Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Jan 25, 2017

ANSWER: EY

Explanation:
Global leader in advisory services EY and Microsoft on 24th Jan 2017 announced partnership for innovative high-performance intelligence and analytics advisory.

These services will address the requirements of various industry sectors.

This includes financial, life sciences, retail, consumer and packaged goods and government and public sector.

The services will be powered by Microsoft's comprehensive digital and cloud technologies, including:

• Azure Analysis Services,
• Machine Learning,
• Microsoft Power BI and
• Microsoft Cortana Intelligence Suite.

EY's cross-sector advisory experience and the power of Microsoft's data intelligence and analytics offerings will benefit the industry,

Cortana: Know More

• Developer: Microsoft
• Initial release: April 2, 2014
• Operating system: Windows, iOS, Android, Xbox OS
• Available in 8 Languages.
• Type: Intelligent personal assistant
• License: Proprietary

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The height of Mount Everest will soon be "re-measured" by the Survey of India.

This is to determine whether the world's tallest peak has really shrunk following the earthquake in Nepal two years ago.

Mount Everest officially stands at 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) above sea level.

The project would help the future scientific studies as well, Surveyor General of India Swarna Subba Rao said.

Everest's height was declared in 1855.

Many others also measured it.

But the height given by Survey of India, even today, is taken as the correct height. It is 29,028 ft.

Mount Everest is planned to be measured this time by two methods - using Global Positioning System(GPS) and a ground method.

One is GPS. It is a survey instrument. It looks like a transistor. If you put it on the summit, say for 10 minutes, it tells you the height.

The Second is, ground method. Triangulation. The height can be calculated from ground.

A massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in 2015, altering the landscape across the Himalayan nation.

ANSWER: 50

Explanation:
United Kingdom's Supreme Court ruled that the government could not trigger Article 50 - the E.U. article that sets out how a country can leave the union - without a parliamentary vote.

This is upholding the 2016 High Court verdict.

However devolved legislatures in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will not need to be consulted to trigger Article 50.

The 11 justices of the Supreme Court voted 8-3 for this judgement.

Lord Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court on 23rd Jan 2017, said accepting the claimant’s argument that leaving the E.U. would change UK law.

It would also harm the rights of its residents.

The justices rejected government arguments that the 1972 European Communities Act allows for Minsters to withdraw from EU without Parliament vote.

On the devolution issue, the court considered the Sewel Convention that states that Westminster did not legislate on devolved issues.

It ruled that while the convention played an important role, the policing of its scope and operation is not a matter for the court.

This ruling is a set back for the UK government.

This will however, not change government’s timetable for triggering Article 50 by the end of March.

Theresa May: Know More

• Theresa Mary May, MP is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• She is the Leader of the Conservative Party w.e.f July 2016.
• She has been the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead since 1997.
• Born: 1 October 1956, Eastbourne, United Kingdom
• Education: St Hugh's College, Oxford (1974–1977)

ANSWER: Ababeel

Explanation:
Pakistan conducted the first flight test of long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ababeel.

The missile launched on 23rd Jan 2017 has capability to carry nuclear warheads. It can also engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating the enemy’s hostile radars.

The missile has a maximum range of 2,200 Km. It uses Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology/

The aim is deterrence.

On January 9 2017, Pakistan had conducted a test-firing of submarine-launched cruise missile “Babur-3.” This is having a range of 450 Km.

Know More About Babur 3

• Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of cruise missile Babur-2.
• It was successfully tested in December 2016.
• It incorporates state-of-the-art technology.
• It has water controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation features.
• This is augmented by Global Navigation, Terrain and Scene Matching System.
• It also features terrain-hugging and sea-skimming flight capabilities to evade hostile radars.

Ababeel: Know More


• Type: Surface-to-surface ballistic missile
• Place of origin: Pakistan
• Used by: Pakistan Army Strategic Forces Command
• Produced: 2017
• Operational range: 2,200 kilometre

ANSWER: Golden Girls of India - Pride of the Nation

Explanation:
Indian postal department has released a special stamp cover called Golden girls of India - Pride of Nation.

It was during a district-level philatelic exhibition in Agartala to honor the sporting personalities.

The special covers feature the 2016 Olympic medalist gymnast Dipa Karmakar, shuttler PV Sindhu and wrestler Sakshi Malik.

