Current Affairs Questions & Answers - June 18 & 19, 2016

ANSWER: 1.3-1.5

Explanation:
Ind-Ra lowered FY2017 CAD estimate to 1.3-1.5 percent from 1.2 percent due to lower remittances and software earnings in forth quarter for current fiscal. India’s CAD narrowed sharply to USD 0.3 billion/o/1 percent of GDP in Q4, FY2016 from USD 7.1 billion or 1.3 percent in Q3 on account of lower trade gap.

• For the 2015-2016 fiscal, CAD or the difference in the in and outflow of foreign exchange fell to 1.1 percent of the GDP
• Low CAD indicates stability on the external front. On the one hand, low crude prices and collapse in global prices of commodities have resulted in lower trade deficit
• Low oil prices have caused Middle East economies to suffer as well.
• Remittances on private transfers fell to USD 63.1 billion in 2015-2016

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Non Resident Indians can now open National Pension Savings Account if one had Aadhaar or PAN card. NRIs can open NPS accounts online now. They earlier could only open NPS accounts through paper applications by approaching bank offices. Via eNPS, subscribers will open an NPS account from their home. All that is needed is an internet connection and PAN or Aadhaar card. NRIs can open NPS accounts on both repatriable and non-repatriable basis.

• On repatriable basis, NRI will have to remit the amount though NRE/FCNR/NRO account
• For non repatriable scheme, NRIs will be able to join NPS through NRE/FCNR/NRO accounts at time of maturity or during partial withdrawal
• Both schemes are hoped to help NRIs return to India following employment abroad in view of attractive returns, low cost flexibility and regulation by PFRDA.
• India has the second largest diaspora in the world with 29 million people in 200 countries and 25 percent of these living in Gulf countries.

ANSWER: 1233

Explanation:
India recorded the highest ever tea production at 1233 million kilos during 2015-2016, and exports crossed 230 million kilos during this period. Tea production rose by 3 percent in 2015-2016, from 36 million kilos in 2014-2015, according to a statement from the Tea Board.

• Exports in the last fiscal were highest after 35 years and crossed INR 4493 crore and 17 percent rise in terms of quantity
• Last time exports crossed this percentage was in 1980-1981.
• Exports were mostly in markets of Russia, Germany, Iran, Pakistan, UAE, Poland and Bangladesh.
• Increase in production can be associated with rise in production in N. India, while the south suffered from climatic adversities
• Production by Bought Leaf Factors rose 5.81 percent during this period and contributed 34 percent to production overall. Average price realisation at tea auctions rose by 8.05 percent

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
A new, open source computer programming framework making the web significantly more energy efficient permits people to save more battery power while mobile browsing

• Scientists have developed the GreenWeb a set of web programming language extensions enabling web developers to exert flexibility over energy efficiency and energy consumption of the website
• As user awareness is constantly increasing, web developers need to be aware of energy efficiency
• Current web language standards do not provide developers control over device energy use
• Researchers integrated GreenWeb into Google Chrome and reported energy savings of 30 to 66 percent over the default mode of Android.
• Mobile device users spend 2/3rd of their time browsing the web. Amount of energy saving could lead to 20 to 40 percent battery life extension.

ANSWER: Centum

Explanation:
Electronics company Centum has purchased a 51 percent stake in privately held French company Adetel for an undisclosed amount for expanding presence in the European market

• Deal will assist Centum which has 80 percent of the revenue from exports to US, EU and Israel to increase the export to various countries about 60 percent from current 35%.
• This will also scale up production, technologies and competencies

ANSWER: Wand Labs

Explanation:
Technology major Microsoft has acquired a messaging app founded by Indian IIT Delhi alumnus Vishal Sharma, previously VP in Google in 2013.

• Through this acquisition, the technology giant has acquired a messaging app founded by an Indian as the US based software firm strengthens its position in combining human language with progressive machine intelligence
• Terms of the acquisition were not made public
• Acquisition strengthens the strategy for “Conservation as a Platform” which was introduced by current CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella at the Build 2016 conference

ANSWER: IAAF

Explanation:
A doping ban keeping Russian athletes from taking part in global competitions was upheld by the International Association of Athletics Federation at a Vienna press conference

• The Russian Ministry of Sport is now appealing to members of the International Olympic Committee for respite
• Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has called the ban a violation of human rights

ANSWER: 2016 HO3

Explanation:
NASA scientists have discovered a tiny asteroid in an orbit round the Sun that is a constant companion of the earth and will remain so for centuries to come

• Size of the object has not been firmly established though it is bigger than 120 feet and smaller than 300 feet
• The new asteroid named 2016 HO3 appears to circle around the earth as well and is considered to be the true satellite of the planet yet it is the best and most stable quasi satellite for earth
• One other asteroid named 2003 YN 107 was following a similar orbital pattern for a decade but it has since departed
• In the yearly trek around the sun, asteroid 2016 HO3 spends half of the time closer to the Sun s against the earth and passes ahead of the planet at half the time from farther away causing the asteroid to fall behind
• Its orbit is titled a little causing it to go up and then down through the earth’s orbital plane
• This small asteroid will stick to earth for at least hundreds of years
• This asteroid was first spotted on April 27 by Pan STARRS 1 asteroid survey telescope on Haleakala, Hawaii

ANSWER: Only a and c

Explanation:
Indian Institutes of Technology and TATA Institute of Fundamental Research have emerged as leaders in collaborations between University-Industry- Government in research and innovation landscape.

• UIG collaborations ere mapped on data corresponding to research publications in Web of Science database during 2005-2014
• Close to 459,164 publication records were downloaded form India of which 235,036 research records involved multi-institution collaboration
• The two institutions topped in linkages. While IITs were the top participating institutions in UI (University Industry), UG (University Government), IG (Industry Government) and UIG (University Industry Government) linkages, TIFR topped in IG and UIG linkages next. In UI and UG partnerships, AIIMS and BARC clinched the second spots.

ANSWER: Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir

Explanation:
United States President Barack Obama has nominated Indian origin diplomat Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir as the next American ambassador to Malaysia

• Nomination of Ms. Lakhdhir along with the key administration appointments was announced by the White House
• She is a career member of the Foreign Service Class of Counsellor and was Executive Assistant to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs up till 2015.
• She joined the foreign service in 1991
• She is a BA from Harvard College and MS from National War College

ANSWER: Sunil Mittal

Explanation:
Founder chairman of Bharti Enterprises Sunil Mittal was on 15th June 2016 was elected as chairman of Paris based International Chamber of Commerce. Voting for election of chairman was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

• With this, he became the 51st chairman of the ICC and the third business leader from India to be elected as ICC chief in 10 decade history
• He succeeds Terry McGraw who is the chairman emeritus of S&P Global.
• McGraw became the ICC Honorary Chairman
• ICC also announced John Denton Partner and CEO of Corrs Chambers Westgarth as the First Vice Chair of the organisation
• International Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organisation with close to 6.5 million members in close to 130 countries
• It was founded in 1919 under the leadership of first president Etienne Clementel, former commerce French Minister
• He also started the ICC International Court of Arbitration in 1923.

ANSWER: Revenue

Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16th June 2016 proposed the RAPID mantra to tax officials during the inauguration of Rajasva Gyan Sangam, for senior income tax officials.
The mantra stands for the following aspects:
R-Revenue
A-Accountability
P-Probity
I-Information
D-Digitisation

• Mantra will help people to respect the rule of law as well as the long arm of the law for those evading taxes.
• Conference also provided a performance to debate on emerging issues

ANSWER: Water4crops

Explanation:
This is a 9 million Euro Indo-EU project on water scarce agricultural sector. A review and planning meet on the project was conducted from 15-17 June in New Delhi marking the completion of 4 years of the project.

• Water4Crops stands for integrated bio-treated wastewater reuse and valorisation with enhanced water efficiency to support the Green Economy in India and EU
• The objective of this project is the development of innovative biotechnological wastewater treatments, even in association with plant systems for bustle of reuse of wastewater in agriculture
• This is one of the largest Indo-Euro project funded by Government of India through Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the EU
• This was formed in 2012 under KBBE and biotechnological waste water treatments and reuse in agronomical systems

ANSWER: Second

Explanation:
Yog Geet (song) was released on International Day of Yoga- the song is 3 minutes and 15 seconds in Hindi language. This song is written by Dheeraj Saraswat and sung by Sh. Gandhar TD Jadhav as well as Ms. Gatha Jadhav. The music of the song was produced by Sh. Sumanto Ray.

