Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Jun 14, 2017

ANSWER: Justice Karnan

Explanation:
Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnan, who was sentenced six months of imprisonment by Supreme Court, retired on 12 June 2017 at the age of 62, the retirement age for a High Court judge.

Justice Karnan has been absconding from the office of Calcutta HC judge since May 2017 to escape arrest after the Supreme Court sentenced him to six months imprisonment for contempt of court and ordered his immediate arrest, making him India’s first such judge to face this.

Karnan was not present at the Calcutta High Court on the day of his retirement as he is banned from performing his judicial duties since February 2017.

In May 2017, Justice CS Karnan was sentenced for imprisonment for repeated incidents of contempt of court.

It was also the first time that the Supreme Court has sent a high court judge to jail on charges of contempt.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and Kurian Joseph prohibited media from publishing any orders passed by Justice Karnan.

Justice Karnan was accused of contempt after he named 20 corrupt judges of India earlier in 2017 and sought an investigation alleging corruption in the judiciary. In March 2017, the SC ordered the Calcutta government hospital to constitute a medical board to examine the medical condition of Justice Karnan and submit a report to the court.

However, Justice Karnan refused to undergo medical tests.

Instead, he sentenced eight judges of the Supreme Court to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 100000 each under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

ANSWER: 7th

Explanation:
Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, while addressing the 22nd APEDA Export award function in New Delhi on 12 June 2017, announced that India has emerged as the 7th largest exporter of agri-products globally.

There is a significant increase in the exports of food products from the country and it represents more than 12 percent of total exports.

Total merchandise exports during 2016-2017 are more than 276 billion dollars out of which agricultural exports comprised nearly 33 billion dollars.

Indian food products are majorly exported to countries such as Vietnam, UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Iran, Iraq and Nepal.

Further, the exporters even in times of economic slowdown have continued to grow and added that opportunities in newer markets have to be searched for further growth.

The awards function witnessed the presentation of 82 APEDA awards for the year 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. It included 2 Diamond Trophies, 33 Gold, 29 Silver and 18 Bronze awards.

APEDA: Know More

• It is an apex body of the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, to promote the export of agricultural commodities and processed food products.
• APEDA links Indian exporters to global markets besides providing comprehensive export-oriented services.
• It provides referral services and suggests suitable partners for joint ventures.
• Its export basket ranges from typically Indian ethnic products like pickles, chutneys, sauces to rice, honey, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, beverages, poultry, agri-products, food grains and other Indian delicacies.

ANSWER: June 12

Explanation:
The World Day against Child Labour was observed globally on 12 June 2017 with the theme In conflicts and disasters, protect children from child labour.

The 2017 World Day against Child Labour focuses on the impact of conflicts and disasters on child labour.

As per the United Nations, over 1.5 billion people, globally, live in countries that are affected by conflict, violence and fragility.

At the same time, around 200 million people are affected by disasters every year. A third of them are children.

A significant proportion of the 168 million children engaged in child labour live in areas affected by conflict and disaster.

World Day Against Child Labour: Know More

• The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day against Child Labour in 2002.
• It aims to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.
• Each year on 12 June, the Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.

ANSWER: Kolkata

Explanation:
Kolkata will soon have an underwater Metro which will pass through tunnels several feet under the Hooghly.

The first underwater transportation tunnel of India is ready with the second one nearing completion.

The Kolkata underwater Metro transportation tunnel is unique to India because never before in the history of the country has a tunnel been made under a flowing river.

The tunnel has been constructed 30 metres below riverbed, just a few metres away from the famous Howrah Bridge, built in the last century to connect Howrah and Kolkata.

There aren’t even roads that are under a river in India making the Kolkata Metro tunnel a complete technology marvel which will see trains will chugging through it every two and a half minutes.

It will be connecting two main terminals: Howrah and Sealdah – each of which has a footfall of about 10-12 lakh passengers per day.

These type of tunnel-boring machines, which we call ‘earth pressure balancing tunnel boring machines’, have been used for the first time in Eastern India.

Another interesting point is that more than 10 lakh tonne of mud has been dug out for the construction of this tunnel.

The tunnel-boring machines were used for the first time in eastern India. The entire 16.6-kilometre stretch of the first tunnel is ready.

