Current Affairs Questions & Answers - June 01, 2016

ANSWER: 7.4

Explanation:
India's per capital income increased by 7.4 percent to Rs 93,293 in 2015-16, compared to Rs 86,879 in the preceding fiscal, government data showed on May 31.

• The per capita income at current prices during 2015-16 is estimated to have attained a level of Rs 93,293 as compared to the First Revised Estimate for the year 2014-15 of Rs 86,879 showing a rise of 7.4 percent as per data on Provisional Estimates of Annual National Income and Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product 2015-16.
• The data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Per capita income is a broad indicator of prosperity. In real terms, the per capita income (at 2011-12 prices) during 2015-16 is estimated to have attained a level of Rs 77,435, up 6.2 percent from Rs 72,889 for the year 2014-15.
• The Gross National Income (GNI) at 2011-12 prices is now estimated at Rs 112.13 trillion as against Rs 112.14 trillion estimated earlier for 2015-16. In 2014-15, it was Rs 104.28 trillion. GNI has risen by 7.5 percent

ANSWER: 8.5

Explanation:
Core sector output was up 8.5 percent in April as against 6.4 percent in March on the basis of strong growth from steel, electricity and petroleum refinery output. The eight core industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.

• The steel output was up 6.1 percent and cement was up 4.4 percent for the month of April.
• Electricity output too grew at 14.7 percent versus a 11.3 percent rise in month of March.
• Petroleum refinery products output was up 17.9 percent as compared to month-on-month (MoM) rise of 10.8 percent.
• The MoM fertiliser output was up 7.8 percent. However, the coal output was down 0.9 percent versus a 1.7 percent rise in the month of March.
• Crude oil output too was down 2.3 percent versus a month-on-month (MoM) decline of 5.1 percent. Natural gas output was down 6.8 percent versus a MoM decline of 10.5 percent.

ANSWER: 25.7

Explanation:
Fiscal deficit in April came in at Rs 1.37 lakh crore, which is 25.7 percent of the Budget estimate for 2016-17.

• Fiscal deficit is the gap between expenditure and revenue, which for the whole fiscal has been pegged at Rs 5.33 lakh crore.
• The deficit in April last fiscal was 23 percent of the Budget estimate. For 2016-17, the government has set a fiscal deficit target of 3.5 percent.
• According to data released by the Controller and Accounts General, total expenditure of the government in April read Rs 1.61 lakh crore, or 8.2 percent of the full-year estimate.
• Of the total expenditure, Plan spending was Rs 45,543 crore while for non-plan spending was Rs 1,16,442 crore. Revenue collection was Rs 22,075 crore, or 1.6 percent of the estimate. Total receipts of the government - from revenue and non-debt capital - in April stood at Rs 24,659 crore.

ANSWER: Mumbai

Explanation:
To fast-track proceedings and ensure timely disposal of cases filed by capital market regulator Sebi, a special court is in the process of being set up in the national capital.

• This would be the fourth special court to be established in the country to hear cases filed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
• Following amendment in the Sebi Act, back in 2014, three special courts have already been constituted in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai

ANSWER: 1947

Explanation:
Japanese scientists have developed a new tool to predict Zika virus importation and local transmission across the globe. Countries well connected to Brazil where the case is widespread carry more risk

• However, subtropical and tropical countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases have the greatest risk of the virus spreading once it arrives in the country. This means many nations in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, face the highest risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites, researchers said.
• France, southern parts of China and the UAE also fall into this category having experienced previous outbreaks.
• The Zika virus was first found in Uganda in 1947, and then detected in 39 countries around the world, including the US, India and Japan, researchers said.

ANSWER: Blood Brain Barrier

Explanation:
Researchers using a contrast-enhanced MRI technique have found that leakages in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may lead to early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

• The BBB - a collection of cells and subcellular structures that separates the circulating blood from the brain - is essential to keep brain tissue in healthy condition.
• It regulates the delivery of important nutrients and blocks neurotoxins, while removing surplus substances from the brain.
• The results suggest that increased BBB permeability may represent a key mechanism in the early stages of the Alzheimer's disease, the researchers said.
• Further, the more impairment in BBB lead to greater decline in cognitive performance in patients.

ANSWER: DNA Origami

Explanation:
Scientists have developed an algorithm that uses DNA strands to automatically build 3D nanoparticles, which may be used in a range of applications such as vaccines, gene editing tools and memory storage.

• Researchers can build complex, nanometre-scale structures of almost any shape and form, using strands of DNA.
• However, these particles must be designed by hand, in a complex and laborious process. This has limited the technique, known as DNA origami, to just a small group of experts in the field.
• The algorithm starts with a simple, 3D geometric representation of the final shape of the object, and then decides how it should be assembled from DNA

ANSWER: Coronal Hole

Explanation:
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has spotted a giant dark area on the upper half of the Sun known as a coronal hole. Coronal holes are areas on the Sun where the solar magnetic field extends up and out into interplanetary space, sending solar material speeding out in a high-speed stream of solar wind.

