Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Mar 29, 2016

ANSWER: Ujwal Discon Assurance Yojana

Explanation:
RBI asked market participants to subscribe to the special securities under the UDAY scheme through the private placement route to approach it by March 30th. The Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana has sought to revive the debt ridden power distribution companies in varying states. Special securities under UDAY are being issued by state governments of the following states:

- Bihar
- Haryana
- J&K
- Jharkhand
- Rajasthan
- Punjab

About UDAY

The scheme allows state governments to take 75% of the debt as on September 30, 2015 in 2 years and pay back lenders through sale of bonds.
For remaining 25 percent duties, discoms have been permitted to issue bonds Scheme is expected to save discos INR 1.8 lakh crore; discoms are struggling with NR 4.37 lakh crore debt

ANSWER: Agasthiarmalai Biosphere Reserve

Explanation:
Agasthiarmalai Biosphere Reserve spanning the states of TN and Kerala is among 7 reserves added to the list in this year. This is a recognition of the conservation measures taken up. ABR is now among the reserves added to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves this year.

About the reserve

• It has 4 wildlife sanctuaries and one tiger reserve
• It has 2250 plant species
• In TN, the reserve spans 1672 square km while it is 1828 square km in Kerala

ANSWER: 22

Explanation:
PSLV C34 will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in May 2016. This signifies a giant leap for the Indian space mission because 22 satellites will be injected into orbit, making it the first such time in the ISRO’s history. Cartosat 2 carrying the primary payload will also carry on board 4 micro satellites weighing 85 to 130 kg and 17 nano satellites of 4 to 30 kg.

About the satellites

• 18 satellites are being launched by foreign powers
• This includes US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia
• Two nano satellites have been developed by Pune Engineering College and Sathyabhama University
• In April 2008, 10 satellites were launched into orbit by ISRO using the PSLV C9 rocket.

ANSWER: Kangana Ranaut

Explanation:
Awards were presented by the Directorate of Film Festivals of India to honour the top films in Indian Cinema. Given below is a list of the winners:

• Best Feature Film - Baahubali: The Beginning
• Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film Of A Director - Neeraj Ghaywan for Masaan
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment- Bajrangi Bhaijaan
• Best Children's Film - Duronto
• Best Direction - Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao Mastani
• Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration - Nanak Shah Fakir
• Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation - Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal
• Best Film on Social Issue - Niranayakam
• Best Actor - Amitabh Bachchan for Piku
• Best Actress - Kangana Ranaut for Tanu Weds Manu Returns
• Best Supporting Actor - Samuthirakani for Visaranai
• Best Supporting Actress - Tanvi Azmi for Bajirao Mastani
• Best Child Artist - Gaurav Menon for Ben
• Best Male Playback Singer - Mahesh Kale for Katyar Kaljat Ghusali
• Best Female Playback Singer - Monali Thakur for Moh Moh Ke Dhaag (Dum Laga Ke Haisha)
• Special Jury Award - Kalki Koechlin for Margarita with a Straw
• Best Animated Film - Fisherwoman, Tuktuk
• Best Hindi Film - Dum Laga Ke Haisha

ANSWER: Pavlof

Explanation:
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a volcano on Alaska’s Aleutian Islands erupted on 27th March and sent ash 20,000 feet into the air. Pavlof Volcano, which is about 600 miles southwest of Anchorage, erupted at 4.18 p.m. local time. The agency also added that the eruption led to tremors on the ground.

About the Volcano

• It is 4.4 miles in diameter
• It has 40 known eruptions and “is one of the most consistently active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc.”
• Eruptions previously have generated ash plumes as high as 49,000 feet.

ANSWER: Katie

Explanation:
Winds at the speed of 170 km per hour blew on Easter Monday as Storm Katie hit France and the UK. It left 2000 homes without power in Britain. British met service recorded 105 mph gusts of wind across southern England with 70 mph registered across the south.

ANSWER: 112

Explanation:
India has made the decision to adopt 112 as national emergency number after approval for the move by the inter ministerial telecom commission.

Roll out of 112 will see phase out of current numbers like 100 for police, 101 for fire, 102 for ambulance and 108 for disaster management

TRAI had suggested 112 as the national emergency number in April 2015

ANSWER: General Electric

Explanation:
Tech Mahindra, the IT arm of the Mahindra Group has joined GE’s Digital Alliance Programme

It will use the industrial internet platform to provide solutions for a wide range of industries including oil and gas and transportation.

About GE Digital Alliance Programme

• The digital alliance programme provides members with access to GE Digital tools and technologies
• It also yields domain expertise
• GE opened this platform to users in 2014; TCS has also joined the alliance

ANSWER: Dell

Explanation:
Japanese major NTT Data has acquired Dell Services, IT services arm of PC major Dell

The deal is valued at USD 3 billion. Transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

Other Acquisitions

- PC maker Dell acquired Perot Systems in 2009
- Dell bought global major EMC also in the largest deal in the mergers and acquisitions sector in the tech space
- NTT will now have 230 data centres across the world following this acquisition

ANSWER: Wipro

Explanation:
The aim of the partnership is to deliver energy management services and lower energy and operational costs. Jubilant is India’s largest food company. It is part of the Jubilant Bhartia group. The group operates the famous Domino’s Pizza restaurants across 230 Indian cities. It currently operates in India and Sri Lanka.

ANSWER: GM

Explanation:
Detroit based GM has decided to close in on the Cruise Automation deal which has just won the US antitrust approval. Deal has been reported to be worth USD 1 billion in cash and stock. Deep software talent of Cruise Automation is a asset the company is acquiring.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Pandora facing increased competition from Apple Music, Spotify and other music streaming services has just announced the resignation of CEO Brain McAndrews. The CEO was replaced with co founder Tim Westergren who founded the internet radio company 16 years ago and led Pandora as CEO from 2002 to 2004.

About Pandora

• This is a California based company. Pandora music users can listen to music for free; company makes money from ads.
• Number of active listeners fell to 81.1 million recently
• The music streaming company’s shares fell after McAndrews left.

ANSWER: CAM

Explanation:
Kuppuswamy has been appointed CEO with immediate effect and SSPL/Sterling Software is a subsidiary of CAMS, the latter being India's largest mutual fund registrar and transfer agent.
"Kuppuswamy will spearhead SSPL in its next growth phase in new geographies, technology, service lines and develop global delivery solutions," the company announced.

ANSWER: Rakesh Mohan

Explanation:
Nestle on 28th January 2016 announced Rakesh Mohan, former RBI Deputy Governor, will join its board as an independent director. Mohan’s would come on Nestle India’s board from May 1, 2016, as an Independent Non—Executive Director, the company said in a statement.

Prior to it, he was on Nestle India’s board from April 2010 to October 2012 and had to relinquish it following his appointment as executive director at the International Monetary Fund. Mohan completed his three-year term at IMF in November, 2015.

About Rakesh Mohan

• He was earlier RBI deputy governor
• He has also held the post of a Secretary in CCEA