International Day for Right to Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations

International Day for Right to Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations 2017 observed 24 March: International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims was observed globally on 24 March 2017.  In particular, the day recognizes the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador, who was assasinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives. The Day aims to honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promotes the importance of the right to truth and justice. The day also pays tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all. Background On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed 25 March: International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members The 2017 International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members was observed on 25 March 2017. The day is observed each year on the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett. The day aims to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen United Nations’ resolve to protect the UN staff and peacekeepers, as well as their colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press. As of 15 March 2015, 33 UN and associated personnel were detained by State authorities in 15 countries.  One staff member is missing and two contractors remain in the custody of abductors. Who was Alec Collett?
• Alec Collett was a former journalist.
• He was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) when he was abducted by armed gunman in 1985.  
• His body was found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in the year 2009.

ICAR, ICRISAT signed collaborative agreement for crop improvement

ICAR, ICRISAT signed collaborative agreement for crop improvement The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on 15 March 2017 signed a collaborative agreement for crop improvement. The agreement was signed by Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) and  Dr David Bergvinson, Director General, ICRISAT in New Delhi. Highlights of the Agreement
• The agreement, which is called as the ICAR-ICRISAT collaborative work plan for the years 2016-18, facilitates the transfer of agricultural technologies between the two institutes.
• Climate smart crops, smart food and digitalization of breeding database are some of the core areas of research covered under the agreement.
• The partnership includes funding to research grain legumes and dryland cereals and support for the smart food initiative to deliver sustainable and nutritionally rich products to consumers. India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi
• On the crop improvement front, the agreement will also facilitate research activities on transgenic pigeonpea and chickpea for insect resistance.
• Other areas of focus over the next three years include the integration of  systems modelling tools to upscale climate resilient agriculture, development of genetic and genomic resources of finger millet and enhancement of genetic gains for priority traits.  About Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• The ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).
• It was established as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 by the British Government.
• The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
• With 101 Institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country, ICAR is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
• Its headquarters is located in New Delhi. India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers About International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
• It is an international organisation, which conducts agricultural research for rural development.
• It is headquartered at Patancheru in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It was established in 1972 by a consortium of organisations convened by the Ford and the Rockefeller foundations and its charter was signed by the FAO and the UNDP.

India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi

India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi The India-Russia Military Industrial Conference was on 17 March 2017 jointly inaugurated by the Union Minister of Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley and Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturovon in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the conference, two agreements were signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation of Russia. The agreements are related to general terms and conditions governing long term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance over five years for the Su-30 MKI aircraft. Highlights of India-Russia Military Industrial Conference
• The primary objective of the conference is to address issues related to life-cycle support and maintenance of major Russian-origin equipments and platforms such as SU-30 MKI aircraft, Mi-17 Helicopters, MiG-29K aircraft, INS Vikramaditya and T-90 tanks.
• Apart from the deliberations on various policy issues, break-out sessions on aerospace, naval systems and land systems were also held.
• About 150 representatives from Russia participated in the conference, which included over 100 representatives from its defence industry.
• Representatives of major Russian companies including United Aircraft Corporation, United Engine Corporation, RAC MiG, Russian Helicopters and Ural Vagonzavod participated in the conference.
• From the Indian side, over 100 private companies including several small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participated in the conference.
• The conference was organised by the Department of Defence Production of the Union Ministry of Defence.

Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units approved

Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units approved .The Union Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta on 16 March 2017 informed the Lok Sabha that the ministry approved the Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units. The minister also announced that the scheme will come into force on 1 April 2017. Features of Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units
• The scheme seeks to provide financial assistance in the form of capital subsidy to small powerloom units for installation of Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) plants.
• These SPV plants will alleviate the problem of power cuts and shortages faced by decentralized powerloom units in the country.
• Under the scheme, the plants have two options - (i) On-Grid Solar Power Plant in areas where power cuts and shortages are negligible and power tariff is high (ii) Off-Grid Solar Power Plant in areas where there is a power shortage and on-grid power is not continuously available Measures to boost powerloom sector Following are some of the initiatives of the Union Ministry of Textiles that seek to promote the powerloom sector across the country. Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS)
• It seeks to assist the entrepreneurs in establishing world-class units with modern infrastructure, latest technology and appropriate market linkages.
• In 2008-09, the scheme was launched in two clusters, namely, Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) and Erode (Tamil Nadu).
• In 2013-14, the Modified Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS) was launched in order to extend the original scheme to other parts of the country. Integrated Scheme for Power Sector Development
• The detailed guidelines of the scheme were issued in October 2013 by the Union Government.
• Its primary objective is to empower powerloom industry and build their capacity to meet the challenges of the market and global competition in a sustainable and self-reliant manner.
• It has five components, including market development programme, establishing common facility centres and organizing awareness programmes, seminars and workshops.
• A special purpose vehicle (SPV) was set up by the government to oversee the implementation of the scheme.

