Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 11, 2017

ANSWER: Carme Chacon

Explanation:
Spain's first female defence minister and a prominent socialist party leader, Carme Chacon has died on April 9, 2017. She was 46 and passed away on account of a heart condition she had since birth.

Chacon helped modernize Spain's armed forces when she took the helm of the Ministry of Defence in 2008, in the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Spain's socialist party, or PSOE paid rich tributes to Chacon.

Before taking charge of the Defence Ministry, she had previously been minister of housing and a national lawmaker.

When Zapatero stepped down in 2011, she ran for PSOE's top leadership, although she eventually lost the vote to former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba.

Between 2012 and 2016, she had been in charge of the party's international relations, before she left politics to join a law firm in Madrid.

She is survived by her husband and son.

Carme Chacon: Know More

• Born: 13 March 1971, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
• Died: 9 April 2017, Madrid, Spain
• Spouse: Miguel Barroso (m. 2007)
• Education: University of Barcelona, University of Manchester

ANSWER: Neil Gorsuch

Explanation:
Neil Gorsuch was sworn in on April 10, 2017 as the US Supreme Court's ninth justice, moving the bench to the right as he filled the seat left vacant by last year's death of conservative icon Antonin Scalia.

Gorsuch was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts. He will take a second oath later in the day at a public White House ceremony officiated by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

His nomination to a life term marked President Donald Trump's first opportunity to shape for a generation a court that is the ultimate arbiter of many of the most contentious issues in American life.

In Gorsuch, Trump selected a respected federal appeals court judge who is seen as a fervent disciple of Scalia and a brand of conservative jurisprudence that calls for the strict interpretation of the US Constitution.

The Senate voted 54-45 to confirm him, but only after Republican leader Mitch McConnell swept aside longstanding rules to overcome a Democratic filibuster.

The judge's credentials include degrees from Columbia, Harvard Law and Oxford and clerkships with two Supreme Court justices, the late Byron White and Kennedy.

As a Justice Department lawyer from 2005-2006, Gorsuch led all government litigation arising from the US war on terror.

This is including its defence of the extraordinary rendition of Khaled el-Masri, a German-Lebanese citizen who was handed over to the CIA in Macedonia in 2003 and flown to Afghanistan.

Neil Gorsuch: Know More

• Born: 29 August 1967, Denver, Colorado, United States
• Nationality: American
• Education: University College, Oxford, Columbia University, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Harvard Law School
• Books: The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

ANSWER: http://soinakshe.uk.gov.in/

Explanation:
The government launched a dedicated website allowing the public the access to download 3,000 maps prepared by the Survey General of India (SGI) but made Aadhaar mandatory for the purpose.

Using Aadhaar number, a person can download three maps every day from the portal (http://soinakshe.uk.gov.in/).

The SGI completes 250 years on April 10, 2017 marking this initiative.

Motto behind making Aadhaar mandatory for using this service was to make it available "only to Indians".

Aadhaar number is a proof of identity and not that of citizenship.

The initiative comes days after Aadhaar was made mandatory for filing Income Tax Returns.

The government is also mulling to make Aadhaar mandatory for booking air tickets.

Government may use alternative solution for backing local manufacturing under GST

SGI: Know More

• The SGI has the mandate of making maps and cartographic documents for the country.
• It has a wide archive of maps.
• The institute first published a 'Map of Hindoostan' in 1783, depicting the subcontinent region comprising India, Pakistan, Burma (now Myanmar), Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan.
• The SGI has a rich collection of over 5,000 maps. While it made 3,000 maps open to public for download, 1700 will be available for downloading soon
• Under the National Map Policy 2005, it had become necessary to make non-defence maps accessible for public.

ANSWER: AMD

Explanation:
California-based semiconductor firm Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on Monday announced it has acquired intellectual property (IP) and key engineering talent from Austin-based Nitero.

It aims to enable the next generations of wireless Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) headsets.

Nitero is one of the few companies in the world capable of supplying 60 GHz mm Wave radio technologies for something like wireless VR.

