Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 29, 2016

ANSWER: Peer to peer

Explanation:
RBI for the first time has proposed rules for peer to peer lending to regulate the growing sector with numerous measures. This includes a minimum capital of INR 20 million and prohibition from promising extraordinary returns.

• RBI also proposed that those defined as companies should be able to engage in peer to peer lending and firms may be categorised in the growing sector as NBFC in this sector
• Peer-to-peer lending has grown in many countries including India where only a limited portion of the population can access bank finance.

ANSWER: Soyuz 2.1 b

Explanation:
Russia on 28th April 2016 has successfully launched the first rocket from the new space from its new space facility following a delay a day before. The Soyuz 2.1 a booster blasted off from the new space facility following a last minute delay the day prior to this.

• Soyuz 2.1a successfully launched off from Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russian Far East in the early hours of Moscow time. Roscosmos space agency indicated in a statement that satellites the rocket was carrying orbited considerably later

ANSWER: IRNSS 1G

Explanation:
Indian Space Research Organisation on 28th April 2016 launched the seventh navigation satellite
Indian Space Research Organisation on 28th April 2016 launched the seventh navigation satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System or IRNSS 1G into sub geosynchronous transfer orbit on board the PSLV-C33

• Satellite was launched from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
• Following this launch, India successfully joined the elite group of countries with their own navigation system technology 90 kms from Chennai
• Following this launch, India joined the elite group of countries who have their own navigation system technology for meeting requirements
• IRNSS-1G is the seventh navigation satellite following series 1A to F launched by PSLVs
• Previous six launches of IRNSS satellite used XL version of PSLV
• Much like the previous IRNSS satellites, IRNSS-1G has a lift off mass of 1425 kgs.

ANSWER: Swayam, Satyabamasat

Explanation:
ISRO has made plans to launch 22 satellites abroad PSLV-C34. Satellites include an earth observation satellite from India as a primary payload. 19 satellites are from 4 foreign countries namely US, Canada, Indonesia and Germany.

• Swayam and Satyabamasat were the two satellites developed by College of Engineering Pune and Sathyabama University
• Swayam satellite has payload mass of 1 kg and Satyamabasat has payload of 1.5 kg

ANSWER: Papua New Guinea

Explanation:
Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi on 27th April 2016 approved an MoU between India and Papua New Guinea in the field of medical science and healthcare.

• Bilateral MoU will encourage cooperation between Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India and Ministry of Health and HIV/AIDS Papua New Guinea.

ANSWER: CrowdAlbum

Explanation:
Swedish music streaming giant Spotify on 27th April announced the acquisition of CrowdAlbum, a US-based company that created a platform for sharing online photos and videos.

• “CrowdAlbum aggregates photos and videos from artists' performances" and "helps them (artists) to identify and connect with their most passionate fans," Spotify said in a statement.

ANSWER: N Gopalaswami

Explanation:
The HRD minister on 28th April said IITs have been requested to offer Sanskrit as an elective subject or as a language course for students who wish to study it.

• Committee headed by former CEC N Gopalaswami, had suggested that IITs may facilitate study of science and technology as reflected in Sanskrit literature, along with inter-disciplinary study of Sanskrit and modern subjects.

ANSWER: Narendra Modi

Explanation:
A statue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was placed along with other world leaders at Madame Tussauds in London on 28th April 2016.

• The leader’s new wax figure arrived at the Baker Street attraction fresh from Delhi, where Mr. Modi had a private viewing with his likeness last week.
• The figure is featured in the famous attraction’s popular “World Leaders” enclosure alongside present day leaders Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Francoise Holland, as well as political leaders of the past including Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill.
• Mr. Modi’s figure is dressed in his signature Kurta in cream with jacket and he is featured in a traditional pose making a namaste gesture.
• London’s figure is one of four created of the statesman, the other three being in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

ANSWER: May 9

Explanation:
The "Panama Papers" trove of leaked documents revealing the vast extent of global tax evasion will be made available to the public on May 9, the ICIJ confirmed.

• The searchable database will include information about more than 2,00,000 secret companies, trusts and foundations based in 21 tax havens "from Hong Kong to Nevada in the United States," according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
• About 11.5 million leaked documents of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, reveal the large-scale use of offshore entities to conceal assets from tax authorities.

