Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Aug 06, 2016

ANSWER: Anand Sinha

Explanation:
Private sector lender IDFC Bank has appointed former RBI Deputy Governor Anand Sinha on its board as independent director, according to the lender on 5th August 2016.

• Sinha will replace former CAG Vinod Rai appointed w.e.f August 1, 2016.
• Rai was appointed chairman of the Banks Board Bureau as well so resigned as director of IDFC Bank to prevent conflict of interest.
• He was a nominee director representing the IDFC Ltd on the board of IDFC Bank.
• IDFC has also received approvals from RBI to start operations as a universal bank on April 2014.
• Following this, the erstwhile infrastructure financier’s loans were transferred to IDFC Bank.
• IDFC Bank commenced operations from October 2015.
• Rai was appointed as BBB Chairman by the government on 28th February 2016 and Sinha joined the RBI in July 1976.

ANSWER: Nitin Patel

Explanation:
Vijay Rupani will take over as the new CM of Gujarat while Nitin Patel will be the deputy CM of Gujarat. Oath taking ceremony took place on 7th August 2016.

• Rupani was picked for the state’s top job by party MLAs.
• The meeting saw the participation of BJP President Amit Shah and senior leader Nitin Gadkari.
• Vijay Rupani was the state president of BJP and minister for transport, water supply, labour and employment in Anandiben’s cabinet.
• He was elected for the first time in 2014 winning the Rajkot West seat.

ANSWER: 893

Explanation:
There is one doctor for every 893 patients in the country, if allopathic doctors and those practicing Ayurveda, Unani and Homoepathy streams are considered together, as per LS announcement.

• Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste indicated there were 9.59 lakh registered allopathic doctors in the country and 6.77 lakh Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy doctors.
• With 80 percent availability of doctors, it is estimated that close to 7.67 lakh (allopathic) doctors may be actually available for service.
• This gives a doctor to population ratio of 1:1681.
• In case allopathic and AUH streams are considered together, it gives a doctor population ratio of 1:893.
• As per the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, only practitioners enrolled in state medical register can practice medicine.

ANSWER: US

Explanation:
Fierce debate has been initiated about #PalletsOfCash delivered to Iran on an unmarked cargo plane

• US government in January sent USD 1.7 billion to Iran to settle a decades old financial disputes over an arms deal.
• Payment was announced on the same day that the nuclear deal with Iran was completed and Tehran released 4 detained Americans.
• Republicans called a payment a ransom for a rogue state.

ANSWER: Youssef Chahed

Explanation:
Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi on 3rd August 2016 named Youssef Chahed as the PM of the nation

• Chahed’s appointment followed the ousting of Habib Essid in a vote of no confidence due to the way he handled economic reforms and security.
• Chahed was earlier minister for local affairs of Tunisia and agricultural sciences specialist and academic who has taught in France and Tunisia.
• Youssef Chahed was initially a professor and part of the Nidaa Tounes secular party. Nidaa Tounes and Islamist Ennahda party formed part of the ruling coalition.

ANSWER: East Central Railway

Explanation:
DK Gayen was on 4th August 2016 assumed charge of General Manager of East Central Railway headquartered in Hajipur, Bihar.

• Gayen succeeded Rajeev Mishra, GM of Eastern Railways who has holding additional charge of ECR.
• Gayen is a 1979 batch Indian Railway Services for Mechanical Engineers officer and earlier worked as Chief Mechanical Engineer of South Eastern Railway at Kolkata.
• ECR or East Central Railway is one of the 16 railway zones in India and is headquartered at Hajipur apart from 5 divisions- Danapur, Dhanbad, Mughalsarai, Sonepur and Samastipur.

ANSWER: 5

Explanation:
International Olympic Committee on 3rd August 2016 added 5 new sports to the programme for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

• Sports to be added will be basketball, softball, karate, skateboard, climbing sports and surfing in 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Decision was taken by the 129th IOC session held in Rio de Janeiro.
• Organising committee for the Tokyo 2020 Games proposed the new sports in response to the new flexibility provided by Olympic Agenda 2020.
• Tokyo 2020, the first Organising Committee also took advantage of this charge.
• Inclusion of new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes.

