Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 18, 2015

ANSWER: Plastic skin

Explanation:
Following a decade of studying, researchers from Stanford University have attained a major breakthrough to mimic the skin’s ability for sensing touch, pressure, temperature and pain. They have invented a revolutionary plastic skin comprising two layers namely a sensing mechanism on the top and a bottom layer transmitting electric signals onto the biochemical stimuli for nerve cells to get. The skin is able to detect pressure over the same range as human skin. This is the first time a synthetic skin has been developed capable of detecting pressure and transmitting signals to the nervous system. There are thick grapheme tubes which allow the plastic skin to resemble human skin and transmit pressure information through short pulses of electricity akin to a Morse Code to the brain.

ANSWER: Poverty

Explanation:
International Day for Eradication of Poverty was observed on 17th October 2015. The theme for this day was “Building a Sustainable Future: Coming Together to end Poverty and Discrimination”. The celebration of this day comes after UN adopted 2030 SDGs to succeed the MDGs. International Day for Eradication of Poverty has been observed each year since 1992 when UNGA resolution 47/196 identified the day to raise awareness about the need for the eradication of poverty and destitution in all nations.

ANSWER: Telangana

Explanation:
Telangana government has signed two MoU with Chinese companies to establish prefab concrete manufacturing facility and implement dry port solutions. The two companies are Sany International Housing and Sany Heavy Industry respectively. An agreement has been signed by Secretary Housing and Sany International Housing to set up a prefab concrete manufacturing unit. Second MoU was signed by Industries Secretary and chairman of the Port of Sany Heavy Industry.

ANSWER: 898

Explanation:
Regardless of the 2011 census indicating a worsening sex ratio, gap between male and female registered births in India fell in 2012 and 2013. India’s Civil Registration System administered by office of Registrar General of India that conducts its decadal census constitutes officially registered birth and death data. Currently, all births and deaths must be registered within 21 days of their occurrence.RGI has estimated around 85.5% of all births are now registered in 2013 with 17 of the states registering all births and Bihar as well as UP attaining only 57.4 and 68.6 percent registrations. Sex ratio will also improve as level of registration improves. Sex ratio at birth has now fallen to 898 girls for every 1000 boys in 2013. Experts say as family size gets smaller, pressure for one of two children to be a boy escalates.

ANSWER: Rajiv Bansal

Explanation:
Taxi aggregator Ola has hired ex Infosys CFO Rajiv Bansal as the current finance head. Bansal announced his exit from Infosys earlier and will be joining Bengaluru based Ola from January 1st, 2015. Presently, the Ola CFO is Mitesh Shah. Bansal joined Infosys in 1999 and was appointed as CFO in 2012. Ola formed by founders Aggarwal and Bhati is valued at INR 32,500 crore. Its main investors include Tiger Global, DST Global, SoftBank and Sequoia.

ANSWER: Hungary

Explanation:
Hungary has closed its border with Croatia to prevent free flow of migrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East for a better life in Western Europe. Closure has prompted migrants to seek passage through Slovenia to head towards Austria and Germany. Slovenia has indicated it would increase border controls and create entry points for migrants and keep accepting them till the borders of Austria and Germany are open. Croatia has indicated it will close the border with Serbia in case Slovenia adopts the same approach for it.

ANSWER: MP

Explanation:
Principal bench of the NGT New Delhi has lifted the stay on sand mining in MP. Earlier, the NGT central zonal bench Bhopal has implemented a stay on river bed sand mining in MP till October 31st. NGT has not lifted the stay on 61 mining leases whereby state environment impact assessment authority had proposed prohibition on sand mining as a condition of environment clearance during the months of July to October.

ANSWER: Kailash Satyarthi

Explanation:
Nobel Peace prize awardee Kailash Satyarthi has been conferred with the prestigious humanitarian award for 2015 in recognition of his contribution to child rights. Satyarthi is the first Indian to be honoured with this award. The annual award is given by the prestigious university to individuals whose works and deeds have improved the quality of living and inspired people to higher heights. The award has been given recognition of his contributions in the field of child rights and abolition of child slavery. He has gotten child protection and welfare related clauses included under UN SDG to end slavery, trafficking, forced labour and violence. Former winners of this award include Javier Perez de Cuellar, Ban Ki-moon, Bishop Desmond Tutu and John Hume.

ANSWER: Olaf

Explanation:
Tropical storm Olaf has intensified in eastern Pacific Ocean though it poses no threat currently. Olaf is located 2475 km southwest of southernmost tip of Baja California peninsula in Mexico. The speed of the storm’s wind is increasing to 85 kph and it is moving west at the speed of 12 mph. However, there are no coastal watches or warnings for the same.

ANSWER: MK Surana

Explanation:
MK Surana on 16th October 2015 was appointed CMD of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd w.e.f April 2016, succeeding Nishi Vasudeva due to retire in March 2016. Surana is currently CEO of Prize Petroleum Corp Ltd, oil exploration arm of HPCL. He will get a 5 year term as CMD and has been ED with HPCL since September 2012.