Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Nov 17, 2016

ANSWER: Fly Ash Utilisation Policy

Explanation:
Maharashtra on 15th Nov 2016 became the first Indian state to adopt the Fly Ash utilisation policy

• This will pave the way for prosperity by creating wealth from waste and foster environment protection
• Decision was taken to implement the policy after cabinet approval at a meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis
• As per the policy, 100 percent of the fly ash generated from thermal power plants and biogas plants will be used for construction activities
• The fly will be utilised for making cement, wall panels, blocks, tiles, bricks and other construction materials
• The policy allows usage of fly ash within 300 km of the power plant, It was earlier to be used within 100 km radius
• Policy will create employment opportunities in power plant areas
• It will also ensure raw material is available for low cost construction to help Housing for All Projects
• Fly ash is a by product of coal combustion; it is composed of fine particles that are driven out of the boiler with the flue gases
• In modern coal fired power plants, fly ash is captured through electrostatic precipitators or other particle filtration equipment before the flue gases reach the chimneys
• Fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide, aluminium oxide and calcium oxide
• Fly ash can be rescued as a substitute material for Portland cement and sand used in concrete production
• It can also be used for road construction.
• Agricultural uses include soil amendment fertiliser, cattle feeders and soil stabilisation in stock feed yards
• It can also be used as a substitute material for clay for cement clinkers production
• Heavy metals can leach from stored fly ash into groundwater, which can put the health of the surrounding populations in danger
• Apart from causing air pollution, it can also contaminate water and soil systems>.

ANSWER: 16th Nov

Explanation:
The International Day for Tolerance was observed internationally on 16th Nov 2016.

• The day aims at educating masses about the need for tolerance in society and helping them to understand the negative effects of intolerance
• To mark the day and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, UNESCO instituted a prize in 1995 for promotion of tolerance and non-violence.
• The award is for significant activities in the fields of scientific, artistic, cultural or communication aimed at promoting tolerance and non violence
• In 2016, the prize was awarded to Federal Research and Methodological Centre for Tolerance Psychology and Education of Russia
• The UNGA in 1996 by its resolution 51/95 invited UN member states to observe international day for tolerance on 16th Nov
• The action was in wake of 1995 being proclaimed as the United Nations Year for Tolerance
• UNESCO member states also adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow Up Plan of Action on 16th Nov 1995

ANSWER: Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle

Explanation:
After some delay, Rustom 2 (TAPAS 201) a medium long altitude endurance UCAV has completed its first flight early in Chitradurga about 200-250 km from Bengaluru

• The UCAV is a medium-altitude, long endurance MALE category of vehicles which met all expectations during the first flight
• DRDO is an agency of India charged with military research and development, in New Delhi India
• It was formed from the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation in 1958.
• With a network of 52 labs, which are engaged in developing defence technologies covering numerous fields such as aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, material, naval systems and mussels
• The flight accomplished the main objectives of providing the flying platform such as take off, bank level flight and landing
• TAPAS 2015 has been designed by ADE/Aeronautical Development Establishment, with HAL-BEL as production partner
• ADE is a Bangalore based lab of DRDO
• UCAV weighs two tonnes; it is the first R&D prototype which has been certified and qualified for the first flight from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance
• A multi mission UAV, TAPAS 201 is designed to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for three armed forces with endurance of 24 hours
• It can carry out combination of different payloads
• This is a Make in India initiative as many critical systems have been developed in India with the partnership with private industries

ANSWER: Third

Explanation:
Axis Bank, India’s third largest private bank, is set to launch intelligent banking chat bots to make mobile banking services more conversational

• The bank tied up with Active Intelligence Pte or Active. ai , a Singapore based Fintech platform to launch the bots which will enable customers to chat through its mobile banking app and messaging platform such as Facebook messenger
• New digital technologies will make it easier for customers to engage with clients
• Conversation will be held in the sphere of banking in a personal and contextual manner in digital space
• This marks a new era of personalised banking
• In the future, customers will walk into micro branches with voice enabled IoT devices to engage with banks for services
• Chat bots will also reduce cost of operations for the bank

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Scientists have developed new super paramagnetic crystals which can deliver drugs through the body in a precise, accurate way.

• It revolutionises drug delivery to tumours and other sites in the body
• This was initially thought to be impossible because crystals which have special magnetic properties could not be controlled as they were too small in size
• A new team of researchers however, developed a technique for making the crystals bigger, saving many lives and revolutionising treatment
• Larger crystals also do not aggregate when those fields are removed, which will make them more useful in practical applications including drug delivery
• These can also serve an important function in engineering projects that need smart fluids to change their properties when the magnetic field is applied
• They can also be used to develop prosthetic limbs.

ANSWER: Meghalaya

Explanation:
Meghalaya has become the first state to deliver India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival, widely celebrated in Japan

• The 4 day festival will showcase the beauty of pink and white cherry blossoms and the traditional arts and culture of the state
• Chief Minister Mukul Sangma inaugurated the first Cherry Blossom festival in Shillong
• This is appreciated in partnership with the Institute of Bio resources and sustainable development for joint conceptualisation of Meghalaya as a major tourist destination
• IBSD is a national institute of the centre’s Department of Biotechnology
• Cherry Blossom Festival is also called Sakura Festival in Japan
• It is held in April every year
• The other countries which celebrate this festival include Australia, Korea, China and the US
• The Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival generates USD 126 million each year
• The festival will set the stage for 2017 in India, which has been declared by the UN as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Following in the footsteps of fellow Republican, Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the US, Donald Trump, America’s 45th President has also declined the salary.

• Wealth is another common factor: Hoover was also a multi millionaire
• However Hoover’s refusal to accept a salary was for every public position he had ever held
• John F. Kennedy was another president to refuse the salary
• But the constitutionally-mandated presidential salary may do more than allow middle-class Americans to serve as president or suppress the temptations of corruption.
• It also signals that the presidency is not just a symbolic post, but a job, with a salary that must be earned.
• Meanwhile, Democrats have appealed to rescind Stephen Bannon’s appointment as the White House chief strategist as they feel the person in the role must be prepared to serve the interests of all Americans, not just a select few.
• Trump will now earn USD 1 as presidential salary as determined by law for presidents that decline the salary