ANSWER: Nita Ambani

Explanation:
Noted sports promoter and founder chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani was elected as an individual member of the International Olympic Committee on 4th August 2016

• She was elected by IOC members at the 129th session of the world body in Rio de Janeiro.
• She became the first Indian woman to join the prestigious body governing the Olympic sports in the world.
• Nita is the owner of the Mumbai Indians cricket team franchise and founder of Indian Super League Football tournament.
• Sir Dorabji Tata was the first person to represent India in the IOC.
• Raja Randhir Singh is currently an honorary member after serving the body from 2000-2014.
• Apart from Nita, 7 IOC members were elected at the 129th IOC Session ahead of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 namely:

1. Sari Essayah
2. Ivo Ferriani
3. Luis Moreno
4. Auvita Rapilla
5. Anant Singh
6. Tricia Smith
7. Karl Stoss


• Besides this, two vice presidents were also elected on the executive board namely Juan Antonio Samaranch and Ugur Edener.

ANSWER: 10

Explanation:
In the first expansion of the cabinet, the CM of the State of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu expanded his cabinet by including 10 ministers including former speaker Nabam Rebia

• Governor Tathagata Roy administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers.
• The newly-inducted ministers are Tanga Byaling, Rajesh Tacho, Nabam Rebia, Honchun Ngandam, Wangki Lowang, Kamlung Mossang, Tapang Taloh, Kumar Waii, Takam Pario and Jomde Kena.
• Khandu is the CM of the NE state while Chowna Mein is the Deputy CM.

ANSWER: Rio Olympic Games

Explanation:
Ministry of Communication launched the commemorative postage stamps on Rio Olympic Games saying that the unique initiative will motivate Indian athletes and sportspersons

• Issuing stamps on wrestling, badminton, shooting and boxing the Department of Post has hoped to rekindle the spirit of patriotism.
• Record number of players are participating from India in the Rio Games this year.

ANSWER: Bolivia

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee extended greetings and felicitations government and people of Plurinational Republic of Bolivia on the eve of their National Day (August 6, 2016)

• The current president of the Republic of Bolivia is Juan Evo Morales Ayma.
• The two countries share warm bilateral ties.

ANSWER: Republic of Cote d’Ivoire

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee extended greetings to the government and people of Republic of Cote d’Ivoire on their national day.

• Their national day is held on August 8, 2016.
• The current president of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire was Alassane Ouattara.
• President Mukherjee visited the nation on a State visit in 2016.

ANSWER: Manesar

Explanation:
The National Defence University, first conceived in 1967 was later recommended by the Kargil Review Committee and GoM in 2000

• Land for setting up the Defence University was acquired at Manesar in Gurgaon district in 2012.
• INDU or Indian National Defence University will soon be established; the draft Indian National University Bill 2015 is going online on MyGov.in portal and MoD website for six weeks for public consultations.
• Bill aims to establish a world class autonomous institute of National Importance under Ministry of Defence.

ANSWER: Indian Army: Know Our Might

Explanation:
As part of the Independence Day celebrations, Indian army will be conducting “Know Your Army Mela” based on the theme Indian Army: Know Our Might

• The mela will be held from 12-13 August 2016 at Central Vehicle Depot, Delhi Cantonment from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening.
• General public will be able to see military equipment, demonstrations and screening of motivational movies.

ANSWER: Mars Rover

Explanation:
To mark Curiosity Rover’s 4th anniversary since landing on Mars, NASA has launched a mobile game called Mars Rover where users can explore the terrain of the planet while balancing the rover and going through Mars.

• In the previous four years, Curiosity has returned more than 128,000 images and fired its laser more than 362,000 times.
• Curiosity landed inside the Mars Gale Crater on August 6, 2012.
• The rover examined the ancient habitable environment of the Red Planet.

ANSWER: Higher

Explanation:

• Three Dhanush guns have been added to the Indian Army in June 2016 for use. Special features of Dhanush guns include 8 km more range than BOFORS Gun, modified double baffle muzzle brake and modified loading trough to accommodate Bi Modular Charge System
• Electronic Suite will include Enhanced Tactical Computer, Inertial Navigation System, Muzzle Velocity Radar and Automatic Gun Sighting System for enhanced accuracy and auto laying of the gun.