Current Affairs Questions & Answers - June 21, 2016

ANSWER: 74 percent

Explanation:
FDI in brownfield pharma under automatic route was up to 74 percent. Government on June 20 allowed up to 74 percent FDI in existing pharmaceutical companies via automatic route with the aim to promote the sector.

• Earlier 100 percent FDI was permitted through the government approval route
• It has been decided to permit up to 74 percent FDI in automatic route for brownfield pharma and the government approval route beyond 74 percent will continue.
• 100 percent FDI under automatic route in greenfield pharma is permitted while approval route for 100 percent FDI in brownfield pharma is under the approval route.
• FDI in brownfield projects has been an issue impacting accessibility and growth of the generic industry in the nation
• Market size of India’s pharma company is USD 20 billion. Acquisitions in this field include Daiichi Sankyo’s purchase of Ranbaxy, Abbot Lab’s acquisition of Piramal Health Care domestic business. Mylan purchased Matrix Lab while Dabur Pharma was acquired by Fresenius and Sanofi Aventis recently purchased Shanta Biotech

ANSWER: State Action Plan of Climate Change

Explanation:
State Action Plan of Climate Change/SAPCC was approved by the government of India and formally launched on 20th June with a workshop amidst stakeholders.

• Plan would require INR 8800 crore in two phases
• Of the 15 sectors under National Action Plan of Climate Change, four sectors-disaster, water, energy and forest will be dealt with first
• International agencies Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will facilitate expert guidance and fund at global level while UNDP SDC will monitor its implementation
• Chief Secretary at the occasion, Shatrughan Sinha also confirmed a sectoral CC plan was needed for those departments playing an important role

ANSWER: K2-33b

Explanation:
Astronomers have announced the discovery of the youngest planet found outside the solar system providing insights into the way planetary systems form

• 11 million year old exoplanet called K2-33b rapidly orbits around the star K2-33 in close to 5.4 days
• Exoplanets indicate planets can quickly finalise orbital distances following formation
• This exoplanet which is 5 times the size of earth is 4.5 bullion years old
• Close to 470 light years from earth, it is called a Super Neptune.

ANSWER: EkShiksha

Explanation:
ConnectEd Technologies, an education technology startup creating scalable rural focused education solutions launched EkShiksha in collaboration with the state educational department

• Campaign aims at union of socially responsible corporates, NGOs, schools and grass root educators to overcome inquiry and provide quality education to children studying in rural schools.
• Rural schools will be equipped with smart classrooms by ConnectEd Technologies which is a solar powered teacher aid product that works in demanding rural conditions
• Campaign launch marked the inauguration of ConnectEd Technologies maiden project near Mumbai’s Palghar
• First phase of the project will focus on enhancing education infrastructure in densely populated schools

ANSWER: 67

Explanation:
Astronomers have found there are more planets of the hot Jupiter type than previously expected in a cluster of stars called Messier 67, to understand planet formation.

• The open cluster star is the same age as the Sun and it is believed the Solar System operated in a similarly dense environment
• Hot Jupiter is a giant exoplanet with mass of close to more than a third of Jupiter’s mass
• These are hot as they are orbiting close to parent stars indicated by orbital period less than 10 days in duration

ANSWER: Organometallic catalyst

Explanation:
A research paper outlines a method for converting plastic into usable fuel that has been developed in a lab. Research was done by a combined team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of California.

• World produces 299 MT of plastic in 2013-2014, and more thereon. According to UNEP, between 22 to 43 percent of the plastic used worldwide in disposed in landfills
• Method used by teams involve mixing plastic with organometallic catalyst reportedly made by mixing available molecules which are doped with metal iridium
• Reaction causes bonds to weaken and plastic to be torn apart into a state which can be used to create diesel like fuel to bring power to vehicles and other motors

ANSWER: 27

Explanation:
Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is among the top 30 Asian universities in the 2016 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings

• This is the first time an Indian university has made it to the top 30, with IISc in 27th place.
• Eight Indian institutions are among the top 100 on the list and India has the most institutions overall among the top 200 South Asian universities list of THE.
• The other Indian universities in the top half of the ranking include the Indian Institutes of Technology in Bombay (43rd), Kharagpur (51st), Delhi (60th), Madras (62nd), Roorkee (65th), and Guwahati (joint 80th) and Jadavpur University in joint 84th place.
• Singapore took the first two spots with the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University in first and second place, respectively.

