Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Nov 2, 2017

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Carnivorous plants have been known to employ a variety of techniques like nectar, smell, colour and ultraviolet florescence to lure and capture prey.

But now, scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Gardens and Research Institute here have come up with evidence that some carnivorous plants use carbon dioxide (CO₂) to attract insects and ants to their prey traps.

A study conducted by the division of Phytochemistry and Pharmacology at the institute has found that the Indian pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana) uses the gas, both to attract prey and to aid the digestive process.

The research team demonstrated that the unopened pitchers of the plant are carbon dioxide-enriched, with a gas concentration of 2,500 to 5,000 ppm (parts per million), approximately 10 times that in the earth’s atmosphere.

The open Nepenthes pitchers were found to emit CO₂ constantly to attract insects.

The study also detected high levels of CO₂ dissolved in acidic pitcher fluids, ensuring optimum activities of the digestive enzymes.

Carnivorous plants of the genus Nepenthes supplement their nutrient deficiency by capturing insects through their leaf-evolved pitchers which act as biological traps.

CO₂ is a sensory cue and most insects have well-developed receptors which help them respond to subtle variations of CO₂ in the form of plumes arising from point sources.

The study found that the high CO₂ inside the pitchers was produced by the respiration of tissues within the cavity.

The sequential events of lid opening, CO₂ release, and prey capture were found to trigger the release of antifungal compounds into the pitcher fluid, preventing infections from incoming prey and act as a tranquilliser.

Nepenthes pitchers have the potential to be used as natural models mimicking an anticipated elevated CO₂ scenario on earth.

ANSWER: Vikas Seth

Explanation:
Bharti AXA Life Insurance a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and AXA announced the appointment of Vikas Seth as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The appointment is subject to requisite Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approval.

Seth brings with him over 21 years of experience in diverse industries including life insurance, telecom and FMCG.

Prior to joining Bharti AXA Life, Seth was with the Aditya Birla Group, where he worked for nearly 10 years in different roles.

In one of his later assignments, he served as the Chief Distribution Officer for Birla Sun Life Insurance responsible for Agency Sales Force, Bancassurance, Corporate Agency and Broker channels.

He began his career with the ESSAR Group followed by Amway, before moving to ICICI Prudential Life Insurance in 2001, where he began his career in the financial services sector.

In his new role, Vikas will be responsible for managing the overall business, driving new partnership tie-ups as well as the growth roadmap of the organisation.

He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, CEO, Bharti AXA Life Insurance.

In May this year, Bharti Enterprises had appointed Sam Ghosh as the managing director of its financial services business.

Currently, the financial service units includes the insurance business namely - Bharti AXA Life Insurance company and Bharti AXA General Insurance company.

ANSWER: GEF

Explanation:
Recognizing India’s efforts towards a low emission-economy and focusing on energy efficiency programmes, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has now partnered with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under Ministry of Power, for the project ‘Creating and Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency’.

The project will receive a composite funding of $454 million comprised of the GEF grant of $20 million and co-financing of $434 million in the form of loans and equity, including a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

EESL further proposes Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund (EERF) for sustainable funding mechanism of energy efficiency projects in the country.

The EERF mechanism will support the ‘proof of concept’ investments for the new technologies of super-efficient ceiling fans, tri-generation technologies & smart grid-applications and ultimately scaling up energy efficiency financing and programme development.

This will help cover initial investment costs of identified energy efficiency programmes like street lighting, domestic lighting, five-star rated ceiling fans and agricultural pumps, in the country.

This unique model will help in addressing the upfront risks of new technologies. Further, the accrued savings from these technologies can then be used to finance additional projects, which would allow capital to revolve as a sustainable funding mechanism.

