Current Affairs Questions & Answers - May 29, 2017

ANSWER: Slaughter

Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on 23 May 2017 came up with new regulations that ban the sale of all kinds of cattle for slaughter across India. The rules were issued under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

It requires anyone purchasing cattle to provide an undertaking that the animals are bought for agricultural purposes and not slaughter.

The definition of cattle includes bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers, calves and camels.

The new rules will be implemented in the next three months.

The cattle trade is permitted only among farm land owners across the nation.

Cattle can only be sold to a person possessing documents that he/she is an agriculturist.

A trader has to submit five copies of proof of sale at the local revenue office, the local veterinary doctor in the district of the purchaser, animal market committee, apart from one each for seller and buyer.

The new regulations state that cattle bought cannot be resold within six months. It also states that young and unfit animals cannot be traded.

Animal markets cannot be set up within 50 kilometres of an international border and 25 kilometres of a state border. Transporting cattle outside of India will require special approval of the state government nominee.

All animal markets will have to seek the approval of district animal market committee to be headed by a magistrate. The committee will also have two representatives from government-approved animal welfare groups.

Norms for Cattle Regulation: Know More

• The new regulations state around 30 norms for animal welfare in markets, like water, fans, bedding, ramps, non-slippery flooring, veterinary facility and separate enclosure for sick animals among others. The owner of the animal has to bear the cost of its upkeep in a shelter.
• In case, the owner is unable to pay, the cost would be recovered as land arrears.
• The state government will specify the costs every year on 1 April.
• The new rules do not amount to a wide ban on cattle slaughter or its trade.
• However, they will constrict supplies to India’s meat industry which meets 90 per cent of its requirement from animal markets.

ANSWER: Only a and b are same

Explanation:
A team of Indian researchers achieved a 100-fold reduction in tuberculosis bacteria load in lungs of mice after 60 days of treatment using bergenin.

Bergenin is a phytochemical isolated from tender leaves of sakhua or shala tree (Shorea robusta). Unlike the regularly used antibiotic drugs that target the TB bacteria, the bergenin compound modulates the immune system to kill the bacteria found inside the macrophages, which is a type of white blood cells.

The study conducted by the Indian researchers show that the bergenin compound can be used to clear the bacteria.

In fact, when it is used in combination with other TB drugs, the compound can produce good results.

The researchers undertook several studies to understand the mode of action of the compound.

The compound was unable to directly kill tuberculosis bacteria when treated with the compound.

However, in the case of in vitro studies, the compound was able to kill the bacteria found inside infected cells.

In mice infected with TB and treated with the compound, there was significant reduction in the bacterial load in the lungs.

Unlike in the case of in vitro studies, in mice the compound was found to activate not only the macrophages but also other cell types (T cells) that led to effective killing of the bacteria.

A significant reduction in the number of granulomatic lesions was seen in animals treated with the compound.

Also, the bacterial load was 100-fold lower in mice treated with the compound compared with animals that were not treated with bergenin.

The bergenin compound was selectively enhancing the frequency of interferon-gamma and interleukin-17-producing T cells in the TB infected animals.

Interferon-gamma promotes bacteria-killing nitric oxide inside macrophages thus promoting the generation of protective immune responses against tuberculosis bacteria.

The compound can be used in patients with drug-resistant TB too, as it does not target the bacteria directly but modulates the immune system to kill the bacteria.

ANSWER: Anurag Tripathy

Explanation:
Senior bureaucrat Anurag Tripathy was on 25 May 2017 appointed as the Secretary of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Tripathy will serve the post for a period of five years.

Tripathy is a 1998 batch officer of Indian Railway personnel Service (IRPS).

CBSE: Know More

• CBSE is a Board of Education for public and private schools under the Union Government.
• It affiliates all Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), private schools and the other schools that have been approved by the Union Government.
• It is responsible for conducting the final examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 every year.
• It is also responsible for conducting JEE(Main) examination for admission to undergraduate courses in engineering and architecture.
• It also conducts the NEET-UG (Undergraduate) examination for MBBS and BDS courses.

