Current Affairs Questions & Answers - May 11, 2016

ANSWER: R

Explanation:
RBI will be issuing INR 1000 banknotes with inset letter R in both number panels. Banknotes will also have other security features such as ascending size of numerals, bleed lines and enlarged identification mark

• Bank notes bearing the signature of Governor Rajaan will also have year of printing 2016 printed on the reverse
• Design of banknotes will be similar to INR 1000 banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series 2005
• All banknotes in the INR 1000 series will have identifying marks and remaining notes will remain legal tender.

ANSWER: 36

Explanation:
Close to 36 animal and plant species in Gujarat have been categorised as endangered by the IUCN, according to the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

• 20 species of animals and 16 of plants are endangered in the state
• Animal species include the following : Black Mahseer, Golden Mahaseer, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Indian White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Greater Adjutant-Stork, Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Sociable Lapwing, Spotted Greenshank, Forest Spotted Owlet, Dhole, Caracal, Blue Whale, Fin Whale and Indian Wild Ass.
• Number of endangered fauna species in India has risen from 648 in 2013 to 665 in 2015
• The number of endangered mammals had risen from 95 to 98, birds from 80 to 88, reptiles from 52 to 53, amphibians from 74 to 75, fishes from 213 to 216 and molluses from six to seven in the last two years.

ANSWER: Silicon based polymer

Explanation:
Scientists have developed a new material which can temporarily tighten skin, smoothen wrinkles and treat skin conditions like eczema. This second skin can reshape eye bags under the lower eyelids and enhance skin hydration.

• It also provides long lasting UV protection
• This invisible later can provide a barrier, cosmetic improvements and deliver drugs to areas which are being treated.
• The researchers created a library of more than 100 possible polymers all of which contained a chemical structure called siloxane- a chain of alternating atoms of oxygen and silicon.

ANSWER: Thinner

Explanation:
Traditionally, it was believed that Earth had a thicker atmosphere but scientists have found air at the time exerted at almost half the pressure of today’s atmosphere. New finding reverses the idea that early earth had a thicker atmosphere to compensate for weaker sunlight.

• Finding also has implications for studies associated with relating to gases in that atmosphere and how biology and climate worked on the early planet
• Team used bubbles trapped in 2.7 billion year old year old rocks to arrive at that conclusion
• The idea of using bubbles trapped in the cooling lava as a paleobazometer was proposed by study co-author Roger Buick

ANSWER: Molecular

Explanation:
A global team of scientists have created molecular motors that work well with and communicate as well as synchronise movements.

• Scientists can control the coordinated motion of tiny machines at the nanoscale- research has implications for future development of technologies that can be used in computers, electronics and photonics as well as novel nanoscale devices
• The goal is to mimic natural biological machines through creation of synthetic machines that can be controlled

ANSWER: Rodrigo Digong Duterte

Explanation:
Following the withdrawal of his opponents, Rodrigo Digong Duterte won the Philippine presidential elections following the withdrawal of opponent

• Main rival Mar Roxas admitted defeat after the polls provided Duterte with an unassailable lead
• He is credited with success to a tough stance on law and order earning the moniker the Punisher for his record as a crime crushing mayor.

ANSWER: Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star

Explanation:
Bureaucrat turned politician NK Singh has been honoured with the second highest decoration The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.

• He won the honour for strengthening Indo-Japanese ties in the field of trade and investment
• Award citation hailed Singh’s role in improving Indo-Japan economic ties especially in promoting Japanese investments into India
• Awards were conferred to around 91 eminent personalities including 8 foreign recipients

ANSWER: President

Explanation:
Acting speaker of the lower house of Brazil’s congress annulled the previous month’s vote on impeachment, delaying the process against President Dilma Rousseff

• Senate vote on whether to accept the impeachment process has been scheduled but with the latest development, the matter goes back to the Chamber of Deputies
• Reasoning for the decision was not clear- decision is a victory for Rousseff who faced suspension

ANSWER: TNB

Explanation:
Tengaga Nasional Berhad selected portfolio of assets for cash consideration of USD 300 million valuing the assets at USD 1 billion

• Funds will be primarily used for repayment of corporate debt
• This would lead to a reduction in GMR Infrastructure’s consolidated corporate debt

ANSWER: Tina Dabi

Explanation:
Delhi girl Tina Dabi has topped the 2015 civil services examination while railway officer Athar Aamir Ui Shafi Khan from J& K came second

• Delhi based Jasmeet Singh Sandhu, an IRS officer secured third position
• Dabi topped the exam in her first attempt
• A total of 1,078 candidates, including 499 in General category, 314 belonging to Other Backward Class, 176 from Scheduled Caste and 89 from Scheduled Tribe, have been recommended for appointment to various central government services, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) said.
• There are 172 other candidates in the waiting list.

