Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 27, 2017

ANSWER: Pulse firing

Explanation:
The US Navy has released a test video showcasing its experimental new weapon–the electromagnetic railgun.

With the capacity for firing projectiles at Mach 6, the railgun requires no explosives and can be fired using nothing but electricity making it a seriously cost-effective new choice for the Navy.

The railgun has long been portrayed by science fiction as a weapon of the future.

Using super-powerful electromagnets, it releases a solid projectile at almost impossible speeds over vast distances, all without using a single drop of gunpowder.

The railgun completely eliminates the need for an explosive shell. Due to the sheer speed the gun uses ‘slugs’ instead which cause damage through force.

The rail gun is already undergoing sea-trials and there have been rumours that the finished weapon will be installed on the US Navy’s state-of-the-art Zumwalt stealth ship.

Powered by a ‘pulse’ firing system that’s as small as a packet of cigarettes, the gun can send a slug through the air at speeds of up to Mach 6.

The weapon has a predicted range of 110-miles. It can achieve pinpoint accuracy even at that massive distance.

Mach Number: Know More

• In fluid dynamics, the Mach number (M or Ma) (/m??x/; German: [ma?]) is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of flow velocity past a boundary to the local speed of sound.
• Mach 1 is equal to the speed of sound. Mach 0.65 is 65% of the speed of sound (subsonic), and Mach 1.35 is 35% faster than the speed of sound (supersonic).
• The Mach number is named after Austrian physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach, a designation proposed by aeronautical engineer Jakob Ackeret.

ANSWER: INS Vikramaditya

Explanation:
To boost India's maritime prowess, the Navy has successfully conducted the maiden trial firing of newly installed surface-to-air Barak missile system from its aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

During the firing carried out in the Arabian Sea, the missile was fired against a live low flying high speed target.

The target was successfully engaged and destroyed, on March 22nd.

The firing was conducted as part of the 'Operational Readiness Inspection' of the Western Fleet by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, from 21 to 23 March.

The missile marks a significant milestone in providing air interception and defence capabilities and enhanced operational capabilities of the Navy's aircraft carrier and the flee.

INS Vikramaditya: Know More

• The 44,500 tonne carrier was commissioned into the Navy in November 2013.
• It was commissioned at Severodvinsk in Russia and was originally scheduled to have the long range surface- to-air missile system under joint development with Israel.
• But delay in its development resulted in the carrier being inducted into the force without its own air defence system, and forcing it to rely on support ships in the carrier battle group for air cover.

ANSWER: Medical Council of India

Explanation:
Following the scrapping of Medical Council of India, replacing it with the National Medical Commission, GoI is planning to revamp homeopathy and ayurveda regulators for better quality of doctors.

A panel headed by Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya has finalised two draft bills which propose to replace the two regulators governing education in Indian systems of medicine (including Ayurveda) and homoeopathy and other reform measures such as national entrance and exit tests to ensure quality of doctors and expand the reach of these streams.

The draft legislations suggested replacing the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) and the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), statutory bodies under the health ministry, with the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH).

The panel also recommended that "for profit" entities - or companies - be allowed to set up colleges to meet the need for more AYUSH providers in healthcare.

Worried that a fee cap might be a deterrent for entry of private players in a sector where capacity expansion can brook no delay, the panel was against giving regulators the power of fee regulation.

It said a merit-based admission system with reservation for deprived sections would address concerns about high cost of medical education for meritorious but poor and disadvantaged students.

Number of colleges for Indian systems of medicine and Homeopathy has increased phenomenally to 404.

The existing regulators failed to check mushrooming of substandard institutions causing erosion in quality of education.

The plan is to bring about stringent quality control and better quality of medical practitioners.

MCI: Know More

• The Medical Council of India (MCI) is a statutory body.
• It bears the responsibility of establishing and maintaining high standards of medical education and recognition of medical qualifications in India.
• It registers doctors to practice in India.
• This is to protect and promote the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.

ANSWER: Japan

Explanation:
India has become the third largest aviation market in terms of domestic passenger traffic, beating Japan, a CAPA industry report held.

India's domestic air passenger traffic stood at 100 million in 2016 and was behind only the US (719 million) and China (436 million).

This is as per Sydney-based aviation think-tank Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) in its latest report.

India acquired the third spot globally by unseating Japan, which flew 97 million domestic passengers in 2016, CAPA said.

Domestic air traffic has shown a consistent growth of 20 -25 percent throughout 2015 and 2016, peaking in January this year at 25.13 percent.

However, the domestic travel demand rose 16 per cent in February this year, ending the long streak of over 20 per cent.

