebrated the Solung Festival associated with farming
• Large number of people came together to celebrate this harvest festival
• Apart from rituals performed to appease the Solung Goddesses for a bumper harvest, the festival was also marked by traditional dance performances.
• Celebration of such festivals in the capital showcase its essential richness and identity of different tribes of the NE
• Festivals help in promoting unity and integrity