Weekly Current Affairs Quiz: 13 March to 19

Quizzes for the week 13 March to 19 March covers the most important happenings of the week. These quizzes will help you in revising the week at an ease, as it hosts the most important occurrences/happenings of the week that may be asked in the nearest competitive exam that will be faced by you. The quizzes covered in this weekly segment include Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme and All England Open.
1.    Union Minister Uma Bharti introduced the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha on 14 March 2017.
I.    The bill proposes the creation of a Single Standing Tribunal with multiple benches instead of the existing multiple tribunals.
II.    The bill proposes the appointment of Assessors to provide technical support to the tribunal.
III.    The bill proposes the introduction of a mechanism - Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to resolve disputes cordially through negotiations before it is referred to the tribunal.
IV.    The bill proposes the setting up of a transparent data collection system at the national level for each river basin and the establishment of a centre authorised agency for the same. Which among the above statements is correct with respect to the proposals mentioned in the bill?
a)    Only I and II
b)    All of the above
c)    None of the above
d)    Only IV

2.    The National security advisers in the US aren’t subject to Senate confirmation but the appointment of Lieutenant General HR McMaster to the post required a senate vote because:
I.    He refused to retire from military service
II.    He chose to remain as an active military officer
III.    Generals need chamber’s approval when they’re promoted IV.    He doesn’t have prior experience in serving a political office Which among the above statements is correct?
a)    All of the above
b)    None of the above
c)    I, II and III
d)    I, II and IV

3.    The Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on 15 March 2017. I.    The main objective of the scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging the gap in export infrastructure.
II.    The scheme would help in ensuring smoother movement in export cargo and better quality standards and certification.
III.    Under this scheme, all central and state agencies including Commodities Boards, SEZ authorities and Export Promotion Councils will be eligible for financial support.
IV.    The funding would be in form of grant-in-aid and in normal cases it would not be more than the equity being funded by the implementing agency. Which among the above sentences is correct with respect to the scheme’s objectives?
a)    All of the above
b)    Only I and II
c)    I, II and III
d)    I, II and IV

4.    The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga recently approved 20 projects worth nearly Rs 1900 crore. In this regard, consider the following statements.
I.    Out of 20 projects, 13 are in Uttarakhand.
II.    All the projects will be completely funded by the Union Government. Which is/are correct? a)    Only I
b)    Only II
c)    Both I and II
d)    Neither I nor II

5.    Tamil Nadu’s state budget for financial year 2017-18 was presented in the assembly on 16 March 2017. Consider the following statements in context to the 2017 Tamil Nadu Budget. Consider the following statements in context to the project
I.    It was presented by the Chief Minister E Palaniswami.
II.    The State Planning Commission has been replaced by the State Development Policy Council.
III.    Mookaiyur in Ramanathapuram district of the state will get new fishing harbor. Which is/are correct?
a)    Only I
b)    Only I and II
c)    Only II and III
d)    I, II and III

6.    Which country’s river has been granted same legal rights as that of a person?
a)    India
b)    New Zealand
c)    Brazil
d)    Greece

7.  Identify the former Chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission who was recently banned for lifetime by CAS in a doping case.
a)    Alexander Dyachenko
b)    Sergei Portugalov
c)    Anastasia Karabelshikova
d)    Ivan Podshivalov

8.    Who won the All England Open Men's Singles title?
a)    Lee Chong Wei
b)    Shi Yuqi
c)    Lin Dan
d)    Rashid Sidek

9.    Mission Fingerling was launched by which Ministry to achieve Blue Revolution?
a)    Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
b)    Ministry of Power
c)    Ministry of Food Processing Industries
d)    Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

10.    As per an announcement of the Railway Ministry, a museum will be built in this State in the honour of Swami Vivekananda.
a)    Uttarakhand
b)    West Bengal
c)    Tamil Nadu
d)    Gujarat

11.    Shashank Manohar resigned as the Chairman of which international sports body?
a)    International Olympic Committee (IOC)
b)    International Hockey Federation (FIH)
c)    International Cricket Council (ICC)
d)    International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

12.    Which bloc’s highest court ruled in favour of allowing employers to ban their workers from wearing visible religious symbols including the Hijab?
a)    NATO
b)    EU
c)    SAARC
d)    ASEAN

13.    World’s first fluorescent frog was recently discovered in which of the following countries?
a)    France
b)    Argentina
c)    Australia
d)    New Zealand

14.    Double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand announced her retirement from international cycling. She represented which country?
a)    Great Britain
b)    Australia
c)    United States of America
d)    New Zealand

15.    Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur recently? a)    Manohar Parrikar
b)    Laxmikant Parsekar
c)    M Venkaiah Naidu
d)    N Biren Singh  
ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION 1. (b) All of the above The Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Uma Bharti introduced the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha on 14 March 2017. The minister called the bill as a revolutionary step towards the resolution of Inter- State River Water Disputes.

