Current Affairs Questions & Answers - May 06, 2016

ANSWER: Merchandise Exports India Scheme

Explanation:
Government has eased norms for availing export benefits under MEIS. Exporters have been relieved from submitting certificate of goods to avail benefits under the MEIS aimed at ease of doing business.

• This scheme covers 5012 lines or products and 2787 lines are required for submission of proof of landing as reward is not there for all markets
• Therefore, landing certificate will not be required for all markets under MEIS
• Move is aimed at improving ease of doing business.

ANSWER: National Ganga River Basin Authority

Explanation:
Providing a major boost to Ganga rejuvenation efforts, National Ganga River Basin Authority has approved projects worth Rs 2446 crore for development of 'ghats' and crematoriums at various places along the river in four states and along its tributary Yamuna in Delhi.

• The projects will be implemented along the river stretch from Haridwar to Uttarakhand border, Garhmukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, Buxar, Hajipur and Sonepur in Bihar, Sahibganj, Rajmahal and Kanhaiya 'ghat' in Jharkhand.
• The project is also meant for afforestation along the banks of river Ganga. However, additional fund of Rs 2294 crore for afforestation under 'Forestry Intervention in River Ganga' scheme of the Centre will be approved later.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Three brothers are normal during the day but become paralysed after the sun sets- this is a condition where the solar kids suffer from a rare medical condition called Masthenia Syndrome. Known as solar kids in their village, the children get back their energy and start moving around once the sun rises.

• This could be a congenital disease called Masthenia Syndrome which is a rare illness with only 600 cases reported in the world so far

ANSWER: 1952

Explanation:
National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 and signed into law by US President Harry S Truman. This title is celebrated on the first Thursday in May.

• America will continue to stand up for those around the world who are subject to fear or violence because of their religion or beliefs, the U.S. President Barack Obama has said proclaiming on Thursday as the National Day of Prayer this year.

ANSWER: 13

Explanation:
Scientists have grown human embryos outside of the mother for almost two full weeks into development, providing a glimpse of the mysterious stage of early human life.

• Scientists have only been able to study human embryos before this as a culture in a lab dish until the 7th day of development when they had to implant them into the mother’s uterus to survive till now.
• As well as advancing human biology expertise, the knowledge gained from studying these developments should help to improve in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments and further progress in the field of regenerative medicine, the researchers said.

ANSWER: Google

Explanation:
Idea Cellular and Google announced a partnership to enable more than 175 million subscribers of the mobile phone operator to do away with the use of a credit card while making purchases on Google Play.

• Under the direct billing system Idea customers, using Google’s application store Google Play, will be charged a separate fee deducted from the subscribers’ prepaid or postpaid account.
• The company didn’t divulge the amount that it will deduct.

ANSWER: Harmonised Information of Agriculture, Revenue and Irrigation for a Transformation Agenda - Precision Technology for Agriculture.

Explanation:
The agriculture project Harita Priya of AP on May 3 2016 won the World Summit on Information Society 2016 prize in the e-agriculture category.

• The prize was announced in Geneva by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.
• Harita-Priya stands for Harmonized Information of Agriculture, Revenue and Irrigation for a Transformation Agenda - Precision Technology for Agriculture.
• It meant to collect very specific climate data from farms and give farmers personalised information through SMS

ANSWER: Dr. Radha Binod Barman

Explanation:
Well known statistician Dr Radha Binod Barman on 4 May 2016 took over as the part-time Chairperson in the National Statistical Commission.Professor S. Mahendra Dev, Professor Rahul Mukherjee, Dr Rajiv Mehta and Dr Manoj Panda took over as other part-time members in the commission.

• The Government ordered setting up National Statistical Commission of India on 1 June 2005 on the recommendation of C. Rangarajan Commission.
• It is an autonomous body, which was formed in July 2006.

ANSWER: Giani Zail Singh

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the 100th birthday celebrations of Giani Zail Singh, former President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (May 5, 2016).

• Zail Singh was a freedom fighter, Chief Minister of Punjab, Home Minister of the Union of India and President of India as well as an able Parliamentarian.
• A documentary on the life of Giani Zail Singh and a book ‘Fragrant Recollections’ (Collection of memoirs and tributes on Giani Zail Singh) were released by the Vice President and Dr. Gurdeep Kuar, daughter of Giani Zail Singh respectively and their first copies were presented to the President on the occasion.

ANSWER: Kudankulam

Explanation:
An Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between Government of India and Government of Russian Federation was signed in December 2008 for setting up units 3 to 6 at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu in technical cooperation with Russian Federation.

• Discussions on the draft General Framework Agreement for setting up Units 5&6 (KKNPP 5&6) are currently in progress.
• The project is planned to be set up on technical cooperation basis with shared scope of work. The Indian private industry would be involved in supply of equipment, execution of the works contracts, providing services in Indian scope of work and localisation of components.

ANSWER: Sunil Lanba

Explanation:
The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, presently Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Western Naval Command as the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from the afternoon of May 31, 2016.

• The present Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan will superannuate from service on May 31, 2016.
• Born in July, 1957, Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba was commissioned on January 01, 1978 into the Executive Branch of Indian Navy.
• Vice Admiral Lanba’s Sea Command includes commanding the minesweeper INS Kakinada, frigate INS Himgiri and Executive Officer of INS Viraat, the aircraft carrier.
• previously he was FOC-in-C, Southern Naval Command, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Commandant, National Defence College.