Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Jan 11, 2017

ANSWER: 0.45 billion

Explanation:
Retroviruses, a family of viruses that include HIV are half a billion years old, according to scientists.

New research indicated retroviruses have ancient marine origins. They have been with animal hosts through the revolutionary transition from sea to land.

Up till now, it was believed these viruses were just 100 million years in age. Research shows retroviruses are 450 million years old and possibly older.

They may have originated with veterbrate hosts in the early Paleozoic era.

Present in vertebrate ancestors before land colonisation, they have accompanied hosts through transition from sea to land.

What are Retroviruses?

• A genre of viruses that cause chronic diseases like AIDS, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
• The 'retro' part of their name comes from the fact they are made of RNA.
• RNA is converted into DNA and inserted into their host genome.
• Genomic fossils for foamy-like retroviruses were found in highly diverse hosts.
• These are including ray-finned fish and amphibians.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Real estate portals PropTiger.com and Housing.com announced that they have merged.

The two will form India’s largest online real estate services company.

Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank is the biggest investor in Housing.com. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is the largest shareholder in PropTiger.com.

Dhruv Agarwala, co-founder of PropTiger will serve as CEO of the joint entity.

The company said that Jason Kothari, CEO of Housing.com has decided to move on to pursue other opportunities in the Indian Internet space.

REA Group Limited, an Aussie real estate firm owned by News Corp, is investing $50 million in the joint entity, according to the statement.

It also said that an affiliate of SoftBank is putting $5 million in the entity.

By 2030, India is expected to be the third largest real estate market in the world with the sector contributing to over 15 per cent of the national GDP.

With 1.2 billion people and a rapidly growing economy and middle class, India will have growth in this sector.

ANSWER: CNES

Explanation:
Indian Space Research Organisation and French space agency CNES signed a partnership agreement in satellite launch technology on 10th Jan 2017.

Agreement was signed between ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar and CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Space cooperation between France and India spans 50 years and is a cornerstone of the Indo-French strategic partnership.

ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network) monitors Indian space missions, including the two Indo-French satellites currently in orbit for collecting data to track climate change.

ISRO is the second partner of CNES, in terms of volume, after NASA.

Of comparable size and sharing similar objectives, the space programmes of both countries are complementary.

Through the partnership, France to benefit from the Indian model of streamlining the costs of space programmes.

As TeamIndus races to design an all-terrain rover by end-2017 for this lunar mission, CNES will provide it with cameras.

An agreement was signed providingAxiom Research Lab's lunar rover with two latest-generation CASPEX micro-cameras.

These are developed by CNES in partnership with French firm 3DPlus.

In joining forces with Team Indus on this first private mission to land a rover on the moon, CNES is sending French technology for the first time on lunar terrain.

About CNES

• The Centre national d'études spatiales is the French government space agency.
• Its headquarters are located in central Paris.
• It t is under the supervision of the French Ministries of Defence and Research.
• Budget: 2.126 billion EUR (2015)
• Headquarters: Paris
• Founder: Charles de Gaulle
• Founded: 19 December 1961

ANSWER: Kuaizhou-1A rocket

Explanation:
China on 9th Jan 2017 sent three satellites into space in its first commercial mission using an updated version of the low-cost Kuaizhou-1A rocket.

The rocket carried the satellite JL-1 and two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1.

It blasted off from northwestern China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province at around 12:11 pm local time.

KZ-IA rocket was developed from the Kuaizhou-1 rocket programme with improvements in adaptability.

A low-cost solid- fuelled carrier rocket with high reliability and short preparation period, it was designed to launch low-orbit satellites weighing under 300 kg.

A rocket technology company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation was responsible for the launch mission.

China plans to conduct a record number of 30 space launch missions this year.

The record-breaking space launches will be launched by Long March-5 and Long March-7 rockets.

Long March-5 is China’s largest carrier rocket.

China conducted 22 launch missions in 2016 and 19 in 2015.

The country successfully tested its Long March-7 rocket in June 2016.

China plans to provide space and aviation-related services to countries involved in its ‘One Belt and One Road’ initiative.

About the Three Satellites

JL-1

• Multifunctional remote-sensing satellite.
• It is providing high-definition video images
• It expected to be used for land resource and forestry surveying, environmental protection, transport and disaster prevention and relief purposes.

XY-SI and Caton-1


• Experimental satellites to test technologies.
• Characterised by low-orbit narrow-band communication and VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) respectively.

ANSWER: Tokapoisa.in

Explanation:
The indigenously developed e-Wallet Tokapoisa.in aims to enable the people of the state for hassle-free online transactions in local language.