ANSWER: Sanath Jayasuriya

Explanation:
Sanath Jayasuirya on 27th April 2016 announced appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as chief selector of the Sri Lankan cricket team

• His committee will succeed Aravinda de Silva led committee
• The new four member selection panel will take office on 1 May 2016
• It will serve for two years
• It will comprise of former wicketkeeper-batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana, former fast bowler Eric Upashantha and former off spinner Ranjith Madurasinghe.

ANSWER: Felix Sanchez

Explanation:
Two-time Olympic 400-meter hurdles gold medalist champion Felix Sanchez announced his retirement on 26 April 2016. The announcement means that the 38-year-old will not defend his title at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

ANSWER: 28th April

Explanation:
The 2016 World Day for Safety and Health at Work was observed on 28th April 2016 with the theme Workplace Stress: A Collective Challenge. ILO celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work to raise awareness of safety in the workplace.

• It has been occurring since 2003 every year and focuses on specific areas
• 28th April has also been associated with World’s TU movement’s commemoration of victims of occupational accidents and diseases
• It is also celebrated as International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers

ANSWER: VT Thomas

Explanation:
Well known Kerala cartoonist VT Thomas known as Toms passed away on 27th April 2016

• He was 86 at the time of his death and is survived by his wife Thresyakutty and children Boban, Molly, Rani, Peter, Bose, Princy.
• He created legendary cartoon characters Boban and Molly
• He resigned from Malayala Manorama in 1987 and began his own publication.

ANSWER: Tibetan government in exile

Explanation:
Lobsang Sangay was re-elected as the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile on 27th April 2016 for the second consecutive time.

• 48-year-old Sangay who has been the Prime Minister since 2011 defeated his only rival - Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Pempa Tsering by 9012 votes.
• Chief Election Commissioner of the Tibetan government-in-exile Sonam Chhopel said, the names of all the 45 elected members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile have also been declared.
• He said the election to the post of Prime Minister started on 18 October 2015.

ANSWER: Asao Mokolo

Explanation:
Japanese Olympic organiser on 25th April 2016 launched official logos of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The emblems, designed by Asao Tokolo, feature an indigo-coloured check in the design.

• The Olympic logo features a circular Japanese traditional checkered pattern. Below the design are the words Tokyo 2020 and under them the five interlocking Olympic rings.
• Logos encompass unity in diversity

ANSWER: Dattu Baban Bhokanal

Explanation:
Indian rower Dattu Baban Bhokanal has qualified for the Rio Olympics after winning a silver in the men’s single sculls event at the FISA Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta at Chung-ju in South Korea.

• The 25-year-old army man clocked 7 minutes, 7.63 seconds in the 2 km course to finish second. The top seven in the finals qualify for the Rio Games.
• Bhokanal will be the lone Indian rower taking part in Rio Games as no more qualifying events are left now, representing India after Kasam Khan and Inderpal Singh (Sydney 2000; men’s coxless pairs), Paulose Pandari Kunnel (Athens 2004; men’s singles sculls), Bajrang Takhar (Beijing 2008; men’s singles sculls), Manjit Singh and Devender Khandwal (Beijing 2008; men’s lightweight double sculls) and Sawarn Singh (London 2012; men’s singles sculls) and Manjit Singh and Sandeep Kumar (London 2012; men’s lightweight double sculls).

ANSWER: Kishalay Bhattacharjee

Explanation:
The book titled Blood on my Hands: Confessions of Staged Encounter authored by Kishlay Bhattacharjee was known in April 2016

• Biju Janata Dal leader Tathagata Satpathy on 26 April 2016 demanded revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the north-eastern region.
• He stated that the book, which is on India’s north-eastern region, serves as an eye-opener.
• The book contains the author’s conversations with an anonymous army officer regarding staged encounters

ANSWER: Harry Wu

Explanation:
Harry Wu, campaigner for human rights in China, passed away on 26th April 2016 in Honduras. He was 79.

• He was imprisoned till 42 for criticising Chairman Mao
• He also took up visiting scholar post at University of California, Berkeley