2. (c) I, II and III Though National security advisers aren’t subject to Senate confirmation, McMaster’s appointment to the position of Trump’s National security adviser had to be considered because he chose to remain as an active military officer rather than retire from the service and generals need the chamber’s approval when they’re promoted or given a different assignment.

3. (a) All of the above Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on 15 March 2017. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging the gap in export infrastructure, which has not been addressed by any other scheme.

4. (c) Both I and II The Executive Committee (EC) of National Mission for Clean Ganga on 15 March 2017 approved 20 projects worth nearly Rs 1900 crore. Out of 20 projects, 13 are in Uttarakhand. All the above mentioned projects will be completely funded by the Union Government, including the expenditure on operation and maintenance of these projects.

5. (c) Only II and III The Budget was presented by D Jayakumar, the Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu.  State Development Policy Council that will be created as replacement of State Planning Commission will be responsible for advising the state government on policy coherence and formulation of porgrammes to guide development of State.

6. (b) New Zealand The Whanganui River in New Zealand has become the first landmark in the world to be granted the same legal rights as that of a human being, following a 140-year struggle. The river’s new legal identity comes with the passing of the Whanganui River Claims Settlement bill.

7. (b) Sergei Portugalov The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 13 March 2017 upheld a lifetime ban levied against Sergei Portugalov for his role in providing illicit substances to Russian athletes. He is former Chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission. The CAS upheld the ban as part of an arbitration involving the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Russian Athletics Federation.

8. (a) Lee Chong Wei Top-ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on 12 March 2017 won his fourth All England Open crown.  He defeated first-time finalist Shi Yuqi of China 21-12, 21-10, to grab the Men’s Singles title at the tournament.

9. (a) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare The main motive behind Mission Fingerling is to enhance the fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15) to 15 mmt by 2020-21.

10. (c) Tamil Nadu The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 12 March 2017 announced that a rail museum would be built at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, where Swami Vivekananda delivered his elated speech.

11. (c) International Cricket Council (ICC) Shashank Manohar, the chairman of the International Cricket Council announced on 15 March 2017 that he will be resigning from his position due to personal reasons. His resignation would be effective immediately.

12. (b) EU The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg, the highest court in the European Union recently passed a ruling, allowing companies to ban staff from wearing visible religious symbols including Islamic headscarves at work.

13. (b) Argentina A group of scientists discovered the world’s first fluorescent frog (Hypsiboas punctatus) near Santa Fe in Argentina. The frog sports a muted palette of greens, yellows and reds under normal light, but emits a bright blue and green glow in the dark. The scientists found that the South American polka dot tree frog uses fluorescent molecules totally unlike those found in other animals.

14. (a) Great Britain Double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand on 14 March 2017 announced her retirement from international cycling. She had won the women's team pursuit at four editions of the World Championships (2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014). She grabbed the gold medal in the same discipline at the Olympic Games in London and Rio in 2012 and 2016. She represented the Great Britain Cycling Team.

15. (d) N Biren Singh After the declaration of the results of Manipur Elections 2017, Manipur Governor Najma Haptullah invited the BJP-led coalition to form the next government in the state after being assured of requisite support from regional parties and Independents.

Yogi Adityanath elected as Leader of UP

Yogi Adityanath elected as Leader of UP BJP State Legislature Party Gorakhpur Member of Parliament (MP) Yogi Adityanath was on 18 March 2017 elected as the Leader of UP BJP State Legislature Party. With this election, Yogi Adityanath is set to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He will sworn-in on 19 March 2017 at a ceremony in Lucknow, which is expected to be attended by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Who is Yogi Aditynath?
• He was born on 15 June 1972 in Panchur, Uttarakhand.
• He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Science from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand.
• So far he was elected to the Lok Sabha for 5 times. He got elected for the first time in 1998 and his recent electoral victory was in the 2014 general elections.
• As a Member of the Parliament, he was part of various committees that include Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution, Committee on External Affairs and Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.
• Adityanath became the Mahant of the Gorakhnath Mutt following the death of Mahant Avaidyanath in September 2014.
• Besides his political activities, he is known in Uttar Pradesh for his active involvement in social and cultural activities that include providing hostel for socially and economically weaker and backward children and working for mass-awakening against religious and social conventions.

