Current Affairs Questions & Answers - July 30, 2016

ANSWER: 7

Explanation:
FDI in India grew by 7 percent to USD 10.55 billion during Q1 of 2016-2017. Foreign investment inflows were at USD 9.88 billion in January-March 2015 according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.

• Sectors which attracted maximum FDI during this period included computer hardware and software, services, telecommunications, power, pharmaceuticals and trading business.
• In terms of nations, India received the maximum overseas inflows from the US, Singapore, Japan, Mauritius and the Netherlands.
• Further liberalisation of the foreign investment policies for services sector in the budget means more inflows will come.
• Government has recently relaxed FDI norms in 8 sectors namely defence, civil aviation, food processing, private security agencies and pharmaceuticals.
• Foreign investment is critical for India which needs USD 1 trillion for overhauling infrastructure such as ports, airports and highways for boosting growth.
• Strong inflow of foreign investments will help improve the country’s BOP situation and strengthen the rupee value against other global currencies including the US dollar.

ANSWER: MSH3

Explanation:
Scientists have discovered a mutation in a gene leading to a hereditary form of colon cancer not identified earlier.

• Researchers have discovered genetic changes in the MSH3 gene in patients and identified a new form of colon cancer.
• Formation of large number of polyps in the colon has high chances of being developed into colon cancer, if left untreated.
• Colon polyps form mushroom shaped growths from the mucosa and are several millimetres to centimetres in size.
• Though generally benign, they can turn into malignant tumours or colon cancer through polyposis.

ANSWER: National Dairy Development Board

Explanation:
T. Nanda Kumar, Chairman of Gujarat based National Dairy Development Board has resigned

• ACC has accepted the resignation of Kumar with effect from August 1, 2016 according to the DoPT without citing a reason.
• Senior most whole time director of the board has been given additional charge of NDDB till appointment of regular incumbent.
• Kumar is an IAS officer and worked as NDDB chief since March 3, 2014.
• He is the first chairman of the board based in Anand Gujarat.
• Other chairpersons of this board include Verghese Kurien and Amrita Patel.
• Kurien is known as the Father of White Revolution/Milk Revolution in India.

ANSWER: Pulitzer Prize

Explanation:
James Alan McPherson, author of widely anthologised short stores and essays that explore the experiences of African Americans in America in 1978 was the first black author to receive the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

• He passed away at the age of 72 at Iowa City on July 27, 2016.
• He succumbed to complications from pneumonia and wrote works such as “Elbow Room” “Gold Coast” and a volume of short stories “Hue and Cry.”

ANSWER: Traditional Knowledge Digital Library

Explanation:
Ministry of AYUSH has created the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library in partnership with Council for Scientific & Industrial Research for digitalisation of traditional medical knowledge.

• Under TKDL, close to 2.9 lakh formulations from the texts of Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha systems have been digitalised till date to keep safe Traditional Knowledge from misappropriation of wrong patients by providing defensive protection.
• DIPP, Ministry of Commerce & Industry has provided information that government has approved the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy on 12th May, 2016.
• Present IPR policy envisages integration of IP as a policy and strategic tool in national development plans.
• It foresees a coordinated and integrated development of IP system in India as well as holistic approach on IP legal, administrative, institutional and enforcement related matters.

ANSWER: Morocco

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee extended greetings and felicitations to people and King of Morocco on the eve of the anniversary of HMS King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne (July 30, 2016).

• India appreciated the participation of the Moroccan ruler at the Third Africa Forum Summit in 2015. Minister of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment participated in the Fourth India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference held in New Delhi in January 2016.
• Vice President of India Shri Hamid Ansari has made an official visit to Morocco and held extensive discussions with esteemed leaders of Morocco on enhancement of bilateral cooperation.

ANSWER: Vanuatu

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended greetings and felicitations to Government and people of the Republic of Vanuatu on the eve of their Independence Day (July 30, 2016).

• The President of the Republic of Vanuatu is currently Baldwin Lonsdale.
• India and Pacific Islands countries have straightened through the successful 2nd Summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation held in August 2015.
• The Prime Minister of Vanuatu is currently HE Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvnu.
• India and Vanuatu have worked in areas of renewable energy and information technology.

