Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 16, 2017

ANSWER: Seabed Resident Event Profiler

Explanation:
Scientists at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) have developed a robotic platform, Seabed Resident Event Profiler (SREP).

This is a platform that is capable of being stationed at any water depth from 0-200 metres to track the oceanic processes.

The robot has been designed to regularly record the water column information at every 10 to 25 cm during every profile four times a day.

The robot was tested during the recent voyage of RV Sindhu Sadhana, the latest state of the art research vessel of NIO.

The SREP robot has been designed particularly to carry out studies related to the monsoon, global climate and upwelling.

Upwelling is a phenomenon associated with the monsoon that sees the migration of deep sea oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) towards the coast.

It also brings the nutrient-rich water to the surface and enhances the biological productivity of the region.

Several sensors attached to SREP is capable of detecting the conditions associated with upwelling such as low temperature, low oxygen, high nutrients, and changes in density patterns etc.

This enables SREP to effectively track upwelling during June to September.

Upwelling is an important phenomenon for the ecosystem sustenance and fishery. Similarly, since south-west monsoon forms the backbone of the country’s economy, knowing the conditions for its onset forms one of the major goals of Seabed Resident Event Profiler.

The robot in its final configuration will be capable of sitting on the seabed for 100 days continuously to track the oceanic processes in the upcoming monsoon season.

CSIR-NIO: Know More

• CSIR-NIO CSIR-NIO was established on 1 January 1966.
• Its headquarters are at Dona Paula, Goa.
• It has regional centres at Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.
• CSIR-NIO was established following the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) in the 1960s. CSIR-NIO primarily focuses on research over traditional branches of oceanography such as biological, chemical, geological/geophysical.
• It also involves physical as well as over ocean engineering, marine instrumentation and marine archaeology.

ANSWER: Punjab

Explanation:
Punjab government has prohibited the inclusion of names of the government functionaries, including ministers and MLAs, on foundation stones and inaugural plaques.

This is to build a stronger connect with the people by shedding the VIP culture.

The state government has clarified that though there is no bar on government functionaries and leaders attending or laying the foundation stone of any project, the practice of inscribing their names on foundation stones or plaques would be discarded with immediate effect.

Further, the order has clarified that henceforth all projects and programmes, including those inaugurated by the CM, would be “dedicated to the people of Punjab”.

The order comes at the backdrop of cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening a government school principal over his name not being at the top of the inauguration plaque went viral on social media.

The chief minister of Punjab has been seen taking various initiatives to shed VIP culture in the state.

Singh and his cabinet ministers gave up the symbolic red beacon light on their vehicles, fulfilling a promise on the party’s election manifesto.

Punjab Government: Know More

• Seat of Government : Chandigarh
• Governor: Vijayendrapal Singh
• Chief Minister: Amarinder Singh
• LegislatureAssembly: Punjab Vidhan Sabha
• Members in Assembly: 117
• Judiciary
• High Court: Punjab & Haryana High Court
• Chief Justice: Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar (Acting Chief Justice)

ANSWER: B. Sai Praneeth

Explanation:
Promising Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth clinched his maiden Super Series title at the Singapore Open after defeating compatriot K Srikanth in a historic all-Indian final on Sunday.

World No.30 Praneeth, who had won the Canada Open Grand Prix last year and reached the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold final this year, outmaneuvered Srikanth 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in the summit clash of the $350,000 event.

It was the first time in the history of international badminton that two Indians were playing a Super Series final.

The two are trainees at the Gopichand academy run by ace coach, Pullela Gopichand.

ANSWER: 7

Explanation:
Sixteen-time world champion Pankaj Advani won his seventh Asian title by defeating Sourav Kothari 6-3 in an entertaining final of the Asian Billiards Championship on April 14, 2017.

This makes it the sixth Asian Billiards and seventh overall Asian championship.

The other title being 6-red snooker which he won last year.

Pankaj Advani: Know More

• Born: 24 July 1985 (age 31 years), Pune
• Nationality: Indian
• World Champion: 16 times (Billiards:12 Snooker:4)
• Parents: Arjan Advani, Kajal Advani
• Awards: Padma Shri, Arjuna Award for Billiards & Snooker

ANSWER: Girish Chandra Saxena

Explanation:
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena, whose tenure saw a significant decline of militancy in the Valley breathed his last on April 14, 2017.

Born in Agra in 1928, Saxena, an IPS officer of the 1950 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

He also headed the country’s external intelligence agency RAW from 1983 to 1986,and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

He first took the charge as the Jammu and Kashmir Governor on May 26, 1990.

