Current Affairs Questions & Answers - May 10, 2017

ANSWER: Haryana

Explanation:
In Haryana, detailed data will be collected of every resident and every house would be allotted a smart house ID under a special mission.

The smart house ID would be generated through a tablet by visiting every house.

The work on the project is expected to commence from 15 June 2017 and would be completed by 15 August 2017.

A real time-based survey would be conducted to gather the socio-economic data.

The teams of Saksham and e-Numerator would be visiting each house to feed their GPS location in the tablets and create a smart house ID online thereby linking the houses with biometric.

During the survey, details including address of each house, photo, location, electricity connection, water connection, electronic devices, bank account numbers, IFSC code, Aadhaar and personal details of the house owner such as mobile number, e-mail ID, educational qualification and religious affiliation would be gathered.

The data collected is expected to help in getting details of land, pension, scholarship, MGNREGA, loan and LPG.

The state government would make sure that benefits of 150 services of 87 departments are provided online through this data.

The unemployed youth would be provided employment through this survey under Saksham Yojana.

Further, through the survey, bank accounts would be opened of those who have no bank account and Aadhaar cards would be made for those who have not got them as yet.

The Haryana state government plans to make people aware of the survey through the medium of schools, sarpanches and councillors.

ANSWER: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion

Explanation:
SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion became the first Indian film to cross the INR 1000 crore mark with its worldwide collections.

Reports suggest that trade analysts have reported that the film has made over INR 800 crore in India and more than INR 200 crore in the international markets.

The two films in the series namely Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion had a budget of around INR 450 crore.

The film was released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

The film has not only broke the records of a collection of films like Aamir Khan’s Dangal and PK but has also outperformed the lifetime collection of its predecessor in the series, Baahubali: The Beginning.

The film co-written and directed by SS Rajamouli and produced by Tollywood studio Arka Media Works is the continuation of Baahubali: The Beginning.

The film was released worldwide on 28 April 2017.

It is also the first Telugu film to be released in 4K High Definition format.

Earlier, it became the first Indian film to get a worldwide gross of more than INR 500 crore in all languages in just three days.

Baahubali 2 became the highest grossing Indian film ever with the worldwide gross of approx INR 900 crore in all languages in just seven days, surpassing PK worldwide gross of INR 792 crores.

On the 9th day, Baahubali 2 became the first Indian film ever to collect INR 1000 crore.

ANSWER: Touch

Explanation:
Scientists have developed a new technology that can turn any surface - including walls, furniture and steering wheels - into a touch screen using tools as simple as a can of spray paint.

The method is to apply electrically conductive coatings or materials to objects or surfaces, or to craft objects using conductive materials, researchers said.

By attaching a series of electrodes to the conductive materials, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in the US showed they could use a well-known technique called electric field tomography to sense the position of a finger touch.

With the new technology dubbed Electrick, conductive touch surfaces can be created by applying conductive paints, bulk plastics or carbon-loaded film.

Electrick is both accessible to hobbyists and compatible with common manufacturing methods, such as spray coating, vacuum forming and casting/moulding, as well as 3D printing.

Like many touchscreens, Electrick relies on the shunting effect — when a finger touches the touchpad, it shunts a bit of electric current to ground.

By attaching multiple electrodes to the periphery of an object or conductive coating, researchers showed they could localise where and when such shunting occurs.

Electrick can detect the location of a finger touch to an accuracy of one centimetre, which is sufficient for using the touch surface as a button or slider.

ANSWER: DIPP

Explanation:
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have inked an agreement to set up Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC).

Over 500 TISCs operate worldwide and establishing TISC in India will give the host institutions access to the global network, it said.

WIPO’s Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC) program provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.

Services offered by TISCs may include

• Access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications;
• Assistance in searching and retrieving technology information;
• Training in database search;
• On-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement);
• Monitoring technology and competitors;
• Basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy, and technology commercialization and marketing.

