Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Jan 09, 2016

ANSWER: IDCS 1426

Explanation:
This massive, churning galaxy cluster 1000 times more massive than the Milky Way galaxy has been discovered by astronomers some 10 billion light years away. This cluster is unique is formed when the Universe was 3.8 billion years old. Scientists have found that super giant structures could form much later after billions of years of clumping matter. MIT, University of Missouri, University of Florida have found the cluster using NASA’s 3 great observatories- Hubble Space Telescope, Keck Observatory and Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Cluster called IDCS 1426 is the most massive cluster of galaxies yet discovered during the first 4 billion years following the Big Bang. IDCS 1426 appears to be undergoing a considerable amount of upheaval. Researchers observed a bright knot of X-rays off center in the cluster, indicating the core of the cluster might have shifted some 100 thousand years ago from its centre. Core may have been dislodged from a massive collision with another galaxy cluster causing the gas within the cluster around, much like a wine in a glass that has been immediately moved. Galaxy clusters are conglomerates of 100s to 1000s of galaxies bound together by gravity. They are the most massive structures within the universe. Some like the Virgo cluster nearly are bright and easy to spot in the sky.

ANSWER: 22.54%

Explanation:
Spice Mobility has acquired 22.54% stake in Sunstone Eduversity Telecom company, a Greater Noida based Sunstone Eduversity Private Limited for an amount which has not been discussed. Spice Digital Limited, a subsidiary of Spice Mobility has made the acquisition for the purpose of engaging in education business.

ANSWER: Siemens

Explanation:
Imaging solutions and IT services company Ricoh India has said it has partnered with Siemens offering digital lifecycle management software. NX software and Teamcenter has been distributed through Ricoh India’s network of 24 offices, according to a company statement. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in around 200 countries and regions.

ANSWER: Princess Ashraf Pahlavi

Explanation:
Iran’s princess Ashraf Pahlavi, the twin sister of the nation’s deposed Shah has passed away at the age of 96. She was epitomised in an Andy Warhol portrait. Born on October 26, 1919, she was the daughter of monarch Reza Shah who came to power in a coup in 1921. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, her twin brother was pushed into taking power in a US engineered 1953 coup.

ANSWER: Devender Kumar Sikri

Explanation:
Devender Kumar Sikri has been appointed on 7th January 2016 as chairman of fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India. He succeeded Ashok Chawla whose tenure ended on January 7, 2016. Sikri will have a tenure of two and half years till he attained the age of 65 years. Sikri is a former IAS officer of Gujarat cadre. Various positions were held in Centre as well as cadre state Gujarat by him.

ANSWER: Rakesh Bharti Mittal

Explanation:
Bharti Airtel has named Rakesh Bharti Mittal as non executive director instead of Rajan Bharti Mittal. Rajan Bharti Mittal has quit the position w.e.f January 7th, 2016. Rakesh Bharti Mittal has been appointed non executive director of the company after Rajan Bharti Mittal demitted the position of non executive director. Rakesh and Rajan are vice chairmen of Bharti Enterprises from which Airtel is a group company. Bharti Enterprises has diverse interests in telecom, financial services, retail, realty , manufacturing and agri business. On 1st January 2016, Kant was provided additional charge of CEO of Niti Aayog following the completion of tenure of ex CEO Sindhushree Khullar on 31st December 2015.He is a 1980 batch IAS officer belonging to Kerala cadre. Kant is currently Secretary in DIPP. He was also CEO of DMRC.

ANSWER: Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India

Explanation:
Additional Secretary of Home Affairs Sailesh on 7th January 2016 was appointed as Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. A 1985 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS officer, he will succeed C. Chandramauli completed his central deputation tenure on 7th January 2016. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for conducting the decennial Census. Users can attain information about Census 2011 including census schedules, circulars, manuals and house listing as well as administrative atlas.

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Urijit Patel, Deputy Governor of RBI in charge of the monetary policy department, has been appointed for a term of three years for the second time. Patel, 52, will finish his 3 year term on January 10, and has become the longest serving deputy governor in 2015-2016 if he serves the full three year term. Many of the recent deputy governors served a maximum period of only 5 years. A deputy governor can serve for the period of three years w.e.f taking on the charge on or after January 11,2016 or till further orders, whichever is earlier. A PhD from Yale University in Economics and graduate of the University of London and Oxford, he has served as the head of the U. Patel Committee proposing inflation targeting as the prime objective of the central bank. As per the agreement, RBI will target 4 percent inflation at the close of the financial year 2016-2017 and for subsequent years, with a band of +/- 2 percent. Other deputy governors of the RBI are H. R. Khan, R. Gandhi and S. S. Mundra.

ANSWER: Shakti

Explanation:
Indian and French troops commenced their 8 day counter-terrorism and counter insurgency joint exercise Shakti in Rajasthan on January 8, 2016. French contingent comprising 56 personnel of 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade that has participated in Afghan war was part of this exercise. This exercise aims to agin from every body’s rich operational experience. 35th Infantry Regiments origin extends back to 1604 at Lorraine(France).

ANSWER: Raghuram Rajan

Explanation:
The award was conferred by the Financial Times Group’s monthly publication The Banker. Central Banker of the Year 2016 Awards celebrates officials best managed to increase growth and stabilise the economy of the country. Raghuram Rajan was born on February 3, 1963 and is currently the 23rd governor of the RBI. He also served as Chief Economic Adviser to Ministry of Finance, India. He is also the chief economist of the IMF from 2003 to 2007.

ANSWER: Common Floor

Explanation:
Cross category online classifieds Quikr has announced a merger with CommonFloor.com with real estate vertical QuikrHomes. This is the 4th strategic move in the real estate category since the launch of QuikrHomes around 4 months ago. Merger is slated for completion within the next 2 to 3 months and will provide CommonFloor dot com access to Quikr’s 30 million customers and harness the potential of cross category nature of the platform. Company will operate both brands within the market. QuikrHomes currently connects customers from over 1000 cities and towns around India and helps conclude 2 lakh plus transactions per month. QuikrHomes is one of the key verticals for Quikr with around 35% of its revenue from the vertical. Common Floor has over 5 lakh active property listings from close to 200 cities and with 1 lakh residential projects listed.