ANSWER: Transfer

Explanation:
Parliament on May 10th passed the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 which seeks to transfer the control over industries engaged in the production of potable alcohol from the Centre to states with Lok Sabha approving some technical amendments suggested by the Rajya Sabha.

• The bill in the Lok Sabha was introduced by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and was later approved by the House
• The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 seeks to amend a schedule to exclude production of alcohol for potable purposes from the ambit of the Act.
• According to the Bill, the central government would continue to be responsible for formulating policy and regulating foreign collaboration (FDI and foreign technology collaboration agreements) for all products of fermentation industries, including industrial and potable alcohol.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
The Ministry of Railways has finally yielded to industry's demand and discontinued the dual freight policy for transportation of iron ore and iron ore pellets.

• This policy came into effect from May 10th
• The decision that is likely to result in a boost in the movement of iron ore, was hailed not only by trade and industry but zonal railways as well.
• Under the dual freight policy, transportation costs for iron ore or iron ore pellets meant for export were higher than that for loads meant for domestic use.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
India will soon have a list of sex offenders.

• A comprehensive registry with also names of minors will be prepared of those who have been convicted for the crime
• Draft guidelines on the proposal to set up "Sex Offenders Registry" in India is under preparation in consultation with relevant ministries/organisations,
• The initial consultation draft includes the registration of individuals convicted for offences like rape, voyeurism, stalking and aggravated sexual assault and includes possibility of registration of offenders below and above 18 years.

ANSWER: Geraldine Roman

Explanation:
Geraldine Roman on May 10th has become the first transgender politician to win a congressional seat in the predominantly Catholic Philippines. After her victory in Monday's election, Roman, 49, is being seen by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as a source of hope in a country where Church influence means divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage are banned.

ANSWER: Shashank Vynakatesh Manohar

Explanation:
Shashank Vyankatesh Manohar on 10 May 2016 resigned as the President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

• He also stepped down as the BCCI representative in the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
• He had succeeded Jagmohan Dalmiya as the cricket body’s president after the former’s demise in October 2015.
• This is the second time he was BCCI president; he is also known as Mr Clean for his spotless track record

ANSWER: Michel Platini

Explanation:
Michel Platini on 9 May 2016 resigned as Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president after Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) upheld the ban imposed by FIFA.

• The CAS rejected the appeal saying it was not convinced about the legitimacy of the payment ordered by ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
• However, CAS effectively reduced the ban on him from six years to four and reduced the fine from 80000 Swiss francs to 60000 Swiss francs.

ANSWER: Stop the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds.

Explanation:
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was observed across the world on 10 May 2016. The theme for 2016 WMBD 2014 was Stop the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds.The day is observed with an aim to raise awareness and highlight the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats.

World Migratory Bird Day is an annual global celebration initiated in 2006 by United Nation.
The event was founded as an effort of the UN's Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

ANSWER: Atma Ram Nadkarni

Explanation:
Senior advocate of Bombay High Court Atma Ram Nadkarni on 9 May 2016 was appointed as Additional Solicitor General (ASG).

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Nadkarni as Additional Solicitor General in Supreme Court for a period of three years.
• Additional Solicitor General of India is a law officer of India and is the third ranking lawyer of the Government of India.

ANSWER: Tax Administration Reforms Commission

Explanation:
The Tax Administration Reforms Commission (TARC) headed by Dr. Parthasarathi Shome submitted its report in four volumes containing a total of 385 recommendations that pertain to Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and 201 recommendations that pertain to Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

• The broad recommendations inter-alia include changes in structure, improvement in taxpayers service, enhanced use of information and Communication Technology, exchange of information with other agencies, strengthening of human resource management, Key Internal Processes, Customs Capacity Building, Impact assessment, Expansion of Base, Compliance Management, Revenue Forecasting, Predictive Analysis and Research for tax Governance etc.
• Two new bodies namely Tax Policy Council (TPC) and Tax Policy Research Unit (TPRU) have been set up for making recommendations on tax policies and other policy matters.