Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 24, 2016

ANSWER: Alexandra Land

Explanation:
A secret Nazi military base in the Arctic has been discovered by Russian scientists- this site is located on the island of Alexandra Land 1000 km from North Pole 0150 which was constructed in 1942 a year after Adolf Hitler invaded Russia

• It was codenamed Schatzgraber or Treasure Hunter by the Germans.
• It was used as a tactical weather station
• The base was abandoned when scientists stationed there were facing food poisoning and had to be rescued by German U-boat
• It was rediscovered 72 years later and more than 500 objects have been found including well preserved documents.
• The ruins of bunkers, rusted bullets and other lyrics dating from WW2 have been discovered at the site, many in good condition preserved by cold weather
• The island was vital in the Second World War as a meteorological report it produced were essential for planning the movement of troops, ships and submarines
• The name given to the base has led to speculation it may have been a secret base
• Alexandra Land was a disputed territory for many years and is now part of the Russian Federation

ANSWER: 170 mph

Explanation:
The mystery of the Bermuda Triangle finally appears to have been solved

• Strange clouds forming above the Bermuda Triangle explain why dozens of ships and planes have vanished in the notorious path of sea.
• Clouds are linked to 170 mph air bombs capable of bringing down planes and ships
• The mystery can be solved after meteorologists discovered bizarre hexagonal shaped clouds between 20-50 miles wide forming over a patch of water.
• These types of hexagonal shapes in the ocean are in the essence air bombs– they are formed by microbursts and are blasts of air.
• The blasts of air are so powerful that they can reach 170 mph in a hurricane like force capable of sinking ships and downing planes.
• The notorious Bermuda Triangle located between Puerto Rico, Miami and Bermuda has been linked with unexplained disappearances of aircrafts and ships in water

ANSWER: Hands

Explanation:
An Indian American researcher and his team have created life-size 3D hand models complete with fingerprints, using a high resolution 3D printer that can create the same ridges and valleys as a real finger

• Much like any optical device, fingerprint and hand scanners need to be calibrated, but currently there is no standard model for doing so
• This marks the first time a whole hand 3D target has been created to calibrate fingerprint scanners, according to professor Anil Jain from MSU
• The team was studying how to test and calibrate finger print scanners used across the globe at police departments, airport immigration counters, banks and amusement parks
• For testing the scanners, life size 3D hand models were created along with 5 fingerprints
• The study aimed to design and develop standard models and procedures for consistent and reliable evaluation of fingerprint readers funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

ANSWER: Iraq

Explanation:
Iraq parliament on 22^nd Oct voted to ban the sale, import and production of alcohol in a surprise move to anger minorities, but please state religious parties

• Those who proposed the ban argued that it was justified by the Constitution which prohibits any law contradicting Islam
• Many opponents argue that it violates the same constitution which protects the rights of minorities
• Article 14 of the law bans the import, production and sale of all kinds of alcohol
• Every violation of this law incurs a fine of 10 million to 25 million dinars [roughly $8,000 to $20,000]
• Drug abuse has been on a rise since Basra emerged as a trafficking centre

ANSWER: Kuki National Organisation, United People’s Front

Explanation:
The Union Government held tripartite talks with Kuki National Organisation and United People’s Front of Manipur to find an amicable solution to their longstanding demand

• Second round of tripartite talks were held on 19th Oct 2016 in New Delhi
• During the dialogue, the KNO and UPF indicated demands in the presence of senior reps of the Manipur government
• The first meeting was held in June 2016
• Talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the next round of dialogues were to be held in consultation with the Manipur government, KNO and UPF
• To find the permanent solution to the demand for homeland and political future, the Home Ministry in June 2016 had decided to hold tripartite talks with government of Manipur, KNO and UPF of Manipur
• KNO and its armed wing, Kuki National Army was formed in 1988.
• Its first batch of the cadres, under the command of Thangkholun Haokip was trained by the Kachin Independent Army in Myanmar
• Its objectives include bringing together the Kuki inhabited areas separated by an artificial boundary created in 1935 especially in the Kabaw valley of Myanmar and the Kuki inhabited areas in the hill districts of Manipur in the admin unit called Zalengam/ Land of Freedom
• If such an integration fails to materialise, the organisation aims at the creation of two Kuki states- One in Burma named Easter Zalengam and the other within India the Western Zalengham
• UPF is considered one of two umbrella bodies of the Kuki militant groups and was raised by the outfit during a recently held political dialogue with central reps at New Delhi
• Front demands a separate and autonomous Hill State within the territory of Manipur by extending provision Article 244 A of the Constitution
• Both the KNO and UPF in August 2008 signed a Suspension of Operation pact with the Union and Manipur governments
• Following this, the Manipur government set up 5 designated camps in Churachandpur, Chandel and Senapati districts to help lodge the cadres of ceasefire militant groups

ANSWER: Ude Desh Ke Aam Naagrik

Explanation:
Centre on 21st Oct 2016 launched the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN or Ude Desh Ke Aam Naagrik which seeks to get people to fly in smaller towns

• The scheme is expected to launch by January 2017
• The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to unserved and underserved airports pf the country through the revival of airstrips and airports
• Scheme will be in operation for around 10 years
• This is a unique based market mechanism to build regional connectivity under which airlines will bid for seat subsidies
• Scheme promises affordability, connectivity, growth and development
• The scheme aims to increase ticketing volume from 80-300 million by 2022
• Under the scheme, airlines will have complete freedom to enter into code sharing with larger aviation airlines for connectivity and they will be exempted from various airport charges
• Airlines will get exclusive rights for three years to fly on a particular region route
• Airlines will get exclusive rights for three years to fly on a certain regional route
• Airfares will be capped at INR 2500 for an hour long flight on regional flights
• A financial stimulus will be given in the form of concessions from Central and State governments and airport operators
• Viability gap funding to the interested airlines to kick off operations from such airports so passenger fares are kept affordable
• Under UDAN interested airline and helicopter operators can start operations on unconnected rules by submitting proposals to Implementing Agency
• Selected airline operator will have a minimum of 9 and maximum of 40 UDAN seats
• Airport operators will not impose Land and Parking charges and Terminal Navigation Landing Charges in addition to discounts on Route Navigation Facility Charges
• A regional connectivity scheme is also in place

ANSWER: Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

Explanation:
The book entitled The Adivasi Will Not Dance penned by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar was in news in the second week of October 2016

• The book was shortlisted for the Hindu prize 2016
• Characters of the book are set in Jharkhand
• The book is a collection of stories offering a glimpse into the lives of protagonists facing challenging circumstances
• A medical officer with the Government of Jharkhand, he is also author of novel The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baksey was shortlisted for the Hindu prize 2014 and the Crossword Book Award
• He received the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in June 2015