ANSWER: Pravind Kumar Jugnauth

Explanation:
India and Mauritius have signed four agreements after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has chosen India as a destination of his first visit since taking over as prime minister of Mauritius early this year.

India has extended a 500 million dollar line of credit to Mauritius.

In a joint statement after the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said both he and his Mauritius counterpart have agreed that productive management of conventional and non-conventional threats in the Indian Ocean is vital for economic opportunities.

The agreement today on the $500 million line of credit to Mauritius is a good example of India's strong and continuing commitment to the development of Mauritius.

The Line of Credit has been signed between SBM Mauritius Infrastructure Development Co. Ltd and Export-Import Bank of India.

Further, both the countries have agreed that effective management of conventional and non-conventional threats in Indian Ocean is sine qua non for pursuing economic opportunities.

India and Mauritius agreed to keep a vigil against piracy, humans and drugs trafficking as well as illegal fishing and other forms of illegal exploitation of marine resources.

India had also appreciated Mauritius for signing and ratification of the framework agreement on International Solar Alliance. Both the countries have also agreed to cooperate hydrography for a secure and peaceful maritime domain.

India is also supporting the National Coast Guard of Mauritius to augment its capacity through Project Trident.

India will also renew the life of the Coast Guard Ship Guardian, which was given to Mauritius under an assistance programme.

Four Agreements: Know More

• Agreement on Maritime Security
• Memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up of a civil services college in Mauritius.
• MoU was signed between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Mauritius Oceanography Institute in marine sciences and technology.
• Submission of instrument of ratification of International Solar Alliance (ISA) by Mauritius.

ANSWER: Nagpur

Explanation:
Marking the third anniversary of the Narendra Modi government, Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis flagged off taxi aggregator Ola’s e-vehicle (EV) services in the city.

It will be the first in country to have such a service.

A battery charging station for the vehicles was also inaugurated at the airport where the launch function was held.

State government will come up with measures to promote setting up of charging stations.

This is expected to be a major job provider especially to the technically educated youth.

To begin with, Ola will be having four charging centres in the city.

Its services will include taxis, auto-rickshaws and a couple of buses. Car-maker Mahindra and Mahindra is the major ally of Ola and is supplying 200 taxis.

The company also launched its e-autorickshaws on the occasion. Kinetic Green has provided 100 e-rickshaws to Ola.

This is India’s first multi-modal electric vehicle project at the Nagpur Airport Complex.

The pilot project will have a fleet of 200 electric vehicles including taxis, buses, e-rickshaw and autorickshaws.

All these electric-powered public transport vehicles will be fully owned by cab aggregator Ola. For the project Mahindra & Mahindra has manufactured 100 e2o electric taxis.

Similarly, vehicles have been sourced from other manufacturers like Tata Motors, Kinetic, BYD and TVS, among others.

In addition, four electric charging station has also been built by Ola in various places of Nagpur including the Nagpur airport.

Shared and electric vehicles: Know More

• As per the NITI Aayog’s recent joint report with Rock Mountain Institute, adoption of electric and shared vehicles could help the country to save $60 billion in fuels while cutting down as much as 1 gigatonne (GT) of carbon emission by 2030
• According to Mahindra & Mahindra, it has made a total investment to the tune of Rs600 crore in technology, products, and plants of e-vehicles.
• The company already has manufactured 2,700 e-vehicles which are running across India which are clocking around 14 million kms per day.
• Ola has stated that it has invested Rs50 crore in the Nagpur initiative and has plans to further scale up its operations by investing $2 billion in e-vehicles across all cities of India.
• It has set an ambitious target of running one million electricity-powered vehicles on the Ola platform by 2020.

ANSWER: Atacama desert

Explanation:
Construction works for building Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) has commenced in Chile.

After completion, the Extremely Large Telescope will become the world’s largest optical telescope which will be five times larger than the top observing instruments that are in use today.

The telescope will be constructed at a 3,000 meter-high mountain in the middle of the Atacama desert.

The telescope is scheduled to commence its operations in 2024.