• Scientists study these fast solar wind streams because they sometimes interact with Earth’s magnetic field, creating what is called a geomagnetic storm, which can expose satellites to radiation and interfere with communications signals.
• Coronal holes are low-density regions of the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona. They contain little solar material and have lower temperatures, thus appearing much darker than their surroundings, researchers said.
• Coronal holes are visible in certain types of extreme ultraviolet light, which is typically invisible to our eyes.

ANSWER: Clock Proteins

Explanation:
Scientists have designed new molecules that can modify the sleep/wake cycle, paving the way for improved treatments for jet lag and sleep disorders.Scientists from Nagoya University’s Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) in Japan have synthesised molecules that can shorten the circadian period.

• These molecules act directly on one of our “clock proteins”, called CRY
• Most living organisms have a biological clock that resets every 24 hours, regulating functions such as sleep/wake cycles and metabolism.
• When this cycle is disrupted, like in jet lag, sleep disorders occur, they said.
• Long-term sleep loss may affect the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and nervous systems with severe consequences including hypertension, obesity and mental health disorders, among others

ANSWER: Philippines

Explanation:
The Philippine president-elect said on Tuesday he will pay bounties to police or military officials who capture suspected drug lords "dead or alive", adding that there is enough reward money to leave "100 persons dead”.

• Rodrigo Duterte said he will pay up to 3 million pesos ($64,000) for every drug lord that officials turn in, adding that the bounties would be financed by left-over campaign contributions.
• Targets, will include anti-narcotic agents who are secretly involved in the drug trade and jailed crime suspects who manage to continue their drug dealing. Any crime suspects who put up a resistance would be killed.

ANSWER: Sunil Lanba

Explanation:
Admiral Sunil Lanba, on May 31, took charge as the Chief of Naval Staff in New Delhi as the current CNS Admiral R.K.Dhowan retired after four decade of service.

• On May 6, 2016, the government appointed Lanba, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command as the Chief of Naval Staff.
• Admiral Lanba, 58, is a qualified specialist in navigation and direction course and will have a full three-year-term in office till May 31, 2019.
• In a service spanning nearly 38 years, Admiral Lanba has served in a variety of Command, operational and staff appointments. He has commanded four frontline warships - INS Kakinada (minesweeper), INS Himgiri (frigate) and destroyers INS Ranvijay and INS Mumbai. He also won Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Athi Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service of an exceptionally high order.

ANSWER: AR Rahman

Explanation:
Renowned Indian music composer AR Rahman was on 30 May 2016 awarded with the Japan's Fukuoka prize 2016 for his outstanding contribution towards creating, preserving and showcasing South Asian traditional fusion music.

• For the year 2015, noted Indian Historian Ramchandra Guha was conferred with Fukuoka Prize in academic category.
• Rahman was also the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for his contributions to music.
• He has also won Academy and BAFTA awards

ANSWER: Sonia Lather

Explanation:
Indian boxer Sonia Lather (57kg) settled for a silver medal at the AIBA Women’s World Championships after going down to top seed Alessia Mesiano of Italy in a hard-fought summit clash.

• Sonia lost 1-2 but her silver ensured that India did not return empty-handed after what was a throughly disappointing campaign overall.
• The 24-year-old from Haryana was off the blocks confidently and managed to rattle Mesiano in the opening round with her precisely-placed combination punches.

ANSWER: June 1

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya on the eve of their Madaraka Day (June 1, 2015) and Mr. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya.

ANSWER: India

Explanation:
An agreement for Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Grant of USD 9.20 Million with theWorld Bank for"Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project” was signed on May 31

• The total program cost is USD 113.0 million, with USD 9.20 million as grant from the GEF and USD 103.07 million from Government of India and state & city governments for funding of buses and ancillary infrastructure.
• The project's development objective is to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of city bus transport and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the demonstration cities.
• It comprises: (i) a national capacity building component to be implemented by Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD); and (ii) city demonstration projects in the cities of Bhopal, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Mira Bhayandar.

ANSWER: June 1

Explanation:
The Direct Tax Dispute Resolution Scheme, 2016 incorporated as Chapter X of the Finance Act, 2016, shall come into force on the 1st of June, 2016 and Declarations under this Scheme may be made on or before the 31st December, 2016 in respect of tax arrears & specified tax.

• The relevant rules and forms in this regard have been notified vide notification no. 34 & 35 dated 26th May, 2016.
• The provisions relating to imposition and collection of Equalisation Levy incorporated as Chapter VIII of the Finance Act, 2016 comes into force from the 1st of June, 2016The notification also provides for date of effectivity of equalisation levy, the statement of specified services, notice of demand and the relevant forms.
• The relevant rules and forms in this regard have been notified vide Notification No.37 & 38 dated 27th May, 2016.

ANSWER: 65

Explanation:
The Prime Minister on May 31 approved the proposal of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for enhancing the age of superannuation of all doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years with effect from 31st May 2016.

• This will enable the Government to retain experienced doctors for a longer period, and to provide better services in its public health facilities, particularly to the poorest, who are entirely dependent on public facilities.
• This will also strengthen the efforts of the Ministry in conceptualising and rolling out various people-oriented schemes which l need the services of doctors in implementing them