Current Affairs Questions & Answers - June 02, 2016

ANSWER: 10.5

Explanation:
ICRA India’s international traffic has logged a compounded annual growth rate of 10.5 percent in the past 10 years, according to rating agency ICRA. Besides a 16 percent growth in passenger traffic in the previous fiscal coupled with lower jet fuel prices has helped the domestic airline to improve performance during the period despite increased competition. ICRA senior vice president commended that in view of tight liquidity conditions in the past, airline strategies have moved from chasing market share to one focused on enhancement of profitability resulting in route rationalisation and cutting down on capacity expansion as well as fleet rationalisation and renegotiation of maintenance contracts.

ANSWER: 15

Explanation:
Mobile data traffic is also expected to grow the fastest globally at 15 times by 2021. The country also grew most in terms of net additions in mobile subscriptions as per the March hurter over at 21 million, followed by Indonesia and Myanmar with 5 million net additions each and US as well as Pakistan with over 3 million net additions each. This is as per the Ericsson Mobility Report and the latest edition of the report reveals that globally IoT is set to overtake mobile phones as the largest category of connected devices by 2018.

• Between 2015 and 2021, the number of IoT connected devices is expected to rise by 23 percent annually of which cellular IoT is forecast to have the highest growth rate
• IoT is now accelerating as device costs fall and innovative applications emerge
• From 2020, the commercial deployment of 5G networks will also provide additional capabilities which are critical for IoT

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
A scientific breakthrough of the DNA sequencing of the groundnut promises development of improved varieties with enhanced traits such as increased pod and oil yield, drought and heat tolerance and greater disease resistance.

• Close to 51 scientists from 9 institutes in China, India, US and Australia including ICRISAT have decoded the complete DNA sequencing of a groundnut ancestor called diploid A-genome (Arachis duranensis)
• Other significant traits will help in developing aflatoxin-free, nutrition-rich and allergen varieties providing insights into geocarpy which is a unique reproductive process of groundnut, oil biosynthesis and allergens.
• Study has provided the complete genome sequence to assist plant breeders across the globe come up with more productive and resilient groundnut varieties in a faster way.
• The study presented the groundnut lineage was affected by 3 sets of chromosomes since the origin of flowering plants or eudicots.

ANSWER: TRPV4

Explanation:
Researchers from Duke University have discovered a potential new class of small molecule drugs that simultaneously block key targets in the treatment of pain

• Findings could lead to the development of a new drug for treating conditions such as skin irritation, itching, jaw pain, and abdominal pain stemming from pancreas and colon
• These compounds can be developed for clinical use in humans or animals
• Researchers initially aimed to develop blockers of TRPV4, a molecule precious research has shown transmits skin irritation elicited by sunburn and painful sensations coming from the head and face
• Researchers used a prototype TRPV4 blocker in a 2009 study and set out to develop more potent versions

ANSWER: Deoxy Ribonucleic Acid

Explanation:
New research in the UK has detected sound bubbles in DNA essential to life which will change basic understanding of biochemical reactions within a cell. Research carried out by academics of University of Glasgow published in Nature Communications describes the way double stranded DNA splits using delocalised soundwaves are a hallmark of quantum effects.

• DNA contains the code to life and holds the blue print for each living thing
• Dedicated enzymes responsible for making new proteins read the code by splitting the double strand to access information
• One of the biggest outstanding questions of biology has been how these enzymes find the initial hole or bubble in the double strand to commence reading the code
• It is held that DNA has regions where specific sequences of bases modify the stiffness of double helix favouring the formation of bubbles

ANSWER: Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer

Explanation:
China will launch five new satellites in five years including the first solar exploration satellite for ending dependency on foreign solar data according to top officials.

• Five satellites including the Sino European joint mission called SMILE will focus on observation of solar activities and their impact on the earth environment and space weather analysis of water recycling and probing of black holes, according to the National Space Centre under the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Of the given satellites, SMILE or Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer will blast off in 2021
• MIT or the magnetospehre-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling exploration aimed at origin of up flow ions and their acceleration mechanism is perfect for discovering key mechanism for the coupling of the three
• WCOM or the Water Cycle Observation Mission understands the earth’s water cycle through fast and simultaneous measurement of key parameters such as ocean salinity, ocean surface exploration and soil moisture
• The other two satellites are Advanced Space Born Solar Observatory and the Einstein Probe. The former is the first solar exploration satellite of China.

ANSWER: Cortex gene

Explanation:
The gene was reported for close to 40 species of butterflies to develop flash bright yellow stripes to ward off hungry birds

• Findings published as a separate set of studies in Nature are important for many reasons
• Heliconius genus of butterflies branches off from moths on tree of evolution 100 million years ago
• This much sought after gene called the cortex has been unbelievably stable over a period of time
• Same gene is responsible for switching colours and patterns in peppered moth

ANSWER: Encryption Everywhere

Explanation:
Cybersecurity firm Symantec has announced the availability of Encryption Everywhere, a web security package geared towards web hosting providers.

