Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Nov 15, 2017

ANSWER: Sulphur dioxide

Explanation:
India's emissions of the air pollutant sulphur dioxide increased by 50 per cent since 2007, while China's fell by 75 per cent, claims a study which found that India is yet to implement emission controls like its neighbour.

The study led by researchers at University of Maryland in the US suggests that India is becoming, if it is not already, the world's top sulphur dioxide emitter.

Sulphur dioxide is an air pollutant that causes acid rain, haze and many health-related problems. It is produced predominantly when coal is burned to generate electricity.

The rapid decrease of sulphur dioxide emissions in China far exceeds expectations and projections.

This suggests that China is implementing sulphur dioxide controls beyond what climate modellers have taken into account.

China and India are the world's top consumers of coal, which typically contains up to three per cent sulphur, researchers said.

Most of the two countries' sulphur dioxide emissions come from coal-fired power plants and coal-burning factories.

In particular, Beijing suffers from severe haze problems because of the many coal-burning factories and power plants located nearby and upwind.

Starting in the early 2000s, China began implementing policies such as fining polluters, setting emission reduction goals and lowering emissions limits.

According to the results of the current study, these efforts are paying off.

Despite China's 75 per cent drop in sulphur dioxide emissions, recent work by other scientists has shown that the country's air quality remains poor and continues to cause significant health problems.

This may be because sulphur dioxide contributes to only about 10 to 20 per cent of the air particles that cause haze, according to Li.

By contrast, India's sulphur dioxide emissions increased by 50 per cent over the past decade.

The country opened its largest coal-fired power plant in 2012 and has yet to implement emission controls like China.

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
India on 14th Nov, 2017 signed four agreements, including one to step up cooperation in the defence sector, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to boost bilateral ties.

Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the Philippines in 36 years, had a very warm and cordial meeting with president Duterte, Secretary East, Ministry of External Affairs.

The two countries signed an agreement to boost bilateral cooperation in defence and logistics.

The two sides also signed an agreement on enhancing cooperation in agriculture, small and medium enterprises and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and the Philippines Foreign Service Institute.

Duterte expressed interest in acquiring fast offshore patrol vessels and welcomed Indian pharmaceutical companies to invest in his country to make good quality and cheaper drugs.

Indian infrastructure companies could explore opportunities in his country.

Prime Minister Modi expressed interest in expanding cooperation with the Philippines in the renewable energy sector and welcomed the country to join the Solar Alliance.
He also invited its premier to visit India to take part in the 25th anniversary of India-ASEAN relations which will be celebrated next year.

ANSWER: Dantewada

Explanation:
India's first Tribal Entrepreneurship Summit has been organised here in Chhattisgarh on 14th Nov, 2017, aiming to inspire, nurture and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among the tribal youth.

Union MoS Science and Technology YS Chowdhary inaugurated the event, organized by NITI Aayog in partnership with Government of United States of America.

The event is a part of 8th Global Entrepreneurship Summit being held in India.

The summit witnessed the participation of tribal entrepreneurs from various sectors across the country and abroad. The summit has been addressed by eminent speakers from NITI Aayog, health and agri-pharma sectors.

The speakers emphasised the importance of forest produce in generating livelihood opportunities for tribals.

ANSWER: Indian Power Portal

Explanation:
Shri R.K. Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the National Power Portal (NPP) on 14^th Nov, 2017. The portal may be accessed at http://npp.gov.in.

NPP is a centralised system for Indian Power Sector which facilitates online data capture/ input (daily, monthly, annually) from generation, transmission and distribution utilities in the country and disseminate Power Sector Information (operational, capacity, demand, supply, consumption etc.).

It works through various analysed reports, graphs, statistics for generation, transmission and distribution at all India, region, state level for central, state and private sector.

The NPP Dashboard has been designed and developed to disseminate analyzed information about the sector through GIS enabled navigation and visualization chart windows on capacity, generation, transmission, distribution at national, state, DISCOM, town, feeder level and scheme based funding to states.

The system also facilitates various types of statutory reports required to be published regularly.

This Dashboard would also act as the single point interface for all Power Sector Apps launched previously by the Ministry, like TARANG, UJALA, VIDYUT PRAVAH, GARV, URJA, MERIT.

