Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Sep 28, 2017

ANSWER: Sustainable Tourism: A Tool For Development

Explanation:
In 2017, the celebration of this World Day focuses on how sustainable tourism can contribute to development and it is held in Doha (Qatar).

Sustainable tourism is defined as tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.

It should thus make optimal use of environmental resources, respect host communities and ensure viable, long-term economic operations so that benefits are equitably distributed among all stakeholders.

It is a positive instrument towards the eradication of poverty, the protection of the environment and the improvement of quality of life, especially in developing countries.

Well-designed and well-managed tourism can make a significant contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental -, has close linkages to other sectors and can create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities.

It is therefore essential for all actors, including companies operating in the sector, to be aware of opportunities and responsibilities alike, and to act accordingly so that their actions leave a positive mark on the society in which they operate and ensure the sustainability of the destination and their businesses.

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

Recognizing the importance of international tourism in fostering better understanding among peoples everywhere, in leading to a greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations and in bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures, hereby contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

This year provides a unique opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and move forward to ensure the positive impact of well-managed tourism on inclusive and equitable growth, sustainable development and peace.

About World Tourism Day

• World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on 27 September. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.
• The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to highlight the contribution the tourism industry can make in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, invites all interested parties to take part on 27 September each year in the special celebrations taking place in their respective country or holiday destination.
• World Tourism Day is celebrated with appropriate events on themes selected by the UNWTO General Assembly, on the recommendation of the UNWTO Executive Council.
• The UNWTO Secretary-General issues a message each year to mark the occasion and chairs the official celebrations.
• It was at its third session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979), that the UNWTO General Assembly decided to institute World Tourism Day, commencing in the year 1980.
• This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970.
• The timing of World Tourism Day is particularly appropriate in that it comes at the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere.

ANSWER: Deendayal Upadhyay

Explanation:
The Kandla Port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, has been rechristened as Deendayal Port from 25th Sept 2017 in the name of Hindutva icon pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.

Kandla Port Trust is renamed as Deendayal Port Trust with effect from 25 September 2017.

The central government in exercise of powers conferred on it under Indian Ports Act, 1908 made the amendment to replace “Kandla” with “Deendayal”, as per a notification issued by the ministry of shipping.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier this year, while laying foundation stone for INR 933 crore projects at Kandla Port had suggested that it be named after pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who stood for the uplift of all sections of the society.

Kandla Port: Know More

• The port’s journey began in 1931 with construction of a jetty by Maharao Khengarji.
• Gradually this port in Gujarat became the number one port in India and on 31March 2016 it created history by handling 100 million tonnes cargo in a year - the first Major Port to achieve the milestone.
• Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of major ports on west coast.
• It is the largest port of India by volume of cargo handled.

ANSWER: 40

Explanation:
India remains the most competitive country in South Asia, appearing at No. 40 in the global competitiveness ranking of 137 countries by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The ranking is one lower than last year’s, but the two rankings are not comparable because of a change in the methodology, WEF said.

WEF said India’s score is its highest ever according to the current methodology, which ranked Switzerland as the world’s most competitive economy.

India’s competitiveness has improved, the report said. “Among the emerging markets seen as having great potential in the early 2000s, Brazil and Turkey have now lost much of the ground they gained before 2013, but China, India and Indonesia continue to improve.”

The findings come at a time when India is looking to scale 40 spots to reach the 90th rank in 2017-18 in the World Bank’s ease of doing business survey this year.

The report, however, cautioned against risks from uncertain global economic conditions.

Ten years on from the global financial crisis, the prospects for a sustained economic recovery remain at risk due to a widespread failure on the part of leaders and policymakers to put in place reforms necessary to underpin competitiveness.

The report remained upbeat about India, which is planning massive funding to bankroll its new infrastructure programme.

India (40th) stabilizes this year after its big leap forward of the previous two years. The score improves across most pillars of competitiveness, particularly infrastructure (66th, up by two), higher education and training (75th, up by six), and technological readiness (107th, up by three), reflecting recent public investments in these areas.

The WEF lauded India’s efforts in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.

Performance also improves in ICT indicators, particularly Internet bandwidth per user, mobile phone and broadband subscriptions, and Internet access in schools.