• As part of celebration of 2nd International Day of Yoga, a national level competition for selection of a Yog Geet was organised

ANSWER: June 17

Explanation:
Ganges Danube Cultural Festival of India in Hungary was launched on June 17, 2016 at Vigado Theatre in Budapest, Hungary. The International Day of Yoga followed by a Yoga workshop on June 18th.

• Festival showcased Indian culture that is, dance, music, yoga, film and exhibitions, Indian martial arts and puppet artists
• Festival is set to be staged in Hungarian cities including Budapest such as Szeged and Budapest.

ANSWER: Soram Sunil

Explanation:
Congress councillor Soram Sunil was sworn in as the first mayor of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur. He was elected unanimously to the Imphal Municipal Corporation

• Currently, there are protests on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit in Manipur
• Imphal is the capital city of Manipur and houses the Palace of Kangla as well as a number of temples

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Three women fighter pilots of the IAF graduated from Air Force Academy at Dundigal. India ahas now joined a select few nations with women fighter pilots in the armed forces. Flying officers Mohana Singh, Bhawana Kanth, and Avani Chaturvedi were conferred with the President’s Commission.

• Total of 130 flight cadets including 22 women trainees were commissioned as Flying Officers at the Air Force Academy.
• Flying Officer Adarsh Hooda was awarded the President’s Plaque and the Chief of Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in the pilot course.
• Other awardees of the President’s plaque included Narendra Kushawaha and Sahil Yadav.

ANSWER: Central Marine Police Force

Explanation:
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh approved the Maharashtra CM’s proposal to set up a Central Marine Police Force to protect the sea, coasts, ports and key institutions along the 7516 km long coastline

• The suggestion had also been made that all landing points and non major ports be brought under tech based e-surveillance
• Decision to have central command for Marine Police elicited support from ministers and officials across States and UTs
• Decision was also taken to set up the National Marine Police Training Institute in Dwarka (Gujarat) and State Marine Police Training Centres in Police training academies of states and union territories

ANSWER: Bone

Explanation:
In the first, scientists have grown a living bone in the lab to repair large defects in the head and face of patients, taking a move forward in enhancing treatments for persons with craniofacial defects.

• New technique developed by Columbia University researchers uses autologous stem cells derived from a little sample of the recipient’s fat and replicates the anatomical structure of the bone
• Researchers also include scientists from Louisiana State University and Tulane University in the US fabricated scaffold and bioreactor chamber based on jaw defects to yield perfect anatomical fit
• Scaffold built enabled bone formation without the use of growth factors and also provided mechanical function which has a unique application for clinicians.
• The recipients own stem cells can be isolated from the small fat aspirate and form the bone within a scaffold made from bone matrix in a custom designed perfused bioreactor
• The outcome was that the lab grown bone when implanted was replaced by a new bone formed by the body
• This result was not seen with the implantation of the scaffold alone without cells.
• Researchers now include a cartilage layer in the bio-engineered living bone tissue to study bone regeneration in complex defects of the head and face.

ANSWER: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Explanation:
International Finance Corp, the private sector lending arm of the World Bank indicated it was looking to invest US $75 million/INR 500 crore in Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, raising US $200 million to reduce debt and fund expansion plans

• Mumbai based drug company is raising the capital by selling quasi equity instruments
• Company plans to use money for expansion of manufacturing capacity, (mostly in India) and building R&D capacity for fresh products and reducing debt
• Glenmark will invest a significant amount in capital expenditure over three years across facilities in India
• Glenmark has been facing pricing pressure across key markets
• Glenmark’s debt stood at INR 4000 crore with debt equity ratio of 0.6.
• For the year closing March31, Glenmark posted profit of INR 702 crore on INR 7649.6 crore of revenue

ANSWER: Guided missiles

Explanation:
Scientists have worked out novel proteins that work like guided missiles which seek cancel cells and deliver chemotherapy drugs to cure had to reach tumours without harming healthy cells.

• Chemotherapy drugs do kill cancer cells, they damage other quickly dividing cells in the human body causing everything from cosmetic to disabling impact
• Drug dose needed to kill tumour may be more than what the human body can handle
• Dose high enough to infiltrate the tumour could also harm other cells in the human body
• Recently approved therapies deliver drugs directly to the tumours
• Now, researchers are using engineered protein rather than antibodies to direct drug to the tumour
• Specialised protein reaches out faster and is smaller in size than antibodies. Big size limits penetration by antibodies. Smaller molecule could diffuse into the tumour better.