According to CAPA, India which enjoyed the fourth position in terms of overall air passenger traffic (both domestic and international) along with the UK, has also inched closer to becoming the third largest one by March 2018.

Japan, which flew 141 million passengers in 2016, was ahead of India whose total air passenger traffic was 131 million in the previous year, as per CAPA.

United States with 815 million passengers in 2016 enjoyed the top position, followed by China with 490 million, according to the report.

CAPA: Know More

• Established in 1990, CAPA - Centre for Aviation is the leading provider of independent aviation market intelligence, analysis, reports and data services.
• It is covering worldwide developments on a daily basis.
• They provide an extensive range of information services developed by our global team of writers and analysts covering the entire spectrum of commercial aviation.
• CAPA Members receive unrivalled industry analysis and a customised selection of over 350 daily news articles, as well as online access to comprehensive industry data and company profiles.
• CAPA also produces Airline Leader – the bi-monthly strategy journal distributed to 25,000 industry leaders globally and a range of reports
• CAPA also runs C-level aviation and corporate travel summits in key markets around the world, bringing together the key stakeholders of the global commercial aviation industry.

ANSWER: 47

Explanation:
Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment inaugurated a “National Conference on Down Syndrome.

The Conference was organized by The National Trust for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities under M/o SJ&E in collaboration with Muskaan, a registered organisation of the National Trust.

Down Syndrome is a chromosomal condition associated with intellectual and learning disabilities.

Delayed development and behavioural problems are often reported in children with Down Syndrome.

Persons with Down Syndrome have 47 chromosomes as compared to 46 in majority of people.

This one Extra chromosome causes its own impact and slows down learning process. It impacts neurological functioning causing impairment of intellectual functions e.g. analytical thinking, complex abstractions and judgement.

People with Down Syndrome can and do lead full and rewarding lives and contribute as valued and equal members of their communities.

Every year 20 to 22 thousand children take birth with Down Syndrome in our country and the need of the hour is to bring them in the mainstream.The highlight of the conference was the presentation of Shri Vinyas, Self Advocate with Down Syndrome and Employee of Lemon Tree Hotel, Delhi about his journey of life.

The daylong conference was attended by more than 300 persons.

ANSWER: NGT

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the ‘World Conference on Environment’ organized by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi today (March 25, 2017).

Recent studies and systematic reviews indicate that environmental factors are responsible for an estimated 24% of the global burden of disease in terms of healthy life years lost and 23 % of all deaths.

Children are the worst sufferers of the adverse impact of environmental diseases. 24% of all deaths under the age of 15 are due to diarrhoea, malaria and respiratory diseases – all of which are environment related.

19% of the deaths caused by Cancer worldwide are attributed to carcinogens that unmindful industrialization produces.

The President complimented the National Green Tribunal – India’s premier environment watch dog for facilitating this forum for wide ranging discussions on environmental issues of universal concern.

National Green Tribunal: Know More

• The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010.
• It was framed under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
• It also works for conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment.
• NGT mandates on giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.

ANSWER: Carrie Lam

Explanation:
Carrie Lam won the election to become the first female chief executive of Hong Kong on 26^th March 2017.

She is a former student activist that climbed the rungs of the civil service over 36 years and is a tough, possibly divisive Beijing backed leader.

Lam seeks to unify the Chinese ruled city.

Another mission before her is to reinvigorate the economy and address growing social inequalities and high property prices.

Hardline and pro-Beijing tendencies risk seeking social divisions even as the British colony returned to China 20 years ago under once country, two systems formula.

Umbrella Movement was the 2014 protest which demanded complete democracy for Hong Kong. Activists are up in arms against Lam's appointment.

The majority of the China-ruled city's 7.3 million people have no say in deciding their leader.

She /He is chosen from among several candidates by a 1,200-person “election committee” stacked with pro-Beijing and pro-establishment loyalists.

Ms. Lam, who will become Hong Kong's first female chief executive when she takes office on July 1, won 777 votes compared with 365 for her closest rival.

A third candidate got 21 votes.

Hong Kong Government: Know More

• Government: Multi-party system
• Chief Executive: Leung Chun-ying
• Chief Justice: Geoffrey Ma
• Chief Secretary for Administration: Matthew Cheung
• Financial Secretary: Paul Chan Mo-po
• Secretary for Justice: Rimsky Yuen
• President of the Legislative Council: Andrew Leung

ANSWER: Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory

Explanation:
NASA is planning to launch a balloon-based observatory to measure emissions from the interstellar medium or the cosmic medium found between stars.