Using high-performance 60 GHz wireless, this technology has the potential to enable multi-gigabit transmit performance with low latency in room-scale VR environments.

VR may be used to treat patients with mental health problems

The acquisition provides AMD with a broader portfolio of IP capable of enabling VR headset and solution providers with key technology required to create more immersive computing experiences.

AMD: Know More

• CEO: Lisa T. Su
• Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California, United States
• Revenue: 4.27 billion USD (2016)
• Founders: Jerry Sanders, Jack Gifford, Edwin Turney, Larry Stenger, John Carey, Frank Botte, Sven Simonsen, Jim Giles

ANSWER: Madhya Pradesh

Explanation:
Madhya Pradesh government started its ambitious ‘Deendayal Rasoi Yojana’ under which subsidised meals will be available at INR 5 per plate to people, especially the economically disadvantaged sections of society.

The initiative is on the lines of state run Amma Canteens, started by the former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, which served subsidised food at low prices.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the scheme at Gwalior while in Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma inaugurated the scheme.

2017 was the birth centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

In Bhopal, NGO Ghan Shyam Sewa Samiti will prepare food for average of 1500 to 2000 people daily in the Deendayal Rasoi set up near Sultania Hospital.

Deendayal Rasoi Yojana had been initiated keeping in mind the adequate arrangement for food along with housing for the poor working as labourers and in other trades as per the wish of chief minister.

In the first phase, the scheme would be inaugurated in 49 district headquarters on April 7 simultaneously between 6 to 7pm.

The scheme will be launched in Bhind and Umaria district later on due to by-elections.

In every district headquarter; Deendayal Rasoi Yojana will be implemented in at least one place. More than one centre would be set up in the big cities as per need.

Funds for setting up the Deendayal Rasois would be made available under chief minister’s urban infrastructure scheme.

An account would be opened for every centre at a nationalized bank of the local headquarters, she added.

ANSWER: Shiva Kirti Singh

Explanation:
The government has cleared retired Supreme Court judge Shiva Kirti Singh as the next chairman of the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

The appointment is for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office or “until further orders, whichever is earlier.

As per rules, the head of the dispute resolution agency for the telecom industry must be a person, who has been a Supreme Court judge, or the chief justice of a high court.

Justice Singh had served as the chief justice of Allahabad High Court before he became a judge in the apex court.

TDSAT: Know More

• The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was established to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals.
• It aims to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector.
• It also aims to promote and ensure orderly growth of the telecom sector.
• It was established in 2000.

ANSWER: M Veerappa Moily

Explanation:
Former Union minister and senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily today presented the first copy of his book ‘The Flaming Tresses of Draupadi’ to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Moily has a political career for over five decades, starting from being Karnataka in-charge of the Congress in the 1970s and then as minister in the Manmohan Singh cabinet.

Veerappa Moily: Know More

• Born: 12 January 1940 Moodabidri
• Party: Indian National Congress
• Governor: Khurshed Alam Khan
• New Books: The Edge of Time, The Flaming Tresses of Draupadi

ANSWER: Atu Zumvu

Explanation:
Atu Zumvu, SDPO Kohima has been conferred with the prestigious “Shaurya Chakra” thus becoming the first Police Officer from Nagaland Police to be conferred with Shaurya Chakra.

This is the first time since 1st December 1963 when Nagaland achieved its Statehood.

Besides this award, Atu Zumvu was earlier awarded with US special agent medal (2013), India Cyber Cop award (2011) Governor Gold Medal (2009) and Governor Commendation Certificate in 2005.

Zumvu thanked the President as well as his nominators for considering his achievement and contributions worthy of the medal.

Nagaland: Know More

• Founded: November 30, 1963, 3:00 PM GMT-8
• Land area: 16,579 km^²
• Formation: 1 December 1963†
• Districts: 11
• Population: 2.275 million (2012)
• Capitals: Kohima, Guwahati (Judiciary)

ANSWER: Kalli Purie

Explanation:
India Today Group Editorial Director Kalli Purie was today awarded the FICCI Young Women Achievers Award for excellence in media.

