Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 27, 2017

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Harvard scientists have developed a next-generation hybrid version of RoboBee that can fly, dive into water, swim, propel itself back out of water, and land safely.

The RoboBee is 1,000 times lighter than any previous aerial-to-aquatic robot, and could be used for numerous applications, from search-and-rescue operations to environmental monitoring and biological studies, researchers said.

This is the first micro-robot capable of repeatedly moving in and through complex environments.

ANSWER: Rainfall rates

Explanation:
Scientists have developed a new tool for objectively defining the onset and demise of the Indian Summer Monsoon - a colossal weather system that affects millions of people annually.

The researchers from Florida State University in the US developed a method that uses rainfall rates to mark the span of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) at any given location throughout the affected region.

For generations, scientists have struggled to produce a model for reliably defining the duration of the monsoon. The researchers said that no existing system has allowed researchers to reliably define the parameters of the season at this fine a scale.

Current weather forecasting and monitoring protocols focus attention on monsoon onset at one location-specifically the state of Kerala in the southwest corner of the country-and extrapolate for the rest of the region.

The lack of a clear, granular and objective benchmark for ISM onset and demise for all areas of the country has been a longtime source of consternation for people, researchers said.

In some parts of the country, the torrents of rain that characterise monsoon season account for more than 90 per cent of the total annual precipitation, they said.

Researchers said that many rhythms of Indian political and agricultural life can be destabilised by dubious or false claims of monsoon onset.

The new system, which ties the onset of the monsoon to location-specific rainfall thresholds works well.

Up until now, regional meteorological departments have relied on their own ad hoc criteria for determining ISM onset, which can often lead to contradicting claims.

A more inclusive method will allow officials and researchers throughout the country to define the monsoon season using a standardised system that, through rigorous testing, has been shown to capture ISM evolution comprehensively.

The system has been tested for 105 years of available data, and this criterion has not failed once for any location over India.

ANSWER: JNU

Explanation:
The Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the Special Centre for Disaster Research at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

This marks a new beginning in DRM in line with the 10-point agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) given by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) last year.

India is a disaster-prone country and disasters will only grow in intensity and frequency.

DRM education should be integrated into the educational institutions' curriculum to give a fillip to the culture of disaster preparedness.

On the occasion, Shri Rijiju also released the book 'Disaster Law, Emerging Thresholds' by Prof. Amita Singh, first Chairperson of the new Centre.

He also launched the website of the Special Centre for Disaster Research.

The Launch programme was a part of two-day (26^th and 27^th October) Seminar being organised by JNU on 'Disasters and Community Resilience in the Northeastern States'.

The focus of the new Centre for the first year will be the northeastern states.

ANSWER: My Vision-Corruption Free India

Explanation:
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has decided that this year the Vigilance Awareness Week would be observed from 30^th October to 4^th November, 2017.

The theme of the week would be "My Vision-Corruption Free India" .

The Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will be the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Function to be held on 30^th October 2017.

The observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week would commence with the Integrity Pledge by public servants in the Ministries/Departments/Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)/Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and all other Organisations.

Aim of Vigilance Awareness Week is to educate the public at large about the corruption related practices and also educating them how to report about it.

To accord recognition to the reforms and good work done by organization in the field of punitive, preventive and participative vigilance, the Vigilance Excellence Awards have been instituted in two categories from this year onwards.

Commission is developing an Integrity Index based on bench marking of internal processes and controls within an organization as well as management of relationships and expectations of external stake holders.

Integrity Index will be developed for 25 organisations including Government organisations and PSUs. This Integrity Index will be developed with technical support form IIM, Ahmedabad,.

CVC is developing an e-learning module for the benefit of vigilance officers.

The Commission as part of a multi-pronged strategy to tackle corruption has been stressing on punitive, preventive and participative vigilance measures.

Activities During Vigilance Awareness Week

• Organisations have been advised to conduct activities relevant to the theme both within their organization, and outreach activities for public/citizens.
• Outreach activities for public/citizens include the display of hoardings, banners, posters and distribution of handouts etc. at prominent locations/places in offices/field units and also at places with public interface, organization of grievance redressal camps for citizens/customers by organisations having customer oriented services/activities and the taking of the online "Integrity Pledge" developed by the Commission.
• Seminars, discussions and other outreach events have been planned involving the private sector, professional associations, trade unions and associations for wide participation of all sections of civil society.
• "Awareness Gram Sabhas" are being organized for dissemination of awareness in Gram Panchayats (in rural and semi-urban areas) to sensitise citizens on the ill-effects of corruption. Last year, 70,000 such Gram Sabhas were organized during the Vigilance Awareness Week.
• Laying stress for creation of awareness on the ill-effects of corruption amongst school and college students, special efforts are being made by each field unit/branch of every CPSE/ to reach out to students in schools and colleges.
• A new feature is the establishment of 'Integrity Clubs' in schools and colleges as children are the future assets of the country and it is important to cultivate moral values in them.

ANSWER: Maha Vajiralongkorn

Explanation:
With solemn faces and outright tears, black-clad Thais said farewell to their king on Bangkok's streets and at viewing areas around the nation, capping a year of mourning with funeral ceremonies steeped in centuries of tradition.

Three processions involving the royal family, thousands of troops, a golden palanquin, a chariot and a royal gun carriage carried a ceremonial urn representing King Bhumibol Adulyadej's remains from the Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall to the newly built crematorium.

King Bhumibol's death at age 88 on October 13, 2016, after a reign of seven decades sparked a national outpouring of grief.

