Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Nov 3, 2017

ANSWER: Bajaj Allianz

Explanation:
For the first time, individuals can buy insurance cover against cybercrime, including loss of funds to online fraud, identity theft, cyberstalking and extortion, phishing and malware attack.

While customised cyber liability cover for businesses has been around for years, these were not over-the-counter covers that could be bought by individuals.

The Cyber Safe policy designed by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance is aimed at improving the level of comfort among individual internet and ecommerce users.

In today's digital world, the amount of personal data being generated, transmitted, and stored on to various digital devices is growing.

The critical nature of this data and the complexity of the systems that support its transmission and use have created a gamut of cyber risks.

While the policy can be purchased for a sum insured ranging from INR 1 lakh to 1 crore the company has not disclosed the premium schedule.

According to officials the rate will vary depending on the number of hours the individual spends online.

The cover is not device-specific and will cover transactions made using family devices or devices at work.

However, the policy expects the insured to not undertake transactions in cybercafes or suspect devices.

In addition to financial loss, the cover will compensate cost of legal defence if a hacker accesses the policyholder's credentials and puts out controversial comments in social media.

Besides defending the insurer, it will also provide legal costs for proceeding against the wrongdoer in cases like stalking. Those who fall prey to sophisticated phishing frauds are also protected.

The Indian cyber insurance market is valued at INR 30 crore only and comprises of protection bought by institutions.

Several credit card issuers have also provided cover against online fraud to cardholders. However, this protection is under a corporate cover purchased by the bank and is not available to individuals.

ANSWER: 195

Explanation:
National pledges on emission reduction, made by countries from across the globe under the Paris Agreement, will only bring a third of what is needed to avoid worst impact of climate change, says a report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Released in Geneva in Nov 2017, the report notes that even full implementation of current unconditional and conditional national climate actions makes a temperature increase of at least 3 degree Celsius by 2100.

This is meaning that the governments need to deliver much stronger pledges when they are revised in 2020.

The Paris Agreement, approved by 195 countries in December, 2015, aims to limit global warming to under 2 degree Celsius, with a more ambitious goal of 1.5 degree Celsius also on table.

The countries had, therefore, pledged to take their voluntary climate actions including emission reduction through multiple measures to meet the target.

It is expected that meeting these targets would reduce the likelihood of severe climate impacts that could damage human health, livelihoods and economies across the globe.

The UNEP report has, however, found that these pledges would only bring a third of the reduction in emissions required by 2030 to meet climate targets.

It, therefore, pitched for an urgent need to increase the ambition by both governments and non-state actors.

UNEP Emission Gap Report: Know More

• The report - UNEP's Emission Gap Report - was released just days ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn where the member countries including India will during November 6-17 Conference discuss guidelines to implement actions under the Paris Agreement which had come into force in November last year.
• The Emission Gap Report finds that current Paris pledges make 2030 emissions likely to reach 11 to 13.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) above the level needed to stay on the least-cost path to meeting the 2 degree Celsius target.
• One gigatonne is roughly equivalent to one year of transport emissions in the European Union (including aviation).
• The emission gap in the case of the 1.5 degree Celsius target is 16 to 19 GtCO2e.
  The report claims that the carbon dioxide emissions have remained stable since 2014, driven in part by renewable energy, notably in China and India.
• However, it warns that other greenhouse gases, such as methane, are still rising and a global economic growth spurt could easily put CO2 emissions back on an upward trajectory.

ANSWER: Vidhyarthi Vigyan Manthan

Explanation:
In a bid to boost science and technology learning among students, the government will hold a nationwide science talent search examination through a mobile application.

State minister Alphons Joseph Kannanthanam launched the mobile app Vidhyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM).

The app will be used for National Science Talent Search examination to be held on November 26.

The VVM app will be available on Android and Apple's iOS platform. Students appearing for the examination will have to register on the mobile app and will need to visit the authorised centre to take the test.

The app will disconnect and free other applications of mobile or laptop once the examination starts.

The examination will be conducted in two sections - junior classes which are class 6-8 and senior classes comprising students from class 9-12.

The syllabus for the test is available online. Every student will be assessed based on class-based performance.

