Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 24, 2016

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
RBI has tweaked liquidity measuring rules for Basel III norms. RBI on Wednesday tweaked the rules on measuring liquidity for Basel III norms, asking banks to eliminate certain loans backed by deposits from liquidity coverage ratio calculations. RBI also changed reporting time periods for some liquidity statements by lenders.

ANSWER: UAE

Explanation:
GoI has cleared MoU between India and the United Arab Emirates for exploring chances for mobilisation of close to USD 75 billion long term investment in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. Cabinet meeting chaired by the PM has provided ex-post factor approval for the MoU between the two nations which was signed on February 11, for mobilising long term investment in the NIIF. The objective of NIIF is maximising economic impact through infrastructure development in commercially viable projects, greenfield as well as brownfield. This includes stalled projects. NIIF is category II Alternate Investment Fund as per SEBI.

ANSWER: Abohar sanctuary

Explanation:
To provide a safe natural habitat for blackbucks and also check poaching, MoEF has declared the 100 metre radius around Asia’s largest open wildlife sanctuary in eco sensitive zone of Fazilka in the Abohar subdivision under the Climate Control Act 1986 and Climate Control Rules also passed in the same year. Fazilika deputy commissioner Isha Kalia indicated this would help administration to develop an open wildlife sanctuary as a habitat for neelgai, wild animals and blackbucks. Protected species in what is Asia’s largest open wildlife sanctuary spread over 188 square kilometres has faced the threat of poaching and attacks by stray dogs, apart from poor upkeep of water tanks in the summer. Sanctuary was established in the 1970s to protect wildlife in Punjab’s border belt. Blackbucks are protected by the Bishnoi community which resides in Fazilika. Cluster is home to over 3500 black bucks, blue bulls and other wildlife species.

ANSWER: e-Waste Management Rules 2016

Explanation:
Centre on Wednesday, 23rd March notified the new rules to dismantle and recycle electrical and electronic waste by expanding the rules and providing a penalty for violations. The new rule- e-Waste Management Rules 2016 has brought the management of waste of compact florescent lamps and other mercury lamps within its ambit. This also marks the first time the onus of collecting e-waste lies on the manufacturer or producer to ensure collection and disposal of e-waste in environmentally sound ways. India currently generates 1.7 MT of e-waste each year and can only recycle 1/4th of it. Under the new rules electrical and electronic item owners will attain incentive for handing the e-waste to retailers or dealers under the deposit refund scheme.

ANSWER: Great Backyard Bird Count

Explanation:
The recently conducted Great Backyard Bird Count is the largest synchronised bird count event across the globe. More than 1100 people submitted over 7800 bird chuckles. India ranked number one in terms of number of species reported with 785 bird species. The country was third after US and Canada in the number of checklists submitted. Uttarakhand has the highest bird species recorded in any state. Commencing in the US in 1998, the Great Backyard Bird Count was a pioneering citizen science project for data collection on birds. GBBC also matched the Uttarakhand Bird Festival to popularise birds among the public and showcase the state as an ideal birding destination.

ANSWER: Agartala

Explanation:
After PM Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the internet connectivity project from Bangladesh’s Akhaura to India;s Agartala, the state of Tripura gained connectivity. After Chennai and Mumbai, Agartala is now India’s third largest gateway for the internet. The leasing of the internet bandwidth by Cox’s Bazar Internet port by BSNL has opened doors for improving internet connectivity in the entire NE region.

ANSWER: GT198

Explanation:
It is now known that a gene with the ability to repair DNA when mutated instead causes breast cancer. Gene GT198 when mutated by nature or nurture factors can diagnose breast cancer early and serves as a new treatment target. Medical College of Georgia Augusta University said in a press release. The net effect is a tumorigenic environment filled with what scientists calls inappropriate offspring. "Here is a cause-consequence relationship," they opined.

ANSWER: Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori

Explanation:
Pandit Sopori died at the age of 98. He is hailed as the Father of Indian Classical Music in J&K with sitar, saunter and classical Hindustani vocal being part of his repertoire.He initiated the mass popularisation of Indian classical music and practically made J&K a new cultural State. He knew Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, Hindi and Kashmiri.

ANSWER: Maldives

Explanation:
President of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has ratified the amendment to the Act on the Prohibition of Terrorism for empowering authorities to prepare a list of suspected terrorist organisations. Maldives National Defence Force will also monitor these organisations under the order of the National Security Council.

ANSWER: Smartron India

Explanation:
Sachin Tendulkar has invested a non disclosed sum in Internet of Things firm Smartron India and also become its brand ambassador. The company has been operating in stealth mode since August 2014 and will launch a set of IoT appliances this year. Founder and Chairman M. Lingareddy is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Soft Machines Inc., a US-based semiconductor company with operations in US, India, and Russia.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Belgian authorities identified two of the attackers as brothers Khalid and Brahim Bakraoui. They are believed to have blown themselves up in the attacks.The third man is at large and has not been identified. The brothers were known to police for past crimes, but nothing relating to terrorism.

ANSWER: Nepal

Explanation:
Nepal on 22nd March 2016 became a dialogue partner of regional security grouping, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It was officially the dialogue partner after a memorandum was signed during the Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visit to China. As a dialogue partner, Nepal will be able to participate in the multiple field cooperation of the Organisation. Its prototype is known as the Shanghai Five mechanism.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
This agreement has Oman, Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan as its founding members and Kazakhstan joined the arrangement shortly. The aim is to synchronise efforts to implement INSTC or North South Transport Corridor for increased connectivity. India has taken the decision to accede to the agreement and become a party to it.

ANSWER: India and Lithuania

Explanation:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Lithuania for cooperation in the field of agriculture. This includes horticulture, post-harvest management, organic farming, cold chain development and agro processing industry, animal husbandry, dairying and aquaculture etc.MoU will also help in capacity building.

ANSWER: Justice HL Dattu

Explanation:
Dattu has been appointed as a member of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC) Bureau in Geneva. With vast experience and legal expertise, his membership will further the cause of justice and human rights for the ICC. He will also be working to enhance creation of new NHRIs in the countries within the UN framework, including those which have not set up such bodies.