NPP is integrated with associated systems of Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and other major utilities and would serve as single authentic source of power sector information to apex bodies, utilities for the purpose of analysis, planning, monitoring as well as for public users.

The system is available 24×7 and ensures effective and timely collection of data. It standardized data parameters and formats for seamless exchange of data between NPP and respective systems at utilities.

NPP Stakeholders

• The stakeholders of NPP are Ministry of Power (MoP), CEA, PFC for Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), REC for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), other power sector utilities in government as well as private sector, Apex Bodies, other government organizations and public users.
• The Nodal Agency for implementation of NPP and its operational control is CEA.
• The system has been conceptualized, designed and developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).

ANSWER: ICMR

Explanation:
The Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu released the 'India State Level Disease Burden' report of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Addressing the participants, the Vice President of India stated that achieving good health for all of India's population is an important goal of the Government of India and a foundation for further social and economic development.

The Vice President further stated that the health status of Indians has been improving since Independence.

The life expectancy of a person born in India in 1960 was 40 years, which has increased to about 70 years now. Of every 1000 live children born in India in 1960, about 160 died in the first year, but now this death rate of infants is about a fourth of that level.

The data and results shared by the India State-level Disease Burden Initiative today in its report, scientific paper, and the online visualization tool will serve as a useful guide for fine-tuning data driven health planning specific for health situation of each state of the country," Shri Nadda said.

The estimates released which are based on utilization of all available epidemiological data, show that the per person burden due to major infectious disease, that is, diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory infections, and tuberculosis is 7 to 9 times higher in the states like Bihar, Odisha, U.P, Assam, Rajasthan, M.P. and Jharkhand than in other states.

Likewise, the burden due to the leading non-communicable diseases, that is, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive lung disease is 4-9 times higher in some states than in other states.

India State Level Disease Burden Initiative

• The India State-level Disease Burden Initiative is a joint initiative between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Additionally, the partnership is along with experts and stakeholders associated with over 100 Indian institutions, released the first comprehensive set of state-level disease burden, risk factors estimates and trends for each state in India to inform health planning to reduce health inequalities amongst states in India.
• These estimates are based on analysis of all identifiable epidemiological data from India over quarter of a century.

ANSWER: Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces

Explanation:
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee & Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba released 'Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces-2017' on 14^th Nov, 2017.

It is for the first time in the history of the Armed Forces that such a keystone document has been promulgated. The document has been prepared in a 'collegiate manner' involving all the three Service Headquarters and flowing from its mother and capstone Doctrine namely, Joint Doctrine Indian Armed Forces -2017 released in April last.

The aim of the Doctrine is to promote 'Synergy' and 'Integration' amongst the three Services and other stake-holders leading to an enhanced efficiency and optimum utilisation of resources.

Besides numerous advantages of the Doctrines, this document will also go a long way in 'fostering initiative' and 'stimulating creativity' for promoting 'Integration' between the three Services in times to come.

The Doctrine brings out our approach to Joint training at macro-level, Fundamentals, Objectives, Joint Structures, Planning, Organisation amongst other aspects in existence and in use in the Armed Forces which have matured over 15 years of the existence of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).

The concept includes 'Joint Training' as a leverage for promoting 'Diplomacy' and 'Civil-Military interface' issues have also been highlighted in the document.

This key stone Doctrine will basically serve as a 'foundation' and 'knowledge base' from which specific Directives and Strategies will be issued by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee to the HQ IDS and Service HQs to consolidate proven concepts, structures, mechanisms, capacities, capabilities, etc, from time to time.

Consequent to consolidation of Joint Training, this maiden Doctrine will be further developed in due course as Doctrines are always 'unfinished products' being 'Evolving in nature', for ready reference as 'Distilled wisdom' and a 'Referral document' for the policy makers, armed forces personnel, academia, etc.

ANSWER: BHARAT-22

Explanation:
The Government of India launched the BHARAT-22 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) managed by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund targeting an initial amount of about INR 8,000 crore on 14^th Nov, 2017.

This New Fund Offer is open till November 17, 2017.

The Units of the Scheme will be allotted 25% to each category of investors. In this ETF, the Retirement Fund has been made separate category of Investors.
In case of spill-over, additional portion will be allocated giving preference to retail and retirement funds. There is a 3% discount across the board.

