Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Dec 22, 2015

1)   Two critically endangered species of sea snakes have been discovered in Western Australia. They are:

a. Long scaled and short nosed sea snakes
b. Leaf scaled and short nosed sea snakes
c. Leaf scaled and snout nosed sea snakes
d. Long scales and snout nosed sea snakes
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Leaf scaled and short nosed sea snakes

Explanation:
Scientists have discovered two critically endangered species of sea snakes off the coast of Western Australia thought to be extinct after they were no longer in their natural habitat fifteen years ago. Both the leaf scaled and short nosed sea snakes are rare and now scientists have the chance to protect these two endemic West Australia sea snake species.The discovery was made 1700 kilometres south of the snakes only known habitat on Ashmore Reef.


2)   Who has been appointed as the new CMD of Lakshmi Vilas Bank on 21st December 2015?

a. Lakshmi Parthasarathi
b. Parasarathi Mukherjee
c. Ramesh Sharma
d. Rakesh Sharma
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Parasarathi Mukherjee

Explanation:
South India based Lakshmi Vilas Bank on 21st December 2015 has said Parasarathi Mukherjee will be the new CMD and has given approval for his appointment for three years from the date of taking charge. He succeeded Rakesh Sharma who has joined as CMD of Canara Bank. Mukherjee has previously worked with Axis Bank and SBI.


3)   RBI has fixed the reference rate of the rupee at _________.

a. 66.31 against US dollar
b. 66.32 against US dollar
c. 72.13 against euro
d. Both b and c
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
RBI on 21st December 2015 has fixed a reference rate of the rupee at INR 66.32 per US dollar and 72.13 for the euro. Rates earlier were 66.42 and 72.13 respectively. As per an RBI statement, exchange rates for pound and yen against rupee was quoted at 98.98 and 54.67 per 100 yen based on reference rates for dollar and cross currency quotes at noon.


4)   2016 has been celebrated as the______________.

a. International Year of Women
b. International Year of the Environment
c. International Year of Pulses
d. International Year of Sugar
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: International Year of Pulses

Explanation:
Government has taken considerable steps to improve production of pulses and reduce dependence on imports. Steps are in line with the 2016 International Year of Pulses launched by the UN. UN launched the year at the FAO headquarters in Rome on 10th November 2015. The theme nutritious seeds has been launched for a sustainable future.


5)   10th WTO Ministerial Conference was held in which city?

a. Nairobi
b. Durban
c. London
d. New York
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Nairobi

Explanation:
5 day long 10th WTO Ministerial Conference was concluded on 19th December 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya aimed at adoption of the Nairobi package for benefitting the poorest members of the organisation. The conference was attended by trade ministers of 162 member countries of the WTO. India was represented by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman. This marks the first time a meeting has been held in Africa by WTO in this capacity.


6)   RS passed which bill to amend existing offences and add new offences to the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989?

a. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Bill 2015
b. Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2015
c. SC &ST (Prevention of Atrocities and Actions ) Bill 2015
d. SC &ST ( Prevention of Violence) Bill 2015
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2015

Explanation:
Upper House of the Parliament, RS on 21st December 2015 passed the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill 2015. Bill aims to amend SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. Bill amends existing categories and adds certain categories of actions by non SC and ST against ST or SC to be treated as offences.


7)   Union HRD Ministry has launched AISHE. What does it stand for?

a. All India Study on Higher Education
b. All India Survey on Higher Education
c. All India Survey on Higher Secondary Education
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: All India Survey on Higher Education

Explanation:
Union Minister of HRD launched the 6th All India Survey on Higher Education in New Delhi. She highlighted the fact that GER has shown considerable improvement from 19.4% in 2010-11 to 23.6% in 2014-15.THe minister expressed confidence that the target of 30% GER by 2020 as envisaged in 12th Plan would be achieved.


8)   The first __________ has been launched for blind and visually impaired.

a. Eyeway National Programme
b. Eyeway National Helpdesk
c. Eyeway Domestic Helpdesk
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Eyeway National Helpdesk

Explanation:
The Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Shri Lov Verma has launched the Eyeway National Helpdesk for blind and visually impaired at Department HQ in Paryavaran Bhawan. This helpdesk is an initiative of Score Foundation. Visually impaired citizens of India will be able to call the Eyeway Helpdesk on a toll free number, 1800-300-20469, and get queries addressed from trained counsellors.


9)   Which Shipyard Ltd has become the first licensed Indian Shipyard to make LNG Ships?

a. Cochin Shipyard Limited
b. Vizag Shipyard Limited
c. Chennai Shipyard Limited
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Cochin Shipyard Limited

Explanation:
Cochin Shipyard Limited, a PSU under the control of the Ministry of Shipping has completed a Mark-III Flex Mock-Up, which has been certified by GTT (Gaztransport et Technigaz), France, thereby completing all requirements to be licensed by GTT to build LNG ships for any client world-wide using their patented membrane containment system known as the Mark-III Technology. This makes CSL, the first Indian shipyard in India to obtain this coveted license from GTT.


10)   President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has presented a copy of which book to ESL Narasimhan?

a. Presidential Restarts of the Nation
b. The Presidential Retreats of India
c. Rashtrapati Nilayam
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: The Presidential Retreats of India

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has presented a copy of the book on Rashtrapati Nilayam Secunderabad to Shri ESL Narasimhan, Governor of AP and Telangana. The book titled ‘The Presidential Retreats of India’ which features the Rashtrapati Nilayam and The Retreat at Mashobra was commissioned by the President’s Secretariat and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). It has been published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Book was formally released on 11th December 2015.


11)   India’s natural rubber imports have declined by what percent during January to August 2015?

a. 8
b. 9
c. 10
d. 11
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 9

Explanation:
India’s natural rubber imports have fallen by 9% to 2.88 lakh tonnes during the first 8 months of the present financial year. Rubber imports stood at 3.16 lakh tonnes during the April-October period in the previous financial year according to Rubber Board data. Total rubber imports in FY 2014-2015 touched a high of 4,15,000 tonnes on account of lower international prices and fall in domestic production.


12)   Which firm has TeliaSonera sold its stake in Nepalese operator Ncell?

a. Aviata
b. Axiata
c. Vodafone
d. Nokia
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Axiata

Explanation:
Finnish-Swedish telecoms operator TeliaSonera sold its stake in Nepalese operator Ncell to Axiata from Malaysia, a large telecom company for 948 million euros. TeliaSonera has held 60.4% of Ncell’s capital and also sold its holding in a local vehicle which holds 20% of Ncell.


13)   Which Gurgaon based skill assessment company has acquired LetsIntern dot com?

a. Aspiring Minds
b. Thinking Minds
c. Intellectual Minds
d. Speaking Minds
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Aspiring Minds

Explanation:
Gurgaon based skill assessment firm Aspiring Minds has acquired online mobile internship platform LetsIntern dot com for a non disclosed amount. Acquisition is part of the multi million dollar investment by the company in the internship space. This is the second acquisition of this company after acquiring mobile tech startup Mizcoin.


14)   Who has been appointed China’s first counter terrorism Czar?

a. Liu Yuejin
b. Ti Xiaoping
c. Li Ding
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Liu Yuejin

Explanation:
China has appointed a tough cop as the first counter terrorism Czar to crackdown against Al Qaeda backed security forces in Muslim majority Xinjiang province. Liu Yuejin is a key figure in crackdown on illegal narcotics in China and will now be a Czar enjoying enormous powers and heading national security.