GEF: Know More

• The GEF project further brings together many technical and financing partners including United Nations Environment (UN Environment), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).
• This aims to mitigate 60 million tons of CO₂ eq (carbon dioxide equivalent), that will enable a total direct energy savings of 38.3 million GJ by 2022 and 137.5 million GJ by 2032 (1 GJ = 277.778 kWh).
• EESL also has its sights set on district cooling systems which can reduce energy demand for cooling by up to 50 percent. EESL has partnered with UN Environment’s District Energy in Cities Initiative, which has already identified $600 million of projects across five cities in India.
• GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector that addresses global environmental issues.
• The funding announcement was made at the launch of the GEF-6 fund which supports two projects - ‘Creating Markets for Energy Efficiency’ and ‘District Energy in Cities’.

ANSWER: Clubfoot

Explanation:
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the Global Clubfoot Conference being organised by the CURE India in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in New Delhi (November 1, 2017).

The clubfoot is one of the most common orthopaedic birth defects. It can cause permanent disability if not treated early.

This affects the child’s mobility and confidence. Inevitably, education and schooling suffer - and the child cannot fulfil his or her potential.

In India the burden of disability affects more than 10 million people. The differently-abled or Divyang as we call them deserve equal opportunities in all avenues of life.

Mainstreaming their social and professional experience is a commitment for all of us. Having said that, many of these disabilities are preventable or curable - which is often forgotten.

Prevention, treatment and mainstreaming have to go in parallel.

Polio was once a serious cause of loco-motor disability, but over the past six years we have not had a single case of paralytic poliomyelitis.

Public hospitals are partnering with CURE International India to reach out to as many children as possible. The programme is now active in 29 states of India.

What is Clubfoot?

• Clubfoot is a birth defect where one or both feet are rotated inwards and downwards. The affected foot, calf, and leg may be smaller than the other.
• Initial treatment is most often with the Ponseti method.
• The condition is less common among Chinese and more common among Maori. Males are affected about twice as often as females.

ANSWER: National Council for Teacher Education Act 1993

Explanation:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, namely the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Act, 2017 to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Universities who are found to be conducting teacher education courses without NCTE permission.

The amendment seeks to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Union Territory funded Institutions/Universities conducting Teacher Education Courses without NCTE recognition till the academic year 2017-2018.

The retrospective recognition is being given as a onetime measure so as to ensure that the future of the students passed out/enrolled in these institutions are not jeopardized.

The amendment will make students studying in these Institutions/Universities, or already passed out from here, eligible for employment as a teacher.

With a view to achieve above mentioned benefits, Deptt. of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development has brought about this amendment.

All institutions running Teacher Education Courses such as B.Ed. and D.El.Ed. have to obtain recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education under section 14 of the NCTE Act.

Further, the courses of such recognised Institutions/Universities have to be permitted under section 15, of the NCTE Act.

Background:

• The NCTE Act, 1993 came into force on 1st July, 1995 and is applicable throughout the country, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The main objective of the Act Is to provide for the establishment of a NCTE to achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system, regulation and ensure proper maintenance of norms and standards in the said system.
• In order to achieve the objectives of the Act, separate provisions have been, made in the Act, for recognising Teacher Education courses and to lay down guidelines for compliance by recognized Institutions/Universities.

ANSWER: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Explanation:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) for three years i.e. 2017-18 to 2019-20.

The financial allocation of the scheme will be INR 15,722 crore with the objective of making farming as a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmer’s effort, risk mitigation and promoting agribusiness entrepreneurship.

RKVY-RAFTAAR funds would be provided to the States as 60:40 grants between Centre and States (90:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States) through the following streams:

(a) Regular RKVY-RAFTAAR (Infrastructure & Assets and Production Growth) with 70%of annual outlay to be allocated to states as grants based for the following activities:
i. Infrastructure and assets with 50% of regular RKVY-RAFTAAR outlay.
ii. Value addition linked production projects with 30% of regular RKVY-RAFTAAR outlay.
iii. Flexi-funds with 20% of regular RKVY-RAFTAAR outlay. States can use this for supporting any projects as per the local needs.

