Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Nov 16, 2017

ANSWER: G Protein

Explanation:
A team of researchers has come up with an artificial protein that may block malignant properties of cancer cells as well as correct certain birth defects.

The findings may lead to identifying new molecular targets suitable for therapeutic intervention.

Cells in the human body need to communicate with each other to function properly. This is accomplished by a molecular mechanism called signal transduction and its dysregulation leads to human disease.

A group of molecules called G proteins act as a signalling mechanism that enables cells to change their behaviour when they are activated by surface receptors.

According to the researchers, the G proteins can be activated via alternative mechanisms independent of surface receptors that also impact normal cell behaviour and pathogenesis.

Scientists have engineered an artificial protein that when expressed in cells can specifically blunt receptor-independent G protein activation and subsequent changes in cell behaviour.

They have implemented this to block malignant properties of cancer cells and to correct birth defects associated with the aberrant dysregulation of cellular communication.

The clinical implications for this discovery are indirect - since the engineered protein cannot be delivered to patients - it does represent a significant advance in the identification of a new class of molecular targets in cancer or neonatal malformations.

ANSWER: Zimbabwe

Explanation:
The military in Zimbabwe launched a 'coup' on November 15, 2017, calling it a "bloodless correction" to target "criminals" surrounding long-time leader Robert Mugabe.

Robert Mugabe is the only leader Zimbabwe had since it won freedom from British colonial rule in 1980.

At 93, Mr. Mugabe is the world's oldest head of state. His poor health has fuelled a bitter succession battle as potential replacements jockey for position.

His lengthy rule has been marked by brutal repression of dissent, mass emigration, vote-rigging and economic collapse since land reforms in 2000.

On October 30, 2017, Mr. Mugabe sacked long-time ally and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, widely expected to succeed the former and take control of the ruling ZANU-PF party.

Mr. Mugabe's move is seen as an attempt to install his wife Grace - 41 years younger than her husband - as Vice-President and eventually take over the top job from him.
Though the action had all the hallmarks of a bloodless coup, the Zimbabwean military chose to avoid the word coup.

Instead, it used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to Mr. Mugabe.
Army veterans called the action "a bloodless correction".

The main opposition MDC party called for civilian rule to be protected.

ANSWER: Sanghamitra Bandopadhyaya

Explanation:
The ninth edition of the Infosys prizes was announced on 15th Nov in Bengaluru. Scientists and professionals from the research field were named by a jury which included Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, former Chief Economist Kaushik Basu and geneticist Inder Verma.

Among the winners was Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, director, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata for engineering and computer science.

Her discoveries include genetic marking for breast cancer and the role of white blood cells in Alzheimer's disease.

Ananya J. Kabir, Professor of English at Kings College, London was awarded the prize for humanities.

Upinder Singh Bhalla from National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) got it for life sciences. His contribution includes research on the brain's computational machinery.

Ritabrata Munshi from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, was named for mathematical sciences, and Yamuna Krishnan, from the Department of Chemistry at University of Chicago was chosen for physical sciences for her work in the fledgling field of DNA architecture.

In the category of social sciences, Lawrence Liang, from School of Law, Ambedkar University in Delhi and the co-founder of Alternative Law Forum was named for "creative scholarship" on law and society. The prizes will be given to the six winners on January 10, 2018 in Bengaluru.

Nobel laureate Kip Thorne will felicitate the awardees with prize money worth INR 65 lakh each and a 22-Carat gold medallion.

The Infosys Science Foundation was formed by the trustees of the software company, Infosys, in 2009 to encourage "basic science research."

ANSWER: A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce

Explanation:
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate 'Aadi Mahotsav' - a fortnight long Tribal Festival with the theme of 'A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce' on 16 Nov 2017 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi.

Over 750 tribal artisans from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. Aadi Mahotsav is scheduled to be organized at four venues throughout Delhi.

The festival will run for a fortnight through 30th November 2017. The theme of the festival is: A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce.

The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through about 200 stalls.

Indian Tribes : Know More About Aadi Mahotsav

• The tribes constitute over 8% of the country's population. This is a very significant number. In real terms it corresponds to over 10 crore Indians.
• The national object of inclusive development (sabka vikas) includes the development of tribes as an important component.
• Our constitution enjoins upon the Government the responsibility of addressing the special needs of the tribals.
• As the name of this event Aadi Mahotsav suggests, it is the 'adi' factor that is important about them.
• The Adivasi way of life is guided by primal truths, eternal values and a natural simplicity. The greatness of the tribes lies in this that they have managed to retain the primal skills, the natural simplicity.
• Their creations issue from the depths of time. This quality gives their arts and crafts a timeless appeal. The crudest tribal handicraft instantly touches a primal instinct in all of us.
• This is particularly true of tribal music and dance.
• The Government has formed the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (Trifed) for achieving this.
• Trifed is doing significant work in this direction and have now embraced e-commerce and digital platforms to take the business forward.
• TRIBES India proudly announces the signing of MOUs with Amazon, Snapdeal, Flipkart, PayTM and GEM, a Government of India Portal for e-commerce of the tribal products.
• Besides TRIBES India has also has its own e-com portal www.eshop.tribesindia.com.