Current Affairs Quiz: 18 March 2017

These quizzes will help you in answering questions which can/may be asked in the next exam that will be faced by you. The day’s updated quizzes cover the topics like New CM of Uttarakhand, WHO Regional Health Ministers’ Meeting on TB and Swachhta Pakhwada among others.
1. Who was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand?
a)    Trivendra Singh Rawat
b)    Harish Rawat
c)    Satpal Maharaj
d)    Prakash Pant

2. B P Kanungo was recently appointed as the Deputy Governor in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for three years. He will replace ____? a)    V Acharya
b)    S S Mundra
c)    R Gandhi
d)    Harun R Khan

3. The Union Government in recent past revised the Mode of Moderation and Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Border Haats with this country.
a)    Myanmar
b)    Nepal
c)    Bangladesh
d)    Sri Lanka

4. G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting was hosted by
a)    Germany
b)    India
c)    Saudi Arabia
d)    Australia

5. This State Government launched the Adarsh Gram Yojana for Rural Poor recently.
a)    Assam
b)    Arunachal Pradesh
c)    Tripura
d)    Manipur

6. Amit Agarwal was appointed as the senior vice president of this multinational company.
a)    Amazon.com
b)    Dell
c)    Walmart
d)    IBM

7. This State government approved the Housing Guarantee Bill, 2017 to assure housing for each and every citizen in the State.
a)    Karnataka
b)    Rajasthan
c)    Bihar
d)    Madhya Pradesh

8. UN’s meeting on Strengthening Railway Transport Connectivity in South and South-West Asia concluded in
a)    Dhaka
b)    Karachi
c)    Colombo
d)    New Delhi

9. This Indian city hosted the WHO Regional Health Ministers’ Meeting on TB recently.
a)    Mumbai
b)    New Delhi
c)    Chennai
d)    Hyderabad

10. Which Union Ministry successfully celebrated Swachhta Pakhwada?
a)    Human Resources Development
b)    Women and Child Development
c)    Commerce and Industry
d)    Health and Family Welfare

11. Who among the following was designated as the leader of the Uttar Pradesh BJP State Legislature Party?
a)    Keshav Prasad Maurya
b)    Manoj Sinha
c)    Yogi Adityanath
d)    Om Mathur

12. The Union Government unveiled the revised Building Code 2017 to meet the vision of – “Housing For All” by
a)    2020
b)    2021
c)    2022
d)    2023

13. The 3-day long India’s largest Engineering Sourcing Show opened in
a)    Chennai
b)    Kolkata
c)    Mumbai
d)    Pune

14. Which party won the highest number of seats in the recently concluded elections to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands?
a)    Party for Freedom
b)    People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
c)    Christian Democratic Appeal d)    Democrats 66

15. The SRCC Global Millennium Summit 2017 was inaugurated in a)    Dubai
b)    London
c)    New York
d)    Berlin  
ANSWERS 1. (a) Trivendra Singh Rawat
2. (c) R Gandhi
3. (c) Bangladesh
4. (a) Germany
5. (b) Arunachal Pradesh
6. (a) Amazon
7. (d) Madhya Pradesh
8. (d) New Delhi
9. (b) New Delhi
10. (b) Women and Child Development
11. (c) Yogi Adityanath
12. (c) 2022
13. (a) Chennai
14. (b) People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
15. (a) Dubai

