Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 10, 2015

ANSWER: 321

Explanation:
The total merchandise export has been valued at USD 321 billion as against USD 314 billion in the year before this, as per an UNCTAD report. Report indicated that international service exports constituted 21% of the total global exports valued at slightly more than USD 5 trillion in 2014. This was a growth of around 5% over the previous year. Total global exports for 2014 stood at USD 24 trillion which is up by 1.2 percent as against the previous year. According to the Handbook of Statistics published by UNCTAD, service exports from developed and developing economies expanded at 5.2 and 4.8 percent respectively in 2014.

ANSWER: Akatsuki

Explanation:
Following its first failure on December 6, 2010, Japan’s maiden mission to Venus, Akatsuki or Venus Climate Orbiter has zoomed into the Venusian orbit according to Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency Jaxa.

ANSWER: Angela Merkel

Explanation:
Time magazine has honoured German Chancellor Angela Merkel as Person of the Year 2015. The German Chancellor’s leadership helped to preserve and promote EU without borders. IS leader Al-Baghdadi and Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump were also among the 8 candidates shortlisted for the honour. PM Narendra Modi, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani and Google’s Sundar Pichai were among the contenders for this annual honour prior to the final shortlist.

ANSWER: Alibaba E-Auto

Explanation:
The deal has been signed for the Club World Cup reflecting the massive marketing potential of China. Marketing director Thierry Weil made the announcement regarding the deal with the car manufacturing brand of the popular e-commerce major. The Club World Cup features the leading clubs from FIFA’s six continental confederations.

ANSWER: Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act, 2015

Explanation:
US House of representatives on 8th December 2015 passed the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015 amending the US visa travel practices. Votes were 407 in favour of the Bill which imposes restrictions on persons who have visited Iraq, Syria and countries supporting terrorism to travel visa free in the United States. Bill will also bar people who traveled after March 1 2011 to Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Iran from participating in the visa free program. Biometric passports will now be issued to such persons as well.

ANSWER: 9th December

Explanation:
The International Anti-Corruption Day was observed across the world on 9th December 2015. The theme was Break the Corruption chain. The day was held to create public awareness about what people can do to fight corruption. UNDP and UNODC are the main bodies which oversaw the observance of this day. This day is being celebrated since 2003 when the United Nations Convention Against Corruption was adopted.

ANSWER: 2016: UK-India Year of Education and Research

Explanation:
2016 is being celebrated as the year of education and research between India and the UK. The importance of mobility of students and faculty has been expressed under the GIAN program whereby more UK academics will be able to visit India. The mutual research areas to be picked could be one of the top 10 priority areas under IMPRINT (Impacting Research Innovation and Technology).

ANSWER: Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill

Explanation:
Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has recommended the approval of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill 2015 as per the report of the Select Committee of Rs. Bill will now be passed by the Parliament after consideration. It is a major initiative to protect the interests of the customers.

ANSWER: India and UK

Explanation:
Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given ex post facto approval for an MoU between India and UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on cooperation within the energy sector. This includes cooperation on market reforms, regulatory structures and role of competition in supply and distribution of electricity. Creation of a regional energy grid is also on the agenda.

ANSWER: India and Indonesia

Explanation:
Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved an MoU between India and Indonesia in the field of renewable and new energy. The MoU aims to establish a cooperative institutional framework for encouraging bilateral cooperation in the field of renewable energy. Capacity building and generation of renewable energy are the main focus of this MoU.

ANSWER: South Korea

Explanation:
An MoU was signed between India and South Korea to relieve the burden of double taxation for taxpayers in both nations during pendency of MAP or Mutual Agreement Procedure proceedings. This will improve ease of doing business in the two nations as well.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) Scheme of Ministry of Power was not only joined by Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan, but State Governments of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh, & Uttarakhand have communicated their in- principle approval to the Ministry of Power ( MoP) to join UDAY Scheme . This scheme seeks to promote financial solvency of DISCOMs through voluntary restructuring of their debts.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
This includes the Resourcesat, Cartosat and Radar Imaging Satellite. These satellites along with field observations have assisted in the mapping and monitoring of agricultural crops. Astrosat was also launched recently to study stars and galaxies in ultraviolet, optical and X-ray wavelength bands.

ANSWER: 138.35

Explanation:
As per this census, the total number of operational holdings was estimated at 138.35 million. Other finds are as follows:

1. The total operated area equalled 159.59 million hectare.
2. The average size of the holding was estimated as 1.15 hectare. The average size of holdings has shown a stable declining trend over various Agriculture Censuses since, 1970-71.
3. The Gross Cropped Area (GCA) was pegged at 193.76 million hectare.
4. AP, Karnataka, Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, Punjab, and WB together account for about 78 per cent of the Gross Cropped Area in the nation.

This census is conducted every 5 years to collect information on status of agricultural holdings in the nation.