Internet Economy in India

• This in turn can provide a boost for the internet economy.
• While the total number of mobile internet users is expected to grow to almost 650 million by 2020, the number of users with high-speed internet access is expected to be around 550 million, according to The Boston Consulting Group.
  Data consumption is set to expand to around 7-10GB per month per user by 2020 from the current 700MB.
• However, concerns remain on doing business.
• The private sector still considers corruption to be the most problematic factor for doing business in India

ANSWER: Modernisation of Police Force

Explanation:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for implementation of umbrella scheme of “Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)” for years 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The financial outlay for the scheme over the three year’s period is INR 25,060 crore, out of which the Central Government share will be INR 18,636 crore and the States’ share will be INR 6,424 crore.

Salient Features:

• Special provision has been made under the Scheme for internal security, law and order, women security, availability of modern weapons, mobility of police forces, logistics support, hiring of helicopters, upgradation of police wireless, National Satellite Network, CCTNS project, e-prison project etc.
• Under the umbrella scheme, central budget outlay of INR.10,132 crore has been earmarked for internal security related expenditure for Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and left wing extremism affected States.
• Scheme of Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 35 worst LWE affected districts has been introduced with an outlay of INR 3,000 crore to tackle the issue of underdevelopment in these district.
• An outlay of INR 100 crore has been earmarked in the North Eastern States for police infrastructure upgradation, training institutes, investigation facilities etc.
• Implementation of this scheme would bolster the Government's ability to address challenges faced in different theatres such as areas affected by LWE, Jammu and Kashmir and North East effectively and undertake development interventions which will catalyse in improving the quality of life in these areas and help combat these challenges effectively at the same time.
• New initiatives are being introduced to provide assistance to States for upgradation of police infrastructure, forensic science laboratories, institutions and the equipment available with them to plug critical gaps in the criminal justice system.
• Police Stations will be integrated to set up a national data base of crime and criminals’ records. It will be linked with other pillars of criminal justice system such as ‘prisons, forensic science laboratories and prosecution offices.
• The umbrella scheme also provides for setting up of a State-of Art forensic science laboratory in Amravati, Andhra Pradesh and upgradation of Sardar Patel Global Centre for Security, Counter Terrorism and Anti Insurgency in Jaipur and Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar.
• It is expected that the umbrella scheme, “Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)” will go a long way to boost the capability and efficiency of Central and State Police Forces by modernizing them.

ANSWER: Jan Sampark

Explanation:
The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of the Ministry of Women & Child Development has started a monthly “Jan Sampark” program to enable the public to have interaction with its officials and staff for seeking information related to Adoption as well as flagging their concerns.

The first of its kind programme was held in New Delhi on 26th Sept 2017.

Nearly 150 Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs), Adoptive Parents and representatives of agencies participated in the session, which lasted for more than four hours.

Details pertaining to Immediate Placement and Special Needs Adoption Module of Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) as well as the newly launched Grievance/Query portal were shared with all the stakeholders.

Also many of the PAPs were counselled and motivated to go for adopting older children.

The event will now be a regular feature every month apart from the quarterly Facebook live chat by CEO CARA.

ANSWER: NeSL

Explanation:
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) registered National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) as an Information Utility (IU) under the IBBI (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017.

This registration is valid for five years from the date of registration.

IU stores financial information that helps to establish defaults as well as verify claims expeditiously and thereby facilitates completion of transactions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 in a time bound manner.

It constitutes a key pillar of the insolvency and bankruptcy ecosystem, the other three being the Adjudicating Authority (National Company Law Tribunal and Debt Recovery Tribunal), the IBBI and Insolvency Professionals.

NeSL becomes the first IU registered by the IBBI.

ANSWER: Speed climbing

Explanation:
With a winning time of under 7 seconds, speed climbing can claim to be the Olympic Games' fastest sport.

Speed climbing is one of five sports that have been included in the programme for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics along with baseball/softball, bowling, karate, surfing and skateboarding.

Italy's Ludivico Fossali won the men's event after Russian Stanislav Kokorin committed a false start.

But in the small final it was a much closer affair with Italian Leonardo Gontero winning in a time of 6.25 seconds, beating Russian Aleksandr Shikov by three hundredths of a second.