The second tunnel is yet to be completed.

Of the entire length, 10.8 kms is underground and around one kilometre is underwater.

For tunnelling below the river, the water tightness, waterproofing, and the design of gaskets were the major challenges, because the tunnel is being constructed for a service of 120 years, so we cannot afford any water leakage during service.

Tunnelling cannot be done for long hence the homework was done for almost a year and then the machines and equipment shifted to the location for final implementation and execution of the plan.

The material used gives it immunity to survive quakes in seismic zone 3, in which Kolkata falls.

The use of the standard gauge makes it a unique one. It is the latest technology that has been utilised to ensure that the tracks have sharp curves, keeping in mind that this tunnel passes under a lot of heritage buildings.

ANSWER: Shashikant Kutwal

Explanation:
Shashikant Kutwal, a railway employee with Pune Division, has won the gold medal at the 17th World Individual Chess Championship for differently-abled, held in Slovakia from May 27 to June 6, 2017.

Kutwal (37), who works as office superintendent, has now attained the title of International Master. Kutwal’s achievement has attracted praise from railway administration.

Divisional Railway Manager B K Dadabhoy congratulated and felicitated him.

Kutwal, who hails from a village in Baramati tehsil, was appointed with the Central Railway through sports quota in 2000.

Since then, he has been representing Central Railway, Indian Railways and India at various chess competitions.

In the World Championship, held by Physically Disabled Chess Association (PDCA), Kutwal won the gold medal after scoring 7.5 points from a possible 9.

ANSWER: Haraprasad Das

Explanation:
Haraprasad DasLegendary Odiya poet, essayist and columnist Haraprasad Das was conferred with the covetous Kalinga Literary Award on June 11 for his work and contribution to literature at the fourth edition of Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF).

Das had also received the prestigious Moortidevi Award in 2013 for his book ‘Vamsha’ - a recreation of Mahabharata in the new idiom of contemporary poetry.

He has published various genres to his credit, which include two works on development. The 71-year-old has 12 works of poetry, four of prose, three translations and ‘Adhunikatara Samakala’ ( a work of fiction) to his credit.

A versatile artiste, Das is also known for acting in movies like Agun and Sampati, which were released in the late 1990s.

Haraprasad Das retired from civil services after more than four decades of experience.

KLF: Know More

• Focusing on literature for peace and harmony, the three-day KLF was inaugurated on June 10 by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an eminent poet and Padma Vibhusan awardee Sitakant Mahapatra and renowned poet Ramakanta Rath.
• This year, the KLF introduced two new awards - the Kalinga International Literary Award, which was received by Anand Neelakantan for his contribution towards literature, and the Kalinga Karubaki Award, which was given to Paramita Satpathy for her contribution to Odia poetry.
• On the first day of the KLF, 10 books were released and eminent poets recited their poems.

ANSWER: Only a and b

Explanation:
SEBI has come up with comprehensive guidelines asking the Commodity derivatives exchanges to compulsorily set up investor protection and service funds.

The commodity exchanges should maintain separate bank accounts for maintaining the corpus of the IPF and the ISF.

The Investor Service Fund (ISF) is aimed at providing minimum facilities at various investor service centres. At the initial stage, the commodity exchange has to contribute at least Rs 10 lakh towards ISF.

Subsequently, the commodity exchanges are required to transfer 1% of the turnover fees charged from its members on monthly basis towards the ISF.

The Investor Protection Fund (IPF) of a Commodity Exchange should have a maximum of five trustees.

Out of these, three trustees should be public interest directors and a representative from Sebi-recognised investor association.

In addition, the commodity exchange’s compliance officer should be made part of the trust.

The IPF will comprise of all penalties levied and collected by the commodity exchanges except for the settlement related penalties.

The exchanges will have the freedom to fix suitable compensation limits in consultation with the IPF trust.

The exchanges can make use of the IPF corpus for investor education and other awareness programmes.

The trust will be responsible for the supervision of utilisation of interest on IPF. SEBI is the statutory regulator for the securities market in India established in 1988.

It was given statutory powers through the SEBI Act, 1992. SEBI’s headquarters is in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

SEBI’s mandate is to protect the interests of investors in securities, promote the development of securities market and to regulate the securities market.

