Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Sept 11, 2015

ANSWER: Anjuly Chib Duggal

Explanation:
Freshly appointed Financial Services Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal has been nominated on the RBI central board. She has replaced Hasmukh Adhia appointed as Revenue Secretary last week. C. Government has nominated Duggal with effect from September 3rd, 2015. Currently, there are 17 board members including RBI Governor and 4 deputy governors namely Dr Raghuram Rajan (Governor), Shri Harun R. Khan (Deputy Governor), Dr Urjit R. Patel (Deputy Governor), Shri R. Gandhi (Deputy Governor) and Shri S. S. Mundra (Deputy Governor). Other members include Prof Dipankar Gupta, Shri G.M. Rao, Ms Ela Bhatt, Dr Indira Rajaraman, Shri Y.C. Deveshwar, Dr Anil Kakodkar, Prof Damodar Acharya, Shri Kiran Karnik, Shri. Ajay Tyagi, Dr Nachiket M. Mor, Ms. Anjuly Chib Duggal and Shri Y.H. Malegam. Duggal has also been nominated on the board of SBI w.e.f September 3rd 2015.

ANSWER: Homo Naledi

Explanation:
Members of the genus Homo comprise Homo habilis (Handy Man), Homo rudolfensis (Rudolf Man), Homo ergaster, Homo erectus (Upright Man), Homo floresiensis (Flores Man), Homo heidelbergensis(Heidelberg Man), Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthal Man), Homo rhodesiensis (Rhodesia Man) and Homo Sapiens (The Thinking Man). Scientists have discovered a new human family tree member through fossilised bones discovered in South Africa. The create is a mix of human and more primitive characteristics. The discovery presents intriguing mysteries such as the age of the bones and how they reached the chamber which has passages as narrow as 7 inches. Researchers have named the creature Homo naledi. This reflects the Homo evolutionary genus and the local world for star as the fossils were discovered in the Rising Star Cave System. The site where the fossils were recovered was close to 30 miles northwest of Johannesburg. This has yielded close to 1550 specimens since its discovery in the year 2013. Fossils represent close to 15 individuals. The discovery was made by Professor Lee Berger and his team from University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg who indicated naledi's anatomy suggest that it arose at or near the root of the Homo group, which would make the species some 2.5 million to 2.8 million years old. The discovered bones themselves may be younger, scientists have estimated. The Homo naledi has shoulders and small brains like ape ancestors but hands like humans.

ANSWER: Eatsa

Explanation:
Eatsa is the first restaurant of its kind where customers pay and receive their food without interacting with another person. There are no waiters or counter staff and this makes the restaurant less costly and more efficient. Eatsa has been founded by David Friedberg, an American national. The menu is available on the flat screen and you tap your order via an iPad. Food is transported through the medium of cubbies behind transparent LCD screens which turn black to camouflage items placed. Low skilled workers generally find employment in such fast food joints ( for instance, in San Francisco where the restaurant is located, minimum wage is USD 15 + health benefits. The founder of the eatery has discussed how such food products are cheaper and healthier. There are different pros and cons of an automated restaurant.

ANSWER: Apple Inc’s iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

Explanation:
Apple Inc has launched the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus on 9th September 2015. This is the latest iteration of a lucrative smartphone that offers 3D touch. This means that the screen of the smartphone responds differently based on how hard it is pressed by the user. The new phone comes in 4 metal finishes. The phone has an improved 12 Megapixel camera and it will record 4K videos. Its price is around USD 149 and it was launched with the Apple YV product complete with an app store and voice controlled remote control. Siri, the digital assistant of Apple TV is behind the voice control and can switch on subtitles and rewind videos for 15 seconds.

