Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 21, 2015

ANSWER: UN

Explanation:
Libya's globally-recognised parliament on 19 October 2015 objected to sign the United Nations (UN)-backed peace deal for a power-sharing arrangement with rival Islamist-led authorities. While the parliament in based in Tobruk, the Islamist government is based in Tripoli. The deal was rejected on account of inclusion of amendments added by Islamists without its consent. Unity government would have gotten the power to eliminate all senior Libyan officials not unanimously approved by its members, according to the agreement. The country lost stability after Western forces toppled M. Gaddafi.

ANSWER: KSL Swamy

Explanation:
Senior filmmaker Kikkeri Shamanna Lakshminarasimha Swamy, also known as KSL Swamy, died on 20 October 2015 at 77. He was also a playback singer, actor and producer. He started his career by helping G. V. Iyer and M. R. Vittal and debuted as an independent film director with the 1966 film, Thoogudeepa. His 1989 film Jamboo Savari won a National Award. He had directed over 37 films. He is also a Padma Bhutan awardee.

ANSWER: Better Data, Better Lives

Explanation:
The World Statistics Day was observed across the world on 20 October 2015 and the theme was Better Data, Better Lives. This is the second observance of the World Statistics Day. 2015 also marks the birth bicentenary of George Boole who worked on logic as a form of algebra forming the base of modern computer science.

ANSWER: Global status report on road safety 2015

Explanation:
World Health Organization (WHO) on 19 October 2015 released the Global status report on road safety 2015 showing information from 180 countries and indicating that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths has gone up to 1.25 million per year. It also showcased how road safety strategies are saving human lives. It found in past 3 years, 79 countries have seen a fall in the number of fatalities in absolute terms.

ANSWER: UNESCO

Explanation:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in October 2015 released a report titled “Gender and Education for All (EFA) 2000-2015: Achievements and Challenges,” compiled by UNESCO’s Global Monitoring Report and UN Girl’s Education Initiative. Only fewer than half the nations in the world have attained gender parity in primary and secondary education prior to 2005, as per the report.

ANSWER: Nishant Rao

Explanation:
Freshdesk, has roped in LinkedIn India’s Managing Director Nishant Rao, as its Chief Operating Officer. Rao is also Chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and serves on the Advisory Board for the National Committee on Skill Development, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

ANSWER: Anup Vikal

Explanation:
E-commerce major Snapdeal on 20th October 2015 announced appointment of Anup Vikal as its chief financial officer. Vikal was earlier the CFO at telecom major Aircel. He will be replacing Aakash Moondhra. In August 2015, Snapdeal raised $ 500 million led by Foxconn and Alibaba and existing investors like SoftBank also took party. Prior to joining Aircel, Vikal was group-CFO & head of strategy and IT at InterGlobe Enterprises. He had earlier worked for Colt Technology for three years and headed finance division at Bharti Airtel for around seven years. He has a bachelor's degree in engineering from NIT Surat and MBA from a South Gujarat university.

ANSWER: 300

Explanation:
This discovery shows life may have commenced after the planet was formed 4.54 billion years ago. Research was carried out by geochemists from University of California, LA. The research indicates that life existed prior to the evolution of the inner solar system that formed the moon's large craters 3.9 billion years ago.

ANSWER: Justin Trudeau

Explanation:
Canada's Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau on 19 October 2015 elected as the Prime Minister of Canada. His Liberal Party won 189 seats, a majority of Parliament’s 338 seats. The party required 170 to gain a majority. The Conservative Party was next with 97 seats. It was followed by New Democratic Party at 28 seats and Bloc Quebecois with 9 seats. With this, the 9 year term Conservative Party PM Stephen Harper ended. Trudeau at 43 years of age is the second youngest PM in Canadian history after Joe Clark.

ANSWER: eCab

Explanation:
Meru Cabs has announced a global partnership with eCab, leading taxi service provider under Taxis G7 to provide high-quality cab services to foreign travellers in India and to Indian travellers going abroad with eCab mobile app. Via this strategic partnership, Meru Cabs and Taxis G7 customers will be able to book cabs through a global network of taxi providers.

ANSWER: Volvo

Explanation:
HCL Technologies will buy Swedish commercial vehicles major Volvo Group's external IT business for USD138 million/INR 895 crore in an all cash deal. Volvo will also outsource IT infrastructure operations to HCL Technologies for non-disclosed contract value for 5 years. A letter of intent has been signed by the two companies to this effect.

ANSWER: Google

Explanation:
Google will acquire a minority stake in Beijing-based artificial intelligence firm Mobvoi as part of a $75 million fund raising round, as per an announcement on 20th October 2015. The latter works on
AI voice-controlled software and develops hardware like smart watches. Google's parent company is now Alphabet. The deal is not Google’s first in China. The size of the deal has not been disclosed.

ANSWER: 8

Explanation:
Employment in 8 sectors including IT/BPO, automobiles, gems and jewelry and textiles increased by INR 5.21 lakh in the previous fiscal. But job creation in these 8 sectors remained slightly stressed in the January-March quarter at 64,0000 over the preceding quarter as per the Labour Bureau report. Within the first three quarters of 2014-2015, many sectors witnessed an increase in employment over the previous quarters. Report also found that overall employment increased by 2.75 lakh during 2013-2014, lesser than INR 5.21 lakh in the previous fiscal. Highest increase in employment was observed in the IT/BPO sector while lowest employment was observed in the leather sector.

ANSWER: Transfer Pricing

Explanation:
GoI amended rules to reduce Transfer Pricing disputes In a positive signal to investors for determination of Arm's Length Price (ALP) with aim to provide clarity in calculating prices in transfer pricing cases and reduce litigations. New regime will be used for computing ALP on or after April 1, 2014, a notification said.