Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Sep 03, 2016

ANSWER: MOIL

Explanation:
Mukund Chaudhari has taken over as Chairman and Managing Director of MOIL, a mini-ratna company.

• MOIL is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel and is the largest producer of manganese ore in the nation.
• MOIL is under administrative control of the Ministry of Steel
• It is the largest producer of manganese ore in the country
• Before taking over as CMD, Chaudhari held the post of Director (Finance)MOIL
• He is a CA by profession
• He has experience of over two and a half decades in private and public sector undertakings.
• He had also worked in the private sector
• Following MOIL in 1997, various positions were held in the company
• He was inducted in the Board of Directors of MOIL in August 2012 as Director Finance and later elevated to the position of CMD from September 1
• He has varied experience in corporate financial management and he is instrumental for introduction of ERP system in MOIL

ANSWER: China

Explanation:
This gives a big boost to efforts to bring the accord into effect by the close of the year.

• United States was also expected to announce it was formally joining the Paris Agreement in Advance of the G-20 summit.
• Tensions rose between Beijing and Washington over cyberhacking, South China sea and planned deployment of the US anti missile system in China’s neighbour, South Korea.
• But combating climate change is one area where both large economies agree
• Together, the US and China produce 38 percent of the man made CO₂ emissions of the world
• To build momentum for the deal to counter this, a 2030 deadline was set for emissions to stop rising
• China ratified this Paris Agreement, negotiated by representatives of 195 nations in Paris in 2015
• Agreement goes into force when joined by close to 55 nations that produce 55 percent of global emissions
• Before China’s announcement, 23 countries had ratified or otherwise joined the agreement representing just 1 percent of global emissions according to the World Resources Institute.
• Agreement’s long term goal is to keep global warming below 2 degree C (3.6 degree F)
• Temperatures have risen by 1 degree C (1.8 degrees F) since the industrial revolution. Aspirational goal of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees or 2.7 degrees F has not even been reached.
• Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to set national targets for reducing GHG emissions
• First cycle begins in 2020- only developed countries are expected to lower emissions in absolute terms
• Developing nations are encouraged to do so as their capabilities evolve over time

ANSWER: Vietnam

Explanation:
India has extended the money for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the SE Asian nation, as the two countries elevated their ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to respond to emerging regional challenges.

• Two sides recognised the need to cooperate in response to emerging regional challenges.
• Decision to upgrade the Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of future cooperation
• It will provide new direction, momentum and substance to bilateral cooperation
• The PM of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc also held talks with PM Modi.
• Vietnam earlier hd Strategic Partnership with only Russia and China.
• Talks between the Indian PM on his maiden visit to the nation and its PM covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
• The two countries signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas including IT, space, DTAA and white shipping information sharing.
• An agreement on constriction of offshore patrol boats was also signed between the two nations
• USD 5 million has also been granted for the establishment of a Software Park in Telecommunications University in Nha Trang
• Growing economic opportunities in this region will now be tapped to achieve trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020.

ANSWER: Assam

Explanation:
The Guinness World Records on September 1, 2016 declared the Majuli river island in Assam as the largest in the world.

• The island is located in the Brahmaputra
• As per the Guinness World Record, the island lost one third of its area in the past 30 to 40 years on account of frequent flooding of the river.
• Majuli has a total area of 1250 square kilometres at the beginning of the 20th century
• It has lost significantly to erosion
• It has an area of only 352 square kilometres in 2014
• Island is formed by River Brahmaputra in the south and Kherkutia Muti, a branch of the Brahmaputra joined by Subansiri River in the north
• Island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat
• It was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries mainly the Lohit
• It was also the abode of Assamese neo Vaisnavite culture

ANSWER: Egypt

Explanation:
India and Egypt on 2nd September 2016 signed an agreement on maritime transport. Agreement will help the two nations to step on cooperation on the seas and not just maritime commerce.

• Transit of naval vessels will also form part of the commerce
• Agreement was signed after delegation level talks between PM Narendra Modi and visiting President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
• The Egyptian president is on a three day visit at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee
• The Union Cabinet earlier approved the signing of an agreement between India and Egypt on Maritime Transport
• It has been decided that an agreement will be signed on mutually convenient date and venue
• Proposal was approved with a view to strengthening cooperation and rendering sustained mutual assistance and advice on merchant shipping and related maritime matters.
• The two leaders also agreed that a special and enlarged India by the Nile Festival will be held in 2017 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of India’s independence
• They also called for a proposal to have the inaugural Egypt by the Ganga Festival in 2017

ANSWER: Mahatma Gandhi- World Peace

Explanation:
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has won the people’s choice prize for his sand sculpture entitled “Mahatma Gandhi- World Peace” at the ninth Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship 2016. Sudarsan has won the gold medal for the 15 foot high sculpture which was created at the championship held in April 2016.

• Sand art depicted the message of non violence and peace
• In the People’s Choice category, the sand sculpture got 60,000 votes of a total of 80,000 votes
• 20 sand artists from all over the country participated in the championship.
• Organiser Pavel Minilkov congratulated Sudarsan for winning the people’s choice prize.
• Pattnaik has also been honoured with a Padmashri, India’s 4th highest civilian award
• He runs a sand art school in Puri beach in Odisha
• In 2015, the world’s largest Santa Claus sand sculpture was created by Pattnaik.
• It was 45 feet high using 100 tonnes of sand breaking earlier records.
• Sculpture erected in Puri beach was Pattnaik’s 9th record
• He has also secured a place in the Limca Book of Records by carving 100 sand chariots at Puri beach.

ANSWER: Uzbekistan

Explanation:
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Islam Karimov died. India’s president Shri Pranab Mukherjee condoled the passing away of the Uzbek President.

• H.E. Mr. Nigmatilla Yuldashev is the Acting President and Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan
• Karimov was Uzbekistan’s first and only president.
• He died at the age of 78- his death was announced by daughter Lola Karimova- Tilyaeva on her official Instagram account.