Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 22, 2015

ANSWER: Leaf scaled and short nosed sea snakes

Explanation:
Scientists have discovered two critically endangered species of sea snakes off the coast of Western Australia thought to be extinct after they were no longer in their natural habitat fifteen years ago. Both the leaf scaled and short nosed sea snakes are rare and now scientists have the chance to protect these two endemic West Australia sea snake species.The discovery was made 1700 kilometres south of the snakes only known habitat on Ashmore Reef.

ANSWER: Parasarathi Mukherjee

Explanation:
South India based Lakshmi Vilas Bank on 21st December 2015 has said Parasarathi Mukherjee will be the new CMD and has given approval for his appointment for three years from the date of taking charge. He succeeded Rakesh Sharma who has joined as CMD of Canara Bank. Mukherjee has previously worked with Axis Bank and SBI.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
RBI on 21st December 2015 has fixed a reference rate of the rupee at INR 66.32 per US dollar and 72.13 for the euro. Rates earlier were 66.42 and 72.13 respectively. As per an RBI statement, exchange rates for pound and yen against rupee was quoted at 98.98 and 54.67 per 100 yen based on reference rates for dollar and cross currency quotes at noon.

ANSWER: International Year of Pulses

Explanation:
Government has taken considerable steps to improve production of pulses and reduce dependence on imports. Steps are in line with the 2016 International Year of Pulses launched by the UN. UN launched the year at the FAO headquarters in Rome on 10th November 2015. The theme nutritious seeds has been launched for a sustainable future.

ANSWER: Nairobi

Explanation:
5 day long 10th WTO Ministerial Conference was concluded on 19th December 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya aimed at adoption of the Nairobi package for benefitting the poorest members of the organisation. The conference was attended by trade ministers of 162 member countries of the WTO. India was represented by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman. This marks the first time a meeting has been held in Africa by WTO in this capacity.

ANSWER: Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2015

Explanation:
Upper House of the Parliament, RS on 21st December 2015 passed the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2015. Bill aims to amend SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. Bill amends existing categories and adds certain categories of actions by non SC and ST against ST or SC to be treated as offences.

ANSWER: All India Survey on Higher Education

Explanation:
Union Minister of HRD launched the 6th All India Survey on Higher Education in New Delhi. She highlighted the fact that GER has shown considerable improvement from 19.4% in 2010-11 to 23.6% in 2014-15.THe minister expressed confidence that the target of 30% GER by 2020 as envisaged in 12th Plan would be achieved.

ANSWER: Eyeway National Helpdesk

Explanation:
The Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Shri Lov Verma has launched the Eyeway National Helpdesk for blind and visually impaired at Department HQ in Paryavaran Bhawan. This helpdesk is an initiative of Score Foundation. Visually impaired citizens of India will be able to call the Eyeway Helpdesk on a toll free number, 1800-300-20469, and get queries addressed from trained counsellors.

ANSWER: Cochin Shipyard Limited

Explanation:
Cochin Shipyard Limited, a PSU under the control of the Ministry of Shipping has completed a Mark-III Flex Mock-Up, which has been certified by GTT (Gaztransport et Technigaz), France, thereby completing all requirements to be licensed by GTT to build LNG ships for any client world-wide using their patented membrane containment system known as the Mark-III Technology. This makes CSL, the first Indian shipyard in India to obtain this coveted license from GTT.

ANSWER: The Presidential Retreats of India

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has presented a copy of the book on Rashtrapati Nilayam Secunderabad to Shri ESL Narasimhan, Governor of AP and Telangana. The book titled ‘The Presidential Retreats of India’ which features the Rashtrapati Nilayam and The Retreat at Mashobra was commissioned by the President’s Secretariat and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). It has been published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Book was formally released on 11th December 2015.

ANSWER: 9

Explanation:
India’s natural rubber imports have fallen by 9% to 2.88 lakh tonnes during the first 8 months of the present financial year. Rubber imports stood at 3.16 lakh tonnes during the April-October period in the previous financial year according to Rubber Board data. Total rubber imports in FY 2014-2015 touched a high of 4,15,000 tonnes on account of lower international prices and fall in domestic production.

ANSWER: Axiata

Explanation:
Finnish-Swedish telecoms operator TeliaSonera sold its stake in Nepalese operator Ncell to Axiata from Malaysia, a large telecom company for 948 million euros. TeliaSonera has held 60.4% of Ncell’s capital and also sold its holding in a local vehicle which holds 20% of Ncell.

ANSWER: Aspiring Minds

Explanation:
Gurgaon based skill assessment firm Aspiring Minds has acquired online mobile internship platform LetsIntern dot com for a non disclosed amount. Acquisition is part of the multi million dollar investment by the company in the internship space. This is the second acquisition of this company after acquiring mobile tech startup Mizcoin.

ANSWER: Liu Yuejin

Explanation:
China has appointed a tough cop as the first counter terrorism Czar to crackdown against Al Qaeda backed security forces in Muslim majority Xinjiang province. Liu Yuejin is a key figure in crackdown on illegal narcotics in China and will now be a Czar enjoying enormous powers and heading national security.