Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Sep 22, 2016

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Scientists at MIT-US have come up with a spectroscopic technique that would help the 2020 Mars Rover to identify sediments that are unaltered and maintain much of their original composition.

• Pristine samples permit scientists to identify signs of life on the red planet
• This new technique is based on an improved version of Raman spectroscopy
• Raman spectroscopy is a common, non-destructive process used by geologists to identify chemical composition of ancient rocks
• This is used to identify if the sample contains carbonaceous matter; presence of the same suggests sample may have signs of life
• With the new improved spectroscopy, scientists can estimate the ratio of hydrogen to carbon atoms in a sample
• Hydrogen can be used to determine if a sample is pristine or not
• In case it has low hydrogen, it may experience more heating altering the organic matter and losing hydrogen in the form of methane
• The Mars 2020 Rover will also be equipped with SHERLOC or Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals
• It will acquire Raman samples from Mars and determine if life existed on this planet
• The 2020 Mars Rover will be tasked to probe the region of the planet holding ancient microbial life
• Samples will contain rock and soil from the Martian surface

ANSWER: Pratyangira

Explanation:
National Gallery of Australia returned artefacts from the Asian art collection to India in a handback ceremony.

• Two pieces a 900 year old stone statue of Goddess Prathyangira and third century rock carvings of Worshippers of Buddha were purchased from criminal art dealer Subhash Kapoor in 2005. While the statue cost USD 328,000, the carvings fetched a price of USD 790,000
• Art Minister Mitch Fifield handed back the objects to India’s arts minister Mahesh Sharma
• In recent decades, NGA purchased USD 11 million worth of antiques from Kapoor including a Shiva Nataraja for USD 5.6 million in 2007
• Reports indicated it was stolen from Tamil Nadu and the statue was handed back
• Independent review found 22 of the 36 Asian art objects acquired between 1960s and 2013 had questionable history

ANSWER: 500^th

Explanation:
India will make its 500^th Test appearance when they challenge New Zealand in a three match test series in Kanpur on 22nd Sept.

• India is set to become the fourth nation after England, Australia and West Indies to play 500 matches in the longest format of the game
• Debuting under CK Nayudu, India made its test debut in 1932
• Its 100th test appearance was in 1967 in a test match with England at Birmingham
• India’s Pakistan tour saw the country’s 200th test match in the 1980s with Sunil Gavaskar captaining the team
• The 300th Test Appearance was led by Sachin Tendulkar in 1996 in Ahmedabad against the Proteas South African players.
• The 400^th test appearance was in Jamaica against West Indies in 2006 with Rahul Dravid at the helm

ANSWER: MS Dhoni

Explanation:
India’s celebrated cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on 21st September 2016 named the captain of Wisden’s all time India Test XI.

• The team included Test skipper Sunil Gavaskar and cricketer Virender Sehwag as openers.
• The middle order comprised Dravid followed by Tendulkar and VVS Laxman
• Dhoni is currently India’s captain for ODI and T20 and also remains the wicket keeper
• Pace legend Kapil Dev was also included in the team along with Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, BS Bedi and Anil Kumble
• The 12th man was former skipper Azharuddin

ANSWER: Harvard Foundation humanitarian award

Explanation:
Nobel Peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar is going to be honoured as the 2016 humanitarian of the year at Harvard Foundation

• She gained international prominence as General Secretary of National League for Democracy in Myanmar in 1990
• Known as one of the world’s most famous political prisoners, she was kept under house arrest for 15 years for participating in protests against a military junta government
• She was supported by her country and appointed role of State Counsellor, equal to PM
• She will receive the Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award during a ceremony.
• The Humanitarian award is presented by Harvard University’s Harvard Foundation to honour those who serve as an inspiration and made a massive change to people’s lives.
• Award is given in the name of the Rev. Professor Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Professor and Minister in Harvard’s Memorial Church, and is authorized by the Dean of Harvard College and the President of Harvard University.

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Rocks formed by grinding together of rocks during earthquakes are rich in trapped hydrogen.