CIPAM: Know More

• The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal point for the TISC national network.
• As the national focal point, CIPAM shall identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC project.
• CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network.
• In upcoming years CIPAM is planning to establish TISC’s in Universities, State Science Councils, R&D institutions etc.
• TISC will give an impetus to Knowledge sharing, sharing of best practices among the TISC’s, capacity building, generation and commercialization of IPs

ANSWER: James Comey

Explanation:
President Donald Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey who was leading the investigation into whether his election campaign had ties to Russia’s alleged interference in the US polls.

In a letter, Mr. Trump told Comey that he was no longer effectively able to lead the bureau and it was necessary to restore public trust and confidence in it.

The shocking move comes days after Comey testified on Capitol Hill about the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s election meddling and a possible collusion between the country and Trump’s campaign.

In the letter, Trump acknowledged that Comey had informed him on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation.

The White House said the search for a new FBI director would begin immediately.

In a statement released by the White House, Trump mentioned the FBI was one of America’s most cherished and respected institutions and the dismissal will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement.

Comey had courted controversy during the 2016 presidential polls when he revealed a renewed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email use, which the Democrat claimed had hurt her chances of becoming president.

FBI: Know More

• Formed: July 26, 1908; 108 years ago as the Bureau of Investigation
• Jurisdiction: U.S. Government
• Headquarters: J. Edgar Hoover Building Northwest, Washington, D.C., U.S.
• Motto: Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity
• Employees: 35,104 (as on October 31, 2014)
• Annual budget: 8.3 billion USD (FY 2014)

ANSWER: Ustad Raees Khan

Explanation:
India-born legendary sitar player Ustad Raees Khan passed away in Pakistan on May 6, 2017. He was 77.

He was reportedly diagnosed with an ailment and had been bedridden for quite some time. He breathed his last in Karachi.

He is survived by his wife, renowned singer Bilqees Khanum, and four sons.

Ustad Raees was born in 1939 in Indore, India in a family of musicians.

He was from the Mewati Gharana of Indian classical music. His maternal grandfather Inayat Ali Khan was also considered one of the finest sitar players in the subcontinent.

He learned music from his uncle, Walayat Ali Khan and father Muhammad Khan.

Raees Khan gave his first performance at the age of 5 in Bombay’s Sunder Bhai Hall.

The performance was attended by the governor and `maharaja of India, who appreciated the his talent.

He then went to international venues to perform.

Ustad Raees has composed many famous songs: `Jab Tera Hukam Mila Tarkay Mohaabat Kar Di’ and `Ab Kay Saal Poonam Main, `Neend Ankhoun Se Uri’, `Mojoun Sahil Se Milo’, `Main Khayal Hun Kisi Aur Ka’, `Kabhi Kitaboun Main Phool Rakhna’ to name a few.

Khan was honoured with Presidential award and Sitara-eImtiaz in 2005 and 2017, respectively.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all the state governments to link prisons with courts through video conferencing in order to expedite trials and to save costs of escorting undertrials to courts.

The Home Ministry’s advisory to the states has been issued following a national conference of heads of prisons in states and UTs on prison reforms.

In the conference, the state governments were advised to implement the following suggestions aimed at having an effective prison administration system:

The states have been asked to integrate prison e-system with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) as well as e-courts on a priority basis.

At periodic intervals, combined training of prison, police, health department and judiciary on undertrial management should be conducted.

Separate training module on deradicalisation of prisoners should also be conducted. The states should fill the existing vacancies in all ranks of prison departments expeditiously.

The prison department may have a changed nomenclature and it should have integrated prison, correctional and probation services.

All states should establish a welfare wing comprising welfare officers, law officers, counsellors and probation officers, under their respective prison departments.

To ensure uniformity in prison rules and regulations, all states/UTs should revise their existing prison manuals by adopting provisions of the model prison manual, 2016 prepared by the home ministry.

The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) project was initiated in 2009 as part of police modernisation programme under the national e-governance project. It aimed to bring all 16,000 police stations in India under a single network to counter terror challenges.

The core objective of CCTNS is to connect all the police stations so that any of the police stations can contact any other police station; thereby facilitate collection, storage, retrieval, analysis and transfer the information among police stations, state headquarters and central police organizations.