• This web security package lets web hosting providers integrate encryption into the websites the moment they are created
• Feature secures 100 percent of customer data placed on the business website

ANSWER: Professional

Explanation:
Professional boxers can compete at the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro the sports governing body ruled in a landmark decision on Wednesday, June 1st.

• 88 members of the International Boxing Association in Switzerland voted for this move
• For most professionals like Vladimir Klitschko, it is too late to participate in qualifying contest.

ANSWER: Swiss Alps

Explanation:
This tunnel with a massive rail passage under the Swiss Alps aims to increase transit through the heart of Europe

• With political unity on the continent shaken by massive inflow of migrants and looming threat of EU Brexit, the tunnel is set to join economics and nations
• The 57 kilometre Gotthard Base Tunnel made its ceremonial first run with EU leaders on board.

ANSWER: GreyBull

Explanation:
Tata Steel UK has announced the completion of the sale of Long Products Europe business to Greybull Capital LLP.

• Greybull has said it will invest 400 million pounds in the new business
• Long Products Europe business has implemented a transformation plan including portfolio restructuring of assets underpinned by committed support from employees and TUs

ANSWER: SoftBank

Explanation:
The transaction marks the first sale of Alibaba shares by its largest shareholder since SoftBank began investing in the company in 2000. Japanese telecommunications and internet firm SoftBank Group Corp said it will sell at least $7.9 billion of shares in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd in order to raise funds to reduce its debt.

• The transaction marks the first sale of Alibaba shares by its largest shareholder since SoftBank began investing in the company in 2000.
• SoftBank’s Alibaba stake will fall to about 28 per cent of the Chinese firm from 32.2 per cent in March.
• Both companies said they would maintain a strategic partnership. SoftBank Chairman and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son will remain a director at Alibaba, while Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma will remain on the board of SoftBank.

ANSWER: Guangxi

Explanation:
A bug, measuring over half-a-metre long, discovered in southern China has been declared the world's longest insect, state media said on 2nd June

• A stick insect measuring 62.4 centimetres found two years ago in the southern province of Guangxi has broken the record for length amongst the world's 807,625 known insects, the official Xinhua agency said, citing the Insect Museum of West China.
• The previous record-holder was a Malaysian 56.7-centimetre-long stick insect discovered in 2008 and now on display in London's Natural History Museum.
• The bug has been dubbed Phryganistria chinensis Zhao in honour of its discoverer Zhao, and a paper about it will soon be published.
• More than 3000 varieties of stick insects have been discovered so far

ANSWER: Antonio Imbert Barrera

Explanation:
Former Dominican president and general Antonio Imbert Barrera who was the last survivor of a group that toppled a brutal dictator died on 31st May. He was 95.

• Imbert was a top government official during the reign of dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, but he and 10 other men plotted his assassination in 1961 and helped end 31 years of bloody dictatorship.
• Only Imbert and one other person, Luis Amiama Tio, survived the persecution that ensued. Amiama died in 1980.
• Imbert was declared a national hero after Trujillo was killed, and in 1963, he participated in a US-backed coup against president Juan Bosch. He formed part of a military junta established after the coup and helped fight off a 1965 insurrection to re-establish Bosch that sparked a US invasion.

ANSWER: Rahul Johri

Explanation:
Rahul Johri on 1 June 2016 assumed charge as first ever chief executive officer (CEO) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai. He was appointed on the recommendation of the Justice Lodha Committee.

• Reporting too the BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, he will be based at headquarters of BCCI in Mumbai.
• Before joining BCCI, he served as Asia Pacific's Executive Vice-President for Discovery Networks and General Manager for South Asia.

ANSWER: National Disaster Management Plan

Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 June 2016 released the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP). The plan aims to make India disaster resilient and reduce loss of lives.

• It is the first of its kind of national plan prepared in India. It emphasizes on a greater need for Information, Education and Communication activities to prepare communities to cope with disasters.
• The plan is based on the four priority themes of the Sendai Framework namely:

i. Understanding disaster risk,
ii. Improving disaster risk governance,
iii. Investing in disaster risk reduction (through structural and non-structural measures),
iv. Disaster preparedness, early warning and building back better in the aftermath of a disaster.

ANSWER: AK Mittal

Explanation:
Shri A.K. Mittal, Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), of 1978 Batch, has taken over as Member Engineering Railway Board today on 1.06.2016 . Prior to this posting, Shri Mittal was General Manager, East Central Railway, (Hazipur).

• Shri Mittal has graduated from Regional Engineering College, Allahabad in 1977 and was awarded many silver medals and gold medals.
• He was deputed to Germany and Switzerland in 1990 to finalize the design of 3rd Godavari Bridge.
• He has also undergone foreign trainings in HEC Business School, Paris in 2006 for Strategic Management and Business Development, besides training for Track management system in Italy in 2009.

ANSWER: Italy

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Italy on the eve of their Republic Day (June 2, 2016).

• In a message to His Excellency Mr. Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Republic of Italy, the President has congratulated the premier