CCEA approves revision of ethanol prices for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies

CCEA approves revision of ethanol prices for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 13 October 2016 approved the mechanism for revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme. The administered price of ethanol for the Programme will be 39 rupees per litre for the next sugar season from 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2017.  Key Highlights • Charges will be paid to the ethanol suppliers as per actuals in case of Excise Duty and VAT or GST and transportation charges as decided by the oil marketing companies. • The prices of ethanol will be reviewed and suitably revised by Government at any time during the ethanol supply period depending upon the prevailing economic situation and other relevant factors. The revision in ethanol prices will facilitate Government in providing price stability and remunerative prices for ethanol suppliers. Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme Union Government in 2003 launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels. The programme also sought to reduce import dependency for energy requirements. However, since 2006, OMCs were not able to receive offers for the required quantity of ethanol against the tenders floated by them due to various constraints like State Specific issues, Supplier related issues including Pricing issues of ethanol. Decision to augment the supply of ethanol To end constraints and augment the supply of ethanol, government on 10 December 2014 placed a mechanism for pricing of ethanol under which the delivered price of ethanol at OMC depots was fixed in the range of 48.50 rupees per litre to 49.50 rupees per litre including Central/State Government taxes and transportation charges. Effect of the Decision • The decision helped in improving the supply of ethanol. • Ethanol supplies increased to 67.4 crore litres in 2014-15 and the projected supplies for ethanol supply year 2015-16 are around 120 crore litres.

Current Affairs One liner of the Day

Current Affairs One liner of the Day for wound healing The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed a high-tech electroactive bandage. The bandage creates an electric charge to help promote the healing process of wounds. Electroactive material is so sensitive that a push or even a blow on it can create an electric charge. Key features of the electroactive bandages • The fibres of the guaze are made of electroactive material Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). • The bandage is stimulated by the heat of the body and the pressure of cell growth. Therefore, no external power source is required in order for the bandage to promote wound healing. • The device uses electrical activity to facilitate the wound healing process while protecting the wound. • The bandage also minimises infection and related complications such as illness or amputation. • The bandage could be used by military personnel wounded in the field, patients who have undergone surgery or who have suffered a serious wound and astronauts in space.

Current affairs quiz with answers

1.    Who of the following won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature? a)    Bob Dylan b)    Svetlana Alexievich c)    Patrick Modiano d)    Alice Munro 2.    What was the theme of International Day for Disaster Reduction that was observed on 13 October 2016? a)    Knowledge for Life b)    Resilience is for Life c)    Women and Girls: the [in]Visible Force of Resilience d)    Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality 3.    Who was appointed as Prime Minister of Morocco recently? a)    Abdelilah Benkirane b)    Luo Zhaohui c)    Antonio Guterres d)    Jim Yong Kim 4.    India stood at which rank in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2016? a)    53rd b)    76th c)    118th d)    97th 5.    Who of the following handed the ICC Test Championship mace to Indian Test captain Virat Kohli for leading his team to the top of the Test Team Rankings? a)    Kapil Dev b)    Sunil Gavaskar c)    Sachin Tendulkar d)    Anil Kumble 6.    Who of the following was the first Indian Captain under whom India received the ICC Test Championship mace? a)    Mahendra Singh Dhoni b)    Sunil Gavaskar c)    Sachin Tendulkar d)    Anil Kumble 7.    Name the city where the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) of Jammu & Kashmir is based. The institute saw attack by two terrorists in October 2016. a)    Lal Chowk b)    Anantnag c)    Pampore d)    Pahalgam 8.    Name the philanthropist and wife of Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej who passed away? a)    Tanya Dubash b)    Pirojsha Godrej c)    Nisa Godrej d)    Parmeshwar Godrej 9.    Which actor won the UK Theatre Awards 2016 for his individual contributions to British theatre? a)    Jim Haynes b)    Vanessa Redgrave c)    Sir Ian McKellen d)    Richard Demarco 10.    Which bank tied-up with Uber for cash-back of up to 25 percent for hailing cabs from the app? a)    Bank of Nova Scotia b)    Calyon Bank c)    Deutsche Bank d)    Standard Chartered Bank 11.    Who of the following topped the Test rankings for bowlers that was released in second week of October 2016? a)    Ravichandran Ashwin b)    Ravindra Jadeja c)    James Anderson d)    Dale Steyn 12.    How much amount will the Union Government invest to increase the capacity of Panipat Refinery from existing 15 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes? a)    15000 crore rupees b)    14000 crore rupees c)    10000 crore rupees d)    5000 crore rupees 13.    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration developed a high-tech electroactive bandage. It is made of which of the following materials? a)    Vinylidene Fluoride b)    Styrofoam c)    Phenol Formaldehyde d)    Polyvinylidene Flouride 14.    The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research recently established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH. Where is the station located? a)    Leh, Jammu & Kashmir b)    Kheerganga, Himachal Pradesh c)    Spiti, Himachal Pradesh d)    Zanskar, Jammu & Kashmir 15.    The National Seismic Programme was recently launched on Mahanadi basin in Odisha. Who will be responsible for carrying out the programme in the north-eastern states? a)    ONGC b)    Oil India Ltd c)    Essar Oil d)    Cairn India Answer 1. (a) Bob Dylan 2. (d) Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality 3. (a) Abdelilah Benkirane 4. (d) 97th 5. (b) Sunil Gavaskar 6. (a) Mahendra Singh Dhoni 7. (c) Pampore 8. (d) Parmeshwar Godrej 9. (c) Sir Ian McKellen 10. (d) Standard Chartered Bank 11. (a) Ravichandran Ashwin 12. (a) 15000 crore rupees 13. (d) Polyvinylidene Flouride 14. (c) Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 15. (b) Oil India Ltd

Current Affairs One liner of the Day

The recap of the day covers important current affairs of the day like 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, National Seismic Programme, and NASA’s high-tech electroactive bandage among others. •    He won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature - Bob Dylan •    The First World Tsunami Awareness Day will be celebrated at the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction 2016 on - 5 November 2016 •    The National Seismic Programme was recently launched on Mahanadi basin in Odisha to - carry out assessment of unappraised areas across the country for potential oil and natural gas reserves •    The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research recently established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH. It is located in - Spiti, Himachal Pradesh •    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration developed a high-tech electroactive bandage. It is made of - Polyvinylidene Flouride •    The amount to be invested by the Union Government in order to increase the capacity of Panipat Refinery from existing 15 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes is - 15000 crore rupees •    Person appointed as Prime Minister of Morocco recently- Abdelilah Benkirane •    Rank secured by India in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2016- 97th •    Philanthropist and wife of Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej who passed away- Parmeshwar Godrej •    Actor who won the UK Theatre Awards 2016 for his individual contributions to British theatre- Sir Ian McKellen •    Bank that tied-up with Uber for cash-back of up to 25 percent for hailing cabs from the app- Standard Chartered Bank •    Indian off-spinner who reclaimed the number one spot in Test rankings for bowlers is - Ravichandran Ashwin •    The first Indian Cricket Captain under whom India received the ICC Test Championship mace is - Mahendra Singh Dhoni •    He handed the ICC Test Championship mace to Indian Test captain Virat Kohli for leading his team to the top of the Test Team Rankings - Sunil Gavaskar •    City of Jammu and Kashmir in which Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) is located that was attacked by Terrorists in October 2016 is - Pampore •    Theme of International Day for Disaster Reduction that was observed on 13 October 2016 is - Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality