Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 13, 2015

ANSWER: Sania Mirza

Explanation:
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis has won the women’s doubles title of the China Tennis Open defeating the Chinese Taipei pair of Hao Ching Chan and Yung Jan Chan 6-7(9), 6-1, 10-8. The pair has now won its fourth title in the row and the eighth title of the season. The other 7 titles Mirza and Hingis have won comprise Charleston, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Wells, Miami, Wimbledon, Charleston, and US Open.

ANSWER: Angus Deaton

Explanation:
The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2015 was awarded to Angus Deaton of Princeton University for analysis of poverty, consumption and welfare. His research linked individual choices with aggregate outcomes, helping to transform the fields of development economics, microeconomics and macroeconomics.

ANSWER: Carbine Muguruza

Explanation:
Spain’s Garbine Mugururza on 11th October 2015 has captured the China Open women’s singles title by beating Swiss player Timea Bacsinszky. Muruguza has emerged victorious through a 3-0 record against her rival, aiding her to attain a career high singles ranking of World Number 4. This was Muguruza’s second title after the first win at Hobart International in 2014. She also entered the finals of 2015 Wimbledon Championship and made an appearance in the 2014 and 2015 French Open.

ANSWER: Lewis Hamilton

Explanation:
Lewis Hamilton has emerged victorious at the Russian Formula One Grand Prix attaining a possible third world championship. This was Hamilton’s 9th win in the season and the 42nd of his career. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was the runner up while Force India’s Mexican Sergio Perez finished third.

ANSWER: Ghulam Nabi Khayal

Explanation:
Eminent Kashmiri writer and poet Ghulam Nabi Khayal has returned the Sahitya Akademi award which he had won for his book “Gashik Minaar” in 1975 in protest against the threat being faced by minorities in the nation. This is one of the latest authors to protest against the rising communalism and intolerance in Indian society following the Dadri lynching. This marks the first time a Kashmiri writer has made the decision to return the literary honour for protesting against the communal atmosphere in numerous parts of the country.

ANSWER: Mangalesh Dabral

Explanation:
Well known writer, critic, editor and Hindi poet Mangalesh Dabral has returned his Sahitya Akademi award becoming one of the many since Uday Prakash started this form of protest over the killing of MM Kalburgi. Fellow Hindi poet Rajesh Joshi also returned the Sahitya Akademi award. Also among the 7 writers who returned the award were 5 noted Punjabi writers- Ajmer Singh Aulakh, Atamjit, Gurbachan Bhullar and Waryam Sandhu and Shiromani Lekhak award winner Megh Raj Mitter.

ANSWER: ISO 9001: 2008

Explanation:
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has acquired ISO 9001:2008 certificate for monitoring, planning, development and maintenance of highway infrastructure as well as road transport throughout the nation on 12th October 2015. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Shri. Nitin Gadkari received the certificate from IRQS CMD Arun Sharma. ISO certificate will be applied to all wings of the Ministry at the HQ in New Delhi. ISO is a globally recognised quality management system to enable demonstration of commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. ISO 9001: 2008 was slated for implementation in 2012-2013.

ANSWER: Jioje Konrote

Explanation:
Fiji Parliament on 12th October 2015 has elected the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations as the next President of the country, namely Jioji/George Konrote. He was nominated by the ruling FjiFirst party gaining 31 votes in the presidential elections held at the parliament. Opposition SODELPA party candidate Ratu Epeli Ganilau received a mere 14 votes. As per the constitution of Fiji, PM and leader of opposition submit presidential candidate’s name to Parliament Speaker for voting. Konrote is an ex major general who had joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in the 1960s.

ANSWER: Kunming

Explanation:
Indian and Chinese armies on 12th October 2015 commenced with their 5th annual anti-terrorism exercise in Kunming City, Yunnan Province China. India fielded troops from the Naga Regiment for the first time to take part in the military exercise. Intensive joint training will be undergone by troops of both sides including displays, demonstrations and considerable joint exercise. Aim of the exercise is development of joint operating capabilities. The 12 day exercise will emphasise joint handling of of counter terrorism and ‘Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief’.

ANSWER: Alexander Lukashenko

Explanation:
President Alexander Lukashenko has been re-elected for the fifth term on 11th October garnering 83.5% of the votes. Closest contender has trailed behind with lower than 5% of the vote share. Ballots cast in embassies abroad have yet to be counted. Lukashenko has been in power for over 2 decades now in Belarus.

ANSWER: Emad

Explanation:
Iran has tested a guided long range ballistic missile in what is possibly a violation of the nuclear agreement in July between Iran and world powers. Missile may violate terms of agreement arrived at in Vienna with 6 nations that placed restrictions on the ambitious missile programme of Iran. New missile Emad or pillar is a step up from Shahab-3 as it can be guided to the target. The country has produced missiles which can reach as far as Europe. As per the nuclear agreement, a heavy water plant in Arak will be redesigned into a light water reactor.

ANSWER: EMC

Explanation:
Dell, the company founded by Michael S. Dell is looking to adapt to a quick changing tech industry and is in the process of acquiring storage provider EMC keeping this in mind. This deal has been valued at USD 65 billion and Dell along with its financial backer Investment firm Silver Lake has held that the acquisition will assist it in keeping up with the competition. Purchasing EMC will provide Dell with one of the leading names in computer data storage along with existing offerings such as mobile devices, corporate software and network servers. Dell will pay close to USD 33.15 per share in a transaction involving cash and special kind of stock. Currently, VMware holds an 81% stake in EMC and the company has a market value pegged at USD 33 billion valuing EMC’s stake at USD 27 billion.

