Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 11, 2015

ANSWER: Indian Investment Initiative

Explanation:
Indian Investment Initiative/III was launched on October 10, 2015 in collaboration with USAID and Calvert Foundation as we'll as the US State department. This initiative makes it easier for Indian Americans to invest in SMBs back home. III offers a tool for Indian Americans to attain goals of leveraging close relations between India and the US. One of the first investments is IntelleGrow which focused on investment in key areas such as education, sustainable livelihoods and health. US based retail investors will support the initiative through the purchase of Community Investment Notes by Calvert Foundation. USAID will also provide Development Credit Guarantee for supporting Indian financial institutions contributing to social enterprises.

ANSWER: Subglacial tunnel

Explanation:
Scientists have demonstrated how water is drained from the Greenland ice sheet lake through a subglacial tunnel. Researchers from University of Exeter studied water flow paths from such subglacial lake draining beneath the ice sheet. They found that impact of climate change is considerable on the plumbing system associated with water flow in subglacial lake under Greenland ice sheet. Configuration of the plumbing system has an impact on the flow speed of the overlying ice. Greenland’s subglacial lake has been fed by surface meltwater flowing down a nearby moulin unlike Antarctic subglacial lakes which are sustained via melting of the base of ice sheet. As global warming continues to increase, more volumes of surface meltwater routed to the ice sheet bed will lead to subglacial lake drainage to become common in the future. Increased drainage frequency could impact the sensitivity of the ice sheet to climate change, influencing the future sea level changes.

ANSWER: Great Indian Bustard

Explanation:
Listed as critically endangered under the Schedule 1 which is the highest protection status as per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, this state bird is close to extinction. WII survey found 44 Great Indian Bustards in Rajasthan but the Rajasthan forest department survey found only 28. Around one week ago, another survey found there were only 13 GIBs. GIB or Ardeotis nigirceps is one of the biggest flying bird species found in the world today and currently, the other two states Maharashtra and Gujarat are having only 6 and 11 GIBs respectively. Steps are being taken to improve conservation and habitat of GIB through the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority/CAMPA. Rajasthan currently has the highest population of GIB and if captive breeding conservation efforts are successful, the number may rise. Total conservation cost has been pegged at INR 13 crore for the Project Great Indian Bustard announced in 2012.

ANSWER: 1263

Explanation:
Number of Gangetic dolphins has risen to 1263 in the state of UP. Census was conducted by WWF India and other voluntary organisations between October 5 and 8, 2015. The census was conducted in a 3350 km of the river stretch including the Ganga and its tributaries, Yamuna, Chambal, Gerua, Ghaghra, Ken, Rapti, Sharda, Betwa and Son river.Census commenced from the Ganga barrage in Kanpur and boats moved at a speed of 7 to 10 km for every single hour surveying 70 km of the river stretch each day. First census of UP was done in 2012 and found around 671 dolphins across the 2800 km stretch of Ganga and its tributes. In the year 2005, WWF estimated the number of Gangetic dolphins to be 600. The presence of the Gangetic river dolphin is an indication of a healthy river ecosystem. It is a national aquatic mammal which forms the endemic fauna of the Ganga, Meghna and Brahmaputra river and is one of 4 freshwater dolphins across the globe. The growth rate of the species is very low.

ANSWER: 4500

Explanation:
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have sequenced an ancient African genome from 4500 year old skull in Ethiopia confirming mass migration wave from Eurasia to Africa close to 3000 years ago. 25% of the DNA of modern Africa can be traced to this event and data shows Africans carry a considerable component of Eurasian ancestry. The research findings indicate mass migration of western Eurasians into Africa around 4000 years back originating in ancient Middle East. This marks the first time an African genome has been decoded.

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
NASA’s Pluto Exploration Programme has found the dwarf planet is geologically active even after 4 billion years indicating this planet could be alive. The first colour images of Pluto have revealed a blue haze and small exposed regions of water ice on Pluto. Patterns of water ice have uneven distribution and the blue sky on Pluto results from scattering of sunlight by soot like particles referred to as tholins. However, scientists have said it is not possible for Pluto to have life once because it is -400 degree F and too cold for life. Pluto is currently the only object in the Kuiper Belt with multiple moons.