Millions of Thais visited the throne hall at Bangkok's Grand Palace to pay respects.

The funeral is by design an intensely somber event, but also rich in history and cultural and spiritual tradition.

Thais have braved tropical heat and torrential monsoon rains to secure street-side vantage points to witness the funeral.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn: Know More

• Reign: 13 October 2016 – present
• Coronation: November 2017
• Predecessor: Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
• Heir presumptive: Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
• Regent: Prem Tinsulanonda (13 October 2016 – 1 December 2016)

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
India is set to become the third largest aviation market the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a report on Tuesday.

IATA, which represents about 85% of the global airline traffic, projects India to overtake the UK to become the third largest air passenger market by 2025.

China will be the top market, followed by the US.

In a similar report last year, IATA had projected India to overtake the UK by 2026.

The biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region.

The region will be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next two decades.

The point at which China will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market (defined as traffic to, from and within the country) has also moved two years closer since last year's forecast.

By 2036, India will have about 478 million airline passenger traffic, which will be more than that of Japan (just under 225 million) and Germany (just over 200 million) combined.

India's current passenger traffic is about 141 million.

The most critical number will, however, be the doubling of overall passenger traffic globally from 4 billion to nearly 7.8 billion passengers in 2036 on a 3.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

All indicators lead to growing demand for global connectivity. The world needs to prepare for a doubling of passengers in the next 20 years.

Indian airlines have over 800 planes on order and in the next five years alone are set to add 350-400 aircraft. All Indian airlines put together have a fleet of around 500 aircraft currently.

ANSWER: 10

Explanation:
India is likely to overtake Japan and Germany to become the third largest economy in the next 10 years, HSBC Holdings Plc said in a September report.

According to HSBC's estimates, India will be a $7 trillion economy in 2028.

This is compared to less than $6 trillion and $5 trillion for Germany and Japan, respectively.

Presently, India's gross domestic product (GDP) is around $2.3 trillion (fiscal 2016-17).

HSBC: Know More

• HSBC Holdings plc is a British multinational banking and financial services holding company, tracing its origin to a hong in Hong Kong.
• It is the world's seventh largest bank by total assets and the largest in Europe with total assets of US$2.374 trillion (as of December 2016).
• It was established in its present form in London in 1991 by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to act as a new group holding company.
• The HSBC name is derived from the initials of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
• The company was first formally incorporated in 1866.
• The company continues to see both the United Kingdom and Hong Kong as its "home markets".

ANSWER: Ahimsa Festival

Explanation:
Mumbai is set to host the second Ahimsa festival that seeks to spread a cruelty free lifestyle.

Participating it the 18 day festival are Dr Will Tuttle, author of the 'World Peace Diet' and Kuntal Joisher, India's very own vegan mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest, among many others.

From interacting with doctors and health consultants on reversing disease by choosing whole foods and plant based diets to cooking without the use of animal ingredients, the festival has about 100 odd events lined up for anyone to participate in.

The organisers are Ahimsa Parmo Dharma Group.

The event will also screen 'What The Health', 'Okja', 'Cowspiracy' and 'Forks over Knives', among other films.

The aim is to spread the word on compassionate living that "involves not just caring for our own health but also that of our fellow animal beings and to go beyond that to care for our planet as well", the note said.

The event is on from October 26^th to November 12^th.

ANSWER: Linen

Explanation:
In what could be a landmark innovation, scientists at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (IGKV) have developed yarn of linen cloth from flax plant - a first in India.

So far, Indian linen fabric manufacturers have had to import yarn due to its unavailability in India.

Aiming to increase the yield of linseed, which is another name for flax seed, IGKV scientists carried research and used the stem of linseed plant to develop the linen yarn.

The development of this yarn under the research project is expected to boost the handloom.

The university will continue to pitch in the research to farmers so that it not only fetches them additional income but bring about reformative changes in the textile industry.

Linseed Innovation: Know More

• In Chhattisgarh, linseed is cultivated in the tribal-dominated districts of Kanker, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha and Mungali across an area of 3,000 hectare.
• Apart from the flax seeds fetching INR 6,000 per quintal, the additional use of the stem for linen production would help farmers as well.
• The extracted yarn can also be used to make paper, decorative and handicraft items, which would boost Chhattisgarh's handloom and handicraft industry.

ANSWER: Gulf War Illness

Explanation:
Scientific research published last month in the journal PLOS One has indicated that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of war veterans might be damaged by their experience.

The study, which focused on mtDNA, included 21 veterans with Gulf War illness (GWI) and seven controls, website Science Daily reported.

Gulf War Illness (GWI) refers to a condition that for long remained medically unexplained and afflicted veterans of the Gulf War.

This includes chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion and problems of memory or breathing and lack of sleep.

The mtDNA damage is a natural part of ageing and exposure to air pollution.

However, it was 20 per cent higher in the veteran group, compared with a control group that included three veterans without GWI and four non-veterans.

Greater mtDNA damage is consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction, which may contribute to symptoms of GWI, as well as persistence of this illness over time, and mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the pathobiology of GWI.

Researchers used a new technique that allowed them to evaluate the quality of mitochondrial DNA directly from total DNA without having to isolate the mitochondria.

This approach was simpler and did not require analysis through a biopsy of a piece of tissue, such as skeletal muscle.

Mitochondria

• Mitochondria are organs that act as spark plugs within cells.
• They are like a digestive system that takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and creates energy-rich molecules for the cell. They are very sensitive to potential damage caused by toxins.
• People with mitochondrial dysfunction show symptoms involving multiple organ systems, primarily nerves and muscles.