Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 18, 2016

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
The committee would comprise UGC members Prof H Devaraj, Prof Mohammad Miyan, Prof Sanjay Govind Dhande and Dr KN Shanti apart from a member convener. UGC has issued notice for several deemed universities which have set up off campus centres without approval from before.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Reserve Bank has provided relief to banks holding bonds of State Electricity Boards that were debt ridden. Banks have been allowed to keep Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana scheme bonds under held to maturity category. This will lessen pressure on bond yields and debt market. HTM is part of the debt holdings of the bank not subjected to daily price movement which can be held by banks till maturity.

ANSWER: Anand Arya

Explanation:
This includes the Dhanauri wetland discovered by ornithological expert Anand Arya. Wetlands Conservation and Management Rules of 2010, passed under the Environment Protection Act have directed state governments to identify and list wetlands with MoEF.

ANSWER: All three of the above

Explanation:
5 Ganga river basin states- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and West Bengal will be launching a massive plantation drive as part of rejuvenation of the river. Scheme aims to help develop green path across the river to absorb water and prevent soil erosion. It will be implemented over 5 years in the first phase. Close to 40 different types of plants with high water retention capacity have been identified for this purpose under the Namami Gange programme.

ANSWER: 50

Explanation:
In a massive breakthrough, a man made sun experiment in China has produced long pulse plasma discharge of more than 50 million degrees which is the longest discharge at such a high temperature. Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, an artificial sun experiment realised a ultra high temperature long pulse plasma discharge for a full 102 seconds. The artificial sun can therefore provide unlimited clean energy through controlled thermonuclear fusion. Light and heat of the sun comes from two hydrogen radioactive isotopes- tritium and deuterium.

ANSWER: Nefertiti

Explanation:
Scans of King Tut’s burial chamber have revealed two hidden rooms. Experts say chambers contain the remains of the famed Queen Nefertiti. Chambers may contain metal or organic material.The discovery could shine new light on one of ancient Egypt’s most turbulent times, and one prominent researcher Nicholas Reeves has theorised that the Nefertiti’s remains could be inside.

ANSWER: Israel’s Mossad

Explanation:
Meir Dagan, a former Israeli general and long-time director of its spy agency Mossad, has died at age 71. He carried put cover attacks against Iranian nuclear scientists and unleashed cyber-attacks, including the Stuxnet virus that delayed the Iranian nuclear program. He also opposed a military strike on Iran. He is survived by his wife and three children.

ANSWER: Frank Sinatra Sr.

Explanation:
Frank Sinatra Jr., who carried on his famous father’s legacy with his own music career and whose kidnapping as a young man added a bizarre chapter to his father’s legendary life, died on 16th March at the age 72. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. He was the middle child.

ANSWER: World Happiness Report

Explanation:
The United Nations Social Development Network (UNSDN) on 17th March 2016 released World Happiness Report (WHR) 2016 in Rome. The 4th edition of WHR was released ahead of the UN World Happiness Day, which will be observed on 20 March 2016. Denmark topped the list as the happiest place in the world, while Burundi was ranked at the bottom as the least happy nation, as per the report.

ANSWER: Ashley Judd

Explanation:
United Nations Population Fund The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on 15th March 2016 appointed Ashley Judd as its Goodwill Ambassador. She is a humanitarian, actor, writer and political activist.Her appointment is also aimed at generating awareness about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda that was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015.

ANSWER: Fazle Kabir

Explanation:
Fazle Kabir on 15th March 2016 was appointed the 11th Governor of the Bangladesh Bank. He replaced Atiur Rehman who retired after electronical theft of over USD 101 million from the Central Bank account. Bangladeshi economist and financial expert, Kabir series as chairman of Sonali Bank prior to this.

ANSWER: Amar Abrol

Explanation:
AirAsia India has said Amar Abrol will take over the reins of CEO from Mittu Chandilya, who has been at the helm of the no-frills airline since inception about 3 years ago. The airline is a 3 way JV and Abrol, who has over 20 years of experience, was most recently the CEO of Tune Money, a start-up that aims to deliver low-cost financial products in South-East Asia.

ANSWER: Aung San Suu Kyi

Explanation:
Htin Kyaw, a 69-year-old academic and long-time aide of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was elected with 360 votes while U Myint Swe from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), who was directly assigned by the military, was elected first vice president with 213 votes. Close aid Kyaw was also voted the next president.

ANSWER: Narendra Modi

Explanation:
The magazine said Indian leader as an “Internet star” who used social media to “conduct diplomacy.” The magazine cited Mr. Modi’s unconventional announcement on Twitter of his visit to Pakistan last year while naming him among ‘The 30 Most Influential People on the Internet’ for the second year in a row in this year’s unranked list. Others on the list include Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, JK Rowling and Caitlyn Jenner.

ANSWER: MSME

Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India has revised rules in relation to revival of advances to small businesses and asked lenders to establish district level communities to resolve bad loans to MSMEs or micro, small and medium enterprises. Restricting of loan accounts with exposure of more than INR 25 crore will be governed by CDF or JLF mechanism/ Corporate Debt Restructuring or Joint Lenders’ Forum.