Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 01, 2016

ANSWER: 24

Explanation:
The Opposition won the near majority in Kuwait’s early election by claiming 24 out of 50 seats.

Candidates that have won from the Opposition’s side belong to the Islamist groups reportedly have association with Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists.

Snap polls were called by Emir Sabeh al Ahmad al Sabah over the economic policy gridlock. This is the 4th election since 2012.

The previous ones were boycotted by the opposition parties in protest against the voting system in place by the Emir.

Shia minority have been reduced to 6 seats from 9 in the previous assembly.

Safa Al Hasshem is the only woman to have won a seat in the new assembly. There were 15 other women candidates in the running, all of whom lost subsequently. This is Safa’s third parliamentary victory.

One-third of the new Parliament is filled with newer and younger members.

More than 1/2 the members of the outgoing parliament failed to grab the seat in the new assembly.

Elections saw the highest ever voter turnout at close to 70 percent. Results increase the chance of political conflict in the state

Kuwait is the only Gulf State that gives elected parliament powers to hold ministers accountable.

Know Kuwait

• Arab country located in the Persian Arabian gulf
• It is known for its modern architecture
• Capital: Kuwait City
• Currency: Kuwaiti dinar
• Population: 3.369 million (as per World Bank 2013 estimate)
• Official languages: Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic

ANSWER: Movie theatres

Explanation:
The SC on 30th Nov 2016 ordered all cinema halls to play the Indian national anthem before the screening of the films.

Apex court also directed all present must stand up till anthem ends in respect, to instil a feeling of patriotism and nationalism.

Top court also directed the cinema halls to display the National Flag on the screen when the anthem was played.

Bench stated it is the duty of every person to show respect when the national anthem is played under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1951. The Union Government agreed with the guidelines.

Court also issued a complete ban on commercial exploitation of the national anthem and flag. It banned dramatisation of the anthem or any use in variety or entertainment shows.

It also banned display, recitation or use of the abridged version of the National Anthem .

Indian Tricolour: Fast Facts

• National Flag is a horizontal rectangular tricolour of deep saffron, white and Indian green.
• The Ashoka Chakra, a 24 spoke wheel in navy blue is at its centre.
• Adopted on: July 22, 1947
• Dimension Proportion: 3:2
• Designed by: Pingali Venkayya

ANSWER: UP

Explanation:
Asia’s first and longest cycle highway was on 26th Nov 2016 inaugurated in UP by CM Akhilesh Yadav.

• It is India’s first cycle highway. The 207 km cycle highway connects the Taj City Agra and the Lion Safari at Etawah.
• Constructed by the UP PWD, the cycle highway is 7 feet wide. It runs parallel to the main highway. It is separated by a divider to ensure the safety of cyclists. The track connects 92 villages across two districts.

It also crosses Chambal and Yamuna river on its way

Tourist destinations such as Naugava ka Quila, Raja Bhoj ki Haveli and Bateshwarnath Temple also fall in its way.

Some facts about Uttar Pradesh

• It is North Indian state.
• Notable landmarks: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort. Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara
• Land area: 243, 286 km2
• Founded: January 25, 1950
• Population: 204.2 million in 2012
• Capital: Lucknow
• Judiciary: Allahabad

ANSWER: Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn

Explanation:
Parliament of Thailand on 29th Nov 2016 invited Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn to be the new king of the nation, following the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej in Oct 2016.

Prince will have to accept the parliamentary invitation to be proclaimed king.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is the only son of Queen Sirikit and King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

He was made crown prince at age 20. He graduated from Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra, Australia.

He took part in military ops against Communist Party of Thailand during the 1970s and is a qualified military and chopper pilot.

About Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn

• Born : July 28, 1952.
• He will be the 10th Thai King.
• He belongs to the 234 year old Chakri Dynasty.
• He will be known as King Rama X.
• He can only be crowned after the royal cremation of his father in 2017.
• General Prem Tinsulanonda, the president of the Privy Council, will serve as regent till then.

ANSWER: MM Kutty

Explanation:
Senior IAS officer MM Kutty was on 29^th Nov 2016 appointed the Chief Secretary of Delhi.

He replaced KK Sharma who was transferred to the Union Ministry of HRD as OSD or officer on special duty.

Union government has sent back Kutty to his parent UT cadre before completing of tenure of Central deputation.

IAS officer also served as Principal Secretary to the Former CM of Delhi Sheila Dixit and was the Additional Secretary in the environment ministry prior to this appointment.

