Current Affairs Questions & Answers - July 10, 2017

ANSWER: Lycosa aragogi

Explanation:
A wolf spider crab species has been named after Aragog - a giant, talking arachnid from J K Rowling’s popular fantasy Harry Potter series.

Researchers, including those from University of Tehran in Iran have named the newfound spider ‘Lycosa aragogi’ which has a one inch long body (excluding the legs).

It has two black and three white stripes of setae, or hairs, on its upper body.

The arachnid also has black setae on the appendages by its mouth, ‘giving the spider a charismatic look,’ while its abdomen is covered with black and white setae.

The animatronic puppet created for the movie ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ was based on the anatomy of a wolf spider.

Since it was also the 20th anniversary of the series, scientists thought it might be a good idea and celebration of this wonderful franchise.

The spider was spotted in a mountainous region of southeastern Iran’s Kerman Province.

Large wolf spiders do not build webs, but stay in their burrows during the day and hunt at nighttime, stalking their prey.

Most live for about three years

Wolf spiders carry their egg sacs on their bodies and periodically expose the developing spiders to light and heat from the sun for better development.

Once the spiderlings are born, the mother keeps them on her back and feeds them for the first few weeks.

“This nurturing behaviour is not so different from that of Aragog, who ‘loved his colony of ‘Acromantulas’ - a fictional species of spider.

ANSWER: J&K

Explanation:
The President of India has promulgated today two ordinances, namely, the Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017.

This was for extending the domain of Central GST Act and the Integrated GST Act to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, with effect from 8th July, 2017.

With this, the State of Jammu and Kashmir has become part of the GST regime, making GST truly a “one nation, one tax” regime.

Earlier, the Goods and Services Tax was launched in the country from the midnight of 1st July, 2017.

However, because of the special provisions applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir extra steps had to be taken before the State could join the GST fold.

On 6th July 2017, the State of Jammu and Kashmir had taken the first step towards adopting the GST regime with the President of India giving assent to the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2017.

Resultantly, the One Hundred and First Amendment Act, 2016 to the Constitution of India that paved the way for introduction of GST in the country, became applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir also.

Following this, on 7th July, 2017, the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017 was passed by the State Legislature, empowering the State to levy State GST on intra-state supplies with effect from 8th July, 2017.

Concomitantly, the President of India has promulgated two ordinances, namely, the Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has launched the SWAYAM, the portal that takes high quality education to the doorstep of everyone.

This was in the National Convention of Vice Chancellors of all Universities in the Country, and Heads of IISc/IITs/IIMs/NITs/IIITs at Vigyan Bhawan.

Along with this, he has also launched the SWAYAM Prabha – the 32 DTH channels operationalised for telecasting high quality educational content free of charge using the GSAT-15 satellite transponders.

The function was organised on the eve of the Guru Poornima, a day for salutation to the teachers.

With the launch of SWAYAM, India has become one of the few countries in the World which has its own online interactive learning platform that provides, not only video lectures, reading material but also assignments/quizzes that could end up in securing credits after completing the assessment system.

More than 400 Courses are available on SWAYAM covering all the engineering and non-engineering subjects at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

The UGC has already issued Regulation that allows transfer of credits earned through the courses done through SWAYAM into the academic record of the students.

It is now possible for the students and others to take courses of the prestigious IITs or IIMs without formally studying there.

The platform has been constructed by Microsoft with totally indigenous efforts.

The courses are available on www.swayam.gov.in.

Nearly 700 Vice Chancellors from across the Country are participating in the national convention that started on 8th July and will end on 10th July.

This is the biggest ever gathering of heads of all the higher educational institutions in the Country.

Many digital initiatives taken under the National Mission for Education through ICT have been showcased in the meeting.

The meeting ended with adoption of “ Programme 17 for 17” : - A 17 point action plan for 2017 – for building digital campuses and high quality education.

The action plan covers measures like universal adoption of digital education, digital financial transactions in the campuses from the current academic year.

Three Books have been launched on the occasion – account of NMEICT initiatives, list of 323 courses which are on offer in the current academic semester and a eBook of presentation of digital best practices by more than 500 institutions.

SWAYAM Prabha Channel

• The SWAYAM Prabha channels are available for free for anyone who has a set top box to receive either DD Free Dish or DishTV.
• These channels transmit 4 hours of fresh content every day, and contain lectures from the best teachers in the Country.
• There is no monthly charge for viewing these channels.
• These channels include the IIT-PAL channels which were intended to help students taking the prestigious JEE examination, taught by the IIT faculty.

ANSWER: Order of Australia

Explanation:
Guruswamy Jayraman, a 69-year-old Glenwood resident who migrated from Delhi to Australia in 1991, has been awarded Order of Australia for community work.

This is the highest civilian award in Australia.

He works as a senior accountant with Woollahra Municipal Council for a living and has been devoting most of his spare time in community work for the last 25 years.

He has represented various community organisations like Auburn Diversity Services as chair, Hindu Council of Australia as treasurer, Sri Om Adi Sakhi Ashram – a non-for-profit health support system for the elderly, and the community volunteering organisation – Sewa International Australia, among others.

He holds a graduate diploma in health counselling and in medical terminology and counselling.