E-Courts: Know More

• E-Courts is a new concept where from filing of a petition till its disposal, use of paper is restricted to bare minimum.
• In a fully equipped e-court, the lawyers would not need to carry bulky files but would come to court with laptops, pen drives and would be able to file the petitions in PDF. E-courts help in various ways such as:

- Aiding judicial administrations of the courts,
- Streamlining day-to-day activities,
- Assisting Judicial Administration in reducing pendency of cases,
- Providing transparency of information to litigants, and judges access to legal and judicial databases.

ANSWER: Port Blair

Explanation:
The 29^th India–Indonesia CORPAT has commenced at Port Blair under the aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command. The bilateral exercise is scheduled to be held from 9th– 25th May.

The Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Sutedi Senoputra has arrived to take part in the 29th series of IND–INDO CORPAT.

An Indonesian Maritime Patrol Aircraft has also arrived with the Indonesian Naval delegation.

Defence relations between India and Indonesia are growing steadily with regular joint activities and interactions between the Armed Forces of the two countries.

The bilateral exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding and inter–operability between the two navies.

CORPAT is a bilateral maritime exercise held between India and Indonesia under the broad ambit of strategic partnership.

Both countries have been carrying out maritime exercise twice a year from 2002.

As per the exercise, search and rescue operations are carried out and the two navies institute measures for vessels indulged in unlawful activities as well as control pollution.

The basic aim of CORPAT is to keep the vital part of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) safe and secure for commercial shipping, International trade and legitimate marine activities.

CORPAT has helped to boost understanding and interoperability between the two navies and also has promoted maritime security in the region.

Indonesia: Know More

• Capital and largest city: Jakarta
• Currency: Indonesian rupiah
• President: Joko Widodo

ANSWER: Jhulan Goswami

Explanation:
She has become the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals.

Jhulan Goswami has so far taken 181 wickets in 153 matches.

She has broken the world record held by Australia fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick who has taken 180 wickets during India’s ongoing match against South Africa in the Women’s Quadrangular Series.

She achieved this feat with the wicket of No.11 batsman Raisibe Ntozakhe of South Africa.

About the Indian Women’s Cricket Team

• Captain: Mithali Raj
• Coach: Tushar arothe
• Association: Board of Control for Cricket in India
• Location: India
• ICC status: Full member (1926)
• ICC region: Asia

Jhulan Goswami: Know More

• Jhulan Goswami is a right arm fast bowler who made her one-day debut back in 2002.
• She is considered as one of the fastest bowlers in the women’s cricket.
• Her top bowling figures is 6 for 31.
• Till now (May 2017), she has two five-wicket hauls in ODIs.
• She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2010 and Padma Shri in 2012.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Ministry of Urban Development will launch measuring of Liveability Index of cities in the next month. The index will be based on indigenously evolved methodology.

The Ministry of Urban Development has already released a detailed document on “Methodology for Collection and Computation of Liveability Standards in Cities”.

The index will measure the Liveability Standards of 140 cities including 53 cities with population of 1 million and above.

To carry out the assessment, the Ministry has invited bids for selecting the agency. The aim of the assessment will be to instil a sense of healthy competition among cities and towns in the country and to help them focus their attention on improving governance and infrastructure availability.

Cities will be assessed on 15 core parameters relating to Governance, social infrastructure pertaining to education, health and safety and security, economic aspects and physical infrastructure like housing, open spaces, land use, energy and water availability, solid waste management, pollution etc.

Totally, based on 79 aspects, the Cities would be ranked on the Liveability Index.

A sense of healthy competition is being promoted among cities and towns in the country to focus their attention on improving governance and infrastructure availability.

Government officials and experts from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are participating in the workshop for sharing respective experiences on decentralization and empowerment of local bodies.

Ministry of Urban Development

• Minister responsible : Shri Venkaiah Naidu
• Headquarters : Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
• Formed : 1952
• Jurisdiction : Republic of India