Union minister Smriti Irani gave away the awards in Delhi this evening at the annual programme of Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) at Hotel Lalit.

The award was conferred to outstanding women achievers who have excelled in their respective fields and made a significant contribution to society.

The primary objective of these awards conferred every year is to promote entrepreneurship and professional excellence in women.

Young women under the age of 45 are chosen from diverse fields and are felicitated through these awards.

Other awardees included:

• Sussanne Khan (Entrepreneur),
• Simran Lal (Business),
• Shaina NC (Politics),
• Deepa Malik (Sports),
• Chiki Sarkar (Literature),
• Malvika Poddar (Fashion),
• Gauri Shinde (Film),
• Preeti Chandra (Community Service),
• Bhavna Kakkar (Art) and
• Vidha Lal (Performing Arts).

The award for Purie comes after she was listed as one of India’s most influential women in media, marketing and advertising last month at the sixth edition of Impact magazine’s prestigious awards.

ANSWER: Asha Khemka

Explanation:
An Indian-origin educationist Asha Khemka in the UK, who moved to Britain after her marriage with no English language skills, has been named the Asian Businesswoman of the Year.

65-year-old Dame Asha Khemka, Principal and CEO of West Nottinghamshire College, was honoured for her efforts in the field of education and skills at the Asian Business Awards ceremony.

Born in Bihars Sitamarhi district, Dame Khemka left school after passing her exams at the age of 13.

She had close to no English language skills when she moved to the UK with her husband and kids at the age of 25.

She taught herself English by watching children's TV shows and talking to other young mothers.

She went on to acquire a business degree from Cardiff University before becoming a lecturer and eventually taking over as principal and CEO of West Nottinghamshire College, one of the largest in the UK.

In 2013, she was awarded a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, one of Britain`s highest civilian awards.

The mother-of-three was the first Indian-origin Dame since Maharani Lakshmi Devi Bai Sahiba of Dhar State in 1931.

ANSWER: Mukta Dutta Tomar

Explanation:
Mukta Dutta Tomar, an IFS officer of 1984 batch, has been named the country’s next ambassador to Germany.

She was serving as an additional secretary at the headquarters.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra, a 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), is likely to be the country’s next envoy to France.

He will succeed Mohan Kumar who is retiring from service.

Pradeep Rawat, who is the joint secretary of East Asia at present, will be the next envoy to Indonesia.

He will succeed Nengcha Lhouvum Mukhopadhaya, who will retire from service.

Santosh Jha, another joint secretary at the headquarters, will be the next deputy chief of mission in Washington.

He is succeeding Taranjit Sandhu, who has taken over as Indian envoy to Sri Lanka.

MEA: Know More

• Website: mea.gov.in
• Formed: 2 September 1946
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: South Block, Cabinet Secretariat, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, 110 011
• Cabinet minister: Sushma Swaraj
• Minister of state: Vijay Kumar Singh, M J Akbar
• Key executive: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary (India)

ANSWER: Smita Sandhane

Explanation:
Sandhane is the first woman chief of India's largest cooperative bank, taking charge as MD of the bank w.e.f. April 1, 2017.

Before her elevation, she was Joint MD of the bank. She has been with the bank from 1982.

Sandhane has taken over from S.K. Banerji, who retired from the services of the bank on March 31, 2017.

Banerji is now an Advisor to the bank's board.

The new MD has worked across various operational spheres at branches, departments and zones. She has served as Head - Wholesale Banking Department and Head – Planning, Accounts and Stressed Assets.

She successfully executed the merger and consolidation plans of three other co-operative banks into Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd.

She has also been critical for laying the operational road-map for their smooth transition into the bank’s mainstream business and was also instrumental in substantial recoveries in the NPA accounts of these banks.

Saraswat Bank: Know More

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 14 September 1918
• Revenue: 394.1 billion INR (US$5.9 billion, 2013–2014)
• Net income: 1.471 billion INR (2013–2014, US$22 million)
• Number of employees: 4,351