Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 19, 2016

ANSWER: March 20

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended greetings and felicitations to Tunis republic citizens and government on the eve of their National Day (March 20,2016). President of the Republic of Tunisia Mr.Beji Caid Essebsi was also greeted by the Indian President. Tunisia’s Foreign Minister participated in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit in October 2015 and foreign minister’s interaction with MEA at Bahrain during the first India-Arab ministerial meet on 24th January 2016.

ANSWER: Vijay Mallya

Explanation:
Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 17, 2016 announced to the Board of Control for Cricket in India that Vijay Mallya has resigned from his post as Director of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited. An RCB official Russell Adams was named as the new RCSPL Director and also assumed the role of vice president of Commercial Operations and Cricket Academy at RCB. Mallya was the owner of RCB since 2008.

ANSWER: Goa

Explanation:
The Goa government on March 17, 2016 classified country liquor Feni as the Heritage Spirit of Goa. Feni is produced exclusively on this coastal state. Feni has become the first liquor product in the nation to obtain this status and received its GI certification in 2000. Feni, a brew made from coconut or cashew fruits is used in traditions, cuisines and has medical value. Government therefore chose not to categorise it is as a country liquor.

ANSWER: M. Venkaiah Naidu

Explanation:
Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on 18th March was conferred with the Skoch Lifetime Achievement Award at the 43rd SKOCH summit held in New Delhi. He was selected for his contributions to inclusive growth and poverty alleviation in the country. IT Minister of Telangana, KT Rama Rao also won the award in the start up category for setting up tech incubator T-Hub.

ANSWER: Sir Andrew Wiles

Explanation:
The Oxford University professor, Sir Andrew Wiles won the 500,000 pound prize for cracking the 300 year old Fermat’s Last Theorem. His proof was published in 1994. The 62 year old will pick up an award and a cheque for the six million Krone from Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon in Oslo in the month of May

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
2 time Emmy Award winning actor Larry Drake who played Benny on LA Law has passed away at the age of 66 on 17th March 2016 in California. Drake was known for the portrayal of developmentally disabled Benny on the show LA Law from 1987 to 1994. He was also part of the movie version of the show released in 2002. Drake has also provided voice acting for Johnny Bravo’s Pops.

ANSWER: TCS

Explanation:
Tata Consultancy Services on 17th March 2016 has announced a three year partnership with Virgin Money London Marathon. The partnership aims to improve digital experience delivered to marathon participants. Under the partnership, the software major will become the official technology partner for the race for the next 3 years. This event is the Guinness world record holder for the largest annual fund raising event in the world.

ANSWER: 32.1 billion tonnes

Explanation:
In good news for the climate change scenario, data showed that global CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel burning did not rise in 2015. This marks the second year in the row when CO2 emissions form fossil fuels did not increase. Burning of fossil fuels constitutes 2/3rd of global CO₂ emissions with the remaining associated with deforestation and agriculture. However, this does not mean that global warming has stopped. IEA in Paris pegged the 2015 value as 32.1 billion tonnes, the same as 2014.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Turkey and the EU have reached a controversial deal to stop the flow of refugees to the latter continent in return for political and financial concessions for Ankara. Turkey’s PM Ahmet Davutoglu and EU President Donald Tusk confirmed the agreement which came into force after three rounds of talks. Accord aims to close main route by which million people came to the Aegean Sea to Greece in the last year before moving North to Germany and Sweden. As per the agreement. Ankara will take back all refugees and others including Syrians who crossed over to Greece illegally across the sea. EU will take thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with money, early visa free travel and faster progress in EU membership talks.

ANSWER: Those earning less than INR 33 per day

Explanation:
Niti Aayog’s Task Force on Eliminating Poverty has argued the poverty line is not the basis of identification of the poor. Instead, it is the BPL census on the basis of which state governments identify the poor. Main criticism of the Tendulkar line is that it is low…but other estimates of poverty say little about what is happening to households in utter poverty. Committee chaired by former Chairperson of the PM’s Advisory Council and the National Statistical Commission, late Suresh Tendulkar calculated poverty line for 2004-2005 at levels that were equivalent in PPP terms to one US dollar per person per day. This was the internationally accepted poverty line at that time. Tendulkar computed poverty lines for 2004-2005 at a level that was equivalent in PPP terms to INR 33 per day.