Current Affairs One liners of the Week: 12 March to 18 March 2017

The important happenings of the week covered in this segment include Union Cabient decisions, Bandhan Bank and BSNL among others.
• This state is hosting the three-day international Buddhist conference – Bihar
• The G20 meet of finance ministers and central bank governors is going to be held in this member economy – Germany
• India signed a social security agreement with this country- Brazil
• This river, which is viewed by the Maori Iwi tribe in New Zealand as their ancestor, has been legally granted the status of a person - Whanganui River
• Incumbent Chief Minister of Manipur who resigned from the post - Okram Ibobi Singh
• Union Commerce and Industry Minister who introduced the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha - Nirmala Sitharaman
• State government that officially launched women safety application Ammavin Aran - Tamil Nadu
• Cricketer who was appointed as the Ambassador of Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 - Sachin Tendulkar
• B P Kanungo was recently appointed as the Deputy Governor in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for three years. He will replace - R Gandhi
• The Indian-American teen who recently won the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search bagging the top award of USD 250000 is - Indrani Das
• The Indian badminton player who was recently included as a member of the governing body of the Sports Authority of India is - Jwala Gutta
• Scientists recently discovered a pair of 1.6 billion-year-old fossils that appear to contain red algae. These fossils were discovered at – Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh
• The Private-sector bank who recently signed a pact with Avenues India to enhance customer support is - Bandhan Bank
• The US state that has recognised 16 March as Indian-American Appreciation Day to honour an Indian techie, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was killed in a racially-motivated hate crime in February 2017 is - Kansas
• The temporary suspension of the premium processing of H-1B visas in US will end on – 3 April 2017
• The two state-run telecom firms for whose long-term survival, a Parliamentary panel in its report has suggested their merger are - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)
• US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by - 0.25%
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to permit Indian Oil to sale this much per cent of the equity in Lubrizol India to Lubrizol Corporation – 24 per cent
• The government of this State proposed to set up a Cashew Development Board for developing 10,000 hectares of good quality of cashew orchards over the next 5 years – Karnataka
• The Union Cabinet apprised of MoUs for cooperation in youth and sports matters with these two countries recently - Indonesia & Kyrgyzstan
• The Union Cabinet approved introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT PPP) Bill, 2017, which grants - statutory status to the fifteen Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public Private Partnership and declares them as Institutions of National Importance • The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga recently approved 20 projects worth - nearly Rs 1900 crore
• Snapdeal partnered with Japan External Trade Organisation to - sell Japanese products
• As per the Women in Politics Map 2017 launched by the UN, India stands at - 148
• This US state’s federal judge has issued a nationwide order banning President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on immigration ban from six Muslim-majority nations – Hawaii
• The US Senate in a recent vote confirmed the appointment of this former Republican Senator as Trump’s new Director of National Intelligence - Dan Coats
• This Lieutenant General required Senate approval for his appointment to the position as Trump’s National security adviser as he chose to remain as an active military officer - HR McMaster
• The Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched this scheme with the aim of bridging the gap in export infrastructure - Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES)
• Person sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur recently - N Biren Singh
• World Consumer Rights Day was observed on 15 March 2017 with theme - Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust
• Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2017 (HR 1449) was introduced in the US House of Representatives by - Ted Poe, the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism
• Double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand announced her retirement from international cycling. She represented - the Great Britain Cycling Team
• World’s first fluorescent frog was recently discovered near - Santa Fe in Argentina
• Madhukar Gupta Committee recently submitted its report to Union Government. The committee was constituted to - strengthen border protection
• The governing body that recently roped in three scientific advisors to work with fitness aspects of its senior and junior national teams is - Hockey India
• This bloc’s highest court ruled in favour of allowing employers to ban their workers from wearing visible religious symbols including the hijab – European Union
• This former President of the BCCI resigned as the chairman of International Cricket Council - Shashank Manohar
• This Indian city is hosting the three-day international conference on Vision Zero and its relevance to Occupational Safety and Health - Delhi
• Volkswagen Group signed a MoU with this Indian automobile company for exploring joint development projects - Tata Motors
• It is in this city the Krishi Unnati Mela 2017 was inaugurated – New Delhi
• As per an announcement of the Railway Ministry, a museum will be built in this State in the honour of Swami Vivekananda – Tamil Nadu • This country inducted China’s Low to Medium Altitude Air Defence System (LOMADS) LY 80 in its air defence system recently – Pakistan • The theme of the 2017 Commonwealth Day - A peace-building Commonwealth
• Union government launched the Blue Revolution programme at a total expenditure of - Rs 52000 Lakh
• The bank that announced a one-time farm loan settlement scheme worth Rs 6000 crore primarily for tractors is - State Bank of India
• The 2017 IEEE Spectrum Technology in the Service of Society Award was won by – IIT-Madras
• NTPC installed India’s largest Floating Solar PV Plant at RGCCPP Kayamkulam in the State of – Kerala
• The State Government that announced KCR Kit Scheme to distribute 16 essential things needed for a new born baby is – Telangana
• He was appointed as the chairman of the Central Water Commission – Narendra Kumar
• This country is planning to send its largest warship on a 3-month tour through the South China Sea, in its biggest show of naval forces since World War II – Japan
• This country celebrates National Elephant Day on 13 March – Thailand
• This popular cab service has launched ‘realtime ID check’ in India to ensure rider safety – Uber
• This state will be hosting the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship to be held in July 2017 - Odisha
• Ministry that launched Mission Fingerling to achieve Blue Revolution - Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• George A. Olah, the Nobel laureate who passed away, won the Nobel prize in - Chemistry
• Noted film director Diphan, who died recently, was well known for making films in - Malayalam
• The winner of the All England Open Men's Singles title is - Lee Chong Wei
• The former Chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission who was recently banned for lifetime by CAS in a doping case is - Sergei Portugalov
• N.K. Sinha, Secretary of Union Ministry of Culture, recently inaugurated an exhibition “Revolutionary Patriots (1905-1947)” on the occasion of - 127th Foundation Day of National Archives of India
• Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare Minister, recently laid the foundation stone of the Banana Research Centre at - Vaishali, Bihar • Her name was confirmed by the US Senate as administrator of the 1 trillion dollars Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with 55-43 votes - Seema Verma
• He was given the additional charge of the Defence Minister - Arun Jaitley
• He was elected leader of BJP legislature party in Manipur - Biren Singh
• In UK, the House of Lords has passed the Brexit bill, which will allow government to trigger an Article to pave its way to leave the European Union (EU) - Article 50
• India's aviation regulator DGCA has asked airlines to disallow oversized hand baggages on flights operating to - Performance Limited Airports
• According to a report of this organisation, the US President Donald Trump gave the CIA the green signal to conduct drone strikes against suspected terrorists - the Wall Street Journal
• This country has sought two more years from the UN Human Rights Council to probe the alleged war crimes committed during the conflict with the LTTE - Sri Lanka