• Scientists are now saying Marsquake may produce enough hydrogen to support life
• Scientists from Yale studied rock formations in Outer Hebrides off Scotland
• Research found enough hydrogen is produced to support the growth of micro-organisms during active fails
• Animals and humans may get their energy from oxygen and sugar but bacteria can be generated through reactions involving hydrogen gas
• Marsquakes could produce enough hydrogen to support populations of microbes for short time periods
• This is just one part of the emerging picture of habitability of the Martian surface
• Best way to find evidence of life on Mars is to examine rocks and minerals formed underground along faults and fractures brought to the surface by erosion, scientists say
• NASA will measure Marsquakes in its latest science initiative

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Indian Space Research Organisation has indicated it will launch SCATSAT-1 for ocean and weather related studied along with 7 co-passenger satellites into polar Sun Synchronous Orbit on September 26.

• PSLV on its 37th Flight will launch the satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• The SCATSAT-1 will be placed into a 720 km Polar SSO and 2 University as well as 5 froreign satellites will be placed in the 670 km polar orbit
• This marks the first mission of PSLV launching its payloads into 2 different orbits
• PSLV-C35 will be launched marking the 15th flight of PSLV in XL configuration
• XL configuration is with the use of solid strap-on motors

ANSWER: Lok Kalyan Marg

Explanation:
Race Course Road in Delhi where the PM’s residence is located will now be known as Lok Kalyan Marg.

• A decision to this effect was taken at NDMC meet presided by CM Arvind Kejriwal
• The NDMC also decided to rename the Gurudwara Rakabganj round about as Guru Gobind Singh Chowk following representations from Sikh organisations
• NMDC member Meenakshi Lekhi suggested renaming Race Course Road as Ekatma Marg based on the philosophy of Deendayal Upadhyay. This was not accepted
• Instead, the unanimous decision was to change the road’s name to Lok Kalyan Mark.
• In 2015, Aurangzeb road was renamed APK Abdul Kalam Road

ANSWER: 10

Explanation:
India slipped by 10 ranks to 112th in a list of 159 countries and territories.

• It fared badly in all categories including legal system and regulation according to the Economic Freedom of the World; 2016 Annual Report
• THe report say China, Bangladesh and Pakistan ranking back at 113, 121 and 133
• Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka fared better
• India fared badly in legal system and property rights (86) sound money policies (130) freedom for global trade (144) and regulation(132)
• Except for size of government where it fared better (8) a negative performance was evident across the index
• Report is based on 2014 data and measures economic freedom by analysing policies and institutions of the countries and territories studied
• The report uses 42 distinct variables, from for example the World Bank, to measure this. Some examples: tax rates, degree of juridical independence, inflation rates, costs of importing, and regulated prices.
• Each of the 5 areas above is given equal weight in the final score.
  
  The cornerstones of economic freedom are:
  
  
• Personal choice rather than collective choice;
• Voluntary exchange coordinated by markets rather than allocation via the political process;
• Freedom to enter and compete in markets; and
• Protection of persons and their property from aggression by others
  
  In practice, the index measures:
  
  
• Size of Government;
• Expenditures, Taxes, and Enterprises;
• Legal Structure and Security of Property Rights;
• Access to Sound Money;
• Freedom to Trade Internationally; and
• Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business.

ANSWER: 700

Explanation:
IITIS is a platform for domestic and foreign investors to meet project owners from Indian states and private sectors.

• the summit was held on 22nd Sept 2016
• It includes State Presentations encompassing all investible Properties, Session on Why Invest in India, MSME in tourism sector, Panel discussions on core infrastructure for tourism, Session on Start-ups, digital India, Investing into Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD, MICE and Niche Tourism Products, B2B meetings and signing of MoUs.
• It has dedicated space for Seminars, Business to Business meetings and Roundtables around focus themes.
  
  Over 1800 delegates were from:
  
  
• Private sector Project Owners;
• Banks and Financial Institutions;
• Business Developers;
• Cruise Liners;
• Domestic Investors;
• Entertainment Companies; I
• Indian States with Ready Investible Projects
• Territory Administrations;
• Global Investors;
• Helicopter Services;
• Hoteliers;
• Infrastructure Developers;
• International Associations;
• Restaurateur;
• Spa and Yaga Centres;
• Tour and Travel Operators;
• Urban Developer and Venture Capitalists
• The Confederation of Indian Industry and Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd are principal partners of this summit. Four Knowledge Partners i.e. Ernst & Young, KPMG, Yes Bank and Invest India will assist States and UTs for identifying projects, Suggesting Tourism Policy updates and presenting these to the potential investors during the summit.
  