ANSWER: 93 quadrillion

Explanation:
A new Chinese computer system that can make 93 quadrillions calculations per second has claimed the top spot on the list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

• The computer called Sunway TaihuLight developed by the National Research Centre of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology (NRCPC) is built entirely using processors designed and made in China.
• The supercomputer installed at the National Supercomputing Centre in China displaced Tianhe-2, an Intel-based Chinese supercomputer that has claimed the top 1 spot on the past six TOP500 lists. The closely watched list is issued twice a year.
• Sunway TaihuLight is twice as fast and three times as efficient as Tianhe-2, which posted a performance of 33.86 quadrillions of calculations per second.
• Titan, a Cray X40 system installed at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is now at the third position, with 17.59 quadrillions of calculations per second.

ANSWER: Potassium bromate

Explanation:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on 20th June 2016 banned use of potassium bromate as a food additive after Centre for Science and Environment alleged the presence of the substance in bread can cause cancer.

• Meanwhile, the food regulator has also referred the matter for further investigation to a scientific panel.
• A CSE study had found that 84% of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate.
• These two food additives are banned in many countries and listed as "hazardous" for public health.

ANSWER: 20 June

Explanation:
World Refugee Day was observed on 20 June 2016. It is observed annually to draw attention to the plight of refugees, celebrate their courage and resilience and renew commitment to solve refugee problems.

• It also recognises contributions of the refugees made to the countries that host them.
• According to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, refugee is a person who fled his or her home and country owing to a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
• Many refugees are in exile to escape the effects of natural or human-made disasters.

ANSWER: 19th June

Explanation:
First International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict was observed on 19 June 2016.

• The day was observed to raise awareness for the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence.
• It calls to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.
• The term “conflict-related sexual violence” refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization and forced marriage.
• It also includes any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly or indirectly linked (temporally, geographically or causally) to a conflict.
• On 19 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/69/293) proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

ANSWER: Rohit J Patel

Explanation:
Businessman Bipin R Patel was on 18 June 2016 appointed as the President of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for the term 2016-17. He succeeds Rohit J Patel.

• The decision in this regard was taken during the annual general meeting (AGM) of the GCCI. In another development, Shailesh Patwari was appointed as the Senior Vice-President of the chamber
• The Chamber founded in 1949 was created by Kasturbhai Lalbhai and Amrutlal Hargovandas, pioneers of industrial Gujarat.
• It is registered as a Society under the Society Registration Act, 1860.

ANSWER: Approval

Explanation:
Changes introduced in the policy include increase in sectoral caps, bringing more activities under automatic route and easing of conditionality for foreign investment. These amendments seek to further simplify the regulations governing FDI in India.

• To permit 100 percent FDI under government approval route for trading in respect of food products manufactured in India.
• FDI beyond 49% has been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology. FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act
• 100 percent FDI allowed under automatic route for Teleports, Direct to Home, Cable Networks and Mobile TV.
• Moreover, infusion of FDI beyond 49% in a company not seeking permission from Ministry will result in change in the ownership pattern.
• To permit 100% FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects. In Scheduled Air Transport Service and regional Air Transport Service, it has now been decided to raise FDI limit to 100%. For NRIs, 100% FDI will continue to be allowed under automatic route.
• FDI up to 49% is now permitted under automatic route in this sector and FDI beyond 49% and up to 74% would be permitted with government approval route.

