Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Aug 02, 2017

ANSWER: Justice BN Srikrishna

Explanation:
The government has accorded importance to data protection and keeping personal data of citizens secure and protected.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has, on 31st July 2017, constituted a Committee of Experts under the Chairmanship of Justice B N Srikrishna, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India.

The committee is also comprising of members from Government, Academia and Industry to study and identify key data protection issues and recommend methods for addressing them.

The committee will also suggest a draft Data Protection Bill. Protection of Data is expected to provide big boost to Digital economy of the country.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
India is making slow progress on covering the gap between “smart” and “feature” phones, according to a study, which said only 17 per cent of the Indian population owned a smartphone in early 2016.

While cellphone pick-up is strong, the gap between “smart” and “feature” phones in circulation is wider than ever before, according to ‘Digital Evolution Index 2017’, a study by the Fletcher School at Tufts University in partnership with MasterCard.

India’s stubborn cash economy meant it took demonetisation by government decree to wean Indians away from notes and coins – an event that saw mobile wallet provider Paytm claim 170 million users in just a few months.

India is an interesting example of a nation with a growing mobile internet gap. The country has been adding more mobile subscriptions and fewer mobile internet subscriptions.

Only 17 per cent of the Indian population owned a smartphone in early 2016.

India has done a great job of adding more mobile users, but the country is tapering off its broadband, which presents a challenge.

It is not a problem of availability – it’s a vast country and the most vibrant telecom market in the world. But affordability remains an issue.

The study also noted the popularity of services like M- Pesa, rooted in older technology but demonstrating the potential for growth through data-enabled mobile solutions in India as well as across Africa.

M-Pesa, a money transfer service launched in 2007 in Kenya, has spread across Africa, India and parts of Eastern Europe.

Digital Evolution Index 2017: Know More

• The Fletcher School at Tufts University in partnership with Mastercard, unveiled the Digital Evolution Index 2017.
• This Index is a comprehensive research that tracks the progress countries have made in developing their digital economies and integrating connectivity into the lives of billions.
• The Index measures four key drivers – supply, consumer demand, institutional environment, and innovation.
• India has featured among 60 nations on Digital Evolution Index 2017, exhibiting a high potential in terms of digital payments.

ANSWER: SP and CAPF commandants

Explanation:
The Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the National Conference for Young SPs of States/UTs and Commandants of CAPFs on Aug 1, 2017.

The two-day Conference is being organised by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), Ministry of Home Affairs.
The young officers must be aware of the transformation taking place in India.

The schemes and initiatives of the Government are framed in such a manner that citizens are empowered to lead a better quality of life.

The Ministry highlighted about ’Digital India’ programme and said that the aim of the programme is to bridge the digital divide and the focus is more towards poor sections of society.

The digital empowerment is not sufficient, unless there is digital inclusion.

Technology should be affordable, inclusive and development oriented, he added.

Using social media and training of officers in cyber security must be given utmost priority.

During the conference, the Minister also released a book titled ‘National Police Research Repository’.

This is for the first time that such a conference is being held.

For effective policing, the police and CAPFs must make good use of two partners, citizens and technology.

From DG level to beat constables, the concept of taking community along, is being followed.

On behalf of Central Government, DG, BPR&D said that MHA is doing its best to increase the technological inputs in the training programmes.

There were also three presentations were given to showcase the use of best practices in policing by using technology.

The conference included sessions on topics like Technology for Police, Operations and Technology and Police-Media Interface.

ANSWER: CANDI

Explanation:
Canara Bank, which has set an ambitious target of moving to ‘paperless’ futuristic banking, launched its first ‘Digital Banking Branch’ at Spencer Towers in MG Road, Bengaluru.

Titled ‘CANDI’, the branch will provide an end-to-end digital experience to customers.

The bank, as part of the run-up to its digital foray, has introduced customer-friendly mobile apps which help customers get most of the information related to their accounts from the app without the need to visit the branch.

The most attractive feature of the Digital Branch is a humanoid robot that addresses basic queries of customers on banking products and services.

This is a first-of-its kind initiative by a public sector bank in the country.

The bank is in the process of re-inventing branch strategy and moving towards more digitisation and self-service channels.

The bank, to push its digital agenda, has equipped itself with a suite of next-generation banking tools which use advanced technology to streamline services and improve efficiency,.