Current Affairs Quiz: 16 March 2017

These quizzes will help you in answering questions which can/may be asked in the next exam that will be faced by you. The day’s updated quizzes cover the topics like launch of Women in Politics Map 2017, IIIT PPP Bill, 2017 and US Federal Reserve raised among others.
1. As per the Women in Politics Map 2017 launched by the UN, India stands at which number?
a) 142
b) 149
c) 144
d) 148

2. Snapdeal partnered with which of the following trade organisations to sell Japanese products?
a) JETRO
b) METRO
c) JATRO
d) MATRO

3. The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga recently approved 20 projects worth nearly Rs 1900 crore. In this regard, consider the following statements.
I. Out of 20 projects, 13 are in Uttarakhand.
II. All the projects will be completely funded by the Union Government. Which is/are correct? a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I and II
d) Neither I nor II

4. The Union Cabinet approved introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT PPP) Bill, 2017. The bill grants statutory status to how many IIITs in Public Private Partnership and declares them as Institutions of National Importance?
a) Fifteen
b) Sixteen
c) Twenty
d) Ten

5. The US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by
a) 0.15 per cent
b) 0.25 per cent
c) 0.50 per cent
d) 0.75 per cent

6. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to permit Indian Oil to sale this much per cent of the equity in Lubrizol India to Lubrizol Corporation.
a) 14 per cent
b) 24 per cent
c) 34 per cent
d) 44 per cent

7. Which State government proposed to set up a Cashew Development Board for developing 10,000 hectares of good quality of cashew orchards?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Assam
d) Karnataka

8. The Union Cabinet apprised of MoUs for cooperation in youth and sports matters with these two countries recently.
a) Indonesia & Kyrgyzstan
b) Tajikistan & Vietnam
c) Indonesia & Malaysia
d) Malaysia & Kyrgyzstan

9. Name the person who introduced Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2017 in its the US House of Representatives.
a) John Culberson
b) Gene Green
c) Joe Barton
d) Ted Poe

10. Name the bank that announced a one-time farm loan settlement scheme worth Rs 6000 crore primarily for tractors.
a) State Bank of India
b) Punjab National Bank
c) Allahabad Bank
d) Axis Bank

11. Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur recently?
a) Manohar Parrikar
b) Laxmikant Parsekar
c) M Venkaiah Naidu
d) N Biren Singh

12. What was the theme of the 2017 Commonwealth Day?
a) A peace-building Commonwealth
b) Team Commonwealth
c) An Inclusive Commonwealth
d) A Young Commonwealth

13. Union government launched the Blue Revolution programme at a total expenditure of what amount?
a) Rs 48000 lakh
b) Rs 52000 lakh
c) Rs 55000 lakh
d) Rs 62000 lakh

14. The National security advisers in the US aren’t subject to Senate confirmation but the appointment of Lieutenant General HR McMaster to the post required a senate vote because:
I. He refused to retire from military service
II. He chose to remain as an active military officer
III. Generals need chamber’s approval when they’re promoted IV. He doesn’t have prior experience in serving a political office Which among the above statements is correct?
a) All of the above
b) None of the above
c) I, II and III
d) I, II and IV

15. The Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on 15 March 2017. I. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging the gap in export infrastructure.
II. The scheme would help in ensuring smoother movement in export cargo and better quality standards and certification.
III. Under this scheme, all central and state agencies including Commodities Boards, SEZ authorities and Export Promotion Councils will be eligible for financial support.
IV. The funding would be in form of grant-in-aid and in normal cases it would not be more than the equity being funded by the implementing agency. Which among the above sentences is correct with respect to the scheme’s objectives?
a) All of the above
b) Only I and II
c) I, II and III
d) I, II and IV

ANSWER 1. (d) 148 2.
(a) JETRO
3. (c) Both I and II
4.(a) Fifteen
5. (b) 0.25per cent
6. (b) 24per cent
7. (d) Karnataka
8. (a) Indonesia & Kyrgyzstan
9.. (d) Ted Poe
10. (a) State Bank of India
11. (d) N Biren Singh
12. (a) A peace-building Commonwealth
13. (b) 52000 lakh
14. (c) I, II and III
15. (a) All of the above

