Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 26, 2016

ANSWER: Labour intensive

Explanation:
China aims to encourage labour intensive manufacturing industries located across the eastern coast to relocate inland, as per a 2016-2020 plan to develop the economy of western regions.

• The country’s cabinet, the State Council approved the western development 5 year plan on 23rd Dec 2016, according to the official government website on 25th Dec 2016.
• China’s rapid economic development has been, over the past 4 decades, skewed heavily towards the eastern coast.
• Beijing has been aiming to correct the imbalance to promote growth in politically crucial and energy rich western regions such as Yunnan and Xinjiang.
• It will also ease environmental pressures in eastern regions including the congested Peal and Yangtze river deltas.
• China will continue to implement the measures aimed at reducing the tax burden in the west for cutting the cost of doing business.
• West will promote new forms of urbanisation and industrialisation and pay attention to protecting the environment and scarce water supplies, which have halted development here.

ANSWER: Dinanath Bhargava

Explanation:
Globally renowned artist Dinanath Bhargava at the age of 89 passed away on 24th Dec, 2016

A native of Multai in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, he designed the lion capitol in the national emblem along with 5 others.

He used to work in the All India Handloom Board and was posted in Indore. He was one of the exponents of Nandalal Bose of Shantiniketan. He is credited with wash paintings that created a niche in the art world.

He was credited with creating Madhubani paintings on cloth. Bhargava was also instrumental in double decker loom and designing new Chanderi saris.

He started the carpet-making industry in Gwalior during the time of late Congress leader Madhav Rao Scindia.

The Madhya Pradesh government honoured him for his contribution to the world of art.

His paintings were displayed in the Europe’s world art tour in the 1950’s, in which he won the gold medal.

Bhargava also decorated the pages of the Constitution's manuscript, died at the age of 89 in Indore yesterday.

He was suffering from cardiac ailments since past decade, family sources said.

Born on November 1, 1927 at Multai in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, Mr Bhargava was chosen by noted painter Nandlal Bose (then the Principal of Kala Bhavan Shanti Niketan) in the group for designing the pages of the Indian Constitution's manuscript.

National Emblem of India

• Adopted: 26th Jan, 1950.
• Motto: Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs)
• State Emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, preserved in the Varanasi Sarnath Museum in India.
• The emblem forms a part of the official letterhead of the Government of India and appears on all Indian currency as well.
• The usage of the emblem is regulated and restricted under State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005.
• सत्यमेव जयते (English: Truth Alone Triumphs) is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad, the conclusion of the Hindu Vedas.

ANSWER: George Michael

Explanation:
George Michael, the British pop superstar who started his career with the group WHAM! and went on to chart a successful solo career died on 25th Dec 2016 at the age of 53.

Michael died in Goring, England from a possible heart failure.

Michael enjoyed immense popularity early in his career as a teenybopper idol, delivering a series of hits such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go - Go,” “Young Guns (Go For It)” and “Freedom.”

As a solo artist, he developed into a more serious singer and songwriter, lauded by critics for his tremendous vocal range.

He sold well over 100 million albums globally, earned numerous Grammy and American Music Awards, and recorded duets with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti, Elton John.

He formed the duo WHAM! with his school friend Andrew Ridgeley in the early 1980s.

He also had a contract dispute with Sony.

Michael had Greek-Cypriot roots. He was born Georgios Panayiotou in England.

He and schoolmate Ridgeley formed a ska band called the Executive when they were just 16 before moving on to form WHAM!

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
When ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-Xl (PSLV-X1) lifts off around December 28, 2017, with India's first private mission to the moon by Team Indus, it promises to be a historical event.

It is for the first time in the history of space exploration that a rocket will be flying three rovers.

Of the three rovers in this private moon mission, two are from Japan and one belongs to Team Indus.

The PSLV-XL has launched 20 satellites in one go on June 22, 2016.

This marks the first time the PSLV will demonstrate the capability of carrying three rovers placed into a lander.

The powerful rocket will launch 83 satellites in a single mission.

According to the organisers of the global lunar competition, Google Lunar X Prize, "the Japanese Team, Hakuto, is facing the challenges with its unique dual rover system consisting of the two-wheeled 'Tetris,' and the four-wheeled 'Moonraker', which are linked by a tether".

The organisers added that while Tetris will explore holes thought to be caves in the moon, Moonraker will capture 360-degree images.

Team Indus's new-look sleek rover is solar-powered and the mission duration is one lunar day - equivalent to 14 earth days.

The Team Indus lander can carry up to 20kg of payload at a time.

PSLV

• The PSLV is one of world's most reliable launch vehicles.
• It has been in service for over twenty years.
• PSLV remains a favourite among various organisations as a launch service provider and has launched over 40 satellites for 19 countries.
• In 2008 it created a record for most number of satellites placed in orbit in one launch by launching 10 satellites into various Low Earth Orbits.

