Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 04, 2017

ANSWER: Salil S. Parekh

Explanation:
Infosys, India's No.2 IT services company, named Salil S Parekh as chief executive on Saturday, picking an outsider for the job a second time and handing him the twin challenges of reviving growth and making peace between its founders and board.

Parekh, who will join from consultancy firm Capgemini where he is currently an executive, has been given a 5-year term effective January 2, an Infosys filing to exchanges showed.

UB Pravin Rao who was serving as the interim CEO has been re-designated as chief operating officer from January 2, Infosys said.

Parekh has Master of Engineering degrees in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Former CEO Vishal Sikka announced a sudden exit in August after a protracted public spat with the company's founding executives, led by Narayana Murthy, over strategy and alleged corporate governance lapses.

Sikka, who joined from German software maker SAP SE in 2014, was the first outsider to be appointed CEO of the Bengaluru-headquartered company.

His exit and the prolonged public row led to a reshuffling of the Infosys' board with Nandan Nilekani, a co-founder and former CEO, returning as non-executive chairman.

ANSWER: Smita Nagaraj

Explanation:
Ms. Smita Nagaraj took the oath of office and secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), on Dec 1^st, 2017.

The oath was administered by Prof. David R. Syiemlieh, Chairman, UPSC.

An Officer of the 1984 Batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of Tamil Nadu Cadre, Ms. Nagaraj, during her career spanning over 33 years, has held several important positions in the Central Government as well as in the Government of Tamil Nadu.

She served as Executive Director of the Central Social Welfare Board, Director in the Department of Personnel & Training, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and prior to her joining the Commission, she was working as Director General (Acquisition) in the Ministry of Defence.

In the State also, she held various important positions in the Energy, Finance, Health and Small Industries Department.

ANSWER: National Nutrition Mission

Explanation:
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi yesterday has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with a three year budget of Rs.9046.17 crore commencing from 2017-18.

Features:

The NNM, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the Ministries.

The proposal consists of

   - mapping of various Schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition

   - introducing a very robust convergence mechanism

   - ICT based Real Time Monitoring system

   - incentivizing States/UTs for meeting the targets

   - incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using IT based tools

   - eliminating registers used by AWWs

   - introducing measurement of height of children at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs)

   - Social Audits

   - setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among others.

ANSWER: 4th Dec

Explanation:
The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind presented the "National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)-2017" at a function organized by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities i.e. 3rd December, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment presents National Awards to Individuals, Institutions, Organisations, State/District etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

The National Awards were presented in 14 main categories. Within stipulated date, out of these 14 categories, 984 applications were received from 13 categories.

ANSWER: Iran

Explanation:
The first phase of the Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman was inaugurated today by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan, and reflecting growing convergence of interests among the three countries.

The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar.

ANSWER: Netherlands

Explanation:
These two APAs pertain to Electronics and Technology sectors of economy. It also covers international transactions that include Distribution, Provision of Business Support Services, Provision of Marketing Support Services etc.

With this, the total number of APAs entered into by CBDT has gone up to 186. This includes 171 Unilateral APAs and 15 Bilateral APAs.

ANSWER: Wild Life

Explanation:
India was awarded certificate of commendation for its effort to combat illegal wildlife trade by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The award was given to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) for its efforts in conducting and coordinating species-specific wildlife enforcement operation, codenamed 'Operation Save Kurma'.

It recognises exemplary enforcement action of WCCB's regional and global effort to combat illegal wildlife trade.

ANSWER: Hornbill

Explanation:
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated 18^th edition of the Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, Nagaland. The festival coincided with 54th statehood day of Nagaland.

Hornbill Festival also called as the 'Festival of Festivals' in Nagaland is tourism promotional extravaganza to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of Naga heritage.

ANSWER: London

Explanation:
India was re-elected to Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at an assembly of body at its headquarters in London.

India was elected under category B that represents nations with largest interests in international sea borne trade. It secured second-highest 144 number of votes from member-countries, just after Germany's 146.

ANSWER: Education and Employment

Explanation:
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed Kapu Reservation Bill, 2017 to provide 5% quota in education and employment. The reservation to Kapu community will be given by including them in Backward Classes list. The reservation to existing Backward Castes will not be affected by this decision.

With the quota for Kapus, the total reservation in state goes up to 55%, beyond 50% cap set by Supreme Court for reservations. Andhra Pradesh already has 29% reservation for Backward Castes. Apart from this, 15% and 6% reservations exist for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The bill will be sent to Centre for its consent and State government is also going to request Centre to include this reservation in the 9th Schedule, to insulate it from judicial review.