ANSWER: Ahmedabad, Pune, Varanasi, Kanpur, Hyderabad

Explanation:
Of close to 13 cities in the nation whose AQI/ Air Quality Index was measured on a daily basis by CPCB, the 5 top cities were Ahmedabad, Pune, Kanpur, Varanasi and Hyderabad. These cities are facing severe problem of suspended particulate pollution or prevalence of particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in city air. Breathing this air can lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma. The recorded AQI on 8 pm, 9th September 2015 indicated particulate levels of Hyderabad and Kanpur were as high as Ahmedabad which topped the list. High density of factories and burning Piraana dump are reasons why Ahmedabad has higher than PM2.5 levels. AQI index is released every day by the CPCB at 5 pm. QI is from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the more prevalent the health concern. AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the national air quality standard for the pollutant, which is the level EPA has established to protect public health. AQI values below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy for sensitive persons at first and everyone when certain levels are attained.

ANSWER: Tulsi

Explanation:
Team of researchers from NCBS/National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru have produced the first draft genome of the Tulsi plant. Tulsi, the queen of herbs was studied by the researchers to identify genes needed for production of compounds with potential medicinal properties. Tulsi has medicinal properties because of specialised compounds which are part of its defence mechanism. The researchers used 5 varsities of Tulsi for collecting the genetic data. The results were compared to well studied species such as Arabidopsis thaliana (a flowering plant). This aided them discover the unique compounds found in tulsi Krishna subtype. The researchers also found Tulsi contains Ursolic acid and it can be used for generation of this acid which has many medicinal properties. Tulsi is known by the botanical name ocimum tenuiflorum and has been in cultivation in India for 3,000 years. It is believed to have originated in India. The herb is anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-pyretic and has many medicinal attributes. It is used for curing respiratory and stomach ailments as well.

ANSWER: Maharashtra

Explanation:
Maharashtra government will expand its e-services interface to bring process for issuing caste, birth and death certificates online from the birth anniversary of Gandhiji, October 2nd. The state government will provide 50 of 150 notified services under RTS/ Right to Services Act online. RTS Act will also be linked to the grievance redressal portal of the government called Aaple Sarkar. 150 services have been identified under RTS Act for time bound delivery. MP was the first state to enact RTS on August 18, 2010. Bihar was the second to enact the Bill on July 25, 2011. Other states like Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan have also implemented this legislation. RTS aims to encourage the weeding out of corruption and the increase in accountability of public servants.

ANSWER: N. Dilip Kumar

Explanation:
Ex IPS officer and AAP Lokpal N. Dilip Kumar has quit from the position in the party citing personal reasons and inability to devote time to the party on account of involvement in anti graft movement in Vizag. Kumar retired as special commissioner of Delhi Police. AAP has seen resignations and explosions in the past such as those of Yogendra Yadav, Shazia Illmi and Prashant Bhushan. The former law minister of the AAP Delhi Government, Narendra Singh Tomar was alleged to have forged his law degree. However, Kumar indicated he is in consonance with the AAP leadership and only quit on account of time paucity.

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Spectrum trading is a move to address issues such as quality of service, shortage of radio waves, tackle problem of call drops, increase spectrum usage efficiency and assist companies as well as consumers in the telecom sector. Ownership rights will remain with GoI though right of usage can be traded between 2 TSPs. Government has approved sale and purchase of unused spectrum between telecom firms, allowing them to transfer their spectrum rights and obligations to another party and leads to skilful spectrum image. This is because idle spectrum will be used by those facing a spectrum crunch. Under the new regime, ease of business will be facilitated as spectrum trading will not change the original validity period of spectrum assignment as apple to traded block of spectrum

ANSWER: Shashidhar Sinha

Explanation:
CEO, IPG Mediabrands Shashindra Sinha has been elected as the chairman of ABC for the forthcoming fiscal year. He is expected to implement digital measurement project undertaken by ABC. Sinha is actively involved in industry bodies like BARC, ASCI, RSCI and more. ABC has taken on an additional role to measure digital audiences and this follows growth in digital ads. Due to increased smartphone usage, digital ads are the fastest growing medium with high amount of revenue potential. Digital measurement services provided by ABC will apply to digital properties that seek numerical measurement which transparent and sound. ABC is the proven technology partner and digital properties to be measured will be tagged. This will assist digital media agencies and advertisers who can look at a comprehensive measurement tool along with authentication from ABC. This will lead to a well planned expansion of digital advertising.

