Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 09, 2015

ANSWER: A. R. Rahman

Explanation:
Oscar winning composer A. R. Rahman has been named the cultural ambassador of Seychelles for enhancing the art and cultural development of the country, on 8th October 2015. 48 year old music Rahman is a winner of 2 Academy Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, Golden Globe and BAFA besides national apart from international recognition in his career.

ANSWER: Svetlana Alexeivich

Explanation:
The Nobel prize for literature went to 67 year old Belarus author Svetlana Alexievich for her polyphonic writings. She is the 14th woman literature laureate. She has chronicled the biggest tragedies of Soviet Union and its collapse, WW2, Soviet war in Afghanistan, Chernobyl disaster and communism initiated suicides. Alexievich, the daughter of two school teachers lives in Minsk and supports opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko.

ANSWER: 1-1.5 bilion

Explanation:
Scientists have found the inner core of the earth was formed 1-1.5 billion years back as it froze from the molten iron outer core. The inner core is Earth’s deepest layer and it is a ball of solid iron larger than Pluto surrounded by liquid outer core. Inner core is a recent addition to the planet and it was formed according to scientists who have debated its period of formation as ranging from 0.5 to 2 billion years. Researchers conducted an analysis of records from ancient igneous rocks and found sharp increase in magnetic field of the planet between 1 to 1.5 billion years ago. Increased magnetic field is a possible indication of the first occurrence of solid iron at the centre of the earth. The research also suggests average growth rate of the solid inner core is one mm per year. Earth’s magnetic field is generated by motion of liquid iron alloy in the outer core around 3000 km beneath the crust of the earth.

ANSWER: 83rd

Explanation:
Indian Air Force celebrated its 83rd anniversary at Hindan Air Base in Ghaziabad where the decision to induct women as fighter pilots was also taken. This is the 83rd celebration of this anniversary which has been observed since 1932. IAF has been involved in numerous operations such as Pawan, Cactus and Vijay as well as wars such as WW2 and India China war.

ANSWER: Second

Explanation:
For the second time this year, surface ozone pollution in Delhi has breached permissible limits with weak monsoon being blamed for the phenomenon. While ozone layer limit in Mumbai and Pune is within permissible limits, it is also rising in these two cities. Delhi’s surface ozone pollution has crossed the threshold level it normally did in May June again, according to IITM scientists. Permissible limit is 50 ppb (8 hour day average) according to the monitoring carried out under SAFAR (System of Air quality and weather Forecasting and Research) system of Ministry of Earth Sciences.

ANSWER: Journal Media Group

Explanation:
Gannet Co has reached an agreement for the acquisition of newspaper company Journal Media Group for USD 280 million providing the media giant control of 100 local US markets. Journal media publications include Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Memphis (Tennessee) Commercial-Appeal and Knoxville (Tennessee) News Sentinel. Gannet will be able to maximise short term profits through this acquisition. Merger will add 15 day and 18 weekly papers to its portfolio. Journal Media Group was formed in 2015 after Journal Communications Inc of Milwaukee and E. W. Scripps Co of Cincinnati merged broadcasting operations under the E. W. Scripps me and created a separate public entity for newspaper.

ANSWER: Aditya Birla Group

Explanation:
Aditya Birla Group via Aditya Birla Nuvo has entered into a collaboration with leading investor in global growth markets, Abraaj Group for developing utility scale solar power plants in the nation. ABNL has entered into an SSA/ Subscription and shareholders agreement with an Abraaj affiliate and the affiliate created will be 51% owned by ABNL and 49% by the latter. Aditya Birla Renewables, the solar power platform will bid for projects at national and state auctions to develop utility scale power plants in the nation to provide cost effective electricity to several national grids.

ANSWER: Waive transmission charges for electricity generated from renewable sources

Explanation:
For providing clean energy projects in the nation, government has taken the decision to waive transmission charges for energy from renewable sources according to Union Minister Shri Piyush Goel. A legal framework will be brought out where all inter state transmission of renewable energy will be at no cost. Therefore, renewable energy will not be charged for transmission across the nation. Government has also sanctioned contracts worth INR 38,000 crore via competitive bidding for green corridors.

ANSWER: Nualgi

Explanation:
Nualgi, an Indian firm in the field of nano biotechnology has won the Popular Choice Awards at the Climate CoLab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge. This marks the first time an Indian company has won this contest. Sampath Kumar from Bangalore formed Nualgi following R&D in nano biotechnology. MIT Climate CoLab initiative involves 50,000 people from across the globe working to solve the problem of climate change.

ANSWER: 25%

Explanation:
Environment Ministry expert panel EAC has suggested the use of imported coal with higher ash content to 25% to aid domestic thermal power plants to use higher grade coal and bring down cost of generation. Recommendation is against the recent demand of Association of Power Producers to restrain ash content in imported coal of 12% as this has forced the coastal regions to only use Indonesian coal. Now, power companies can use high grade, low moisture imported coal from Australia, Russia and S. Africa for better efficiencies and lower cost of generation with same actual ash generation.