ANSWER: 8000

Explanation:
Botanical Survey of India, an organisation under Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, GoI have carried out survey and documentation of plant resources of the country including medicinal and aromatic plants and herbs.

• According to the BSI estimate, close to 8000 species of medicinal herbs and plants have been found in the country.
• National Medicinal Plants Board, AYUSH Ministry has been implementing the following schemes in 2008-2009:
• Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants.
• According to BSI, an organisation under Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change about 70 medicinal and aromatic plant species are threatened on account of anthropogenic activities.

ANSWER: PCPIR policy

Explanation:
Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals is implementing the Petroleum Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region policy to promote investments, boost manufacturing and generate employment.

• Considerable investments by upstream Anchor Units in the Refinery and Cracker segments are envisioned to lead to other investments in the chemical and petrochemical downstream sectors and ancillary industries.
• GoI have approved the establishment of 4 PCPIRs namely the following:
  1. Dahej (Gujarat)
  2. Paradeep (Odisha)
  3. Cuddalore-Nagapttinam (Tamil Nadu)
  4. Vishakapatnam-Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh)

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Government of Himachal Pradesh, NTPC Limited and NHPC have signed an MoU for establishing a Hydro Engineering College in the state of Himachal Pradesh to promote technical education in the state.

• NTPC and NHPC are committed to contribute INR 37.50 crore (totalling INR 75 crore) in the first tranche for establishing the Hydro Engineering College in Badla District Bilaspur, HP.
• NTPC and NHPC will consider to release INR 12.5 crore each (total INR 25 crore) in the second tranche.
• NTPC and NHPC will contribute INR 2.5 crore each (total INR 5 crore) per year for 5 years towards operating expenses.
• NTPC, NHPC and Ministry of Power, GoI will be represented in the Governing Body of the College which will have affiliation with the Himachal Pradesh Technical University.

ANSWER: 5000

Explanation:
More than 13 crore rural households in the country have income of less than INR 5000 per month according to the Parliament.

• As per the Socio Economic and Caste Census/SECC 2011, 13.39 crore of 17.97 crore rural households have declared income of less than INR 5000 per month.
• Department of Rural Development is implementing various schemes such as MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana among others to enhance the overall quality of life of the people.
• SECC 2011 was carried out to generate information on numerous socioeconomic indicators for ranking of households in rural and urban areas of the country.

ANSWER: National Compensatory Afforestation Fund

Explanation:
The Lok Sabha passed the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill during the budget session in May.

• Rajya Sabha has passed the bill after government assured the Upper House it would create enough provisions in rules to safeguards the interests of forest dwellers and tribals.
• Once the bill has received assent from the President, the aim will be to create an institutional mechanism for using estimated INR 6000 crore per year that would be collected for diversion of forest land for non forest use in the future.
• Currently, an ad hoc body Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority is a custodian of accumulated INR 42,000 crore.
• Legislation aims to set up the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund at the centre and the State Compensatory Afforestation Fund in respective states.
• Massive percentage of the collected fund will be spent in states for afforestation and other related works including forest regeneration and wildlife protection.
• It has also aimed to set up national authority at centre and state level authority in respective states to monitor fund utilisation.
• CAF Bill was introduced in LS; RS took up the Bill for consideration on 27th July.

ANSWER: 453

Explanation:
With the discovery in Uttarakhand of three varieties of butterflies, total number of varieties of butterflies found in the hill state is 453

• Of the three new varieties, two were discovered and photographed in Nainital and third was found in Haldwani.
• Of 1300 varieties of butterflies found in India, Uttarakhand was home to 450 till three more species were added to the list.
• Spotted three species are the following:
  1. Ciliate Blue- Anthene emolus
  2. Newar three ring (Ypthima newer)
  3. Western Five Ring (Ypthima indecora)
• Forest department held that this is the first time the Ciliate Blue (28-35 mm) is recorded from Western Himalaya in Uttarakhand
• Species is previously found in southern parts of India, Nepal to NE India.
• In India it is found in Bihar, Sikkim, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal and NE states.
• Newar three ring (35-40 mm) is also recorded first time in the hill state Uttarakhand and is found in areas from Kashmir to Kumaon and in Arunachal Pradesh as well.
• Single specimen of the butterfly species were found in FRI Dehradun
• Third one, Western Five Ring (45 to 50 mm) was identified by IUCN member Krushnamegh Kunte who founded the Indian Foundation for Butterflies.

