Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 08, 2016

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Government will identify 6 to 10 public sector banks driving the consolidation process among state owned banks. These anchor banks will be identified by October 31, 2016. Large banks like PNB and SBI could become anchor banks. Recently constituted Bank Board Bureau will also help in the process of consolidation.

ANSWER: Padma Sachdev

Explanation:
Veteran Dogri poetess and writer Padma Sachdev has won the Krutitava Smagra Samman for the year 2015 on 6th March 2016. Award was given by Kolkata’s Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad for the contribution to literature and service to Dogri language. Sachdev has 6 collections of Dogri poems and 8 books of Hindi prose including 2 novels.

ANSWER: Tezpur University

Explanation:
The Best University award at the President’s Visitor Awards Ceremony for 2016 has been awarded to Tezpur University for being the top university. Other recipients of this award include Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar from JNU for Innovation. The Molecular Parasitology Group of JNU won the award in the research category. Award was given during week long Festival of Innovations hosted in partnership between Rahstrapati Bhavan and National Innovation Foundation from March 12-19th.

ANSWER: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

Explanation:
President Francois Hollande has awarded the Legion d’Honneur to visiting Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Naef. The Legion d’Honneur was founded in 1802 by Napoleon and regarded as the first among modern orders of merit in the world. It is France’s highest civilian honour.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the Mahila e-Haat in New Delhi. This is a unique online marketing platform for women participants to display products and is part of Digital India and Stand Up Initiatives of PM. The portal has been created by Rashtriya Mahila Kosh and associated organisations and aims to create a new generation of business women. Mahila e-Haat portal can be accessed at mahilaehaat-rmk.gov.in

ANSWER: 8th March

Explanation:
UN is celebrating International Women's Day on March 8, 2016. The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality’. The United Nations observance on 8 March will reflect on how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, only 22% of parliamentarians are women and 50% of women of working age work. Women earn less than 24% as against men globally and of 500 Fortune companies, only 25 women are CEOs. There is critical need for women empowerment.

ANSWER: Raisina Dialogue

Explanation:
Raising Dialogue is a joint initiative of MEA and leading think tank Observer Research Foundation. Three day dialogue will see the participation of 100 speakers from more than 35 nations and a panel comprising former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the Bangladeshi foreign minister Mahmood Ali along with India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. Raising Dialogue is New Delhi’s annual conference organised like Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. It is named after Raisina Hill, the elevation in New Delhi, which is the location of both the Government of India as well as the presidential palace of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, which inspired the design of the conference symbol. Conclave this year focused one economic, physical, human and digital connectivity in Asia.

ANSWER: Happening Haryana Investor Summit

Explanation:
Haryana is rolling out the red carpet for investors through the Happening Haryana Investor Summit promoting competitive federalism. Major companies like Maruti Suzuki were present for the event. Union FM Arun Jaitley said Haryana’s closeness to Delhi is a major plus point for investors.

ANSWER: 7.7

Explanation:
Fitch Ratings lowered the economic growth forecast of India for the next fiscal to 7.7 percent and maintained GDP projection for present fiscal at 7.5 percent. Fitch has forecast an 8% growth in December for the year 2016-2017 on account of capex spreading and gradual implementation of broad based structural reform agenda. 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 would be supported by greater amounts of real disposable income, leading to a normal monsoon after deficient rainfall for the past 2 years and the implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
Scientists have identified a common ancestral gene enabling the evolution of advanced life more than 1 billion years ago, without which the planet would still have only primitive bacterial life form. Gene in question is found in complex organisms such as plants and animals and encodes for a big group of enzymes known as protein kinases. Protein kinases enable cells to become larger and transfer data from one to another part. Flora and fauna on earth exist because of eukaryotic cells that are far more complex than bacteria and contain organelles which perform diverse functions for life. Gene gives rise to protein kinases. On a cellular level, highly interactive signaling protein kinases play a role similar to brain neurons through transfer of information through a process referred to as protein phosphorylation. More than 400 human diseases such as cancer and diabetes are linked with cell signaling and disease occurs when there is misinformation or confusion in the cells. Nearly 25% of all pharma companies target protein kinases. From genome sequencing, it is known that 500 genes for different protein kinases had similar blueprints and led to the formation of a group of enzymes called as choline and ethanolamine kinases.The choline kinase enzyme is vital for the production of phosphatidylcholine, a major component of the membranes that wrap around eukaryotic cells and their organelles. It is missing from bacteria.

ANSWER: 14600

Explanation:
A global team of researchers discovered 8000 Sumatran orangutans that were previously uncounted. This critically endangered species of large apes was found living in mountains and areas west of Lake Toba. The population of the Sumatran orangutan is now estimated at 14,600.
Both Indonesian and Malaysian species of Orangutans are critically endangered and scientists found that deforestation could lead to decline of the species by 4500 by 2030.

ANSWER: SoftBank

Explanation:
Japanese telecom and internet company SoftBank has said it will be splitting into 2 100% owned subsidiaries. Basically, the global business is being separated from domestic operations. Transfers are expected to be complete by December and the move is aimed at making these key business areas future growth drivers. Company’s stakes in US telecom Sprint and China’s Alibaba Group will go to the global subsidiary while domestic operations like Yahoo Japan will go to the other subsidiary.

ANSWER: Cinepolis

Explanation:
Digital payments platform FreeCharge has partnered with Mexico based chain of movie theatres called Cinepolis. This partnership seeks to provide easy to use and secure means of ticket payment for customers. This marks the first time Cinepolis which is the 4th largest chain of theatres will partner with a digital wallet company. Transactions will be completed within seconds using the “On-The-Go-Pin.”

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The company has entered into a strategic agreement with GDLC and Bharat Forge Limited for bidding for the FICV or Future Infantry Combat Vehicle. Others in the race include M&M and L&T. Winning consortium will supply advanced combat vehicles over a period of 25 years.