It has launched various satellites for historic missions like


• Chandrayaan-1
• Mars Orbiter Mission
• Space Capsule Recovery Experiment
• Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

ANSWER: Hafnium carbide

Explanation:
Scientists have identified materials that can withstand temperatures of nearly 4,000 degree C, an advance that has paid the way for heat resistant shielding for the faster than ever hypersonic space vehicles.

Researchers from Imperial College London in the UK discovered that the melting point of hafnium carbide is the highest ever recorded for a material.

Tantalum carbide (TaC) and Hafnium Carbide (HfC) are refractory ceramics, meaning they are extraordinarily resistant to heat.

Their ability to withstand extremely harsh environments means that these could be used in thermal protection systems on high-speed vehicles and as fuel cladding in the super-heated environments of nuclear reactors.

What was lacking till now was technology to test the melting point of TaC and HfC in the lab to determine how truly extreme an environment they could function in.

The researchers developed a new extreme heating technique using lasers to test the heat tolerance of TaC and HfC.

They used the laser-heating techniques to find the point at which TaC and HfC melted, both separately and as mixed compositions of both.

They found that the mixed compound (Ta0.8Hf0.20C) was consistent with previous research, melting at 3,905 degrees Celsius, but the two compounds on their own exceeded previous recorded melting points.

The compound TaC melted at 3,768 degrees Celsius, and HfC melted at 3,958 degrees Celsius.

Spacecrafts could become faster than ever with the next generation of hypersonic vehicles. Friction involved while travelling above Mach 5 hypersonic speeds creates high temperature. Hafnium carbide can withstand such heat.

These materials may enable spacecraft to withstand the extreme heat generated from leaving and re-entering the atmosphere.

Hafnium Carbide

• Formula: HfC
• Molar mass: 190.5 g/mol
• Melting point: 3,900°C
• Density: 12.2 g/cm^³
• Appearance: Black odourless powder

ANSWER: Kuchipudi

Explanation:
Andhra Pradesh’s classical dance Kuchipudi found a place in the Guinness World Records when a record 6117 dancers came together to present a show at the IGMC Stadium here on 25th Dec 2016.

Guinness adjudicator Rishinath declared that Jayamu Jayamu presented by participants created a new record.

A similar feat in 2012 was achieved when 5,900 dancers performed Kuchipudi in Hyderabad.

The "Maha Brunda Natyam" (grand group dance) was organised as part of the '5th International Kuchipudi Dance Convention' organised by the state Department of Language and Culture.

"Jayamu Jayamu" is one of the most popular and acclaimed items of 'Kuchipudi' dance choreographed by the legend Vempati China Satyam. This 12-minute item was chosen for this year's group dance at the event.

Dancers from across the country as also from countries like US, UAE, UK, Russia, Hong Kong and Mauritius took part in it.

Kuchipudi

• Kuchipudi is one of the classical styles of Indian dance.
• Around the third and fourth decade of this century it emerged out of a long rich tradition of dance-drama of the same name.
• Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It is about 35 km. from Vijayawada.
• Andhra has a very long tradition of dance-drama which was known under the generic name of Yakshagaana.
• In 17th century Kuchipudi style of Yakshagaana was conceived by Siddhendra Yogi.

ANSWER: Biju Shishu Suraksha Yojana

Explanation:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 25th Dec 2016 launched "Biju Shishu Surakshya Yojana" for care and protection of HIV positive orphan children in the state.

Under the scheme, the children would get support from the state government for their studies till higher secondary. If the beneficiary is a girl, the state will also bear the cost of her marriage.

A scheme for nutrition requirements of children and mothers was also launched today. The new scheme will be operational from 2017 to 2020.

Patnaik launched the scheme at a function marking completion of five years of 'Mamata Yojana' which is for the pregnant and lactating women.

As many as 25 lakh women have so far been benefited from the 'Mamata Yojana' under which women get incentives for safe delivery of children, the statement said.

The state government would also provide INR 7,000 to 40,000 for technical education to the beneficiary.

The support will help meet the expenses like admission and tuition fee, study material and other related expenses, with INR 20,000 reward after passing higher secondary.

There will also be scholarship to 3 meritorious students every year in each district.

Financial support to girl child beneficiary will also be provided for her marriage namely INR 1,000 per year deposit in the Sukanya Samridhi Account of the girl child till she attains the age of 18 years.

There will be one time token assistance of Rs 50,000 for girls and Rs 40,000 for boys on completion of 18 and 21 years respectively to facilitate marriage ceremony.

The CM also launched a new scheme for nutrition requirements of children and mothers which will be operational from 2017 to 2020.

Odisha

• Area: 155,820 km^²
• Founded: April 1, 1936
• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• Population: 43.73 million (2014)
• Location: Eastern Coast
• Former Name: Orissa