Current Affairs Questions & Answers -Jan 23, 2016

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Archaeologists have commenced excavations in the legendary lost city of Liudad Blanca or White City within the Honduran jungle. Dozens of artefacts including vulture shaped handles as well as clay tray with jaguar head and stone made throne carved with jaguar which are the remains of a ceremonial temple have been discovered here. Ruins range between 1000 and 1500 AD are distinct from the ancient Mayan civilisation. This is a new or different culture. City’s name was derived from white limestone rock in the area first explored by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.

ANSWER: Cipla

Explanation:
Cipla has sold its entire stake in Hong Kong based Biomab Holding Biomab Brilliant for USD 2.5 million. This company on January 22nd 2016 completed the transfer formalities in association with the divestment of the complete 25% stake in Biomab Holding Limited, Hong Kong, Cipla indicated in a BSE filing. Cipla has entered into an agreement to sell the stake in Biomab Holding to Biomab Brilliant Ltd for a consideration of USD 25,775,000 to focus on biological segment under its arm Cipla BioTec. Biomab Brilliant Ltd, British Virgin Islands held the remaining 75 per cent stake in BHL.

ANSWER: A Special Day

Explanation:
Italian director Ettore Scola has passed away on 19th January 2016 at the age of 84. He is among the last generation of Italian filmmakers with a keen eye for key issues in the nation. He has directed movies including the world's greatest actors including Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, Fanny Ardant and Jack Lemmon.

ANSWER: Haryana

Explanation:
Haryana is expecting a spike in foreign investments from China following 8 MoUs being signed with top companies to establish a USD 10 billion industrial park and smart cities in the state during CM Khattar’s trip to get more investors. MoU was signed with which top Chinese companies Wanda Group, China Land Development Company Private Limited, and ZTE Corporation.

ANSWER: Atulesh Jindal

Explanation:
Senior revenue service officer Atulesh Jindal on 21st January 2016 was appointed chairman of CBDT. Jindal will succeed AK Jain who has finished his term towards the close of January 2016. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Jindal as chairman of the apex policy making body of the IT department.

ANSWER: President Pranab Mukherjee

Explanation:
Senior revenue officer Ashok Kumar Mehta was appointed as the Private Secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee. Mehta is a 1987 batch IRS officer is working as Kolhapur Commissioner in Maharashtra as per service records. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed Mehta as PS to the President in an order issued by DoPT.

ANSWER: Roger Federer

Explanation:
Roger Federer has climbed into rarified territory at the Australian Open, becoming the first man to reach the milestone. Only Martina Navratilova is ahead of him. Federer, at 34 a decade Dimitrov’s senior, is the oldest man to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open since Andre Agassi played his way into the quarter-finals in 2005. He is looking to become only the third man to win five Australian Open singles titles after Roy Emerson (six) and Novak Djokovic (five).

ANSWER: Africa

Explanation:
The 4th India Africa Hydrocarbons Conference concluded in New Delhi today with a resolve to strengthen the relations between India and Africa in all its dimensions, particularly in the Hydrocarbons sector .The 4th India -Africa Hydrocarbons Conference was organised in New Delhi on January 21- 22, 2016. A total of 21 African countries participated in the event. The event saw enthusiastic representation from Africa at various levels including Ministers of Petroleum, Petroleum regulators, CEOs of National Oil Companies and experts in the field of petroleum. The delegations of 9 African countries ¬ Mauritius, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia ¬ were headed by the respective Ministers. Senior officials led the delegations from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Libya, Cote d’Ivory, Gabon & Sierra Leone.

ANSWER: Kesari dal

Explanation:
India has developed 3 lentil varsities of a particular strain banned 50 years ago amidst concerns of nerve damage and paralysis. Government backed Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed a lentil known as pulses after India lift the 5 decade ban on the grade. New varieties are perfect for human consumption. Each year, Indians have around 22 MT of lentils to make dal. A fifth of the volume is imported from nations such as Canada, Austria and Myanmar.
- Three new varieties of Kesari dal released for general cultivation are: Ratan, Prateek and Mahateora.
- The botanical name of Kesari dal is Lathyrus sativus. It is also called as grass pea.
- The new varieties developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) contain low p-N oxalyl- L-p-diaminopropionic acid (P-ODAP).

ANSWER: Zoothera salimali

Explanation:
Bird species found in eastern Himalayas has been identified as a new species and this species from NE India and associated parts of China is called the Himalayan Forest Thrush. This is the first Indian bird which has been named after Late Dr. Salim Ali closely associated with BNHS India as a researcher, honorary secretary and president. A new bird species was discovered in science with the shrinking of natural habitats. Since 2000, around 5 new species have been discovered on an international basis each year. Himalayan Forest Thrush is the 4th new bird species described from India since independence by modern ornithologists.

ANSWER: 22 million

Explanation:
Computer has assisted scientists to find the biggest prime number with close to 22 million digits cutting down on the previous record by close to 5 million digits. The University of Central Missouri headed by Curtis Cooper has broken the record a total number of 4 times. Cooper and his team are part of the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search collaboration, an effort to find the largest prime number — or, more specifically, a particular class of prime numbers that are called Mersenne, where it is one less than a power of two.Prime number, written as 2^74,207,281 - 1, had been found using this method.

ANSWER: Zika

Explanation:
Mosquito borne Zika virus has swept through South America and could infect close to 100s and 1000s of people. Virus has common symptoms such as joint pains and headaches. Disease has infected 1000s of people across Colombia and Brazil where numbers could reach into hundreds of thousands.