Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 29, 2017

ANSWER: Pankaj Advani

Explanation:
India’s top cueist Pankaj Advani lost to China’s Lv Haotian in the summit clash of Asian Snooker Championship.

Advani lost 3-6 in the final to his Chinese opponent.

Having won all the major events - Nationals, Asian and World Championships in both Billiards and Snooker and in both the long and short formats, this is the one title (15-red Asian Snooker) that has eluded Advani.

A victory will make Advani only player in history to win all Majors in two sports at all levels and across all formats.

Asian Snooker Championship: Know More

• ACBS Asian Snooker Championship is the premier non-professional snooker tournament in Asia.
• The event series is sanctioned by the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports.
• It started from 1984.

ANSWER: number 15 of Aymanam grama panchayat

Explanation:
A ward in the district became India’s first digitalised panchayat ward.

Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar inaugurated the website of the first digitalised panchayat ward number 15 of Aymanam grama panchayat.

This small panchayat ward in Kerala has become the first one to go digital in the country.

Details of 423 families and 1,262 members in the ward are now a click away.

The Aadhaar number of each member has been linked to their mobile number. Ward members can also receive mobile alerts and voice messages in cases of emergency.

Information related to the panchayat will be displayed on the website. Residents would be able to get various applications forms here.

They can also apply online.

Eligible candidates will get alerts and information about various projects of the panchayat.

The website also has blood group detail of members and a list of donors.

Information regarding Grama sabhas and drinking water supply will also be available.

The website also has provision through which residents can register complaints or share ideas.

ANSWER: HIV-AIDS

Explanation:
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has launched the Test and Treat policy for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients.

As per this new policy, anyone who is tested and found positive will get the necessary treatment free of cost. Anyone found positive will be provided with ART (Anti- Retroviral Therapy) irrespective of his CD count.

The scheme will be a centrally sponsored scheme.

All men, women, adolescents and children who have been diagnosed positively can benefit under this new policy.

ANSWER: 6.8

Explanation:
The ambitious Goods and Services Tax to be implemented from July 1 would help raise India’s medium-term growth to above eight per cent, the International Monetary Fund has indicated.

The reforms being done is expected to pay off in terms of higher growth in the future.

The IMF believes that India is going to continue to grow at a fast pace, with a projected 6.8 per cent rate for Financial Year 2016-17 and 7.2 per cent in 2017-18.

India’s foreign exchange (Forex) reserves rose by $1.25 billion as on April 21, 2017.

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s weekly statistical supplement, the overall Forex reserves increased to $371.13 billion from $369.88 billion reported for the week ended April 14.

India’s Forex reserves comprise of foreign currency assets (FCAs), gold, special drawing rights (SDRs) and the RBI’s position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

ANSWER: Yusra Mardini

Explanation:
Yusra Mardini, a Syrian woman who helped save a boat carrying fellow refugees, has been appointed by the UN agency for refugees as its new Goodwill Ambassador.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Mardini’s actions saved the lives of 20 refugees who were fleeing the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Mardini, 19, was also one of the 10 athletes who made up the historic Olympic Refugee Team and participated at the Rio Olympic Games last year.

Yusra Mardini: Know More

• Yusra Mardini is a Syrian swimmer currently living in Berlin, Germany.
• She was a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team, that competed under the Olympic flag at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
• Born: 5 March 1998, Syria
• Height: 1.57 m
• Nationality: Syrian

ANSWER: Hero MotoCorp

Explanation:
Pawan Munjal-led Hero MotoCorp was conferred the ‘Indian MNC of the Year’ award by the All India Management Association (AIMA).

The award comes as the two-wheeler maker is set to enter the potentially lucrative markets of Brazil.

Brazil is Latin America’s largest two-wheeler market with annual sales in excess of two million units, and Mexico, which has a market size of more than half a million units per year.

Hero MotoCorp: Know More

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founder: Brijmohan Lall Munjal
• Parent organization: Hero Cycles

ANSWER: Germany

Explanation:
The lawmakers of Germany on 27 April 2017 approved a package of security measures that aims at preventing extremist attacks.

In this regard the lawmakers also partially banned the full-face burqa, the Islamic veil.

The new law on facial coverings falls short of a total ban in public places demanded by right-wing parties, like that in effect in neighbouring France since 2011.

The prohibition will apply to public servants - including election officials, military and judicial staff - performing their duties.

People will also be required to remove facial coverings in order to match them with their identity papers.

It talks about the use of electronic ankle bracelets, if approved by a judge, for people deemed a security threat, in federal police cases–like known Islamic radicals considered potentially violent by security services.

Under another new measure, Germany will implement EU rules on the exchange of flight passenger data to counter terrorism and serious crime.

Physical attacks on police, emergency services and military personnel on duty will in future be punished more severely, with up to five years’ jail.