SEBI Functions: Know More

• Regulating stock exchanges and other securities markets;
• Registering and regulating the working of intermediaries who are associated with securities markets in any manner;
• Registering and regulating the working of venture capital funds and collective investment schemes including mutual funds; promoting and regulating self-regulatory organizations and prohibiting fraudulent and unfair trade practices relating to securities markets.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Indian Skipper Virat Kohli has reclaimed the top spot in the recently released ICC ODI batting rankings.

He overtook South Africa’s AB de Villiers and Australia’s David Warner to reach the number one position.

In January, Kohli managed to reach the top spot but was able to stay at the top only for just four days.

Among other players, Shikhar Dhawan has managed to return to top 10. Yuvraj Singh has also improved his rankings and currently stands at 88th position.

Rankings:

• First Place: Virat Kohli (India)
• Second Place: David Warner (Australia)
• Third Place: AB de Villiers (South Africa)
• Fourth Place: Joe Root (England)
• Fifth Place: Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Bowlers

Josh Hazlewood of Australia is at the top spot in the bowlers’ rankings. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has improved his rankings by 13 places to rank 23rd.

Ranks of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have dropped to 20 and 29 respectively.

• First Place: Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
• Second Place: Imran Tahir (South Africa)
• Third Place: Mitchell Starc (Australia)
• Fourth Place: Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
• Fifth Place: Sunil Narine (West Indies)

ANSWER: UP

Explanation:
According to a recently released CRY Report on child labour, more than 8 lakh children between the age group of 5 and 6 years in India are engaged in child labour.

Child Rights and You (CRY) is an NGO working towards the upliftment of underprivileged children. The organization got established in 1979 by Rippan Kapur.

As per the report, over 5 lakh children in India do not attend school. A majority of them are involved in family based employments.

Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the number of child labourers (2,50,672 children) in the country followed by Bihar (1,28,087 children) and Maharashtra (82,847 children).

The report has identified that the high level of poverty and unemployment along with a lack of adequate social security net are the important factors forcing children to work, compromising with their learning.

These children are often forced to migrate with their parents and assist in family occupations such as working in brick kilns.

The report cites that the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) suffers many limitations and is now covering only 50% of the child labourers. In the decade 2001-11, the working children in the age group of 10-14 years saw a reduction of 30% but the child labourers in the age group of 5-9 years have seen an increase of 37% from 2001.

ICDS Integrated Child Development Services: Know More

• (ICDS) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the states/UTs. The Scheme was launched on 2nd October 1975.
• The scheme has the following objectives: to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years; to reduce mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout; to promote policy coordination and implementation for promoting child development; to lay an adequate foundation for the psychological, physical and social well-being of the children etc.
• Under the scheme, the services such as Supplementary nutrition; Pre-school non-formal education; nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-ups; and Referral services through Anganwadi Centres for children below 6 years of age as well as to pregnant women & lactating mothers are offered.

ANSWER: GE

Explanation:
General Electric (GE) in partnership with Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is planning to source workers and skilled technicians from Bihar itself, in line with its Greenfield manufacturing base being set up in Marhaura (Bihar), service facilities in Roza (UP) and Gandhidham (Gujarat).

This project was launched as a part of Prime Minister ’s ‘Make in India’ scheme in which GE agreed to invest close to $200 million and will certainly boost employment opportunities for the local people.

Under this project, GE even plans to set up state of the art Skilling Centres with support from the Ministry.

As part of the project, the production of first railway coaches will start from mid-next year from Saran. GE, in collaboration with India Railways, is nearing completion of a Diesel Locomotive Manufacturing Plant in Marhaura, Saran district in Bihar.

A new transmission line to Marhaura is being created to provide electricity to this factory. GE is also coming up with a state of the art maintenance shed for diesel locomotives in railway’s land in Roza near Shahjahanpur.

The nearing ITIs can be leveraged to offer skilled resources. GE can also set up and additional infrastructure for training.

GE delegation indicated they are working on extending support for ancillary industries in that region.

GE Healthcare, an arm of General Electric is working in line with the Skill India Mission and aim at creating 1, 00,000 strong skilled healthcare workforce in India by partnering with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and has now set up skilling centres in 15 cities where they are training individuals to be lab technicians, X-Ray machine operators and Radiology equipment operators.