(b) RKVY-RAFTAAR special sub-schemes of National priorities - 20% of annual outlay; and

(c) Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development through creating end-to-end solution, skill development and financial support for setting up the agri-enterprise -10% of annual outlay including 2% of administrative costs.

The scheme will incentivise States in enhancing more allocation to Agriculture and Allied Sectors.

This will also strengthen farmer’s efforts through creation of agriculture infrastructure that help in supply of quality inputs, market facilities etc.

This will further promote agri-entrepreneurship and support business models that maximize returns to farmers.

RKVY: Know More

• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is a continuing scheme under implementation from XI Five Year Plan.
• The scheme provides considerable flexibility and autonomy to states in planning and executing programmes for incentivising investment in agriculture and allied sectors.
• States initiate the process of decentralized planning for agriculture and allied sectors through preparation of District Agriculture Plans (DAPs) and State Agriculture Plan (SAP) based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of appropriate technology and natural resources to ensure accommodation of local needs, cropping pattern, priorities etc.
• RKVY has also enabled adoption of national priorities without affecting the autonomy and flexibility of States through sub-schemes.
• National priorities like Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI), Crop Diversification Program (CDP), Reclamation of Problem Soil (RPS), Foot & Mouth Disease - Control Program (FMD-CP), Saffron Mission, Accelerated Fodder Development Programme, etc. are being implemented through the window of RKVY.
• During XI Plan and XII Plan, States have taken over 13,000 projects in agriculture and allied sector through State Agriculture Department as Nodal Implementing Agency.
• The interim report of RKVY evaluation done by Institute of Economic Growth summarizes that the income emanating from agriculture measured as the agricultural state domestic product (AGSDP) is higher in the post-RKVY period than in the pre-RKVY period.
• Further, almost all the states registered higher value of output from agriculture and allied activities in the post-RKVY period.
• Continuation of RKVY-RAFTAAR will therefore keep the momentum of agriculture and allied sector growth.

ANSWER: 32

Explanation:
Army Aviation Corps celebrated its Thirty Second Raising Day on 01 Nov 2017. To mark the occasion, a Wreath Laying ceremony was held at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, New Delhi

Wreaths were laid by Lt Gen Kanwal Kumar, the Colonel Commandant and Director General of Army Aviation and other serving officers, soldiers and veterans.

Army Aviation Corps is the aerial manoeuvre arm of the Indian Army.

Providing critical third dimensional capabilities to the Army, the Army Aviation Corps has played a stellar role by providing vital aviation support to our soldiers safeguarding the borders and providing relief to the common man during times of national calamity.

ANSWER: Food Regulatory Portal

Explanation:
World Food India 2017 Expo is India’s biggest food event aiming to transform the food economy and double farmers’ income.

World Food India is a mega event which would showcase the entire value chain in the food sector. 160 Global CEOs will come under one roof.

Globally & Nationally it is one of the biggest event.

This event is expected to generate INR 65000 Crore worth of investment and 10 lakh jobs.

As global and Indian food companies prepare to explore business opportunities in India at World Food India 2017, MoFPI and FSSAI, the apex Regulatory body for Food Safety in India announced a powerful new tool called ‘the Food Regulatory Portal.’

Planned as a single interface for food businesses to cater to both domestic operations and food imports, this portal would be a game changer for effective and transparent implementation of the food safety laws in the country.

Aiming to create an enabling environment for businesses to operate, the portal is strategically aligned with Government’s mission of One Nation, One Food Law.

Fssai’s Food Regulatory portal will be a step forward in that direction.

Investor Facilitation Portal “Nivesh Bandhu” will be launched to assist investors to make informed investment decisions.

The portal would provide information on Central and State Governments’ investor friendly policies, agro-producing clusters, infrastructure, and potential areas of investment in the food processing sector.

Smt. Badal also appealed to each individual to take a pledge - ‘NO WASTE ON MY PLATE’- to make India Food Secure.