Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Nov 07, 2016

ANSWER: Mangat Ram Sharma

Explanation:
Former Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma has passed away on 3rd Nov 2016 after a prolonged illness at the age of 85.

• He is survived by 6 sons.
• He launched the cooperative movement in the state and headed the Kathua district cooperative society before becoming a member of the legislative council.
• Six time member of the state legislature, he has also been elected to the LS once and the Jammu-Pooch parliamentary constituency.
• He also served as speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly.
• He served as Deputy CM in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP Congress Coalition government.
• He also served as health minister of the state in 2006 when Ghulam Nabi Azad took over as J&K CM.
• He served important positions in the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee.

ANSWER: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

Explanation:
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was observed internationally on 6th Nov 2016.

• On 5th November 2001, the UNGA has declared Nov 6 of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict through the resolution A/RES/56/4.
• On 27th May 2016, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted the resolution UNEP/EA.2/Res15 to recognise the role of healthy ecosystems and manage resources sustainably in reducing armed conflicts risk.
• It also committed itself to the total implementation of the SDG goals in resolution 70/1 of the General Assembly entitled "Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development".
• The environment is also affected by war as water wells become polluted, crops are torched, deforestation takes place and soil as well as animals are poisoned.
• United Nations Environment Program has found over last 6 decades, at least 40 percent of the internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources.
• Conflicts involving natural resources are twice as likely to relapse.

ANSWER: Both a and b are same

Explanation:
India has risen to second spot on the global business optimism index.

• According to the latest Grant Thornton International Business Report, India has ranked second on the optimism index and the first spot was taken by Indonesia.
• Philippines came in third.
• High business optimism was also complimented by the rise of employment expectations.
• India has regained top position on this parameter while profitability expectations have also moved up.
• India continues to be among the top five countries in this index.
• But in revenue expectations, India has slipped to third position from the top in the previous quarter.
• India is much ahead of China where only 30 percent respondents expect an increase in revenue while 85 percent of the respondents have voted in favour of increasing revenue in India.
• Political events such as Presidential elections in the US and Brexit have damaged global economy, according to the index.

ANSWER: 76

Explanation:
Number of big cats in the Indian Sunderbans is healthy and rising.

• A fresh camera trap has spotted 9 more tigers over the last year’s figures in the entire mangroves, including the tiger reserve area and the South-24 Parganas forest division.
• The assessment exercise by the MoEF and WII has put India in 2015 as having the total tiger count in the Sunderbans at 76.
• State foresters have put the number at more than 85 on the basis of camera trap images.
• This indicates the largest mangrove forest in the world spanning two countries, the Sunderbans is reviving.
• Camera trap images were analysed with the help of special software matching the stripe pattern of big cats to arrive at the figure of 85.
• Recent sighting has shown the population inside the STR is healthy.
• Camera trap exercise was started in December 2015 in the South 24 Parganas forest division as completed in April 2016.

ANSWER: Cancer

Explanation:
Scientists have discovered a safer gene therapy to reduce the risk of cancer which can be used for many blood diseases.

• Researchers have identified a means to reduce the development of cancer cells that are as infrequent, but a dangerous byproduct of gene therapy.
• The findings in stem cell gene therapy aims to target a life threatening immunodeficiency in newborns called SCID-XI also known as the "Boy in the Bubble Syndrome".
• The vector being used by the researchers was developed from foamy retrovirus so named as it foams in certain situations.
• Unlike retroviruses, it does not infect humans.
• The retrovirus is also prone to activate nearby genes, including genes causing cancer.
• Retroviruses are a natural option for gene therapy as they insert the genes into the genome of the host.

ANSWER: Natural snowballs

Explanation:
Thousands of natural snowballs were formed on the 18-km stretch of the beach in the Gulf of Ob in NW Siberia creating a mystery.

• A part of the coast was covered by icy spheres.
• Sculptural shapes range from the size of a tennis ball to 1 metre across.
• This results from are environmental processes where small pieces of ice form are rolled by wind and water and end up as giant snowballs.
• Locals in Nyda lying on the Yamal Peninsula above the Arctic Circle found this phenomenon to be unique.
• This is a primary natural phenomenon-sludge ice, slip ice.
• The combination of the effects of the wind, the lay of the coastline and the temperature and wind conditions add to this.

ANSWER: Bastab Tapan Bordoloi

Explanation:
A 15 year old, Bastab Tapan Bordoloi hailing from Jorhat in Assam has made the nation proud by bagging 5 gold medals and a silver at the just concluded South Asian Aquatic Championship in Sri Lanka.

• Bastab was encouraged to take up swimming and started his career at the age of 9.
• He bagged his maiden medal at the All Assam State Level Championship in 2012.
• He was the only swimmer from the NE region who participated in 6 events at the championship.
• The event saw participants from 6 nations - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives. Sri Lanka, Nepal in Colombo.

ANSWER: Ishan Kishan

Explanation:
Ishan Kishan smashed a double ton at the Ranji Trophy 2016 U-19 match.

• Born in July 1998, he is the Indian first class cricketer who plays for Jharkhand.
• In December 2015, he was named as the captain of India’s squad for three 2016 U-19 World Cup.
• He is left handed and a batsman as well as wicket keeper.
• Ishan hails from Patna and made his Ranji trophy debt at the age of 16 years and 4 months.
• He is the second youngest after 16-year-old Parthiv Patel to captain India at the U-19 World Cup.

ANSWER: 111

Explanation:
Ireland’s national rugby team register their first ever win over New Zealand in 111 years.

• They defeated the All Blacks 40-29 at Chicago’s Solider Field.
• Ireland also ended the New Zealand world record of consecutive victories at 18 which began in August 2015.
• The two teams will face each other in Dublin next.
• The match was the first of 4 international autumn matches for both sides.

ANSWER: School Chalo

Explanation:
After "Operation Calm Down" in South Kashmir, Army is focusing on "School Chalo".

• This operation identifies areas and provides students with free coaching and ensures they participate in extra curricular activities.
• Army had launched Operation "Calm Down" in August- September to clear different parts of the Valley of militants and protestors through minimum force.
• The educational institutions were closed over the period of 5 months and more than 30 schools were burned down.
• The School Chalo program is increasingly popular in the valley.
• Teachers in localities have been holding classes in school or community settings to impart education to children.
• Using the slogan "Chyem ne zaroorat Daulat-o-Rubab, Faqat Gochum School te Kitab" army soldiers are now convincing parents to send their wards to study in makeshift dwellings.