Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 27 & 28, 2015

ANSWER: 11

Explanation:
According to RBI, outstanding loans rose INR 981.80 billion to INR 69.66 trillion rupees in two weeks leading up to December 11. Non food credit rose INR 977.20 billion to INR 68.57 trillion rupees and food credit rose INR 4.60 billion rupees to INR 1.09 trillion rupees. Bank loans rose 11# while deposits rose 11.5% according to the RBI weekly statistical supplement.

ANSWER: 3

Explanation:
Three clusters of bacteria having no phylogenetic relationship to any other bacteria have been discovered by chance by Indian scientists. Discovery occurred during the LOHAFEX experiment in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica which aimed at raising CO sequestration through ocean iron fertilisation as part of global warming mitigation. LOHA means iron in Hindi and Fex stands for fertilisation. Director, National Institute of Oceanography, S. W. A. Naqvi was the principal investigator in the experiment. Authors pointed out the oceans are a major source and carbon sink with marine phytoplankton fixing up to 40% CO. The three clusters discovered were as following. First was related to class of bacteroidetes while the second and third belonged to firmicutus. Distinct feature of the three clusters was the differentiated response for presence of iron in the ocean. Organisms in cluster 1 did not respond to iron levels while those in cluster 2 increased with additional of iron and those in cluster 3 disappeared with the addition of iron. Hence clusters 2 and 3 could be indicators of iron in the ocean waters.

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Amidst deepening demographic crisis of a shrinking workforce and old population, China the world’s second largest economy has junked its controversial one child policy. Chinese lawmakers have now allowed couples to have 2 children ending the 3.5 decade old policy that prevented close to 400 million births in the nation. The new law was passed by the 159 strong National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which is a top organ of China’s parliament. China facd a demographic crisis with severe labour shortages leading to reversal of the law.

ANSWER: Harvard

Explanation:
Harvard T. H. Chen School of Public Health announced the opening of a centre in Mumbai to broaden and coordinate the collaborations of the institution to improve healthcare in the nation and across the world. The space for the centre has been provided by Harvard alumni Ajay and Swati Piramal. HBS has had a centre in Mumbai since 2006 and Harvard T. H.Chan School of Public Health will now be opening a centre here.

ANSWER: Sadhana

Explanation:
Sadhana Shivdasani, the graceful and elegant Bollywood actress died on 26th December 2015 following a brief undisclosed illness at the age of 74. She was known for her distinctive hairstyle called the Sadhana Cut and acted in fils such as Gaban, Mere Mehboob, Hum Dono and Mera Saaya.

ANSWER: Inherent Resolve

Explanation:
Pentagon has indicated that US hit Islamic State group targets in Iraq and Syria with 17 airborne strikes on Christmas day targeting IS fighters, facilities and vehicles carried out by fighter aircraft, bombers and remotely controlled aircraft. 5 of the strikes were in Syria and 12 in Iraq.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Dr. Robert L. Spitzer who gave psychiatry the first set of rigorous standards for describing mental disorders and also provided a framework for diagnosis, research and legal judgements well as lingua franca for discussing mental disorders passed away on 26th December 2015. He died at the age of 83. He was the first to propose measurement, one of the most neglected aspects of psychiatry.

ANSWER: Counter-terrorism

Explanation:
China on 27th December 2015 adopted the first counter-terrorism law granting massive powers to security agencies. National People’s Congress Standing Committee adopted the draft law earlier approved by ruling Communist Party of China. New law comes for the world at large following the increasing growth of terrorism.

ANSWER: Joint Secretary, Planning and International Cooperation

Explanation:
Indian Foreign Service is set to reacquire the post of Joint Secretary, Planning and International Cooperation of the Defence Ministry. Shambhu S. Kumaran, currently JS in charge of Russia MEA division will now be given this post which has been occupied by IAS officers since 2007. Joint Secretary PIC is involved in bilateral and multilateral international cooperation pertaining to defence and handling the think tank Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Officers also look after an array of defence and diplomacy related interface.