The tools and devices include Customer On-Board Application which facilitates instant opening of Savings Bank account by the customer himself using fingerprint/ IRIS authentication.

Also on the anvil are printing of personalised debit card, cheque book, mobile/ Internet banking registration, generation of e-Passheet and issuance of virtual welcome kit.

There is an app-based token and queue management system to facilitate paperless appointment system using cloud technology and Digital Challan to facilitate filling up challans digitally by customers at their own convenience for services like cash deposit, fund transfer and cheque clearing.

There is a Digital Feedback System to get feedback from customers on the services availed by them and video banking to facilitate interaction with remote-site Subject Matter Experts on various categories of retail loans and corporate advances.

The branch works from 8 am to 8 pm on business working days.

There is also an interactive touchscreen-based ‘Touch Banking’ to enable the customers understand banking products like car loan, home loan, education loan, mutual fund, life/health insurance and apply online for the products.

ANSWER: NSDC

Explanation:
The Border Security Force (BSF) signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

The MoU will enable NSDC to provide skill training to retired and retiring BSF personnel, as well as to the population residing in the border areas.

The collaboration between BSF and NSDC aims to train and provide gainful employment to retired BSF personnel and their families, school students, youth, differently abled for five years (April 2017 to April 2022).

The programme will be appropriately named keeping in view the objectives and will have BSF co-branding with Skill India and NSDC.

It will contribute to Skill Development Agenda of the country by ensuring the successful roll out of NSQF (National Skill Qualification Framework) based skill training to the retiring or retired BSF personnel and local population.

The skill training will be based NSQF compliant training programmes at multi-skill development centres run by BSF.

This will help in meeting the aspirations of the stakeholders for training and employment. The skill training project will be of a limited to 5 years period in mission mode.

Moreover, the curriculum development and capacity building under the programme will be encouraged to enable the model to be self-sustaining over time.

About National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

• The NSDC is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
• Its overall objective of NSDC is to create training capacity in the country; fund vocational training initiatives and create a market ecosystem for skill development.
• Its mandate is to train 150 million people by 2022.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The Supreme Court has imposed ban on use of five harmful heavy metals like lithium, antimony, mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacturing of firecrackers as they cause air pollution.

The SC order came on a 2015 petition filed by three Delhi children who had requested the apex court to intervene to regulate the use of crackers and fireworks during festivals like Diwali.

The apex court held that it is the responsibility of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to ensure compliance of ban order particularly in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu where there are large number of firecracker manufacturers.

It also asked CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) and PESO to make collaborative efforts for setting up of standards with regard to air pollution caused by the bursting of fire-crackers.

Heavy metals in firecrackers Lithium is a metal used to impart red colour to fireworks. Antimony is used to create glitter effects.

Lead oxide provides a special crackling effect which, if inhaled, in high concentration can cause damage to the nervous system.

PESO: Know More

• PESO is the apex department to control and administer manufacture, storage, transport and handling of explosives, petroleum, compressed gases and other hazardous substances in India.
• It functions under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It is headed by Chief Controller of Explosives and is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.

ANSWER: Nfusion

Explanation:
BookMyShow, an online entertainment ticketing platform, has announced the acquisition of Nfusion, a media platform, for an unspecified amount in an all-cash deal to foray into audio entertainment.

Nfusion was set up in West Asia in 2009 by Shoaib G.M. Khan, Sivagurunathan S. and Prabhakar Reddy as a high definition video-on-demand platform that allowed users to stream videos online.

The Nfusion team has brought with them immense experience.

Aditya Kuber, associate VP, Audio Entertainment, will lead this vertical.

ANSWER: Arvind Panagriya

Explanation:
Arvind Panagariya has stepped down as Vice Chairman of the government think tank NITI Aayog.

The Columbia University professor will be returning to the US to rejoin academia.

The noted economist, who was appointed to the post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015, has written to Mr Modi requesting to be relived by the end of the month as he has not been granted an extension of leave from Columbia University.

Mr Panagariya, 64, told reporters that he had expressed his desire to rejoin academia to the Prime Minister about two months back.

He is a Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University.

His last day in office will be August 31 and he is likely to rejoin the University on September 5.

Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Niti Aayog.

Mr Panagariya holds a Ph. D in Economics from Princeton University and has also worked for the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in various capacities.

The economist had recently said that India’s gross domestic product (GDP) could rise to about USD 8 trillion over the next 15 years if the country registers an economic growth of 8% annually.