The 3 sportswomen were also awarded the nation’s highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2016.

Dipa’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi who was awarded the 2016 Dronacharya award was also in the cover.

About Dipa Karmakar

• Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar has found a proud place on a special cover released by India Post.
• The Agartala-born girl is the first Indian female gymnast ever to qualify for an Olympics final.
• She was the first Indian woman gymnast to bag a bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
• So far, the Department of Post has released 19 special issues related to Tripura.
• In 1972, it had released a special cover on a Tripura-based volley ball player.
• Karmakar was the second sportsperson to get a place in the Indian postal stamp, from this state.
• Known for her death defying Produnova vault, Dipa is only the third woman to attempt this complicated gymnastic move.

ANSWER: Siddhartha Murarka

Explanation:
Siddhartha Murarka has been appointed as the Chairman of the Eastern India Regional Council of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

His term began from January 19,

A fellow member of the ICSI, he was the head of risk management and compliance at a member firm of the PwC before starting his own practice.

Murarka is also a “regular faculty”at ICAI and other professional bodies and chambers of commerce like the Merchant Chamber of Commerce and the BCCI.

Currently, the president of the Eastern Council of ICSI is Mamta Binani.

Know More About Mamta Binani

• Mamta Binani has been elected President of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) since 2016.
• She took charge on January 19, 2016.
• Binani has been an empanelled trainer with ICICI Bank, and also with the mutual fund industry.
• She has been the Chairperson of the Eastern India Regional Council of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India in 2010.
• Binani was also the first CS to be conferred the 'Bharat Nirman Awards' in 2010.

ANSWER: Ajit Pai

Explanation:
President Donald Trump has picked a critic of the net neutrality rules to be chief regulatory of airwaves and internet connections in the US.

Ajit Pai has been chosen as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commision wef 24^th Jan 2017.

Pai was also on five-member panel that regulates the country’s communications infrastructure, including TV, phone and internet service.

There are currently just three members on the panel.

The Republicans’ new majority at the FCC, along with their control of Congress and the White House, is expected to help them roll back policies for net neutrality.

Pai said he would aim for an industry friendly FCC. A deregulation-minded FCC could potentially allow more huge mergers, overturn new protections for internet users.

It could lead to higher costs for media and technology companies that rely on the internet to reach consumers.

Pai opposed online privacy regulations that force broadband providers to ask consumers for permission before using their data.

The Internet Association, a trade group that represents tech and video companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google and Netflix also lauded the move.

The FCC currently has a 2-1 Republican majority and two empty seats, which will be filled by one Republican and one Democrat.

Know More About Ajit Pai

• Pai, an Indian-American from Kansas, has been an FCC commissioner since 2012.
• During 15 years in government, he’s been a Senate staffer and worked at the FCC and the Justice Department.
• He was also a lawyer for Verizon and an attorney at the law firm Jenner & Block.

ANSWER: Kyoto Protocol

Explanation:
Union Cabinet on 24^th Jan 2017 approves the ratification of the second commitment period of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for 2013-2020.

This protocol contains emission of GHGs. The Kyoto Protocol became operational in 2005.

As per the protocol, only developed nations are mandatorily required to undertake mitigation (emission cuts) targets.

They also have to provide financial resources and transfer of technology to the developing nations.

The first commitment period of the KP was 2005-12.

Its second commitment period was adopted in 2012.

Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by India will encourage other developing countries also to undertake this exercise.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under the KP's second commitment period will attract some investments in India as well.

The KP was adopted in 1997.

It recognised that the developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHGs).

Developing countries have no mandatory mitigation obligations or targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

In December, 2015, nations adopted another agreement in Paris which is meant for being operationalised post-2020 (end of the KP's second commitment period).

Paris Agreement mandates all countries to take action to minimise the impact of climate change.

This is as per their voluntary commitments and individual capacity.

For the period 2013-2020, the protocol was adopted in Doha in 2012.

India has always emphasized the importance of climate actions by developed country Parties in the pre-2020 period.

It has also upheld Equity and Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR & RC)

Though amendment to its second commitment period (2013-2020) was adopted in 2012, only 75 countries have, so far, ratified it.

A total of 144 countries are required to ratify the amendment for bringing it into force.