It will be launched on the occasion of Digi Dhan mela to be held in Guwahati.

Tokapoisa.in has been developed by the AMTRON to facilitate government-related transactions. It is using mobile application.

Besides being an e-Wallet, it will be a virtual payment terminal.

It will be a virtual payment terminal.

He said government-related transactions could also be possible through the mobile application.

It has a feature of ‘accounting package’ for such small traders who cannot engage full-time accountants to keep their financial records.

To enable offline payment, local cards will be available for paying through Tokapoisa.in.

It will be available via popular commercial online services for download.

It will be unveiled on the inaugural day of a state-level DigiDhan Mela here on January 11 next.

Meanwhile, Assam's Khetri gaon panchayat is being made fully digital.

It will be formally announced as the first digital GP of the state soon.

DigiDhan Mela will also see the launch of an e-payment portal of the Finance Department in association with the State Bank of India.

About Digi Dhan Mela

• The DigiDhan Mela is being organised to promote cashless transaction.
• It helps to adopt digital payment practice.
• It also aims to help users in downloading, installing and using various digital payment systems.
• Systems are for carrying out digital transactions.
• The mela will also provide free wifi at the venue to enable citizens to download and install mobile apps.
• It will be aiding on the spot digital payments.
• The event will see participation from a lot of organizations.
• These include e-wallet operators, banks, telecom companies, networking firms, oil companies, merchant associations and government agencies.

ANSWER: MumbaiWiFi

Explanation:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Jan 9, 2017 announced the largest public Wi-Fi service in Mumbai with 500 Wi-Fi live hotspots across the city.

500 WiFi Hotspots go live across various locations in Mumbai.

MumbaiWifi is India’s largest Public WiFi service and one of the largest globally too.

1,200 Wi-Fi hotspots will go live in Mumbai by May 1, as committed. Connectivity and speed will be monitored.

Another 700 hotspots will be active by May 1 - which is celebrated as Maharashtra Day.

During the trial period between January 2-8, around 23,000 users signed up in Mumbai and downloaded more than 2TB (TetraByte) data.

The Wi-Fi - free with unlimited usage till January 31 - is now available at the offices of Mumbai Police Commissioner, Vidhan Bhavan, KalaNagar in Bandra, Bombay High Court among others.

Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation (MITC) has collaborated with US-based companies like Hewlett Packard and Fortinet for this service.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is the bandwidth provider and Larsen & Toubro is the systems integrator.

Public Wi-Fi era is also there in Mumbai hotspots at certain important railway stations for commuters.

Some private locations like malls, cinemas, restaurants, hotels offered limited free Wi-Fi access to their patrons.

ANSWER: Intelligent Robotic Assistant

Explanation:
HDFC launched ‘IRA’ (or Intelligent Robotic Assistant), a humanoid, which will provide assistance services in bank branches.

The robot will be unveiled at one of its bank branches in the next 10-12 days. The bank will take a decision on deploying additional robots in branches.

In the initial phase, it will be deployed in branches. It will be a mobile robot which will be capable of offering services while being in motion.

Block-chain, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things will also be looked into in the future to offer products and services in this domain.

Kochi-based ASIMOV Robotics has helped the bank with the robot creation. This company is a single window solution and services provider that aims to meet all robotics/automation needs.

Through the Digital Innovation Summit, HDFC is also inviting ideas from startups and fintech companies in the areas of Internet of Things, virtual reality, block-chain, rural fin-tech, among others.

The top five ideas selected will be evaluated to give the respective companies an opportunity to partner with HDFC Bank.

City Union Bank had launched its humanoid Lakshmi which was an artificial intelligence powered robot.

This robot was able to speak English, gesture and engage in a life-like manner in conversations.

It was enabled to interact with customers on segments like account balance and interest rates on loans.

ANSWER: Gold jewellery

Explanation:
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on 10th Jan said it has revised Indian Standard on gold hallmarking, which is effective from January 1 this year.

Indian standard on gold hallmarking has been revised and has been made effective for implementation with effect from January 1, 2017.

The hallmarked gold jewellery will now be available in three grades of 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat.

The caratage will also be marked on jewellery in addition to fineness for convenience of consumers,

For 22 carat jewellery 22K will be marked in addition to 916 (22K916), for 18 carat jewellery 18K will be marked in addition to 750 (18K750) and for 14 carat jewellery, 14K will be marked in addition to 585 (14K585).

Hallmark on gold jewellery will now have four marks.

These are the BIS Mark, the purity in carat and fineness (22K916 for 22 carat), assaying centre's identification mark and jeweller's identification mark.