ANSWER: Cognizant

Explanation:
Expanding the digital portfolio, Teaneck, New Jersey based Cognizant Technology Solutions announced acquisition of Idea Couture, a Canadian privately held firm offers a range of digital innovation, strategy, design and technology services.

• Terms of transaction were not disclosed fully.
• With the rise of new generation of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, mobility, business analytics, cloud services and IoT, firms seek to understand and apply technologies to improve customer experience, business processes and back office processes.
• Idea Couture will be part of Cognizant Digital Works which brings together human insight, digital strategy, industry knowledge, design and new technologies to help create and run digital business solutions.
• Located in Toronto with offices in US, EU and Latin America, Idea Couture has more than 170 social scientists, strategists, anthropologists, user experience experts, designers and connected product developers who serve leading companies across varied industries such as PepsiCo, Cox, Kroger and ConAgra Foods.

ANSWER: Sunil Gupta

Explanation:
Global cyber security leader Paladion announced the appointment of Sunil Gupta, a former Infosys Edge Verve COO as President and Chief Operating Officer.

• Sunil will monitor business strategies and outcomes in MEA and India and will direct all business units and delivery.
• Security management is transitioning from slow people based processes to more active poster by leveraging automation and analytics.
• Paladion has been the forefront of developments and delivers leading edge Cyber Active services through proprietary, high performance analytics and orchestration platform.

ANSWER: Avnet

Explanation:
US electric component distributor Avnet has taken the decision to purchase Premier Farnell Plc for USD 911 million beating out an earlier offer from Daetwyler Holding AG for British Maker of Raspberry Pi mini computer.

• Shares of Premier Farnell rose as high as 193.75 pence on 28th July 2016 above AVent’s offer of 185 pence.
• Following Brexit, overseas suitors have flocked to Britain in search of deals cheaper given the sharp decline in pound against the dollar.
• Japan’s SoftBank has agreed to purchase Britain’s most valuable technology company ARM holdings, a chip designer for USD 32 billion.

ANSWER: IntelSuite

Explanation:
Oracle has indicated that it would purchase NetSuite in a deal valued at USD 9.3 billion to expand into fast growing cloud market.

• Net Suite shares rose 18.6 percent to USD 108.64 in pre-market trading just a little less than USD 109 per share.
• Rivals SAP, SE and Microsoft have also focused on moving the business to the cloud based model providing services remotely via data centres rather than selling installed software.
• Oracle recently lost the Titanium case and was asked to pay USD 3 billion to HP.
• Net Suite founded in 1998 pioneered the cloud computing revolution for creating the first company dedicated to providing business apps over the internet.
• Oracle has also acquired firms such as Textura and Opower to enhance competitiveness in the cloud market

ANSWER: March to Colombo

Explanation:
Joint Opposition, a coalition of political groups and parties supporting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 28th July 2016 launched the 5 day along March to Colombo programme near Kandy.

• The JO members led by Rajapaksa started their march near Peradeniya on the outskirts of Kandy town.
• They will hold a rally on August 1 on reaching Colombo.
• Chief of the Democratic Left Front of the Joint Opposition Vasudeva Nanayakkara also took part in the march.
• The JO is against any move to include features of the Geneva resolution adopted by the UNHCR as a proposed Constitution associated with accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
• Resolution was meant to erode sovereignty of Sri Lanka through a judicial mechanism to include foreign judges.

ANSWER: Kevin Rudd

Explanation:
Australia on 29th July 2016 refused to back former PM Kevin Rudd’s bid to be the next Secretary General of the United Nations saying he was not fit for the job.

• PM Malcolm Turnbull stated that this is not a partisan issue but a considered judgement.
• Rudd was dumped as PM by Labour Party in 2010.
• It was earlier revealed that NY based Rudd was keen to lead the global body.

ANSWER: 29th July

Explanation:
UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) celebrated International Tiger’s Day on 29th July 2016.