ANSWER: Resignation from the post

Explanation:
Nepal PM Suresh Koirala has resigned as Parliament makes preparations to elect a new Premier following continued protests and inability to form consensus resulting in blocked of key trade point in India with respect to the new Constitution of the country. Koirala is in the race to become PM again, filing candidacy for the premiership from his Nepali Congress (NC) party. He is running against CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli, whose name was proposed by Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda and seconded by Rastirya Prajatantra Party chairman Kamal Thapa. The latter is seen as the most likely new PM of Nepal with more than a dozen parties supporting him. The Madhesi group is against the splitting of Nepal into 7 provinces and is protesting against the new constitution.

ANSWER: Zensar Technologies

Explanation:
Marina Holdco, a company backed by Apax Partners has announced acquisition of 23.2% stake in RPG promoted Zensar Technologies. Apax acquired the stake from Electra Partner Mauritius, currently a minority shareholder in Zensar. Following the deal, RPG Group remains the promoter and largest shareholder in the firm with 48% stake.

ANSWER: Euphlyctes aloysii

Explanation:
Nine years ago, the Euphlyctes aloysii was discovered by a research team from St. Aloysius college and Japan. The habitat of this frog is currently under threat due to extensive land filling activities. The frog was named after St. Aloysius College and was found in the marshy land of Ayar and Bajpe. Existence of this frog was discovered in 2006. This is a tiny water frog of dark brown-greenish colour.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Well known Malayalam writer Sarah Joseph has announced that she will be returning the Sahitya Akademi award to protest against rising intolerance and murder of rationalists as well as Dadri lynching incident. Malayalam poet K. Satchidanandan has taken the decision to quit all Akademi posts in protest of the murder of rationalist M. M. Kalburgi. Another short story writer P K Parakkadavu also said he will quit the Akademi membership. Joseph won the award for her novel
Aalahayude Penmakkal (Daughters of God the Father). Three writers have been murdered and K. S. Bhagwan is also facing threats from communal forces, Joseph said.Satchidanandan was serving in the General Council, Executive Board and Financial Committee of the Akademi. Earlier, eminent writer Nayantara Sehgal and ex Lalit Kala Akademi chairperson Ashok Vajpeyi also returned their awards to protest the growing intolerance in the nation. The first literary figure to return his award to protest the murder of Kalburgi was well known Hindi writer Uday Prakash.

ANSWER: Tapan Ray

Explanation:
Corporate Affairs Secretary Tapan Ray was appointed to the BoD of capital market regulatory authority SEBI. He has succeeded Anjuly Chib Duggal on the SEBI Board. He is a Gujarat cadre IAS officer who took charge as Secretary in Union Corporate Affairs Ministry in the month of August 2015. He has served as an office bearer in numerous capacities between 1984 and 1994 besides handling key assignments in Power, Science and Technology, Textiles and Defence Ministries. Ray has completed his post graduation in Public Policy and International Affairs. He is also a diploma holder in international law and business as well as German language.

ANSWER: Sekhar Basu

Explanation:
Sekhar Basu has been appointed as chairperson of Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, DAE succeeding RK Sinha who superannuated on 23rd October 2015. Basu is currently director, BARC Mumbai and Chief Executive of NRB, part of BARC. Also the chairman of the International Design Review committee for an ITER project, he has been conferred with several awards including Padma Shri, DAE Special Achievement Award and Indian Nuclear Society Award.

ANSWER: Dheeraj Rangi

Explanation:
Lightweight boxer Dheeraj Rangi snagged a silver medal in the World Military Games held in South Korea’s Mungyeong district. He lost to Yahia Abdeulli from Algeria, 3-0. Mohammed Husamuddin, Devanshu Jaiswal and Narendra Berwal also claimed bronze medals. Haryana player Rangi has also been part of the Sports Excellence Programme of JSW for the past 2 years.