The strength of this ETF lies in the specially created Index S&P BSE BHARAT-22 INDEX.

This Index is a unique blend of shares of key CPSEs, Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and also the Government owned shares in blue chip private companies like Larsen & Tubro (L&T), Axis Bank and ITC.

The shares of the Government companies represent 6 core sectors of the economy-Finance, Industry, Energy, Utilities, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Basic Materials.

The index has previously out-performed the NIFTY-50 and Sensex.

The Index constituents include leading Maharatanas and Navratanas such as Coal India, GAIL, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bharat Petroleum, and National Aluminium Company (NALCO), three Public Sector Banks such as SBI, Bank of Baroda apart from the 3 private sector companies mentioned earlier.

Reforms and ETF

• The Government of India is undertaking a number of Key Economic Reforms which is driving growth in these sectors of economy. The major reforms such as mentioned below for which market expert believe will fuel the growth in the economy and may benefit the underlying stocks in ETF.
• Finance: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, Digital and Cashless Economy, Listing of Insurance companies, Bank recapitalization and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Commerce: Liberalization of Foreign Director Investment (FDI) in India
• Oil: Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG subsidies, Introduction of Daily Fuel pricing, Consolidation of Govt. run oil companies.
• Energy: Revival package for electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs).

ANSWER: ASSOCHAM

Explanation:
Despite a temporary economic slowdown after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017, India is on the threshold of sustainable growth, according to an ASSOCHAM report.

In its study, titled: "Ideate, Innovate, Implement: the apex industry body held that despite slowdown in growth after GST implementation, India is on the path to growth.

It said that faster GST implementation, removal of check gates between states that have smoothened inter-state movements and central sales tax (CST) no longer being a cost will help improve the situation.

The report maintained that GST will have a significant impact on all aspects of the businesses operating in the country including-supply chain, logistics, cash flows and transactions.

The study said that GST will have an impact on prices agreed for contracts entered under the pre-GST regime and proposed to be executed either partly or completely under the post-GST regime.

Also, the introduction of GST should entail a reduction in overall process on account of reduced tax costs.

The Assocham-EY report also suggested central and state governments need to work in tandem by executing investor-friendly policies to further strengthen investment prospects.

ANSWER: Bharti Infratel

Explanation:
Bharti Airtel on Nov 14, 2017 offloaded 83 million shares of its subsidiary Bharti Infratel for र 3,325 crore through a secondary share sale in the stock market.

Bharti Airtel will primarily use the proceeds to reduce its debt, the company said in a statement. The firm's net debt stood at र 91,480 crore at the end of September 2017.

The sale was for a consideration of more than र 3,325 crore or about $510 million and was executed at a price of र 400.6 a share.

Following the transaction, Bharti Airtel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries hold 53.51% in Bharti Infratel. Promoters held 58% as of September 2017, as per BSE data.

The allocation was done to global investors, fund managers and long only funds, including many repeat investors.

Led by healthy investor appetite, the deal was upsized by over 25%.

J.P. Morgan, UBS and Goldman Sachs were joint placement agents for the transaction.

ANSWER: Digital ingestion tracking

Explanation:
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug in the United States with a digital ingestion tracking system, in an unprecedented move to ensure that patients with mental illness take the medicine prescribed for them.

The drug Abilify MyCite, developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, was first approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat schizophrenia.

The ingestible sensor, made by Proteus Digital health, was approved for marketing in 2012.

The digitally enhanced medication works by sending a message from the pill's sensor to a wearable patch.

Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for illness may be useful for some patients.

Abilify MyCite's labelling asserts the ability of the product to improve patient compliance with their treatment regimen has not been shown.

Abilify MyCite should not be used to track drug ingestion in 'real-time' or during an emergency because detection may be delayed or may not occur.

In a portion of the statement to address privacy concerns, the FDA said the wearable patch that comes with the medication "transmits the information to a mobile application so that patients can track the ingestion of the medication on their smart phone.

Patients can also permit their caregivers and physician to access the information through a web-based portal.

Proteus Ingestible sensor "activates when it reaches stomach fluids and communicates with the patch."

The product is designed for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with a bipolar disorder and for use as an add-on treatment for depression in adults.