World’s oldest red algae fossils found in India

World’s oldest red algae fossils found in India A group of scientists in India unearthed a pair of 1.6 billion-year-old fossils that appear to contain red algae. It is estimated that it may be the oldest plant-like life discovered on Earth. The study was published in March 2017 in the journal PLOS Biology. As per the paper, until now, the oldest known red algae were 1.2 billion years old. Key highlights of the study
• The preserved fossils came from phosphorite deposits at Jankikund, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh.
• The samples were analyzed by Professor Stefan Bengtson at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and co-authors.
• They discovered two kinds of fossils resembling red algae. One type is thread-like (named Rafatazmia chitrakootensis) and another consists of fleshy colonies (Ramathallus lobatus).
• The researchers looked inside the algae with the help of synchrotron-based X-ray tomographic microscopy.
• The rocks mainly consist of calcium and magnesium carbonates. However, the microbial mats and the fossils are preserved in calcium phosphate, which allowed the researchers to view the cellular and subcellular structures in three dimensions with the use of synchrotron-radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy.
• In addition, they also found regularly recurring platelets in each cell, which are believed to be parts of chloroplasts.
• Also, distinct and regular structures at the center of each cell wall were also found. It is rather typical of red algae.

H-1B premium processing suspended to handle huge rush

H-1B premium processing suspended to handle huge rush: US The United States (US) has temporarily suspended the premium processing of H-1B visas. H-1B visas, which are popular among Indian IT firms and professionals. The US that gave the information about this suspension in the second week of March 2017 said the temporary ban was implemented to handle the huge rush of applications for the work visas in the first week of April. EU court allows employers to ban workers from wearing religious symbols At the time of suspension of the H-1B premium processing, the petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, request for premium processing service, for a Form I-129, petition for a nonimmigrant worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. In the case of such H-1B petition during the period will be rejected. As per reports, Lori Scialabba, the acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told members of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management efficiency that US will start accepting applications for H-1B work visas from 3 April 2017 for fiscal 2018. A notification on the official website of the department of homeland security says, “All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected”. Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act introduced in US House of Representatives Scialabba informed that USCIS receives about two lakh or more H-1B applications for processing in the first week of April. She also said, once the suspension is lifted, people will be able to file for premium processing and their application will be processed within 15 days. H-1B Program The programme allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific speciality, or its equivalent. H-1B speciality occupations may include fields such as science, engineering and information technology. Under the H-1B programme, US issue an H-1B visa, which is a non-immigrant visa for foreigners. These visas are provided to foreigners for being employed in US companies.

World Bank Group approved USD 210 million for strengthening gram panchayats in West Bengal

World Bank Group approved USD 210 million for strengthening gram panchayats in West Bengal  The World Bank Group (WBG) on 15 March 2017 approved USD 210 million loan to strengthen gram panchayats (GPs) in West Bengal. The loan amount will be utilized for the implementation of the Phase II of the West Bengal Support to Institutional Strengthening of Gram Panchayat Program (ISGPP-II). The ISGPP-II will support all 3,342 GPs in the state to effectively utilize untied and discretionary funds that are being provided to them under the inter-governmental fiscal transfer system. Features of West Bengal Support to Institutional Strengthening of Gram Panchayat Program (ISGPP)
• The program seeks to strengthen local communities’ participation in the planning, budgeting and financial management of projects undertaken in rural areas.
• During the first phase of this project (ISGPP-I), performance-based block grants (PBG) were given to 1,000 better performing GPs within nine districts for investing in priority local infrastructure and service delivery projects.
• So far, 92,000 activities were carried out by the GPs under the ISGPP. Out of them, while 54 per cent of the activities belonged to the transport sector, 23 per cent in the areas concerning water and sanitation.
• Similar activities are envisioned under ISGPP-II for all 3,342 GPs. These activities will generate economic benefits including employment generation and increased efficiency in spending. World Bank Board approves USD 175 million National Hydrology Project of India
• The ISGPP-II will accelerate the pace of decentralization to all GPs across West Bengal through a state-wide unified performance-based grant (PBG) allocation system.
• In order to access the PBG, GPs will be assessed on an annual basis through an independent Annual Performance Assessment (APA).
• The APA will be conducted for all 3,342 GPs in key performance areas including planning and budgeting, project execution and service delivery, accounting, financial reporting and auditing and transparency and accountability.
• Some of the other areas that the program will focus on include building human resource capacity for increased transparency and accountability in local government functioning.
• To achieve these goals, a robust internal audit system will also be developed and implemented in all the GPs.