Other Awards Received

• Outstanding Services to Older Citizens Award from the Auburn Council (2011),
• Service to the Indian Community and Seniors by the India Independence & Australia Day Celebration Committee (2010) and
  Community Services award from GOPIO Sydney (2012).
• He was also awarded for his contributions for seniors in Western Sydney by the Minister for Ageing & Disability.

ANSWER: Saima Wazed Hossain

Explanation:
Saima Wazed Hossain was on 6 July 2017 appointed as the WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in the South-East Asia region.

A globally renowned champion for the cause of autism spectrum disorder, Hossain has been appointed for a period of two years.

In the last one year while championing for the cause of autism for WHO, Hossain facilitated the ‘Thimphu Declaration’ on autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders at an international conference in Bhutan in April 2017.

As WHO Goodwill Ambassador, Hossain will be promoting the Thimphu declaration which emphasises on integrating the needs of autism affected people into national health and socioeconomic development plans.

Hossain was designated as WHO Regional Champion for Autism in May 2016.

Autism: Know More

• Autism is a life- long disability that affects brain functioning.
• When left without proper treatment and support, Autism can cause significant impairment in exercising of an individual’s human rights and fundamental freedoms.
  Globally, autism prevalence rates are estimated to be 160 cases in a population of 10000.
• In low and middle income countries, children with autism do not get the medical attention and care they need.

ANSWER: GST Rates Finder

Explanation:
Government has launched an App - GST Rates Finder to verify the accurate tax rate on commodity and services under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

This will empower not only the taxpayers, but every citizen of the nation, to ascertain the correct GST rate on goods and services.

Through this app, user can determine GST rate by entering the name of the commodity or service.

The search result will list all the Goods and Services containing the name which was typed in the search box.

A taxpayer can search for applicable CGST, SGST, UTGST rate and Compensation Cess on a supply.

Finance Ministry said, this mobile app can be downloaded on any smart phone and can work in offline mode, once downloaded.

The application has been launched on Android platform, and will soon be available on iOS platform.

Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has taken these initiatives for ease of doing business under the GST regime.

CBEC has also provided a GST rate finder on its portal - cbec-gst.gov.in to help taxpayers know applicable GST rate on their supplies.

ANSWER: 122

Explanation:
More than 120 nations adopted the first international treaty banning nuclear weapons on 7th July at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

The initiative - led by Austria, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and New Zealand - was approved by 122 votes, with only the Netherlands opposed, and Singapore abstaining.

The nine countries generally recognized as possessing nuclear weapons - the U.S., Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel - were noticeably absent from the negotiations, as were most members of NATO.

Despite being a victim of atomic attacks in 1945, Japan also boycotted the meeting.

Nevertheless, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki informed Friday’s dialogue - and the conversation thereafter.

The agreement is a very clear statement that the international community wants to move to a completely different security paradigm that does not include nuclear weapons.

The treaty is extensive in its demands, prohibiting signatories from developing, testing, manufacturing, possessing, or threatening to use nuclear weapons.

Nations are also prohibited from transferring nuclear weapons to one another.

Having now been approved by the UN, the treaty will be open for signatures on September 20, at which point it will need to be ratified by 50 states before entering into international law.

ANSWER: Harinder Pal Sandhu

Explanation:
India’s Harinder Pal Sandhu beat Rhys Dowling of Australia 11-8 12-10 11-4 in the final to win the South Australian Open squash title here today.

After winning the first game comfortably, Sandhu was down 1-7 as the Australian fought back strongly.

However, Sandhu mounted a comeback to win the game.

The third game was a no-contest as the Indian, a former national champion, shut out Dowling’s challenge to wrap up the title win in the PSA World Tour event.

Sandhu had upset top seed Piedro Schweertman of the Netherlands 11-9 14-12 7-11 11-9 in the semifinal.

He won the Aussie PSA tournament here for the first time.

It is Sandhu’s eighth title at the PSA level and the third this season after winning two in Malaysia in May.

He had reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Individual Squash Championship in Chennai in April.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
India and Bangladesh have decided to construct bridge over Mizoram’s Khawthlangtuipui river to facilitate trade and improve communication between the two neighbours.

Officials of India and Bangladesh held a meeting on 7th July at Tlabung town (Mamit district) and discussed to speed up the works for the proposed construct bridge between the two countries across Khawthlangtuipui river (also known as Karnaphuli river).

The proposed bridge would be an important linkage between India and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government has taken a number of steps to make it a reality.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had given approval to construct the bridge and linking roads.

The Mamit district is adjacent to Khagrachari district of Chittagong hill tracts of southeast Bangladesh.

The bridge would not only improve road connectivity between the two regions but also strengthen the ties between the people of the two countries living both sides of the borders.

It has been proposed that the location of the bridge be made as closer as possible to the nearest land custom station in the Bangladesh side.

After the meeting, officials of the two countries inspected possible locations to construct the bridge.

Mizoram shares a 318 km unfenced border with Bangladesh.

Mizoram: Know More

• Mizoram is one of the states of Northeast India, with Aizawl as its capital city.
• The name is derived from Mi, Zo and Ram.
• Mizoram implies "land of the hill people". Wikipedia
• Capital: Aizawl
• Population: 1.116 million (2014)
• Districts: 8
• Formation: 20 February 1987