In the women's event, France's Anouk Jaubert was triumphant in the final, beating Mariia Krasavina of Russia.

ANSWER: Thailand

Explanation:
Thailand's ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was handed a five-year prison sentence on 27th Sept 2017 after the country's highest court found her guilty of negligence in the management of a rice subsidy scheme.

Ms. Yingluck was due to hear the verdict on Aug. 25, but failed to show up, surprising hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the court.

Aides said she had fled Thailand, fearing a harsh sentence.

Last month, Reuters reported that she had escaped to Dubai, where her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, owns a home.

Ms. Yingluck, who swept to power in a 2011 general election, introduced a rice subsidy scheme that proved wildly popular with farmers but which the military government says caused billions of dollars in losses.

Her government was ousted by the military in 2014.

ANSWER: 280

Explanation:
Twitter is testing allowing tweets to be expanded to 280 characters - double the existing limit - in the latest effort to boost flagging growth at the social network.

San Francisco-based Twitter said on 26th Sept 2017 that the new limit, a major shift for the messaging platform known for its 140-character tweets, aims to address “a major cause of frustration” for many users.

Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey fired off what may be one of the first expanded tweets.

“This is a small change, but a big move for us,” he wrote, calling the previous limit was an “arbitrary choice”.

Twitter planned to leave the old limit in place for tweets in Japanese, Chinese and Korean because internal data showed written characters in those languages packed plenty into the allotted space.

Twitter, which became a public company in 2013, has never reported a profit, even though it has built a loyal base of celebrities, journalists and political figures, including prolific tweeter US President Donald Trump.

In its most recent quarter, Twitter reported its base of monthly active users was unchanged at 328 million compared to the first three months of the year and up just five percent from a year earlier.

Its growth has failed to keep pace with social network leader Facebook, which has some two billion users, and Facebook-owned Instagram, with 800 million.

Twitter has been seeking to draw in users by offering more video, including live streaming of sporting events, aiming to broaden its appeal.

Reaction on Twitter was mixed, with some lobbying for the original cap and the pressure it applied to succinctly express thoughts.

Many others on Twitter welcomed the news and said raising the character cap was long overdue.

Some people already resort to long strings of rapid-fire tweets, known as “Twitter storms,” to string together lengthy comment.

The messaging platform reported a net loss of $116 million in the second quarter, slightly wider than its $107 million loss a year ago.

It remained an open question whether the new tweet limit would ignite the growth an engagement Twitter needs to compete in the fast-moving social media segment.

The move by Twitter could also be rendered moot by lifestyle changes brought about by trends in voice-commanded digital assistants and looking at the world through mixed-reality glasses, according to Gartner analysts.

ANSWER: Both a and b are the same

Explanation:
When new species of earthworms and frogs have been discovered from the Western Ghats this year, can their predators be far behind?

Scientists have described a new species of non-venomous endemic snake, Aquatic Rhabdops, from the northern Western Ghats.

The three-foot-long nocturnal snake hunts for prey underwater.

Interestingly, while adults of the Aquatic Rhabdops have off-white bellies and black spots on their olive brown skin, juveniles are olive green, with yellow undersides.

This colour difference in life stages could possibly be due to the different local habitats.

The new species is named after its aquatic nature since the adults are mostly associated with freshwater forest streams and juveniles are seen in water-logged areas, mostly on rocky plateaus.

Scientists say the new species, Rhabdops aquaticus, was till now considered a variant of the Olive Forest Snake, first described in 1863.

However, the new study confirms that the Aquatic Rhabdops is a different one: they sport not only different colours and patterns, but also vary in other features of size, shape and structure, and also genetic make-up.

Rhabdops species: Know More

Endemicity, the phenomenon of being present only in a specific geographical area, runs in the family: all Rhabdops snakes are endemic to India.
The Olive Forest Snake Rhabdops olivaceus is found only in the Western Ghats while the bi-coloured Forest Snake Rhabdops bicolour lives in a few localities in the northeast.
The Aquatic Rhabdops too is found only in the laterite plateaus of the northern Western Ghats in Goa, southern Maharashtra and northern Karnataka, in areas facing severe human pressures.