Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Aug 30, 2017

1)   Deep Ocean Mission will be launched by which ministry to improve India's position in ocean research field?

a. MoEF
b. MoES
c. MHA
d. MHRD
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: MoES

Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is all set to launch ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ by January 2018, which is expected to improve India’s position in ocean research field.

The program on poly metallic nodules was initiated at CSIR-NIO with the collection of the first nodule sample from Arabian Sea on board the first research vessel Gaveshani on January 26,1981.

India was the first country in the world to have been given the pioneer area for exploration of deep-sea mineral, namely, polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin in 1987.

Based on the resource evaluation, India has now retained an area of 75,000 sq km with an estimated resource of about 100 million tons of strategic metals such copper, nickel, cobalt besides manganese and iron.

A FGM (First Generation Mine-site) with an area of 18,000 sq km has been identified. Latest technologies for extraction of metals from the minerals have also been developed.

Besides identifying the mineral resource and developing technologies for mining and extraction, the programme has also resulted in high impact research as well as manpower development.

Detailed environmental data has been collected for compliance with International Seabed Authorities requirements.

This is required as the mining activity on large scale should not adversely affect the coast of other countries in the neighbourhood.


2)   Which skill development program is an initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana by Delhi Police?

a. Dhruva
b. Yuva
c. Samriddhi
d. Sankalp
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Yuva

Explanation:
The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the YUVA - a skill development programme and an initiative by Delhi Police under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

The ‘YUVA’ initiative by Delhi Police aims to connect with youth by upgrading their skill as per their competencies.

It will help them to get a gainful employment under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna under the Ministry of Skill Development.

Delhi Police has tied up with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for providing mass job linked skill training for the selected youth.

National Skill Development Corporation shall be providing skill training to the youth under ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna’ (PMKVY) and CII will provide job linked training through its Sector Skill Councils who are connected to industry and thereby provide job guarantee.

A detailed exercise was conducted in all 13 districts of Delhi Police to select the youth in the age of 17 - 25 years for this training belonging to categories such as School dropouts, Juvenile offenders, Victims of crimes and families in dire states.

So far, 2,269 candidates have been selected to be trained by 36 training partners in 45 skills in the next three months.


3)   The 4th session of the Joint Trade Committee of which nation was held with India on 29th Aug 2017

a. Madagascar
b. Liberia
c. Tanzania
d. Cote D'Ivoir
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Tanzania

Explanation:
The Fourth Session of the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee meeting was held in New Delhi, on 29th September, 2017.

The Indian delegation was led by Hon’ble Minister for State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Tanzanian delegation was led by the Hon’ble, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Mr. Charles John Mwijage.

Tanzania is one of the most important countries in Africa in so far as India’s bilateral co-operation in various sectors is concerned.

With an investment of US $ 2.2 billion, Tanzania is among the top 5 investment destinations for India.

The Indian side conveyed to the Tanzanian side that the potential areas for Tanzania in India include Light oils and petroleum or bituminous minerals, motor cars and vehicles, medicaments etc

Similarly, Metals and Minerals, dried cashew nuts in shells from Tanzania are required in India.

The Tanzanian side encouraged co-operation in the field of Fisheries, Industrial Development including Industrial Research and Development and SMEs Development, Information, Communication and Technology, Labour and Employment, Information, Culture, Arts and Sports.

The Indian Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme of which Tanzania is a beneficiary has boosted considerably Tanzanian export to India in recent years. India and Tanzania agreed to enhance sectoral co-operation based on respective needs and comparative advantage for mutual benefit.

In the sectoral co-operation Gems and Jewellery, energy (Hydro/Thermal/Gas/Diesel/solar power plants), Oil and Natural Gas, Mining, Transport, Agriculture, Water Supply Projects, Human Resource Development, Capacity Building and trade promotion were discussed.


4)   Which policy will be replaced by the New Industrial Policy?

a. National Manufacturing Policy
b. Indian Manufacturing Policy
c. Social Manufacturing Policy
d. Bharat Manufacturing Policy
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: National Manufacturing Policy

Explanation:
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry initiated the process of formulation of a new Industrial Policy in May 2017.

Since the last Industrial Policy announced in 1991, India has transformed into one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

With strong macro-economic fundamentals and several path breaking reforms in the last three years, India is equipped to deploy a different set of ideas and strategies to build a globally competitive Indian industry.

The new Industrial Policy will subsume the National Manufacturing Policy.

A consultative approach has been taken for industrial policy formulation wherein six thematic focus groups and an online survey on DIPP website have been used to obtain inputs.

Focus groups, with members from government departments, industry associations, academia, and think tanks have been setup to delve deep into challenges faced by the industry in specific areas.

The six thematic areas include Manufacturing and MSME; Technology and Innovation; Ease of Doing Business; Infrastructure, Investment, Trade and Fiscal policy; and Skills and employability for the future.

A Task Force on Artificial Intelligence for India’s Economic Transformation has also been constituted which will provide inputs for the policy.

It is proposed that the new Industrial Policy will aim at making India a manufacturing hub by promoting ‘Make in India’.


5)   Which sugarcane hybrid clone variety was launched for the sub-tropical climate?

a. 205
b. 206
c. 207
d. 208
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 205

Explanation:
For the first time, hybrid clone variety 205 (Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum) was developed for sub-tropical climate, which was launched in 1918 for commercial farming.

The hybrid clone led to 50% increase in sugarcane production in North India and popular species like Saccharum Barberi and Saccharum Sinensis were left far behind.

After developing species 205, ICAR's Sugarcane Breeding Institute developed several other hybrid clones for sub-tropical condition and they remained sought after for a long time.