ANSWER: Baljit Singh Sandhu

Explanation:
The Haryana government on 27 April 2017 appointed senior IPS officer Baljit Singh Sandhu as the new Director General of Haryana Police.

The 1984 batch IPS officer would be replacing K P Singh, who has been appointed as the Director General of Prisons.

This major reshuffle is being seen as an effort by the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government to pacify a section of their party’s dissident MLAs and to put a fresh face in front of the public.

Sandhu was previously serving as the Chairman and MD of Haryana Police Housing Corporation in Panchkula.

The Haryana government had appointed KP Singh, a 1985-batch IPS officer as the state’s Chief of police on 13 April 2016.

Singh was appointed in place of Yashpal Singal, who was removed after the major outbreak of violence during the Jat agitation in February 2016.

PR Deo, a 1986-batch officer would be taking over Sandhu’s previous position as the CMD of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation after his return from Central deputation.

Other major reshuffling includes appointment of1985-batch officers, K Selvaraj and Rajwant Pal Singh as the DGP Railways and OSD Rules and as the Commandant General (Home Guard) and Director (Civil Defence) respectively.

ANSWER: 28^th April

Explanation:
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2017 was observed across the world on 28 April 2017 with the theme ‘Optimize the collection and use of OSH data’.

This year, ILO’s campaign focuses on the critical need for countries to improve their capacity to collect and utilize reliable occupational safety and health (OSH) data.

Every day, 6300 people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases which means that there are more than 2.3 million deaths per year.

317 million accidents occur on the job annually; many of these result in the extended absences from work.

The economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 4 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product every year.

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted on 25 September 2015 also calls for the same in its Sustainable Development Goal 8.

Sustainable Development Goal 8: Know More

• Sustainable Development Goal 8 provides for the promotion of ‘inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’.
• Its Target 8.8 focuses on the ‘protection of labour rights and promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
• The World Day for Safety and Health is organised every year by International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote safe, healthy and decent work.
• ILO has been observing the Day since 2003.

ANSWER: Gold

Explanation:
Payments app Paytm on 27 April 2017 launched Digital Gold on its platform to allow customers to buy and sell gold through electronic platform.

This first wealth management product was launched in partnership with gold refiner MMTC-PAMP.

It offers a real-time international pricing mechanism for the customers.

Using Paytm mobile wallets, consumers can purchase 24K 999.9 purity gold online and store it in MMTC - PAMP’s secure vaults free of charge.

Customers can buy and sell gold either by money (starting Re 1) or by weight (starting 0.1 gram).

Customers can even request for their gold to be delivered at their homes in the form of minted coins.

Moreover, if the consumer wants to sell the gold, MMTC-PAMP will buy the gold back from them and the money will be transferred to the user’s bank account.

They can pay via multiple payment modes such as Paytm wallet, debit/credit cards, net banking and others.

Consumers transacting over INR 20000 through Paytm, need to provide KYC details to avail the benefit of the gold scheme.

India as Gold Consumer: Know More

• India is the world’s largest consumer of gold.
• An estimated 24000 tonnes worth USD 900 billion of gold is stocked in homes and bank lockers in India, as per World Gold Council estimates.
• Gold is the preferred form of investment for Indians. Through Digital Gold product, Paytm intends to target lower-middle and middle class Indians.
• This product will make it easier for customers to invest in gold digitally.

ANSWER: Jal Sanrakshan Karyakram- Bundelkhand

Explanation:
Uma Bharti, the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation launched ‘Jal Sanrakshan Karyakram- Bundelkhand’.

This is an extensive water conservation programme launched on 28 April 2017 at Bandri, Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.

It aims to focus on the drought-prone areas of Bundelkhand, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Marathwada and Koraput in Odisha.

A master plan for the artificial discharge of ground water in the Bundelkhand region was also prepared.

The Water Resources Ministry has identified around 1100 percolation tanks, 14000 small check dams or Nala bunds and 7200 Recharge pits/shafts in Bundelkhand.

It has also proposed the construction of 234 wells in five districts of Bundelkhand in UP including Hamirpur, Jalaun, Banda, Mahoba and Chitrakoot and 259 wells in six districts of Bundelkhand in MP, as a part of ground water exploration.

New initiatives under National Ground Water Management Improvement Schemes (NGMIS) to improve ground water conditions in stressed blocks and ensure sustainability of the resource both quantitatively and qualitatively are on the anvil.

Six districts covering an area of 11851 sq km in UP’s Bundelkhand region and five districts covering an area of 8319 sq km in MP’s Bundelkhand region have been considered under the initiative.

Further, the Ministry would be preparing an Incentivization Scheme for Bridging Irrigation Gap (ISBIG) scheme to complete Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) works.

The aim is to correct the system deficiencies in the canal network to bridge the gap between Irrigation Potential Created and Irrigation Potential Utilised and to provide assured supply of water to every farm field among other things.