He has also been the Finance Secretary in the AAP government.

About the post of Chief Secretary

• Chief Secretary: Head of the state administrative machinery.
• Position of Chief Secretary has been there since British rule.
• The Chief Secretary was the second most important official after the Governor in British times
• He was known as Colonial Secretary.
• Post of Chief Secretary belongs to the cadre within IAS
• Chief Secretary’s post has been kept out of the tenure system.

ANSWER: Kerala

Explanation:
Kerala’s Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple has decided to ease dress norms for women devotees.

Women are now allowed to wear salwar kameez and churidar while offering prayers at the temple shrine.

The decision was taken after woman advocate Riya Rahe issued a petition at Kerala HC permitting women to wear salwar kameez inside temple premises.

This is not the first time temple’s conservative rules were challenged. The criticised dress code of the temple required men to wear dhoti and women to wear sari, dhoti or pavada and blouse while going to the temple .

Modern outfits are still not permitted such as jeans, sleeveless tops and dresses.

The decision has been opposed by Temple’s senior priest, Nedumpilli Tharanalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad, who has voiced a strong opposition to the decision, saying it is against the age-old traditions of the shrine.

About Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

• Richest temple in the world.
• Belongs to the 16th century.
• Temple administrative committee chairman: K Haripal

ANSWER: Susan Kiefel

Explanation:
Susan Kiefel has been named Australia’s first female High Court chief justice - ending 113 years of men leading the nation’s highest court.

She will become the Chief Justice of Australia on 30 January 2017. She replaces Robert French.

The Turnbull government appointed serving High Court Justice Kiefel to the role .

Brisbane-based Federal Court Justice James Edelman (42) will replace her as a puisne judge – a judge other than the chief justice.

About Susan Kiefel

• She has served on HC since 2007.
• Formerly judge of SC of Queensland and Federal Court of Australia.
• Born in Cairns, Queensland in 1954.
• Previously worked as a secretary and receptionist.

ANSWER: Pankaj Advani

Explanation:
15 time world champion Pankaj Advani suffered a 2-7 loss in IBSF World Snooker Championship 2016 semifinals against Andrew Pagett of Wales. He won the bronze medal as a result of this.

He is an Indian professional player of English billiards and former professional snooker player

He has won the following awards:

• Arjuna Award(2004)
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2006)
• Padma Shri (2009)
  
  Records broken by Pankaj Advani
  
• He has achieved a hat-trick of hat-tricks in English billiards.
• He held World, Asian, and Indian National Championship titles simultaneously, in three different years: 2005, 2008 and 2012.
• Became a snooker professional only in 2012.
• Advani won the 2014 IBSF World 6-Red Snooker Championship,
• Only player to win world titles in both the long and short formats of snooker.
• Also only snooker champion for both formats of English billiards.

ANSWER: Toonz, Walt Disney

Explanation:
‘Magical Piano’, a short film by the Toonz Media Group has won an award at the prestigious UNESCO Salon Youth Video Competition 2016.

In an event held in Marrakech, Morocco at the iconic COP 22 Green Zone in the UNESCO Pavilion on November 14, the award was handed over

‘Magical Piano’ was created in association with the Toonz-Disney collaborative venture ‘Kahaani Masters’;

This is a story-writing contest organised to find out the finest story masters in the country.

About Magical Piano and UNESCO Salon Youth Video Competition 2016.

• ‘Magical Piano’ is the story of a child who receives a magical piano for his birthday.
• Using the magic of music, the kid goes own to clean the whole planet and then the whole universe. This unique story was written by Mayul Verma.
• Mayul is an upper primary student from Agra, India.
• The Salon Youth Video Competition was established by Salon Films, with the support of UNESCO.
• Its aim is to promote and encourage the next generation to take part in sustainable development.

ANSWER: Nancy Pelosi

Explanation:
U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi was re-elected to her post on 30th Nov despite a challenge from a Rust Belt congressman.

The opponents said the party needed new leadership after a disappointing showing in elections this month.

Ms. Pelosi (76), a Californian who has been in Congress for 30 years and led the party in the House for 14 of them.

She defeated Tim Ryan (43), a seven-term representative from the Youngstown area of northeastern Ohio in a 134-63 vote

Mr. Ryan said the Democrats have only been in the majority in the House of Representatives for four of the past 18 years.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The WHO for the first time has recommended HIV self-testing in the privacy of one's home using HIV kit. This is a move that may result in a major breakthrough in HIV treatment by improving access to diagnosis.