Winners will get recognition, a cash prize and government-sponsored trip to science labs in the country and even abroad.

Cash Prizes for Nationwide Science Talent Search Exam Winners (State)

Winner - cash prize of INR 10,000,
Runner-up - cash prize of INR 7,000
Second Runner-up - cash prize of INR 5,000

Cash Prizes for Nationwide Science Talent Search Exam Winners (National)

Winner - cash prize of INR 25,000
Runner-up - cash prize of INR 15,000
Second Runner-up - cash prize of INR 10,000

ANSWER: Bakloh

Explanation:
The Indian and the Kazakh Armies on Nov 2, 2017 commenced a 14-day joint exercise "Prabal Dostyk" in Himachal Pradesh's Bakloh town in Chamba district.

The joint exercise is aimed at enhancing the military ties between both the countries.

The training contingents comprise of platoon strength from 3rd Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and a similar strength of the Kazakhstan Army.

Senior military observers of both the countries will witness the validation phase of the joint exercise.

The aim of the 'joint exercise' is to acquaint both forces with each other's operating procedures in the backdrop of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate.

The overall aim is to enhance the existing military relationship between the Indian and the Kazakhstan armies and achieve synergy for joint conduct of operation as and when the requirement arises.

Personnel of both the contingents were hopeful of a fruitful learning experience and were sanguine that the two weeks of training would go a long way in enhancing ties not only between the two armies but also between the people of the two great nations.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Shooter Heena Sidhu continued her terrific form this year winning gold in the women's 10m Air Pistol event at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships, Brisbane on 30^th Oct 2017.

She scored 240.8 in the final to beat Australian Elena Galiabovitch, who shot 238.2 to settle for silver. Bronze went to Kristy Gillman (213.7) of Australia.

London Olympic bronze-medallist Gagan Narang finished fourth in the same event, while Ravikumar ended fifth.

Narang shot 626.2 in the qualification to create Commonwealth record.

Sidhu in October 2017, paired with Jitu Rai at the ISSF World Cup final in New Delhi had won gold for India.

The pair had finished with 483.4 points to beat France with 481.1.

This was her third gold with Rai after the duo had claimed the top spots in the same event at the ISSF World Cup in Delhi in February and ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol series in Gabala, Azerbaijan.

In May, she had won bronze in the women's 10 air pistol event at the Grand Prix of Liberation Plaza Shooting Championships in the Czech Republic, shooting 218.8 in the eight-woman final, in an event won by Rio Olympic gold and bronze medalist Anna Korakaki of Greece.

ANSWER: Girish Karnad

Explanation:
Famous Indian playwright and veteran actor Girish Karnad will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest which is stated to begin from November 16.

A recipient of Jnanpith, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards, Karnad left his acting impact on several films and theatre shows. Some of his critically acclaimed Bollywood movies are "Nishaant", "Manthan", "Swami", "Pukar", "Iqbal" and "Dor".

Karnad made his screen debut in Kannada movie "Samskara" that won the first President's Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema.

He is also remembered for his role of Swami's father in the TV series "Malgudi Days" based on R.K.Narayan's books.

He also served as director of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of the Performing Arts.

ANSWER: Passengers

Explanation:
India is witnessing a high-growth trajectory and set to become the third-largest aviation market in the world in terms of passengers by 2026.

The announcement was made at the 2nd India aero expo 2017 inaugurated by Vice President Shri Venkaaih Naidu.

The aviation sector not only plays a key role in promoting connectivity and creating jobs but is also an important driver of the economy.

Aviation is the backbone of the global transport system. It indeed is the most vital sector for linking businesses, bringing people together and promoting tourism worldwide.

India became the world’s fastest growing domestic travel market for the 22nd time in a row recording a 26.6 per cent year-on-year growth in January 2017, according to IATA.

India's Aviation Sector: Know More

• India is witnessing a high-growth trajectory and set to become the third-largest aviation market in the world in terms of passengers by 2026.
• India’s air cargo is estimated to grow at 9 per cent over the next few years.
• IATA also expects the air passengers to double from 3.8 billion air passengers in 2016 to 7.2 billion by 2035.
• India replaced Japan to become the largest domestic aviation market globally.
• India recorded a total of 100 million domestic flyers in 2016 as compared to 97 million people who travelled by air in Japan during the same period.