The scheme is expected to benefit Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Lalitpur and Banda districts in UP’s Bundelkhand region and Tikamgarh and Datia districts in MP’s Bundelkhand region.

ANSWER: VaccinesWork

Explanation:
World Immunization Week 2017 is being observed across the globe between 24 April and 30 April 2017.

The theme for the 2017 World Immunization Week is ‘VaccinesWork.’

The theme works to raise awareness about the critical importance of full immunization throughout life, and its role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

This is to highlight the importance of immunization as a top global health investment priority.

It will also promote understanding of the action steps required to achieve the Global Vaccine Action Plan and showcase immunization’s role in sustainable development and global health security.

The year 2017 marks the halfway point in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP).

The GVAP was endorsed by 194 Member States of the World Health Assembly in May 2012.

The GVAP aims to prevent millions of deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases by 2020 through universal access to immunization.

Vaccines: Know More

• Between 2010 and 2015, vaccines prevented at least 10 million deaths.
• Many more lives were protected from the suffering and disability associated with diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, whooping cough, measles, and polio.
• The global push to end polio has reached its final stages.
• Only 3 countries are still working to eradicate polio.
• Successful immunization programmes enable national priorities, like education and economic development, to take hold.

ANSWER: April 29

Explanation:
The Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare is an annual event held on April 29 as a “tribute to the victims of chemical warfare.

The day is observed also to reaffirm the commitment of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the elimination of the threat of chemical weapons.

Although the majority of the world has either given up or destroyed their stockpiles of chemical weapons as of 2013, several nations have yet to do so.

Five of these, Angola, Burma, Egypt, Israel, and North Korea, have not ratified the Convention and are suspected to possess chemical weapons.

ANSWER: Shah Rukh Khan

Explanation:
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on 27 April 2017 became the first Indian actor to deliver TED speech in Vancouver, Canada.

He spoke out on various issues beginning from his stardom to the changes world has experienced with the introduction of the internet. He left the audience in splits with his witty one-liners.

Moreover, Shah Rukh Khan also partnered with the company to host the Hindi version of the famous talk show.

A successful actor, businessman and a philanthropist, Khan is also a noted speaker.

Shah Rukh has also delivered some motivational and inspirational speeches earlier when he was conferred with honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburg and Hyderabad’s Maulana Azad National Urdu University.

TED Talks: Know More

• Founded in 1984, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design.
• It is a media organisation dedicated to posting online talk shows under the slogan of ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’.
• The annual TED conference takes place in Vancouver, Canada every year where speakers are given a maximum time of 18 minutes to express their ideas in the most innovative ways they can.
• Some of the past Ted speakers include Bill Gates, Serena Williams, Pope Francis, Bill Clinton, David Cameron and others.

ANSWER: J&K

Explanation:
The Home Ministry has planned to raise an all-woman India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision has been taken in the wake of girl students throwing stones at security forces in Srinagar.

The all-woman battalion will be one among the five IRBs that has been sanctioned by the Central government for the State last year.

The all-woman battalion’s major role would be to tackle protesters. Apart from that, it would also be assigned other law and order duties.

The cost of raising battalions would be INR 61 crore and 75% of the expenditure will be borne by the union government.

The Indian Reserve Battalion is an elite unit trained to deal with a specific situation.

It is a type of Armed Police Force that has been sanctioned to States and Union Territories.

IRB: Know More

• India Reserve Battalion (IRB) is raised to provide employment opportunities to the local youths.
• Around 60% of vacancies reserved for candidates from the border districts.
• Though IRB personnel are usually deployed in their respective states, they can also be deployed elsewhere if necessary.

ANSWER: T. Krishnakumar

Explanation:
Venkatesh Kini, President – India and South-West Asia, Coca-Cola, will step aside and give charge to T Krishnakumar from May 1, 2017.

This is in keeping with the change which the global beverages major is seeing at its Atlanta headquarters, with new CEO James Quincey taking charge soon.

Coca-Cola will also see another company veteran, Vamsi Mohan, taking over as South-West Asia Regional Director for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) and Christina Ruggiero as CEO of HCCB.

Krishnakumar was earlier serving as CEO and South-West Asia Regional Director of HCCB, and Ruggiero as Chief Procurement Officer for Coca-Cola System in North America, and President and CEO for Bottlers’ Sales and Services, LLC.

Mohan is currently Bottling Investments Group Regional Director for Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The transition also comes at a time when Coca-Cola India has been facing challenging times and a single-digit decline in sales volumes for its India and South-West Asia business in the January-March period.

Kini, who has been President since July 2013, termed his movement as personal. The company is designing a new operating model which is growth-oriented and consumer-centred.

Coca-Cola: Know More

• Manufacturer: The Coca-Cola Company
• Introduced: 8 May 1886
• Color: Caramel E-150d
• Related products: Pepsi, Irn-Bru, RC Cola, Inca Kola, Kola Real, Cavan Cola, Postobón, Afri-Cola