The ELT is funded by the European Southern Observatory. The organization comprises of European and southern hemisphere nations. It is expected that construction costs of ELT would come around 1 billion euros at 2012 prices.

The main mirror of the ELT will measure some 39 meters (43 yards) across. This massive size of the mirror will be of immense use to expand the understanding of the universe.

The telescope will enhance the ability of astronomers to find more smaller planets, image larger ones, and possibly characterize their atmospheres.

These capabilities will be key in understanding if life is present in those planets or not.

The dry atmosphere of the Atacama desert offers perfect observing conditions one can find on Earth. No wonder around 70% of the world’s astronomical infrastructure are slated to be built in the Atacama desert by the 2020s.

European Southern Observatory: Know More

• Established in 1962.
• European Southern Observatory is a 16 nation intergovernmental research organization for ground based astronomy.
• Its observatories are situated in Chile.
• It has built and operated many technologically advanced telescopes like New Technology Telescope, Very Large Telescope (VLT), Atacama Large Millimetre Array etc.

ANSWER: KPS Gill

Explanation:
Former DGP of Punjab KPS Gill, who is credited with wiping out militancy in the state, passed away after suffering cardiac arrest in Delhi on 25th May 2017. He was 82.

Gill was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here after he was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure and significant Ischemic Heart Disease.

The IPS officer had served twice as the DGP in Punjab before retiring from the force in 1995. He was subsequently appointed the president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

Dubbed "supercop" by the media for his crackdown on Khalistani terrorists, Gill was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 1989 for his work in the civil service.

The Punjab Police on Sunday joined the CRPF and the Delhi Police in presenting a joint guard of honour to former DGP Punjab K P S Gill, whose mortal remains were consigned to flames in New Delhi with full police honours.

A large number of political and other dignitaries, including IPS officers as well as people from various walks of life, paid homage to the former Punjab DGP.

Gill, who served as DG CRPF besides holding the important post of DGP Punjab, was also Advisor (Security) to the Government of Chhattisgarh in 2006-07.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Government of India has undertaken several new initiatives in the field of animal husbandry in Gujarat.

Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission, on the lines of Gokul Gram ‘Gir, Cow Sanctuary’ has been approved. This will be established in Dharampur, Porbandar under Livestock insurance coverage.

This scheme has been implemented in all the districts of the state, whereas earlier only 15 districts were included.

During the year 2014-16, about 26,000 animals have been insured in the state.

To fulfil the shortage of veterinarians, a veterinary college has been established in Junagadh.

The Agriculture Minister announced our country is number one in milk production in the world.

In the year 2015-16, the growth rate of milk production has been 6.28 per cent due to which total production has reached 156 million tonnes.

And now, per person milk availability is 337 gram on an average, while on the world level it is 229 gram. It is worth mentioning that in comparison to the years 2011-14, the growth in milk production during the years 2014-17 has been 16.9 per cent.

The standard of living of urban and rural families is rising, therefore, the demand for the animal protein is increasing.

So, it is necessary that we constantly make effort to increase the production of our livestock, poultry and fish so that the country's citizens are well-nourished and healthy. That is why it is the responsibility of veterinarians to contribute in keeping the nation healthy by increasing availability of animal protein.

The Government is committed to double farmers' income by 2022 and veterinaries play a significant role in fulfilling the Government’s resolution to double the farmers’ income. A healthy animal will result in greater production which will automatically enhance the farmer’s income and the country will proceed on the path of economic prosperity.

India's Livestock Market: Know More

• Agriculture Minister said that India is world’s highest livestock owner at about 512.05 million out of which 199.1 million are bovines, 105.3 million buffaloes, 71.6 million sheep and 140.5 million goats.
• In the case of goats, India is at the second position in the world and it is approximately 25 % of the livestock.
• India is second largest poultry market in the world and it includes the production of 63 billion eggs and 649 million poultry meat.
• India's marine and fish industry are growing at around 7 percent compound annual growth rate. Overall, India’s livestock sector is growing fast and emerging as a major contributor in the global market.