After that, the institute developed species 312, first amazing cane variety for the subtropical climate in 1928 and in 1933, it developed species 419 for tropical climate.

The sugarcane farmers are reaping higher yield from the species 0238 and sugar mills are getting more sugar.

Sugarcane farmers can make the best of intercropping technique and increase their income by growing oilseeds, pulses, potatoes, and cucumber with cane.


6)   NITI Aayog in partnership with MyGov and which international body announced Women Transforming India Awards 2017?

a. United Nations
b. World Health Organisation
c. Food and Agricultural Organisation
d. International Women's Association
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: United Nations

Explanation:
Celebrating the outstanding achievements of women in India, NITI Aayog, in partnership with MyGov and the United Nations, announces winners of the Women Transforming India Awards, 2017.

The awards ceremony recognizes the exceptional work of 12 women in critical areas such as preventing violence against women; bridging the gender gap in education; providing healthcare.

Additionally the awards recognize building livelihoods and enterprises for women; and promoting inclusion for persons with disabilities.

The awardees were selected after a rigorous process by an eminent jury comprising P.T. Usha, track and field Olympian; Pooja Thakur, Wing Commander, Indian Air Force; Nirupama Rao, Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador, Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog and Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator.

Launched on International Women’s Day on 8 March, the contest aimed to gather lesser-own stories of women leading change.

It was hosted on MyGov.in and ran till 1 June and was supported by an extensive outreach campaign to promote equal opportunity for women.

Top 6 Contestants

Laxmi Agarwal: Attacked in 2005 in broad daylight at the age of 15, Laxmi Aggarwal is today a champion of violence against women.

She has filed public interest litigations in India’s highest court to restrict the sale of acid.

Safeena Husain: The founder and executive director of Educate Girls, a non- profit organization working for girls’ education, Safeena Husain has worked to bring education to some of India’s most backward districts.

Kamal Kumbhar: Broke free from the shackles of poverty and a suffocating marriage to create a micro-enterprise network, enabling women like herself to realise their dreams of a brighter tomorrow.

Subasini Mistry: After losing her husband at a young age, Subasini Mistry saved for two decades to build a hospital for the needy.

Arunima Sinha: Is the first female amputee to scale the highest mountain in the world.

Jamuna Tudu: Along with her band of women activists, Jamuna Tudu has conserved 50 hectares of forest land around her village in Jharkhand, taking on encroachers with little more than bows and arrows and courage.


7)   National Sports Day is celebrated on which date?

a. Aug 28
b. Aug 27
c. Aug 29
d. Aug 30
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Aug 29

Explanation:
National Sports Day in India is celebrated on August 29, the birthday of Dhyan Chand, one of the greatest field hockey players of all time.

Dhyan Chand won gold medals for India in Olympics in the years 1928,1932 and 1936.

On this day, matches are organised between different Indian hockey teams at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.

National Sports Awards such as Arjuna and Khel Ratna are conferred on selected athletes by the President of India every year, on this day.

The National Hockey stadium in Delhi was renamed as Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002.

The National Sports Day celebrations are a commemoration of his achievements. The day is also known as Rashtriya Khel Divas.

The Major Dyanchand Awards conferred on athletes is the highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games in India.


8)   Which premium aromatic variety of rice cultivated by farmers in West Bengal got GI tag?

a. Gobindo Bhog
b. Chappan Bhog
c. Samriddhi Bhog
d. Krishna Bhog
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Gobindo Bhog

Explanation:
The premium aromatic variety Gobindo Bhog rice has received the GI tag.

More farmers are taking up its cultivation since its gives higher productivity and remuneration.

Some 600 farmers have sown the rice for the first time this crop season (August-November).

This has increased the number of farmers opting for the aromatic rice to over 1,800.

The Bidhan Chandra Kishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), through a programme, launched since 2009, has extended cultivation of the rice to new areas and promoted it among a larger number of farmers.

According to a study by the BCKV, 80 per cent of the rice produced is consumed locally, while 20 per cent is exported.

The area under cultivation for this variety is expected to go up further by over 50 per cent this crop year compared with last year.

Having started the programme with less than 100 farmers in Nadia district in 2009, BCKV has brought in 1,800 farmers across 18 blocks of the South Bengal districts of Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas.

The area under cultivation has increased 10-fold in 2012 from a mere 45 acres four years ago.

Paddy productivity of this premium variety has gone up by more than 40 per cent to about 1.3 tonnes an acre, he said.

Currently, this variety fetches a price of Rs 2,800-3,000 for a 60-kg bag.


9)   IAEA has opened a uranium bank in which country?

a. Kazakhstan
b. Uzbekistan
c. Tajikistan
d. Afghanistan
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Kazakhstan

Explanation:
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN global nuclear watchdog, opened a uranium bank in Kazakhstan on 29th Aug 2017 a $150-million facility.

This is designed to discourage new nations from enriching the nuclear fuel.

The Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank in the city of Oskemen, in eastern Kazakhstan, will store up to 90 tonnes of the fuel, enough to power a large city for three years, and sell it to IAEA members if they are unable to procure it elsewhere.

The LEU Bank will serve as a last-resort mechanism to provide confidence to countries that they will be able to obtain LEU for the manufacture of fuel for nuclear power plants in the event of an unforseen, non-commercial disruption to their supplies.

Countries such as Iran have said they need enrichment facilities to ensure a steady supply of fuel for nuclear power plants, and the idea behind the bank is to make such supply available without domestic enrichment.

Russia has operated a similar bank since 2010 but the one in Kazakhstan will be the first one fully owned and operated by the global nuclear watchdog.