Kyoto Protocol: Know More

• Signed: 11 December 1997
• Location: Kyoto, Japan
• Effective: 16 February 2005
• Condition: Ratification by at least 55 States to the Convention
• Signatories: 83
• Parties: 192

ANSWER: Goa

Explanation:
In the upcoming assembly polls, Goa will become the first state in the nation to opt for electronic transmission of postal ballot. CEC Syed Nasim Zaidi announced this move to service voters.

Returning officers will transfer postal ballots to service voters by electronic means. Service voters can now download it,, fill and send it through email to the returning officer.

Sending ballot papers through electronic means is time conserving. In fact, this is the first service not only in the region, but around the world.

Goa has 822 service voters in defence, para military forces or diplomatic missions.

Goa is the first state where assembly constituencies will be covered by VVPAT or Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail machines.

This will ensure the vote goes to the right candidate and transparency of the process is available for the voter.

IT based initiatives and schemes have also been put in place. Samadhan, an online scheme addresses complaints. Permission clearance system Suvidha will have modifications to make it work better.

Polling will take place in free and fair manner, with measures taken by ECI like strict vigil on casinos, state borders and the airport.

DG Intelligence is also working on strategy, entry and exit from casinos, movement of loose cash, setting up of static surveillance team, flying squads and certain action by Income Tax department,” he said.

Air Intelligence unit has been set up at the Dabolim international airport. It is set to check movement of money or any undesirable elements through air.

I-T department is keeping special eye on clandestine currency exchanges and the movement of money through banking channels.

Special surveillance would be mounted on cross border movement of liquor, money and gifts.

In order to check misuse of liquor, excise department has to launch a special drive.

Goa Government: Know More

• Governor: Mridula Sinha
• Chief Minister: Laxmikant Parsekar (BJP)
• Legislature: Unicameral (40 seats)
• Parliamentary constituency: 2
• High Court Bombay High Court - Panaji, Goa Bench

ANSWER: Betty Wilson

Explanation:
Two of the greatest top order Aussie batsmen David Boon and Matthew Hayden have been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

Australia's female Don Bradman, Betty Wilson became the second female cricketer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame too.

Boon played 107 tests from 1984 to 1996 and scored 7422 runs at 3.65 s an opener and No.3 player.

He featured in 181 ODIs. Since retirement, he has served as an administrator, selector and ICC match referee.

Player of the match in the 1987 World Cup Final against England, he ended his career in 1999 with more than 23,000 first class runs.

Hayden played 103 Tests from 1994-2009. With 8625 runs at 50.73, he is fifth on the list of all time test run scorers in Australia.

Hayden also secured 380 against Zimbabwe at the WACA in 2003– this was the highest test score by any player till Brian Lara with 400 in 2004.

Wilson is the second women cricketer to be included, after 2014 inductee Belinda Clark. Wilson died in 2010 at age 88, averaging 57.46 in test matches during the 40s and 50s. She took 68 wickets with an average of 11.80.

She was the first player of either gender to score 10 wickets in the test and a century in 1958. In 1960, Alan Davidson was the first man to match this feat. Wilson became the first woman player to also take a test hat-trick.

Boon, Hayden and Wilson will be inducted into the Allan Border Medal ceremony in Sydney on 23rd Jan 2017.

This takes number of inductees to 46 since inception in 1996.

Hall of Fame inductees

• Belinda Clark
• Alan Davidson
• George Giffen
• Adam Gilchrist
• Bill Woodfull
• Betty Wilson
• Steve Waugh
• Mark Waugh
• Shane Warne
• Doug Walters
• Charlie Turner
• Victor Trumper
• Hugh Trumble
• Jeff Thomson
• Mark Taylor
• Fred Spofforth
• Bob Simpson
• Clarrie Grimmett
• Wally Grout
• Neil Harvey
• Lindsay Hassett
• Matthew Hayden
• Ian Healy
• Clem Hill
• Bill Lawry
• Dennis Lillee
• Jack Ryder
• Bill Ponsford
• Bill O'Reilly
• Monty Noble
• Ray Lindwall
• Charles Macartney
• Rod Marsh
• Stan McCabe
• Glenn McGrath
• Graham McKenzie
• Keith Miller
• Arthur Morris
• Ian Chappell
• Greg Chappell
• Sir Donald Bradman
• Allan Border
• David Boon
• John Blackham
• Richie Benaud
• Warwick Armstrong