This is known as Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory or GUSTO.

Data from this mission will help them to assess the life cycle of interstellar gas in the Milky Way galaxy.

The formation and destruction of star forming clouds needs to be analysed and the dynamics and gas flow in the vicinity of the galaxy's centre need to be understood.

Data will help scientists assess the same using an Ultralong-Duration Balloon (ULDB) carrying a telescope with carbon, oxygen and nitrogen emission line detectors.

The unique combination of data will provide the spectral and spatial resolution information required for researchers to focus on complexities of the interstellar medium and map large sections of plane of the Milky Way galaxy and the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud.

GUSTO will provide the first complete study of all phases of the stellar life cycle, from the formation of molecular clouds, through star birth and evolution, to the formation of gas clouds and the re-initiation of the cycle.

The mission is targeted for launch in 2021 from McMurdo, Antarctica, and is expected to stay in the air between 100 to 170 days, depending on weather conditions.

It will cost about USD 40 million, including the balloon launch funding and the cost of post-launch operations and data analysis

ANSWER: Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy

Explanation:
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg announced the release of a new book “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy.”

Her last book “Lean In” was on women business leadership and sold over million copies.

Sandberg was named among the 100 most influential women of the year by TIME magazine in 2012.

She is the first woman to work on the Facebook Board.

Sandberg's upcoming book speaks on meaning and coping following the sudden demise of husband Dave Goldberg in 2015.

Book's title was inspired by the worlds of Phil Deutch who consoled her that if Option B was the only one available, it should be used.

Sandberg talks of her grief following Dave's death and how she coped with it.

The book has been co-written by Adam Grant and will be released on April 24, 2017.

ANSWER: Fostering Partnerships for Capacity Development in Public Audit

Explanation:
The 23^rd edition of Conference of the Auditors General of Commonwealth Countries and British Overseas Territories was held in India in New Delhi.

The theme of the conference was “fostering partnership for capacity development in public audit.”

The conference was attended by 52 commonwealth countries and 9 British overseas territories.

This marks the first time the prestigious conference was held by the CAG in India. The last edition of the conference was held in Malta in 2014.

The Conference will also have two sub-themes on Leveraging Technology in Public Audit and Environment Audit.

The Conference will be attended by 52 Commonwealth Countries and nine British Overseas Territories. Among the guests there will be 24 heads of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI).

The Conference logo contains 52 leaves in green and orange which represent the 52 SAIs of the Commonwealth countries – each with its unique characteristics and traits.

The leaves and the Wi-Fi icon in the logo also remind us of the key role that the SAIs could play to the preservation of environment through environment audits and enhancing the effectiveness of public audit by leveraging technology.

CAG of India: Know More

• The CAG of India has its own International Training Centres at Noida and Jaipur where auditors from all over the world are trained in specialized aspects of Public Auditing like Information Technology and Environment Audits.
• While some of the participating countries feature in most developed countries of the world, there are several which belong to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• The auditing organizations in these countries come together every three years to discuss the major challenges before them.
• Current CAG: Shri Shashi Kant Sharma

ANSWER: Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Explanation:
The 5th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2017 was held in Tawang in AP.

It was organised by the Union Ministry of Culture to preserve, promote and popularise the heritage and cultural diversity of Indian culture and reconnect the new generation with it.

Around 5000 NE artists and 2000 artists from across the nation will showcase India's heritage through cuisines, performance and art.

The Mahotsav will then extend to Dimapur (Nagaland), Majuli (Assam), Aizawl (Mizoram), Imphal (Manipur), Gangtok (Sikkim) and Shillong (Meghalaya) among others.

The festival will be inaugurated at Parade Ground, Tawang in AP on March 23 and then across other states of the region.

Cultural programmes will be held for a duration of the festival from March 23-25.

Essential core of the mahotsav is to strengthen cultural interlinkages and national integration

The festival will be implemented through the seven Zonal Cultural Centres and other organisations under Ministry of Culture.

Know More About the Mahotsav

• The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur has been entrusted with the responsibility as the nodal agency to carry forward the execution of the National Cultural Festival.
• Each Zonal Cultural Centre has been provided with slots to present their arts during the festival which would showcase an amalgamation of ‘Ek Bharat, Srestha Bharat’, ‘Hamaari Sanskriti, Hamaari Panchaan’ and ‘Swachh India’.
• The festival will showcase the spectacular diversity of India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Bengal through folk, tribal and classical art forms.
• Exhibition on Buddhist art and tradition is also being organised at Parade Ground of Tawang.
• Craftsmen from all over the country will display and sell handicrafts to the general public.