Know More About BIS

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national Standards Body of India.
• It working under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• Headquarters?: ?Manak Bhawan
• Agency executive?: ?: Alka Panda, Director General
• Formed?: ?23 December 1986

ANSWER: Jan 10

Explanation:
World Hindi Day was celebrated on 10^th Jan 2017. Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has conducted special events to spread the greatness of the language through its missions abroad.

Hindi is the first language of around 430 million people around the world.

Apart from India, the language is also spoken in Nepal, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Fiji and Mauritius.


Every year, the World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10, marking the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in 1975.

The first World Hindi Conference was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Since 1975, the World Hindi Conference has been organised in different countries like India, Mauritius, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, US.

The World Hindi Day was first observed on 10 January 2006

Facts on Hindi

• Hindi has originated from the Persian word Hind, which means the land of Indus river.
• The gender aspects of Hindi are very strict. All nouns in Hindi possess genders and the adjectives and verbs change according to gender.
• It is written in Devanagari script.
• Hindi is a descendent of Sanskrit. Its words and grammar follows that of the ancient language
• Hindi belongs to the Indo-Iranian sub-family of the Indo-European family of language
• It has been influenced and enriched by Turkish, Arabic, Persian, English and Dravidian (ancient South India) languages
• The earliest form of Hindi was called 'Apabhramsa', which was an offspring of Sanskrit.
• In 400 AD, poet Kalidas wrote Vikramorvashiyam in Apabhramsa.
• The first book believed to be published in Hindi was Prem Sagar.
• Hindi is one of the seven Indian languages that can be used to make web URLs.

ANSWER: Science City, Ahmedabad

Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 'The Nobel Prize' exhibition on 9^th Jan, 2017 at Science City in Ahmedabad.

'The Nobel Prize: Ideas Changing the World' contains several original artefacts, both from Alfred Nobel himself and from a number of Nobel Laureates

The exhibition is open to public till February 13 free of charge.

It is a part of Nobel Prize Series India 2017, an extensive programme of events taking place with the participation of nine Nobel Laureates

A symposium will also be held in connection with Vibrant Gujarat, as well as inspirational meetings such as Q&A sessions, lectures and roundtables in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi and Gandhinagar

Students will be able to interact with the Laureates at universities such as IISC Bangalore, NCBS Bangalore, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat University and M S University Vadodara.

It is the first-of-its-kind conclave of Nobel laureates to be held in India.

It has been organised by Nobel Media and coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology.

Nine Nobel laureates are attending it and interact with students of Indian Universities. Read more

The Nobel Prize Series, India 2017 will feature a 5-week long Science Exhibition being set up by the Nobel Foundation, with exhibits from the Nobel Museum, Stockholm, Sweden.

About Alfred Nobel

• Born: 21 October 1833, Stockholm, Sweden
• Died: 10 December 1896, Sanremo, Italy
• Nationality: Swedish
• Awards: John Fritz Medal

ANSWER: Zygmunt Bauman

Explanation:
Zygmant Bauman, a prominent and prolific European sociologist has died at the age of 91 on 9th Jan 2017. The Polish-origin, left wing thinker explored the fluidity of identify in the modern world.

He also carried out analysis on topics such as consumerism, globalisation, consumerism and more.

Bauman was a strong moral voice for the marginalized in a world upended by globalisation.

Renowned for an approach that integrated sociology with philosophy and other disciplines, he focused on importance of ethics in human behavior.

During the 1990s, Bauman coined the term liquid modernity to describe the contemporary world in such a flux that people are left rootless.

He wrote books such as “Liquid Times” and “Liquid Modernity.” He examined human connections in a constantly changing world.

In Poland, he was controversial because a 2006 document showed he had served in the Internal Security Corps. Some nationalists saw him as an enemy of the country.

Bauman's theories were a massive influence on the anti-globalisation movement, focusing on outcasts and the marginalised.

Know More About Zygmunt Bauman

• Born: November 19, 1925
• Location: Poznan, Poland,
• After the war, he rose quickly in the military ranks.
• By the early 1950s had become one of the youngest majors in the Polish army.
• During these years he was a communist and a member of the Polish Workers’ Party.
• Bauman studied sociology, then philosophy, at the University of Warsaw, and was teaching there when the communist regime emerged.
• Bauman lived and taught for a short time in Israel.
• He lectured at universities in Tel Aviv and Haifa from 1969 to 1971.
• Following this, he and his family settled in Britain.
• Bauman headed the Department of Sociology at the University of Leeds.
• Awards: European Amalfi Prize for Sociology in 1992, the Theodor W. Adorno Award in 1998 and the Prince of Asturias Award in 2010.
• The University of Leeds also created the Bauman Institute in his honor.