ANSWER: BS-VI

Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has announced a 2-year advancement of the introduction of Bharat Stage (BS)-VI fuel norms from April 1, 2018 in Delhi, currently suffering from its worst smog crisis in years.

Bharat Stage emission standards, introduced in 2000, are emission standards that have been set up the Central government to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicles. The different norms are brought into force in accordance with the timeline and standards set up by the Central Pollution Control Board which comes under the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change.

The Bharat Stage norms are based on European regulations. In 13 major cities,

Bharat Stage IV emission standards were put in place in April 2010.

BS-IV norms were supposed to come into effect nationwide from April 2017.

Difference in BS-IV and BS-VI standards

The BS norms have been similar to Euro norms till now, and with norms after BS-IV not defined yet, we compare the existing BS-III and BS-IV norms in India with the Euro 6 norms on which India's emission norms have been set.

Petrol Emission Norms (All figures in g/km)

Emission Norm	CO	HC	NOx	HC+NOx	PM
BS-III	2.30	0.20	0.15
BS-IV	1.00	0.10	0.08
Euro 6	1.00	0.10	0.06		0.005

Diesel Emission Norms (All figures in g/km)

Emission Norm	CO	HC	NOx	HC+NOx	PM
BS-III	0.64	-	0.50	0.56	0.05
BS-IV	0.50	-	0.25	0.30	0.025
Euro 6	0.50	-	0.06	0.17	0.005

Source - Indian Emissions Regulations/ARAI

ANSWER: Sagar Kavach

Explanation:
The Governments of Odisha and neighbouring West Bengal conducted joint security exercise named 'Sagar Kavach' to further tighten the existing coastal security mechanism along the 630 km long coastline.

It was security exercise to check efficacy of security parameters and preparedness of various security forces like Indian Navy, Marine police force, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Forest Department, Fisheries and district administration.

ANSWER: DGS&D

Explanation:
The commerce ministry closed down its nearly 100-year-old public procurement arm–the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D)-on October 31.

The closure of the DGS&D, which traces its origin to London during the British raj, follows setting up of the government e-market (GeM) platform last year for public procurement of goods and services.

About 1,100 of its employees are being shifted to different departments, including income tax, while the senior officers are likely to be accommodated in other branches of the government. DGS&D assets, which were present across the country, are transferred to the Land and Development Office of the urban development ministry.

The directorate has four regional offices, including Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. It has 12 Purchase Directorates.

ANSWER: Billion Capture+

Explanation:
A lot of market intelligence that was acquired over a period of time by India's leading e-commerce company Flipkart is being put to test as the company's own smart phone product is going on sale under Billion Capture + brand in INR 10,000 price bracket from November 15, 2017.

Hyderabad-based homegrown technology OEM Smartron has worked on Flipkart's maiden smart phone product in terms of design and development besides getting it manufactured for the e-commerce company.

The partnership with Flipkart comes as a big breakthrough for Smartron as it has been looking for opportunities.

ANSWER: 300%

Explanation:
CBDT Chairman Sushil Chandra announced while there were around 2.5 lakh PAN applications per month earlier, after the Centre announced to scrap high value currency notes in November last year, the number rose to 7.5 lakh.

Additionally, the department was taking a number of measures to curb black money and that steps such as no cash transaction of above INR 2 lakh was a move in that direction.

CBDT: Know More

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) provides essential inputs for policy and planning of direct taxes in India and is also responsible for administration of the direct tax laws through Income Tax Department. The CBDT is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963. It is India's official FATF unit.[21]

Organisational Structure

• The CBDT is headed by CBDT Chairman and also comprises six members. The Chairperson holds the rank of Special Secretary to Government of India while the members rank of Additional Secretary to Government of India.

Other members:

• Member (Income Tax)
• Member (Legislation and Computerisation)
• Member (Revenue)
• Member (Personnel & Vigilance)
• Member (Investigation)
• Member (Audit & Judicial)
• The CBDT Chairman and Members of CBDT are selected from Indian Revenue Service (IRS), a premier civil service of India, whose members constitute the top management of Income Tax Department.