Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 19, 2015

ANSWER: 2000

Explanation:
International Migrants Day was observed across the world on 18th December 2015. Since 2014, close to 5000 people have lost their lives in search of a better life while migrating. Year 2015 is the year of migrant tragedies and with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders vowed to protect the labour rights of migrants and curb criminal human trafficking networks. This day has been celebrated since 2000.

ANSWER: Claude and Norma Alvares

Explanation:
Husband-wife team of Claude and Norma Alvares on 18th December 2015 was honoured with the 2015 Lifetime Services Award by Sanctuary Asia magazine. Another pioneer in fighting wildlife crimes and chairman emeritus of the Wildlife Trust of India, Ashok Kumar was named the Sanctuary Legend. Wildlife Service Award went to 5 others namely Varad Giri, Nandini Velho, Param Jit Singh, Yashveer Bhavnagar and the Gir Lion Protection Team.

ANSWER: Mother Teresa

Explanation:
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Nobel laureate born to Albanian parents in Macedonia who worked for the cause of the poor in India, will be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in September 2016, according to Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian Catholics bishops conference. Mother Teresa who passed away in 1997 at the age of 87 was beautified by former Pope John Paul in 2003. Avenger said the second miracle needed for canonisation involved the cure of a man suffering from a deadly brain disease. Missionaries of Charity was founded in Calcutta by her. She also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

ANSWER: Avani Davda

Explanation:
TATA Global Beverages on 17th December announced that the youngest CEO in the TATA Group, Avani Davda has resigned to pursue opportunities outside the group. Davda was the CEO of TATA Starbucks, a joint venture between Starbucks Corp and TATA Global Beverages. She has established the TATA Starbucks and positioning Starbucks as the premier coffee house in India. Starbucks opened its first India store in October 2012. JV has appointed Sumi Ghosh as CEO w.e.f January 1st 2015.

ANSWER: 6

Explanation:
Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, CM Mamta Banerjee said Darjeeling in north Bengal will be bifurcated and a new district called Kalimpong carved out of it. Sidebands currently stretchs across North and South 24 Paraganas districts. Basirhat district will be formed out of North 24 Parganas district while existing Burdwan district will be bifurcated into two- rural and urban. Jhargram under the West Midnapore district will become a separate district while Minik block will be upgraded to subdivisions as will Jhalda and Manbazar in Purulia.

ANSWER: Noorul Huda

Explanation:
Noodle Huda, veteran leader of the CPI-M of eastern India passed away on 17th December 2015 gayer a cardiac arrest in Kolkotta at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife and was member of the Central Committee of CPI-M for 30 years. He was also member of the Assam State Assembly from 1978 to 1983 and was imprisoned during the emergency.

ANSWER: Argentine peso

Explanation:
Following the lifting of controls, Argentine peso lost 30% of its value after a pro business government scrapped forex restrictions introduced by leftist predecessors. Following the close of the first day in the absence of currency limits, dollars were changing hands for 14 pesos which is 42% higher than closing rate.

ANSWER: 7 to 7.5%

Explanation:
Indian economy is likely to grow at 7 to 7.5% in the fiscal 2015-2016 while retail inflation is pegged at 6%, according to a Mid Year Economic Review authored by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramaniam. Growth for 2017 is slated to be higher than attained in 2016, as per the report. Report reiterates previously laid out growth target, yet gave a more conservative value when it comes to inflation. Report also said that India would meet its fiscal deficit target of 3.9% and revenue deficit target of 2.8% for this year.

ANSWER: 33%

Explanation:
PPP ports contributed 33% to total capacity of major ports. Indian ports attained only 79.80 MTPA capacity addition during 2010-2012 as against 315.32 MTPA and PPP projects have contributed only 33% to total capacity of major ports up to March 2014 defeating the purpose of the PPP model. PPP model ensures faster augmentation of infrastructure and better service quality for the user was implemented. From a capacity addition of 315.23 MTPA envisaged by Maritime Agenda 2010-2020, ports attained capacity addition of 79.80 MTPA during this period.

ANSWER: Twitter

Explanation:
Lookup, a free service connecting local businesses with consumers has launched @lookuplit on Twitter’s platform for live public conversations. The technical integration has connected with the company with one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Technical integration will include a Twitter ancon t o answer people’s queries.

ANSWER: SAIF Partners

Explanation:
Logistics platform Rivigo has raised USD 30 million or INR 198 crore from SAIF partners as well as other investors. Series B round of funding led by SAIF partners was a blend of equity and debt financing. Riving was founded as TrucksFirst in 2014. It provides services to clients across verticals like pharma, e-commerce and cold chain space. Deepak Guar is the founder and CEO of Rivigo.

ANSWER: Harvard Business School

Explanation:
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow has partnered institutional alliance with Harvard Business School following the efforts by two IIM-L professors to attend a faculty workship. As part of this alliance, IIM-L will offer an elective course on Microeconomics of Competitiveness. This MOC course is currently being taught at SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. IIM-L will also use Harvard expertise in cluster development at local government level.

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
UNSC has adopted a resolution for cutting off all sources of funding to IS and Al Qaeda with finance ministers from member nations vowing to increase sanctions against terror groups. The resolution was adopted on 17th December at the first ever meeting of the finance minsters, whereby the 15 member body has called for enhanced actions to stop funding to terror groups. Council has also stressed existing resolutions should ensure financial assets are not transferred to terrorists by persons within a territory. Council also called on Member States for promoting enhanced vigilance by persons within their jurisdiction to detect diversion of explosive and raw materials which can be used for the purpose of manufacturing IEDs or unconventional weapons.

ANSWER: Kuoni Travel India Pvt Ltd

Explanation:
Clearance has been received from the Competition Commission of India by Thomas Cook India Ltd along with wholly owned subsidiary Travel Corporation India Ltd to complete the acquisition of 100% stake in Kuoni Travel India Pvt Ltd. Transaction was formally concluded on 16th December and the deal worth INR 535 crore was announced in early August 2015 and Thomas Cook India has said the transaction will close in the third quarter of the current financial year. Thomas Cook will gain control over Kuoni’s India and Hong King Operations and acquisition now allows the acquiescing company to use the SOTC brand (including SITA) forever, which has been the Kuoni brand for 12 months in India and 5 years in Hong Kong.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Hindustan Unilever Limited on 17th December 2015 announced an agreement with Mosons Group to acquire the flagship brand Indulekha for INR 330 crores. This is in line with its leadership position in personal care. Deal includes acquisition of trademark brands Vayodha and Indulekha in terms of intellectual design and know how. Mosons Group will be paid INR 300 crore rupees following the closing of the transaction and deferred consideration of 10 percent on domestic turnover of brands per annum.