• Of 100000 tigers roaming the nation a century ago only 3200 are left behind, according to a WWF 2014 report.
• Between 2000 and 2014, authorities across Asia seized parts of as many as 1590 tigers killed for traditional medicine, according to wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic.
• WWF has warned that poaching and habitat loss could bring extinction for the Asian big cats.
• India is home to 50 percent of the world’s tiger population with 1706 tigers.
• Of 9 species, 3 are extinct while 6 exist in the world today. The tigers that are not extinct include Siberian Tigers, Bengal tigers, Indochinese tigers, Malayan and Sumatran tigers and South China tigers.
• 3 extinct species are Bali, Caspian and Java tigers.

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
Syrian branch of al Qaeda, Al Nusra front broke ties with the international terror network in a video showing Abu Mohamad al Jolani, its leader for the first time.

• The split between al Qaeda and its Syria affiliate comes when the group, a main rival of IS jihadist group, seeks to distance itself as a target of foreign air strikes.
• Al Nusra will now change its name to Jabhat Fateh al Sham (Front of the Conquest of Syria) and unify ranks with mainstream fighters in Syria.
• Al Nusra aims to rebrand itself following increased pressure from Moscow and Washington regarding jihadist groups.
• Jolani said the split from Al Qaeda was aimed at safeguarding the Syrian revolution.

ANSWER: Oracle

Explanation:
The programme aims to create digital fluency among underprivileged school students.

• The programme is called D-Change and organisations have to deploy resources including staff and equipment to train students in areas like ICT tools.
• This is a joint employee volunteering initiative aimed at skilled workforce development in the nation.
• The programme is driven by the SBI Foundation and focuses on three key areas - education, rural upliftment and women empowerment.

ANSWER: Decrease

Explanation:
A study conducted by IIT-M and IIT-B researchers has found decrease in spatial variability of mean monsoon rainfall over major river basins in the country.

• Though there is a statistically significant decrease in monsoon rainfall over major water surplus basins, there is no such increase in monsoon rainfall over major water deficit river basins.
• Major surplus basins like Godavari and Mahanadi are witnessing significant decrease in rainfall.
• Decrease has been within 10 percent.
• Water yields in major deficit river basins such as Ganga and Indus have increased during 1976-2000 as against 25 years (1951-1975), the trend is not statistically significant according to Prof Gunthe from IIT-M
• Ganga which is a major water deficit basin has seen considerable increase in rainfall, while Yamuna, Krishna and Cauvery river basins exhibit a decrease.
• There has been increase in extreme rainfall events in India yet this is not significant for water availability as surplus water gets wasted.
• Latest study found that amount of summer monsoon rainfall over Indian river basins does not support the rule that “wet gets wetter and dry gets drier.”
• Changes in rainfall pattern over major river basins in India raises concerns with respect to suitability and viability of interlinking major river water basins.
• Water demand in the surplus basin needs to be assessed and matched under falling water availability scenario before transferring water from surplus to deficit river basins indicating the need for a systematic approach.

ANSWER: Lacchu Maharaj

Explanation:
Veteran tabla maestro Pandit Lacchu Maharaj passed away in Varanasi on 28th July 2016 at the age of 72.

• He is one of the frontline tabla players in the world.
• He was married and is survived by a wife and daughter.
• He has also played the tabla for numerous Bollywood compositions.

ANSWER: Jammu & Kashmir

Explanation:
Centre has approved INR 1601 crore for J&K under the skill development initiative Himayat to train 1.24 lakh local youths in vocational courses, according to the Rural Development Ministry.

• PIA will be selected by State Level Project Appraisal Committee whereby experts from National Institute of Rural Development and DDU-GYK will participate along with state government officers.
• Under the relaunched HImayat programme, youths in rural and urban areas of the state would be trained in job intensive vocational courses over three years.
• INR 1605.51 crore has been approved as per the scheme which will provide six months, nine months and one year job oriented training through residential and non residential courses.
• State will also establish a Himayat Mission Management Unit at the state level.
• Himayat is a training cum placement programme which will provide short term training for at least 3 months

ANSWER: Boyapati Venkat Sudhakar

Explanation:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Boyapati Venkat Sudhakar as the Secretary, Department of Posts.

• He succeeds Ms. Kavery Banerjee, an Indian Postal Service officer of 1978 batch who superannuated in April 2016.
• Sudhakar is an Indian Postal Service Officer of 1981 batch