Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 24, 2016

ANSWER: 23rd April

Explanation:
World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event on April 23, organised by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. In the UK, the day is celebrated on the first Thursday in March. World Book Day was celebrated in 1995 for the first time by UNESCO.

• It is on April 23rd 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died.
• This date also marks the birth or death of other well known authors like Josep Pia and Vladimir Nabokov.
• Wroclaw, Poland has been selected as the World Book Capital this year.

ANSWER: 24th April

Explanation:
The event also marked the Gramoday Se Bharat Uday Abhigyan beginning on the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar on April 14th 2016.

• Facilities and services in rural areas should be at par with the cities
• Panchayati Reps should use their tenure to work towards serving people
• The PM also encouraged Panchayats to think beyond budgets and focus on Jan Suvidha.

ANSWER: UNDP

Explanation:
The UN HQ in NY on 22nd April was the venue of the alliance between UNDP and Interim Administrative Cell of International Solar Alliance to promote solar energy globally.

• Major areas identified for joint work include development of synergies with UNDP programs
• Creation of complementary linkages with ongoing global and regional efforts in the field of solar energy
• Strategic cooperation in programmatic and technical expertise and participation of the wider UN system towards creation of innovative hubs in technology transfers between ISA member countries is next
• Aim is also the support the establishment of knowledge management systems and sharing as well as creation of solar energy knowledge networks.

ANSWER: Ahmed Patel

Explanation:
When the country is reeling under a drought and heatwave, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has recommended consideration of the Farmers of Arid and Desert Areas (Welfare and Other Special Provisions) Bill, 2014 which was introduced by senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Rajya Sabha in December 2014.

• The bill, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.
• It is estimated a sum of Rs 20,000 crore may be involved as recurring expenditure per annum. A non-recurring expenditure of Rs 5000 crore may also be involved from the Consolidated Fund of India. A non-recurring expenditure of Rs 5000 crore may also be involved from the Consolidated Fund of India, the memo of the Bill says

ANSWER: April 23

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has put a message across to Manipur government on the occasion of Khongjom day.

• The government of Manipur brought out a special issue of Manipur Today to commemorate this day on April 23, 2016
• This day in 1891 marks the date when the battle for Manipur’s freedom was fought after it remained the last princely state in India to come under British rule
• The sacrifices made by Manipur’s patriots are remembered on this day.

ANSWER: 76th

Explanation:
It aims at easing customs procedure to increase commerce. Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitaraman indicated the move was part of ongoing reforms in India

• India is the 76th WTO member to accept the TFA
• The TFA will enter into force once two thirds of the WTO 162 members were formally accepting the agreement
• Agreement aims at expediting the movement and clearance of goods including goods in transit.
• Implementation of the TFA has the potential to increase international merchandise exports by close to USD 1 trillion per year according to a WTO report.

ANSWER: Tata

Explanation:
Tata Trusts has signed a pact with Odisha government for eliminating Malaria from the state by the year 2030. According to the MoU, Tata Trust will be taking mass screenings twice in a year in 557 villages in 5 selected blocks

• Government has committed to eliminate malaria from India by 2030
• The vision of this partnership is to reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in 5 years and incidence by 40 percent.
• Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted to people through mosquitoes
• Close to half of the world’s population is at risk for malaria.