G20 meet of finance ministers and central bank governors to begin in Germany

G20 meet of finance ministers and central bank governors to begin in Germany The finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 economies (G20) are due to meet in Baden-Baden in Germany from 17-18 March 2017. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening economic resilience in finance and digitalisation and to promote investment in Africa. Key Highlights
• The meeting will provide a preliminary discussion platform for the finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss their points ahead of the G20 Summit of heads of state and government that will be held in Hamburg, Germany from 7-8 July.
• All the focus will be on whether they are able to agree to work together to promote free trade between themselves despite the protectionist tendency of the United States.
• This meet will be the first such gathering of leaders to discuss global economic challenges since Donald Trump took over as the President of United States in January 2017.
• While most of the G20 nations have been in agreement that encouraging free trade is the way to foster the world economy, Trump administration has been seen taking a protectionist stance on the same, saying it is a part of their effort to save jobs in the US.
• The results of the meeting will be shared by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann in a news conference, which is to be held on 18 March 2017.
• The G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs will be convening again at the International Monetary Fund's spring and annual meetings in April and October 2017 in Washington DC. India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers World Bank Board approves USD 175 million National Hydrology Project of India About G20
• It is an international forum comprising governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.
• It was founded in 1999 with the aim of achieving international coordination on policy issues to promote international financial stability.
• The group seeks to address issues that are beyond the responsibility of a particular organisation.
• Some of the member economies include the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, China, Australia, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers

India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers Jwala Gutta included in Governing Body of Sports Authority of India and Brazil signed a social security agreement on 16 March 2017 in Brazil's capital Brasilia, exempting detached workers of the two countries from making social security contribution in either country, as long as they were making such contributions in their own respective nations. The text was signed between the Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary of the External Affairs Ministry, K Nagaraj Naidu and Brazilian delegation led by Benedito A Brunca, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of Brazil. The same was confirmed through a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. Who are detached workers? They are the workers sent by their respective employers to work in the office of their company or an affiliated one located in a different country. Key Highlights
• The agreement establishes the rights and obligations of nationals belonging to both the countries and provides for their equal treatment and unrestricted payment of pensions even in the case of residence in the other contracting state.
• The requirements to be entitled for pension can be met by aggregating the periods of insurance completed in India and Brazil, whereby each country pays only the pension for the insurance periods covered by its laws.
• India has, so far, signed such Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with 18 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and South Korea.
• The agreement will come into force in the first half of 2018. It will have a positive impact on the profitability and competitive position of companies of both India and Brazil that are operating in either’s territory.
• The agreement will also help promote more investment flow between the two countries.
• Once the text comes into force, it will be the first such agreement between the BRICS nations.

Jwala Gutta included in Governing Body of Sports Authority of India

Jwala Gutta included in Governing Body of Sports Authority of India Commonwealth badminton doubles gold medallist Jwala Gutta in the second week of March 2017 was included as a member of the governing body of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). In addition, BV Papa Rao, IAS (retired), was also added to the newly constituted governing body. He has the experience of being an officer on special duty of SAI from 1985 to 1990. At present, he is a sports administrator and advisor to Telangana Government. About Jwala Gutta
• Jwala Gutta is a left-handed Indian badminton player.
• She is India’s most successful doubles specialist.
• She has won the National Badminton Championships fourteen times.
• She has won numerous medals for Indian badminton including the bronze medal BWF World Championships in 2011 and a gold and silver at 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games respectively in women's doubles. • In 2011, she was awarded the Arjuna Award, India's second highest sporting award, for her achievements. About Sports Authority of India
• The Sports Authority of India is an apex National Sports body.
• It was set up in 1984 by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
• It was instituted for broad basing and bringing excellence in sports across India.
• SAI has 9 Regional Centres, which are located at Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Chandigarh,Kolkata, Imphal, Guwahati, Bhopal, Mumbai,Lucknow and Sonepat.
• It has two Academic institutions, which are Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NS NIS), Patiala and Laxmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).

Bibhu Prasad Kanungo appointed as Deputy Governor

Bibhu Prasad Kanungo appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI Odisha's Bibhu Prasad Kanungo was on 14 March 2017 appointed as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from April 2017. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for a period of three years. He will succeed R Gandhi. Kanungo is the second person from Odisha to be appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI after Harun Rashid Khan whose term ended in July 2016. About Bibhu Prasad Kanungo
• In March 2016, Kanungo was appointed as Executive Director of RBI.
• He was in charge of Foreign Exchange Department before taking over as Executive Director of RBI.
• Earlier, he had served as RBI’s Regional Director in Jaipur and Kolkata.
• He also served as the Banking Intermediary for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• He began his banking career in 1979 by joining Oriental Bank of Commerce as a Probationary Officer and later in 1980, he joined RBI as an Officer.
• Kanungo is Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers and also holds a degree in Law (LLB) from Utkal University.
• He hails from Kendrapara district of Odisha.