ANSWER: Ben Bernanke

Explanation:
Book by Bernanke was released during the first week of October 2015. Through this book, the author has asked questions regarding the inflation targeting policy used by Fed Reserve during the recession and proposed NGDP policy to deal with meltdowns such as the 2008 financial crisis. The book explains the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930s in America. It provides an insider’s account of policy initiatives taken to battle the crisis.

ANSWER: Reactions

Explanation:
Rather than opting for a replication of the Like button, FB is using emojis called Reactions to represent the following emotions- Love, Haha, Yay, Wow, Sad and Angry. These emojis will be placed alongside Like Button as extra options and will be released in Spain and Ireland first. The dislike button will now be expressed through one of the 6 emojis. Akin to the Like button, the reactions will appear on any post in the news feed on mobile or desktop. The number of reactions that any post has received will be placed the post and users will be able to see nature of reactions as well as the manner in which these are expressed. Emojis will first be used in non English nations to see how it works out for users of this category.

ANSWER: MVoter2015

Explanation:
Group of young coders, Team Pop Stack has launched the first election app in Myanmar entitled MVoter2015. Millions of hyperactive FB users are being targeted through this app as social media will play a critical role in the upcoming elections. Myanmar’s 51 million strong population has more than 18 million SIM cards for mobile phones.

ANSWER: Softkinetic Systems

Explanation:
Sony Corp has acquired Belgian image sensor technology company Softkinetic Systems for a sum which has not been publicly disclosed. Sony is looking to increase investment in what is the strongest area. Soft kinetic specialises in technology which measures time of flight and the deal comes after Sony Corp indicated it will split off semiconductor operations to boost growth of image sensors business.

ANSWER: mVisa

Explanation:
Private sector lender ICICI bank has launched mobile payment solution services based on mVisa which will allow customers to make payments for services via smartphones. Service can be used by those customers who have app of bank’s mobile wallet Pockets. It works through scanning of QR codes. The bank is the first to launch mobile app based mVisa solution for consumers and merchants. mVisa is a mobile payment solution from Visa. Service will help overcome problems of low availability of PoS machines with only 1.1 million machines for 570 million debit cards.

ANSWER: Tech Mahindra

Explanation:
TSP Aircel has partnered Tech Mahindra to roll out IoT service offerings while no financial details of the deal were disclosed. Tech Mahindra is set to provide IoT services in partnership with Silicon Valley based specialist Aeris Communications. IoT refers to network of internet accessible, inter connected devices. Aircel is looking to launch vertical specific solutions in the IoT space and cater to vertical market segments such as smart energy and smart city.

ANSWER: Making the International Financial Architecture Work for Development

Explanation:
UNCTAD released the Trade and Development Report 2015 at its Geneva HQ which found that the global economy is growing at 2.5% following 2008 financial meltdown and rebound in 2010. The growth rate for 2015 is expected to remain more or less unchanged from last year, at 2.5 per cent and developed nations are projected to grow at around 1.9 per cent, compared with 1.6 per cent in 2014. The reasons for this include growth in the eurozone and Japan’s moderate acceleration, although from very low rates. US is expected to continue post crisis growth trajectory and between 2012 and 2014, world merchandise trade increased between 2 to 2.5%.The report expects that India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2015 as the pressure on current account deficit has been easing due to the lowering oil prices in the international market. India’s exports fell from 8.5% in 2013 to 3.2% in 2014 on account of negative trend in international economy.

ANSWER: Cipla

Explanation:
Pharma major Cipla through its subsidiary Cipla Medoro Pty has entered into an exclusive agreement with the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer SII to supply vaccines. Diploma will use the partnership to address national vaccine storage. Pune based SII has presence in 140 countries and 1.3 billion doses have been manufactured and sold by it. Agreement holds that the Cipla subsidiary will become the holder of MCC regulatory approvals with respect to product registrations and marketing authorizations.

ANSWER: Delhi Public Transport

Explanation:
Google India has launched Delhi Public Transport app which will utilise same Transit data for DMRC metro, DTC buses, DIMTS (Orange) buses, and Gurgaon Rapid Metro as Google Maps. The app will also provide direction and information regarding time table for Delhi Metro and buses offline.

ANSWER: Ellen Kullman

Explanation:
Chairwoman and CEO of American chemical major DuPont Ellen Kullman has announced her retirement from the post w.e.f 16th October 2015 following a battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz. DuPoint has appointed chairman of Tyco International Plc and member of DuPont BoD as interim chairman and CEO. Kullman is an ex GM director and joined DuPont in 1980. She is ranked among the Forbes most powerful women for the year 2014.