Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 13, 2015

ANSWER: INR 3,46,090 crore

Explanation:
RBI data has indicated unlisted companies have received larger share of FDI at INR 346090 crore at face value as against listed companies at INR 11,700 crore in 2014-2015. Share of non-financial companies in total foreign equity participation was pegged at INR 3,02,950 crore at face value as against financial companies at INR 54,840 crore as per RBI data released on 12th December. RBI also released data pertaining to Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Companies for 2014-2015. In the 2014-2015 round of the FLA census, 17642 companies reported of which 16242 companies received FDI/ODI in their balance sheet in March 2015. Equity participation has a much larger share at 94.1% than debt in total inwards FDI which was pegged at INR 19,62970 crore at market value in March 2015 was INR 15,06,260 crore a year back. Total ODI was placed at INR 5,32,010 crore at market value and was INR 5,58,080 crore a year back.

ANSWER: Uttarakhand

Explanation:
According to a report submitted by Forest Survey of India, forest cover of Uttarakhand has lowered by 268 sq km in past two years having total area of 24,240 sq km currently. Main reason for this fall in forest cover has been described as rotational felling and diversion of forest land for development activities in the report. FSI has reported only 12 states presently and the total states will be covered by the next survey. The state of Uttarakhand has total geographical area of 53,483 sq km from which 34561 is recorded forest area.

ANSWER: 21

Explanation:
A historic climate change deal was reached in Paris. The draft decision stipulates that USD 100 billion will be a floor and not ceiling as a fresh quantified target needs to be established by 2025. The legally binding climate deal released on 12th December 2015 forms the crux of the deal and it has 31 pages, 21 of which are legally binding once ratified. This text has zero dissent and India’s concerns have been met. Climate action sharing responsibilities between developed and developing countries will be addressed. Long term goal of climate change efforts are within 2 degree celsius and efforts will be made to pursue a target of 1.5 degree C.

ANSWER: 189

Explanation:
189 nations have so far submitted their nationally determined contributions on climate actions. Paris agreement will be open for signature in the UN NY HQ from 22nd April 2016 and will entrant force on the 30th day after 55 parties to the UNFCC estimated as being emitters of GHG by estimated 55 percent ratified their acceptance, accession, approval. Another critical step is that Palestine joined the UN convention aligning itself with G77 and China. It also submitted its instrument of accession to UNFCC.

ANSWER: Aegis Graham Bell award

Explanation:
Global software company Wipro has announced that it has won the Aegis Graham Bell award for developing IoT solutions. This is the country’s innovation award in the field of internet, telecom, media, entertainment, social mobility analytics and cloud.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Data integrator SnapLogic has raised USD 37.5 million in funds from Microsoft Corp and Silver Lake Waterman, where plans are on to accelerate growth and expansion. Silver Lake Waterman is the growth arm of Silver Lake. It focuses on flexible capital building for later stage growth tech firms. SnapLogic is a San Mateo California based company. It was founded in 2006 by Gaurav Dhillon and its customers include Adobe Systems Inc and AstraZeneca Plc.

ANSWER: DuPont and Dow Chemical Company

Explanation:
BoD of DuPont and Dow Chemical Company on 11th December 2015 has approved a definitive agreement for merging the two companies in an all stock deal. Merged company will be named DowDuPoint and will have combined market cap of 130 billion dollars at announcement. Under the transaction terms, Dow shareholders will receive fixed exchange ratio of 1.00 share of DowDuPont for each Dow share. DuPont shareholders will receive fixed exchange ratio of 1.282 shares in DowDuPont for each DuPont share.

ANSWER: An Understanding of Educational Aspirations and Attainment of Minority Girls

Explanation:
Dr. Najma Heptulla, Union Minister for Minority Affairs inaugurated the National Conference on “An Understanding of Educational Aspirations and Attainment of Minority Girls” indicating a lot needs to be done to attain equality in education for them. The two day conference commenced on December 12, 2015. Two day national conference has been organised by All India Confederation for Women Empowerment through Education in partnership with the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

ANSWER: Nagpur, Pune, Ranchi

Explanation:
HRD Ministry has signed an MoU with private players for establishing three Indian institutes of IT in Ranchi, Nagpur and Pune on PPP basis. The three institutes will be set up in collaboration with private players such as TCS, TATA Motors and others.

ANSWER: Jamaludeep Mohamed Sali

Explanation:
Indian origin writer J.M. Sali has been declared the winner of the South East Asia Write Award. He has several literary awards to his credit and this includes the Cultural Medallion from Singapore. The author has written over 80 plays, 57 books and 400 short stories.

ANSWER: Gambia

Explanation:
Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has declared the tiny West African country an Islamic republic in an effort to break from its colonial past and said it protects the rights of the minorities and majority (90% Muslims) in the nation.

ANSWER: Japan

Explanation:
India and Japan signed a partnership agreement in the rail sector for improving research and design and safety in the Indian railways. India and Japan also announced numerous military and strategic agreements and understandings. Japan has now entered into the US India Malabar bilateral maritime exercises turning it to a trilateral initiative. India and Japan exchanged a total of 16 bilateral documents including a civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement. Both sides also issued Joint Statement on India and Japan Vision 2025: Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World.

ANSWER: Sharad Joshi

Explanation:
Well known economist, agriculturalist, journalist and farmer leader Sharad Joshi died at the age of 81. He was the founder of the Shetkari Sanghatana and hailed from Satara in Western Maharashtra. He worked with the Indian Postal Services and the UN before founding pan Maharashtra farmers organisation in 1979.