ANSWER: National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

Explanation:
Government has approved a policy for establishing wind power projects alongside the Indian coastline. National Offshore Wind Energy Policy cleared by the Union Cabinet allows development of wind power projects in the exclusive economic zone of India. Research initiatives are also part of the policy. It aims at allocation of onshore wind energy block for installing turbines to generate electricity from Wind. Offshore wind represents 2% of global installed capacity currently. 1713 megawatts of new offshore capacity was added in 2014 bringing the total to 8759 megawatts. Close to 91% of offshore wind installations are in European waters. From a total of 8045 MW of new offshore wind installations, North Sea has around 5094.2 MW, Atlantic Ocean has 1808.6 MW and Baltic Sea has 1142.5 MW. India has join nations such as S. Korea, China and Japan as well as the US for looking at offshore wind. There is a potential for generation of 106000 MW power through offshore wind projects in Gujarat and 60,000 MW on TN coastline. Offshore wind energy policy will provide a level playing field for domestic as well as global investors and beneficiaries. Processes will be carried out by NIWE which will implement the policy.

ANSWER: Tencent Holdings

Explanation:
Tencent has emerged as the largest Internet company in Asia. Alibaba recently lost the position on 8th September to Tencent capping a 10 month slide for the e-commerce company which wiped out USD 140.7 billion from its value. Shares of Alibaba fell by 4.7% making the online marketplace worth USD 153 billion. Tencent on 9th September 2015 reached a market capitalisation of USD 162 billion. Alibaba Group’ s reliance on consumer spending leaves it exposed to the ill effects of domestic slowdown in China. China’s recent yen devaluation and economic meltdown have caused Alibaba to lose its premier position as Asia’s largest internet company. Tencent has also purchased rights for Hollywood content on its video platform and making investments in cloud computing leading to its rise as the largest Asian internet firm. The 3 month downturn by China markets has been defied by Tencents which grew at 19% this year, Decline in Alibaba’s capitalisation is almost equal to the entire value of Samsung Electronics this year.

ANSWER: 7%

Explanation:
According to data released by Niti Aayog, India’s growth in Q2 was around 7% compared to 7.5% in the previous quarter. Indirect tax collections increased by 36.7% from 54396 crore in April to 2.63 lakh crore in August. GDP and indirect tax collections indicate economy is recovering. A large part of the buoyancy is due to additional resource measures including increase in duty on petroleum products, increase in clean energy cess, withdrawal of exemptions for motor vehicles, capital goods and consumer durables, and the increase in service tax from 12.36% to 14% from June 2015. Customs duty collection has been aided by 6% rupee depreciation in the period between April to August. Growth in indirect tax collections increased to 12.2% in April August and 11% in August as per data revealed by finance ministry. Government has raised 33% of budgeted amount of INR 6.46 lakh crore for FY16 and growth in addition to 18.8% for this year. Tax collections are growing over double digits suggesting underlying tax base and nominal GDP are moving upwards.

ANSWER: Brad Haddin

Explanation:
Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin announced he is retiring from first class cricket on 9th September. He follows Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Michael Clarke in leaving the Tests following the recent Ashes Series defeat. The 37 year old wicketkeeper retired from ODI cricket following Australia’s World Cup victory earlier in the year. He has kept wickets in 66 Tests, scoring 3,266 runs at an average of 32.98 and taking 262 catches with eight stumpings. Born October 23(1977) in Cowra, Australia, Bradley Hames Haddin has been part of the Australia National Cricket team for Test matches since 2009. The wicket keeper and batman is right handed and his last test was on 12th July versus England. Haddin’s last ODI was on 29th March versus New Zealand. He debuted in ODI on 30th January 2001 in Australia’s match against Zimbabwe. His T20 debut was in 2006 against S. Africa and his last T20 match was placed with Pakistan on 5th October 2014. He was also part of the following domestic teams: ACT Comets, New South Wales, KKR. He is currently a member of the Sydney Sixers.