ANSWER: Unicorn

Explanation:
Unicorn, a term proposed by venture investor Aileen Lee for describing startups valued at USD 1 billion or more is becoming a buzzword in tech entrepreneurism. Currently, Bengaluru is the unicorn capital of the country, home to 5 of 8 unicorns namely MuSigma, Quikr, InMobi, Ola and Flipkart. New Delhi has the remaining unicorn Indian firms namely Snapdeal, Zomato and Paytm. Worldwide, there are around 140 unicorns valued at USD 503 billion. E-commerce major Flipkart is at the top of the chain in India with a valuation of USD 15 billion. Bengaluru offers a tech first culture and early mover advantage for unicorn startups.

ANSWER: Rajiv Bansal

Explanation:
EVP and CFO of Infosys, Rajiv Bansal has tendered his resignation while EVP and head of strategic operations and CEO’s office, Ranganath Mavinakere has replaced him. Bansal will continue as CEO and Board advisor till December 31 to provide smooth transition. Mavinakere has been with Infosys for close to 15 years and is currently heading strategic operations. Bansal has over 20 years of experience in the field and joined the company as finance manager in 1999. He has also worked for TATA Technologies, Cable and Wireless and ABB, apart from being a gold medalist from ICWAI.

ANSWER: Sharad Mehrotra

Explanation:
Telenor India has appointed Sharad Mehrotra as the new CEO while Vivek Sood has been appointed as executive vice president and chief marketing officer in Telenor w.e.f November 1st, 2015. Mehrotra was part of the management team of Unicorn from 2008 to 2013 and head of Telenor Group Asia Distribution programme. Shared will also be a member of Telenor Group’s executive management. Sood will focus on increasing ability to improve customer journeys. Prior to joining Telenor India. Sood was CEO of Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s largest mobile operator. The company has crossed the 50 million customer mark, the first country in Telenor Group to achieve this.

ANSWER: Ravneet Singh

Explanation:
Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh assumed charge of the Sword Arm of Indian Navy as FOCWF on 12th October 2015 at INS Viraat. He has over 2500 years of flying experience on 10 different types of aircrafts. He hails from Jalandhar Punjab and joined the Indian Navy in July 1983.The Flag Officer has taken command of destroyers Ranvir and Ranvijay and frigate Himgiri. He also served as second in command Executive Officer of destroyer Delhi and missile boat Vijaydurg. Singh is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College Wellington and a recipient of Nau Sena Medal Gallantry.

ANSWER: 12

Explanation:
The President of India, Pranab Mukhergee greeted the people of Spain and Equatorial Guinea on National Day October 12. Next year (2016) would mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Spain. Spain celebrates the National Day on October 12 to commemorate Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in the 1490s. Equatorial Guinea is a west African nation which marks its independence from Spain on October 12, 1968.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
New images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissnace Orbiter have demonstrated a resistant and highly fractured surface amidst sand dunes. High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment/HiRISE camera abroad NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter takes images of the sand dunes to study mobile soils. Images also provide data about erosion and movement of surface material, wind as well as weather patterns, soil grains and grain sizes. Images also reveal information about the nature of substrate beneath. Fractured ground resists erosion by wind and indicates material is bedrock shattered by bending stresses and/or changes in temperature such as cooling. Surface may be a sedimentary layer once wet and shrunk, fractured as it dried, according to NASA. Small and indistinct fractures have trapped dark dune sand marching overhead and have become clear and distinct, leading to an examination of the orientation and spacing of the fractures to assess more regarding their formation processes.

ANSWER: Magentotelluric

Explanation:
Institute of Seismological Research has commenced with surveys using latest 3-D magentotelluric imaging technology. The aim is to find spots for establishing the first geothermal power plant in India employing heat stored below the surface of the earth. Breakthrough is expected to lay the foundation of the geothermal power plant in Gujarat which will be the first of its kind in the country. Institute has also pioneered 3-D MT imaging of crust to locate optimal spots. So far, crustal structures and geological faults were being mapped in Kutch. Geothermal energy is stored beneath the surface of the earth in the form of heat which can generate power, as temperature below the earth will be as high as 100 to 150 degree C. Normal thermal power plants use coal or gas to generate steam and heat water, running the turbines. Pre heated water will be stored beneath the earth so that one does not have to rely on alternate energy sources. Currently, the focus is on locating spots where water with at least 80 degree C temperature can be obtained. This would be optimal for geothermal power plants.

ANSWER: IFN Beta

Explanation:
Researchers have found that non-inherited Parkinson’s Disease may be the result of functional changes in immune regulating gene Interferon Beta or IFN Beta. Treating the same with IFN Beta Gene therapy could be beneficial in preventing neuronal death and disease impact in experimental model of PD. Scientists are aiming to develop more effective treatment of Parkinson’s Disease using this knowledge. Close to 7 to 10 million people throughout the world suffer from this disease which is incurable and a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The human brain comprises of around 100 billion neurons coordinating activities in different body parts and the immune gene IFN Beta plays an important role in keeping the neurons healthy. IFN beta is critical for neutrons to have ability to recycle waste proteins without which they accumulate in disease associated structures known as Lewy bodies and neutrons die within time.