  There will be six Plenary Sessions on 22nd and 23rd September, 2016
  
  
• Plenary Session –1 - Why Invest in Incredible India
• Plenary Session –2 - Core Infrastructure for Tourism
• Plenary Session –3 - Digital India & Start UP India
• Plenary Session –4- Open House with State Tourism Ministers
• Plenary Session –5 - Open-house with CEOs
• Plenary Session– 6 -Medical Tourism

ANSWER: North Eastern Council

Explanation:
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh released the first-ever Coffee Table Book on Northeast published by the North Eastern Council (NEC) on 22nd Sept

• The hard-cover Coffee Table book, consisting of 180 pages, is mainly a pictorial and visual depiction of the various facets of Northeast with messages from President of India, Prime Minister and DoNER Minister in his capacity as Chairman NEC as well as from the Governors and Chief Ministers of all the eight States of North-Eastern Region
• To give credence to India’s “Act East Policy” more effective and fruitful, India will also have to strengthen and reinforce our resources proximal to the eastern borders.
• In this regard, he referred to the currently under construction rail-link to Bangladesh from Tripura, which is being funded by the Ministry of DoNER on the Indian side from Agartala to Akhaura.
• The Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh accomplished by the present Government is also something which could not be achieved in the last 45 years
• Two new flights will be introduced between Guwahati and Aizawl, and Guwahati and Silchar. This, he said, will be in addition to the first-ever flight from New Delhi to Dimapur in Nagaland started from April 1, 2015 and later, the first-ever direct flight to Aizawl, also started by the present government.
• While Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya emerged on the Rail map of India for the first time, most of the North-Eastern States will get a broad-gauge rail track in the next few years,
• Sikkim has achieved the distinction of becoming India’s first “Organic State” and also the first state with 100 percent sanitation coverage.
• Two cities of Northeast namely Kohima in Nagaland and Namchi in Sikkim have found a place in the Smart Cities List.

ANSWER: Allo

Explanation:
Google on 21^st Sept 2016 emerged in the mobile messaging market with new AI powered messaging app called Allo.

• The app messages out popular rivals like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
• App’s reliance on predictive software created a warning that it could open up user data to law enforcement.
• App includes Google Assistant, an AI program making live suggestions during chat mode
• Google held that users can opt for a safer incognito mode if they wanted
• App adjusts to user’s style as an emoji or written response and has tools for customising chat messages including changing emoji size and sticker choice.
• The Google Assistant is basically a much smarter, more chatty version of Google Now
• Google Assistant can even help settle arguments in group chats and add to your conversation.
• Alongside the end-to-end-encrypted Incognito Mode, the Allo team talked about bold new message retention practices, storing messages only transiently rather than indefinitely.
• But with the release of the app, Google is backing off on some of those features
• The version of Allo will now store all non-incognito messages by default
• This marks a clear change from Google’s earlier statements that the app would only store messages transiently and in non-identifiable form.
• The records will now persist until the user actively deletes them, giving Google default access to a full history of conversations in the app.
• Users can also avoid the logging by using Allo’s Incognito Mode, which is still fully end-to-end encrypted and unchanged from the initial announcement.
• Like Hangouts and Gmail, Allo messages will still be encrypted between the device and Google servers, and stored on servers using encryption that leaves the messages accessible to Google’s algorithms.
• According to Google, the change was made to improve Allo's smart reply feature, which generates suggested responses to a given conversation.
• Like most machine learning systems, the smart replies work better with more data.
• The decision will also have significant consequences for law enforcement access to Allo messages. By default, Allo messages will now be accessible to lawful requests, similar to message data in Gmail and Hangouts and locational data collected by Android
• Edward Snowden has warned people to stay away from Allo to prevent data from being tampered
• Google maintains that “we believe a warrant is required by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution" for access to private information in a Google account
• The messages might not be there if the user had previously deleted them, or if the conversations took place in Incognito Mode - but in most cases, they will be.
• That leaves Google with much less danger of the kind of legal showdown faced by Apple in the famous San Bernardino case.