GE Power India, part of the General Electric Company was the first corporate donor to contribute to the National Skill Development Fund, a special fund setup under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. GE Power has allocated INR 50 lacs in CSR contributions towards this effort covering the current financial year.

ANSWER: AUSINDEX

Explanation:
In pursuance of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, Eastern Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, YSM, VSM, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet are on an overseas deployment to the South East Asia and Southern Indian Ocean.

Indian Naval Ships Jyoti, Shivalik and Kamorta are on a port visit to Freemantle, Australia from 13 June to 17 June 2017. Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command is also visiting Freemantle during the period.

The visit of the Indian Naval Ships seeks to underscore India’s peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly and harmonious countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and Australia.

The two countries share a rich history and a strategic relationship. A number of bilateral agreements exist between the two countries in a various spheres.

AUSINDEX-17, a bilateral maritime exercise between the two navies would also be held as part of the visit. This would be the second edition of the exercise with the maiden edition having been conducted at Visakhapatnam in 2015.

The exercises aim to increase interoperability and are in consonance with the growing cooperation between the two countries.

Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the main maritime concerns of the region.

In addition, as part of the Indian Government’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has also been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with EEZ Surveillance, Search and Rescue, and other capacity-building and capability-enhancement activities.

The current deployment will contribute towards the Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the Seas.

2 Over the past few decades, India has made substantial advances in terms of designing and building warships indigenously and the visiting ships bear testimony to these capabilities.

INS Shivalik, a muIti-role stealth frigate is commanded by Captain R Vinod Kumar while INS Kamorta, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette is commanded by Commander Vipin Gupta and INS Jyoti, the fleet replenishment tanker is commanded by Captain S Shyam Sundar.

Minister of Food Processing Industries Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal today addressed a Joint Press Conference with the organizers of ANUGA - an international business platform for Food Industry to be held in Cologne, Germany. She also signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Participation in the ANUGA Exhibition with Ms Katharina C Hamma, Chief Operating Officer, Koelnmesse GmBH (Organizers of ANUGA).

ANSWER: ANUGA

Explanation:
Minister of Food Processing Industries said that it was an honour for India to be a co-partner country in such a prestigious international event. “

Food Processing Sector has lots of challenges to deal with but due to the transformation happening in this sector in the last 3 years, the industry is ready to overcome the obstacles.

India’s Government has started nine Mega Food Parks; strengthening cold chain infrastructure; implementing Kisan-SAMPADA scheme with allocation of Rs 6000 crore; creation of corpus of Rs. 2000 Crore with NABARD for priority lending to the food processing industries; rationalising taxes; allowing 100% FDI in retail market for Food sector, etc.

These steps will help the Government in achieving its vision of making India a Global Food Factory rather than being a market place only.

Brand India will be standing parallel with Brand ANUGA in Cologne, Germany, highlighting the importance of International Food Exhibitions like SIAL in France and ANUGA in Germany.

Food diplomacy will bridge many differences and would transform the lives of farmers through farming techniques and need investment not only in Food Processing but also in Farming technologies.

ANUGA 2015 had 135 Indian exhibitors, more than 200 Indian companies are expected to participate in ANUGA 2017 from October 7th to October 11th 2017 at Cologne.

For ANUGA 2017 e- commerce in food industry will be focussed for the first time. Ms Hamma said India’s food industry is known for its efficiency and culinary competence.

World is attracted to Indian cuisines and its diversity.

India is a home to a diverse variety of spices, a large number of which are exported across the globe. Traditional Organic produce of North East India is held in high esteem.

ANUGA Background: Know More

• ANUGA - an acronym for Allgemeine Nahrungs Und Genußmittel Ausstellung ( General Food and Non essential Provisions Exhibition) is the world’s biggest and most important trade fair for Food and beverage trade. It takes place biennially (every 2 years). ANUGA 2017 is the 34th edition.
• ANUGA offers an extensive supporting programme with Lectures, Special exhibition and attractive industry events
• ANUGA is the leading export platform with 7,189 exhibitors from 109 countries with over 85% of Exhibitors from abroad.
• 1,60,000 decision makers from the retail and out-of-home market from 192 countries visited during last ANUGA. 66% of the industry visitors are foreigners