This was barely a few days after the religious head of Muslims in Srinagar Mirwaiz Malauvi Farooq was gunned down allegedly by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen.

He had succeeded Jagmohan, who quit owning moral responsibility for civilian killings which had taken place during the funeral procession of the Mirwaiz.

Saxena continued as the Governor till March 13, 1993 during which his focus was on winning the trust of the locals.

He was credited with the revival of intelligence gathering mechanism of the state police.

His experience at the RAW came in handy in discharging his duties from the Raj Bhavan.

After his first stint as the Governor, Saxena was again brought to the state in 1998.

He was lauded for his efforts which turned the state police into an effective counter insurgency force.

After his retirement from the RAW in 1986, Saxena served as an advisor to the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi as well.

List of J&K Governors: Know More

• Karan Singh: First J&K governor
• Bhagwan Sahay
• Lakshmi Kant Jha
• Braj Kumar Nehru
• Jagmohan
• K. V. Krishna Rao
• Jagmohan
• Girish Chandra Saxena
• K. V. Krishna Rao: 2 time governor
• Girish Chandra Saxena: Ex Raw Chief and IPS officer. 2 time governor
• S.K. Sinha
• Narinder Nath Vohra (present incumbent)

ANSWER: Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan

Explanation:
The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, is set to launch its own portal and mobile app on April 17, 2017.

The portal is a one-stop for States’ Higher Education Plans, decision of the States’ Higher Education Councils and details of the resources under this scheme.

Also, the gallery is a rich repository of the projects initiated under RUSA.

Seventeen RUSA projects will also be launched tomorrow digitally.

They include:

• cluster university in Jammu and Kashmir,
• micro ATM facility at the RUSA centre for intelligent systems in Pune University,
• solar power facility in Shree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala;
• language laboratories in Ghatsila College, Jharkhand

A Fund and Reform Tracker for this centrally sponsored scheme will also be launched. The mobile application will ensure that all projects under RUSA are tracked 24x7.

29 States and 6 UTs are participating in RUSA.

Over 2000 State Universities and Colleges have been supported so far.

The National GER prior to the launch of RUSA was 20.8 (2012), with Male GER at 22.1 and Female GER at 19.4.

RUSA assistance has been critical in witnessing a growth in the GER.

A substantial increase in the National GER has been recorded at 24.5, with male GER at 25.4 and female GER at 23.5 in 2015-16, as per AISHE 2015-16)

States are also planning their education outlays in a better way. Prior to the formation of RUSA, 9 State Higher Education Councils were created by an Act of the legislature.

The States joined RUSA with a commitment to create State Higher Education Councils within a stipulated time indicated by them.

To date, 21 more States/UTs have already created State Higher Education Councils through an executive order and 5 more States have established State Higher Education Councils through an Act of the legislature.

Till date, out of 36 States and UTs, 34 States and UTs except Delhi and Lakshadweep have submitted their Higher Education Plan.

Each State has to prepare a State Higher Education Plan through a bottom-up approach in consultation with their key stakeholders.

RUSA: Know More

• RUSA is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the Department of Higher Education, MHRD
• It aims to provide strategic central funding to State Higher Education Departments and Institutions and achieve the broad objectives of access, equity and excellence.
• The State Higher Education Departments and Institutions undertake certain governance, academic and administrative reforms as a pre-requisite to be entitled for RUSA grants.
• The implementation of RUSA began after May 2014.

ANSWER: Geeta Phogat

Explanation:
Mahavir Singh Phogat, a real life hero and father of wrestler Geeta Phoghat, along with Apollo Hospital founder Prathap C Reddy, won Ficci’s gender parity award for their contribution in harnessing the talents of their daughters.

Phogat was accompanied by his Commonwealth Games gold medal winner daughter Geeta at the event.

This marked the launch of the country’s first gender parity index by Ficci’s Ladies Organisation (FLO), which will

Leading film director Farha Khan, fashion designer Anita Dongre, HDFC managing director Renu Sud Karnad and Hindustan Times group chairperson Shobhana Bhartia also got the Ficci Ladies Organisation ICON awards.

Gender equality is intrinsically linked to sustainable development.

While the Constitution grants all citizens equality of status and opportunity, social and economic development indicators show that we are far from attaining gender parity.

World Bank data show female labour force participation rates have fallen over the past three decades from 35% in 1990 to 27% in 2014.

To achieve gender parity, men and women must have access to the same resources and the same opportunities.

FICCI: Know More

• Members: over 250,000 companies
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla
• Founded: 1927
• Employees: 500