ANSWER: HTT 40

Explanation:
Public-sector aerospace and defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has inaugurated indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) HTT-40

• It only took one year for the company to fly the first prototype after launching the detailed design of the aircraft by earmarking internal resources only in August 2013 and completing the detailed design phase by May 2015.
• Digital Mock Up (DMU), real time systems clash analysis, laser tracking of assembly jigs, six degree of freedom, mathematical model and complete glass cockpit are among the many first initiatives of the project.
• According to HAL, HTT-40 has been designed to meet the current requirement of the IAF with the provision for role expansion to attach weapons to the trainer aircraft.

ANSWER: Panama Papers

Explanation:
The Panama Papers probe, a collaborative work of more than 100 media organisations including The Indian Express, has won the Data Journalism Awards 2016 for Investigation of the Year.

• The award was presented at the Global Editors Network (GEN) summit in Vienna.
• The Panama Papers investigation was based on 2.6 terabyte of data obtained by German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung
• It has been shared through the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
• The Data Journalism Awards is hosted by the Global Editors Network, a cross-platform community of editors-in-chief and media innovators.

ANSWER: Magnetic

Explanation:
French firm Cooltech Applications has launched what it claims as the world’s first commercially available magnetic refrigeration system.

• It can serve as a “Superfridge” slashing down both the environmental as well as economic challenges which the current electricity appliances face.
• The Magnetic Refrigeration System (MRS) achieves refrigeration by passing a water coolant through magnetocaloric materials undergoing repeated magnetization-demagnetization cycles.
• Glycol water is used as a coolant fluid to transfer heat between cold and hot sources working on the system of magneto caloric events.

ANSWER: Aida Gemanque

Explanation:
Three years after becoming the world’s oldest skydiver, Aida Gemanque became the oldest Olympic torch bearer when she carried the flame in the Amazonian city of Macapa, aged 106.

• Gemanque broke the record formerly held by Alexander Kaptarenko, who was 101 when he took part in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics relay.
• Olympic flame is a symbol of the games

ANSWER: UAE

Explanation:
Seeking to boost the growing bilateral strategic ties, India and the UAE will set up a joint parliamentary panel to enhance relations and facilitate their visits to promote cooperation to tackle security issues and challenges facing the region.

• A decision was taken in this regard during a meeting between first woman speaker of UAEs Federal National Council (FNC) Amal Abdullah Al-Qubaisi and the Indian ambassador TP Seetharam.
• The two sides stressed the importance of consultation and coordination between FNC and Indian parliament delegations during their participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union in order to unify positions and views on various issues of interest to both countries and peoples.
• They also agreed to prepare a draft MoU for the establishment of the parliamentary committee, and highlighted existing areas of cooperation in various political, economic, cultural and investment sectors.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The Expert Committee set on examining the Specific Relief Act, 1963 submitted its Report To Union Law & Justice Minister Shri D.V.Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi.

• In its report the committee has recommended modifications in the Specific Relief Act, 1963 for ensuring the ease of doing business.
• In the context of tremendous developments which have taken place since 1963 and the present changed scenario involving contract based infrastructure developments, public private partnerships and other public projects, involving huge investments; and changes required in the present scheme of the Act.
• So that specific performance is granted as a general rule and grant of compensation or damages for non-performance remains as an exception, the committee decided
• The committee observed that there also is a need to classify diverse Public utility Contracts as a distinct class recognising the inherent public interest/importance to be addressed in the Act. Any public work must progress without interruption.
• This requires consideration whether a court’s intervention in public works should be minimal. Smooth functioning of Public works projects can be effectively managed through a monitoring system and regulatory mechanism.
• The role of courts in this exercise is to interfere to the minimum extent so that public works projects will not be impeded or stalled.

ANSWER: Kandla

Explanation:
The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) in Myanmar was conceptualized and is being administered by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with a view to facilitate connectivity between the mainland and the North Eastern States of the country through maritime shipping, inland waterways and roads of Myanmar through the Kalandan project

• India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL) has been established as a Joint Venture between Kandla Port Trust and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for the purpose of development of ports overseas
• IPGPL was asked to partner IWAI in the Kaladan project as a sub-PDC.