ANSWER: Pristimantis dorado

Explanation:
Scientists have discovered a new species of pale gold coloured frog within the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes. The name Pristimantis dorado means both the colour (dorado means “golden” in Spanish) and El Dorado, a mythical city of gold Spanish conquistadores in South America searched for. The new species was found at about 8700 feet elevation near Chingaza National Park close to 10 miles east of Colombia’c capital city Bogota. Colombia now has 800 species of amphibians second only to Brazil in complete diversity. The group to which the new species belongs Prismantis includes 465 recognised species, 205 of which are from Colombia. The new species is among the smaller of the group, as the largest species are around two inches in length.

ANSWER: Magicbricks

Explanation:
Realty portal Magicbricks has acquired property analysis platform Properji for a non disclosed amount and plants to come up with reports for more than 10,000 projects in 6 metros which will help buyers in making the right decision. Magicbricks dot com has acquired Invact Technologies which runs the realty portal. This marks the first acquisition by Magicbricks dot com.

ANSWER: Jeff Williams

Explanation:
58 year old Williams is the first American to make a 3 hour long duration flight to orbit and will break the US record set by Scott Kelly. Towards the close of the mission at the International Space Station, Williams will be the American with the most cumulative days in space- 534.

ANSWER: 9

Explanation:
In a new discovery British astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope to find 9 monster stars which are 30 times more brilliant than the sun. Sheffield University researchers led the astronomer and the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990. It is now nearing the end of its life. The cluster is called R136 and measures a few light years across. None of the stars are 100 times the sun’s mass while dozens are 50 times larger.

ANSWER: 50

Explanation:
Centre on 18th March notified a new set of plastic waste management rules for India, replacing the earlier rules made close to 5 years ago. The new rules more stringent than previous rules will be implemented across the nation within 6 months. As per the new rules, government has banned manufacturing of plastic bags below 50 microns as thinner bags are non disposable and pose a major risk to the environment. Moreover, responsibility of waste generator is being introduced for the first time. Under the fresh rules, plastic carry bags will be available only with street vendors and shop keepers who are preregistered with local bodies on payment of specific registration fee.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
Cartographers have said that Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands is 1345 m high as against 1344 m. Mountain has not physically grown…merely technology has advanced to make an accurate reading possible. The exact reading is 1344.527 which has been rounded off to 1345.

ANSWER: LG Electronics

Explanation:
Bang & Olufsen, Danish maker of upmarket sound systems and televisions has entered into a partnership with LG Electronics to outsource production of televisions. The Danish firm which was in talks with a potential buyer will also address key challenges associated with scale and complexity.

ANSWER: Reliance Communications

Explanation:
Shareholders of telecom operator Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd which runs the MTS brand approves merger of the company with Reliance Communications in a meeting convened by the Rajasthan HC. Earlier this month, RCom shareholders have also approved the merger scheme. Deal between RCom and SSTL is valued at USD 690 million and is expected to close in second quarter of 2016.

ANSWER: HL Tau

Explanation:
Astronomers studied fresh images of a young star taken by the KarlG. Jan sky Very Large Array which reveals early stages of planet formation. Scientists used VLA for observing unprecedented details of inner portion of dusty disk surrounding the star located 450 light years away from earth. Star and its disk were studied in 2014 with Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array that provided the best image of planet formation in progress.

ANSWER: Lori Robinson

Explanation:
With this, Lori Robinson becomes the first woman to head a US combatant command, according to US Defence Secretary Ash Carter. The position is subject to Senate confirmation and will make General Robinson the top general overseeing activities in N. America. She will be the first ever female combatant commander.