Government Measures to Promote Aviation

• Recognizing the growing importance of the aviation sector, the Government has taken a series of measures to improve infrastructure and regional air connectivity in the country.
• UDAN scheme seeks to promote regional connectivity by serving the un-served and under-served airports. Connecting Tier-II cities, pilgrim towns and historic places with the wider air routes is important for boosting tourism and business travel.
• Among others, developing no frills and Greenfield airports, augmenting existing capacities, creating synergy between scheduled and non-scheduled airlines for better penetration and connectivity through collaborative efforts of the State and Central Governments is needed.

ANSWER: Jerome Powell

Explanation:
US President Donald Trump nominated Jerome Powell to run the Federal Reserve once current Chair Janet Yellen's term expires.

The move follows an extended period of speculation over who would be named to head the central bank, whose aggressive policies have been considered central to a climate of low interest rates and booming asset prices.

Jerome Powell is the richest US Fed Reserve Chairman so far.

Powell led a diverse field of potential nominees that included former Governor Kevin Warsh, Stanford economist John Taylor, chief Trump economic advisor Gary Cohn, and Yellen herself.

Yellen is the briefest-serving Fed chair since G. William Miller served from 1978-79.

Powell was named to fill an unexpired term in 2012 that won't end until 2028.

He is viewed as a convenient choice, someone who likely will continue the programs of the Yellen Fed but allow Trump a chance to put his own stamp on the central bank.

The Fed is in the midst of normalising the historically accommodative monetary policy it had begun to help pull the US from the throes of the financial crisis and the Great Recession.

Under Yellen, the Fed has hiked interest rates four times and is expected to approve another increase in December.

In addition, it is unwinding its $4.5 trillion balance sheet, which primarily consists of bonds the Fed purchased in an effort to drive down mortgage rates and push investors to risk assets like stocks and corporate bonds.

Powell has been part of the Fed's voting consensus since taking his seat, not once veering from the majority's position.

ANSWER: Solar energy

Explanation:
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Nov 2, 2017 signed a Joint Financial Partnership Declaration for the promotion of solar energy.

The collaboration between the ISA and the EBRD would also help funding of solar projects both in African and other countries.

The EBRD invests in 38 emerging economies across three continents, according to a set of criteria that aim to make its countries more competitive, better governed, greener, more inclusive, more resilient and more integrated.

The value of joint India-EBRD investment in its region of operation is estimated at around €1 billion, mostly in the private sector.

The bank says it has worked closely with several Indian partners in its countries of operations, including the Tata Group, EximBank, SREI and Jindal.

ANSWER: Khufu's Pyramid

Explanation:
Scientists have found a previously undiscovered hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, the first such discovery in the structure since the 19^th century.

In a report published in the journal Nature on November 2, an international team says the 30-metre void deep within the pyramid is situated above the Grand Gallery, and has a similar cross-section. The pyramid is also known as Khufu’s Pyramid for its builder, a 4^th dynasty pharaoh who reigned from 2509 to 2483 B.C.

The scientists made the discovery using cosmic-ray imaging, recording the behaviour of subatomic particles called muons that penetrate the rock similar to X-rays, only much deeper. Scientists involved in the scanning called the find a “breakthrough” that highlighted the usefulness of modern particle physics in archeology.

The Giza pyramids, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, have captivated visitors since they were built as royal burial chambers some 4500 years ago.

Experts are still divided over how they were constructed, so even relatively minor discoveries generate great interest.

Late last year, for example, thermal scanning identified a major anomaly in the Great Pyramid - three adjacent stones at its base which registered higher temperatures than others, stoking imaginations worldwide.

Speculation that King Tutankhamen’s tomb contains additional antechambers stoked interest in recent years, before scans by ground-penetrating radar and other tools came up empty, raising doubts about the claim.

The muon scan is accomplished by planting special plates inside and around the pyramid to collect data on the particles, which rain down from the earth’s atmosphere.

They pass through empty spaces but can be absorbed or deflected by harder surfaces, allowing scientists to study their trajectories and discern what is stone and what is not. Several plates were used to triangulate the void discovered in the Great Pyramid.