Current Affairs Questions & Answers - May 17, 2016

ANSWER: Climate Investment Fund

Explanation:
World Bank has approved USD 625 million aid for India’s solar programme. The WB’s Board has approved USD 625 million loan to support India’s grid connected rooftop solar programme to generate clean energy.

• Board also approved a co-financing loan of USD 120 million in concessional terms and a USD 5 million grant from the Climate Investment Funds Clean Technology Fund.
• Project will finance installation of 400 MW of grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic GRPV across the nation
• Solar OV installations will provide clean, renewable energy and reduce GHG emissions by displacing thermal generation.
• Project will also strengthen the capacity of key institutions and support development of the overall solar PV market.

ANSWER: Manipur

Explanation:
Scientists at Wildlife Institute of India, have been assigned the task to provide a second home to 110 Sangai or dancing deer which are brow antlered and one of the most endangered species in the world

• Once found in all of NE India and Indo China, the dancing deer are now confined to small pockets of Manipur, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao, and Vietnam.
• Sangai are now restricted to the Keibul Lamjao National Park in the SE fringe of Loktak Lake in Manpur
• The Sangai are called dancing deer because they dance on the green grassland or phumdis which are floating vegetarian occupying a large surface area of the lake. On this floating biomass, the Sangai are often found. They feed on the Phumdis.

ANSWER: Invetech Solutions

Explanation:
Domestic power company Mittals Group has launched power trading app called Power Trading Solutions. This is India’s first real time power trading app.

• App has been developed by company’s own startup Invetech Solutions.
• Power trading mobile app will take the concept of power exchange to the next level.
• Power trading has become a major activity in enactment of Electricity Act 2003- one means of selling power is through online bidding in exchanges
• Two such exchanges are operating in India namely Indian Energy Exchange and Power Exchange India Limited which offer products under DAM/Day Ahead Market, TAM/Term Ahead Market and REC/ Renewable Energy Certificate Trade.

ANSWER: Oxigen

Explanation:
Digital wallet company Oxigen announced that the RBI has given approval for the firm to be part of Bharat Bill Payments Systems as commissioned by the National Payment Corporation of India.

• Oxigen has in the past processed bills through connection directly to numerous vendors
• Getting the license will help Oxigen widen all its vendors falling under BBPS.

ANSWER: Helium

Explanation:
The World-first scanning helium microscope has been built by Australian researchers who feel it could "open doors" for many new discoveries by allowing scientists to scrutinize materials without disturbing them.

• Paul Dastoor of University of Newcastle who has been working on the scanning helium microscope (SHeM) for two decades
• This will permit humans, animals and plant samples as well as computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs without any damage or change.
• The scanning helium microscope means the samples will be analysed in their true state for the first time ever and every time a new microscope was developed there had been enormous scientific advances.
• The scientist said SHeM could be useful in major industries such as solar energy, defence, explosives and information technology.

ANSWER: IGFBP2

Explanation:
In a study published in Neuro-Oncology’s recent issue, IISC ad NIMHANS scientists have found the answer to a puzzle surrounding the most common form of brain tumour- Glioblastoma.

• Glioblastoma cells, IGFBP2 acts as a tumor promoter through a well known tumor promoting pathway, beta-catenin. Like insulin. this is a binding protein.
• IGFBP2 is one of the proteins presented in extracellular or outside cell fluids. It was found higher IGFBP2 levels led to inactivation of another protein - GSK3. Inactivation of GSK3 impairs the degradation of beta catenin inside the cell.
• Beta catenin can now easily transport to the nucleus and induce production of new proteins that instruct the tumor cells to proliferate faster than normal, and start invading other tissues.

ANSWER: Curtin University

Explanation:
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with Curtin University, Australia to offer Dual Doctoral Degree Program (DDDP).As per the MOU, a doctoral student of IIT-Kharagpur may apply for the DDDP, and will be admitted if he/she is academically accepted by the Curtin University satisfying demands for both institutions.

ANSWER: Capital market

Explanation:
Entities under probe for “serious violations” in capital markets can seek settlement of case only if they make good on their losses suffered by investors as per the consent of SEBI.

• Regulations provide settlement of cases where proceedings have not been initiated
• Regulations provide for settlement of cases where proceedings are yet to be initiated

ANSWER: Mukul Mudgal

Explanation:
FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) on 14 May 2016 appointed Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal as deputy chairman of its Governance Committee.

• Portuguese Luis Miguel Maduro, Advocate General of European Court of Justice (ECJ), was appointed as the Chairman of the Governance Committee.
• Justice Mudgal was also appointed as the head of the FIFA’s first Independent Review Committee along with Luis Miguel Maduro.

ANSWER: May 17

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the King and people of the Kingdom of Norway on the eve of their Constitution Day (May 17, 2016).King Harald V, the King of Norway, is the ruling monarch.

ANSWER: All three

Explanation:
Delhi, Tarkash and Deepak under the command of Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh, NM entered Manama on May 16th. During the visit, the crew of IN ships will undertake professional interactions with the Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF) pertaining to nuances of maritime operations, including means of combating maritime terrorism and piracy.

• In addition, calls on senior Government and military authorities, sporting and cultural interactions and sharing of best practices, aimed at enhancing cooperation as well as strengthening mutual understanding between the two navies, are also planned.
• The visiting IN ships are also likely to conduct exercises with the RBNF/Royal Bahrain Naval Force

ANSWER: Bahrain

Explanation:
Bilateral relations between India and Bahrain are characterised by strong bonds of friendship based on cultural and economic ties dating back to ancient contacts between the Indus valley civilization in India and Dilmun civilization in Bahrain. Presence of over 350,000 Indian nationals, comprising nearly a third of Bahrain’s total population is an important facet of this strong bilateral relationship.

• High level visits from both sides, rising trade and investment and growing convergence on counter-terrorism and security issues has provided new impetus to this strong and age-old relationship. IN ships Delhi, Deepak, Trishul and Tabar last visited Manama in September 2015.

ANSWER: Project appraisal and continuing Enhancements

Explanation:
Union Minister Gadkari announces slew of initiatives to build a strong system of performance audit and accountability. Shri Gadkari also launched ePACE, INFRACON and an updated version of INAMPRO, three innovative IT initiatives of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, developed in house by NHIDCL( National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.)

• ePACE (Projects Appraisal & Continuing Enhancements) is an online integrated Management Information System that brings projects from all wings of the Ministry under a common platform, ensuring their effective and real time tracking.
• INFRACON is the National Portal for Infrastructure Consultancy Firms and Key Personnel. This portal acts as a kind of bridge between consultancy firms working in the road engineering and construction sector and domain experts and key personnel
• INAMPRO is a web based app for material providers and infrastructure developers