The UN agency's guidance has even prompted the health ministry here to evaluate the proposal.

Lack of HIV diagnosis is one of the biggest problems of this disease

Estimates show around 87% of HIV-infected people in India are not even aware that they are suffering from the disease and may be unknowingly spreading the virus.

Globally, around 40% of all people with HIV or over 14 million remain unaware of their status.

Self Testing and HIV AIDS

• Particularly relevant for people who find accessing tests in clinical settings difficult.
• Results of the test can be seen within 20 minutes or less.
• Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics.
• In 2015, the total number of people living with HIV in India were estimated at 21.17 lakh.
• Around 86,000 new HIV cases were found.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The 7th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) will be held from 2nd – 4th December, 2016 at Science City, Kolkata.

The mega event is being organised by the World Ayurveda Foundation with support of Ministry of AYUSH, and the State Government of West Bengal.

To facilitate development and growth of AYUSH system of medicine, the Ministry of AYUSH is also organising AROGYA Expo from 1st-4th December, 2016 at Science City, Kolkata to coincide with the 7th World Ayurveda Congress.

The theme of this 7th World Ayurveda Congress is - ‘Strengthening the Ayurveda Ecosystem’ and the congregation will bring together stakeholders in the Ayurveda sector from India and abroad.

There are three major components of the program this year :

(1) Public Outreach session which comprises of the Ayurveda Expo, the Ayurveda Clinics for the general public and Public Lectures.

(2) Influencing Policy and

(3) Promoting Science.

This year’s World Ayurveda Congress will be the largest ever as compared to the earlier World Ayurveda Congress.


These were held at Kochi 2002, Pune 2006, Jaipur 2008, Bengaluru 2010, Bhopal 2012 and Delhi 2014.

More than 1893 scientific papers of international caliber are being considered for presentation in over 30 multi-track scientific sessions.

ANSWER: A variety of Coffee plant

Explanation:
The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) of Coffee Board is releasing high yielding and disease resistant varieties of Arabica and Robusta from time to time.

In Arabica, ‘Chandragiri’ a semi-dwarf variety with high degree of field tolerance to leaf rust disease and high yield potential has been released for commercial cultivation during 2007-08 season.

In addition, three genotypes of Arabica have been given for multi-location trials in growers’ field during 2014-15.

In Robusta, the improved hybrid variety already developed by CCRI is most preferred among the growers because of its high yield potential and quality of beans.

Further research for development of drought resistant variety of Robusta has been taken up by CCRI.

The institute has also refined the clonal propagation techniques that supplied rooted clones of hybrid varieties to growers from 2014-2015

Coffee Board is also implementing Integrated Coffee Development Project under which various interventions such as

• Research & development,
• Technology transfer,
• Capacity building,
• Replacing the old unproductive varieties with improved high yielding/disease tolerant varieties, water augmentation
• Mechanisation etc. are undertaken for the overall improvement of production, productivity and quality of coffee.

ANSWER: Ladakh

Explanation:
Losar celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir, in the Ladakh district can be regarded as the most elaborate.

King Jamyang Namgyal, on the eve of setting out on an expedition against the Balti forces in winter was advised not to lead an expediting before the next year.

To solve the problem, keeping the regard of the advice, he preponed the New Year celebrations in Ladakh by two months.

This became established as a tradition and since then the Losar is celebrated on the first day of the eleventh month of every year.

The festival involves Buddhist and the pre Buddhist Bon religious practices.

It celebrates the end of the harvesting season.

It is on the 29th day of the 10th month which marks the Losar celebrations.

The festival commences on the first day of the 11^th month officially.

ANSWER: 30^th Nov

Explanation:
Organ Donation Day is observed annually on 30th of November. The aim of this day is to motivate normal human beings to pledge to donate organs after death.

It also works to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation.

Organ Donation is donating a donor’s organs like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas, after the donor dies,

It is for the purpose of transplanting them into another person who is in need of an organ.

Facts About Organ Donation

• 500,000 people die because of non-availability of organs.
• 200,000 people die due to liver disease, and 50,000 people die because of heart disease.
• Moreover, 150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 among them get it.
• Anyone can be a donor, through 18 and below need agreement of parent or guardian to be donor.
• Tissues such as cornea, heart valves, skin, and bone can be donated in case of natural death.
• Vital organs such as heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas can be donated only in the case of ‘brain death’.