October 25, 2017 - Current Affairs Quiz - Current Affairs MCQ

Answer – 4. Vasco da Gama
Explanation
About Vasco da Gama:
Occupation – Portuguese explorer
Highlight – first European to reach India by sea. A navigation tool recovered from a ship of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, that guided ships to India in the 16th century, has been confirmed as the world’s oldest astrolabe (maritime navigation tool).

Answer – 1. Union Environment Ministry
Explanation
The Supreme Court has fined of Rs 2 lakh on the Union Environment Ministry for not fixing the pollution emission standards of Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide for 34 categories of industries as per May 2 order and also SC banned of using pet coke and furnace oil in Delhi and the NCR to control the air pollution.
The bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta noted that in its May 2 order had directed the ministry and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to fix sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides standards for these industries and had said that standards should be fixed on or before June 30 in view of the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Answer – 3. 28
Explanation
India has ranked 28th out of 30 countries in the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index 2017 published by Australian Centre for Financial Studies (ACFS). The index reviewed pension system of 30 countries which together cover 60 percent of the world’s population. Although India has ranked 28th, its pension system has been adjudged as more sustainable than that of Poland, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Austria, Brazil, China and Argentina.

Answer – 3. Building highways
Explanation
About Bharatmala Project: Launched in – July 2017,Undertaken by – Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Objective – To build highways through economic corridors centred around manufacturing hubs and improving road connectivity to border areas, coastal areas and ports.

Answer – 4. Odisha
Explanation
Odisha will be the ‘Focus State’ in the World Food India (WFI)-2017, the international food event to be held at New Delhi from 3 to 5 November 2017. More than 200 global companies from 30 countries would participate in the World Food India-2017. Odisha would set up its own Pavilion with 12 stalls. It would showcase various processed food items of Odisha like spices, cashew, confectionary items, processed agro food and sea food.

Answer – 2. Asian Development bank
Explanation
Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed a $300 million loan to continue fiscal reforms in West Bengal aimed at improving the quality of public service delivery. Funds procured through this loan will be deployed in the second phase of West Bengal Development Finance Program which has a target to increase public investment by reducing unproductive expenditure and generate savings from efficiencies in revenue collections.

Answer – 3. L&T
Explanation
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has been honoured with the CII Industrial Innovation Award, 2017 in New Delhi. This award is referred as one of the most innovative Indian companies in the services category at the CII Industrial Innovation Awards ceremony in New Delhi. The Confederation of Indian Industry praised LTTS’ efforts to create a collaborative ecosystem comprising of global technology firms and internationally reputed institutes such as the Indian Institute of Science, IITs, Germany’s Fraunhofer and US-based Purdue University to make advances in R&D, creating best in class engineering solutions that can benefit the nation.

Answer – 2. Classical singer
Explanation
Famous classical singer and Padma Vibhushan awardee Girija Devi died of cardiac arrest, at BM Birla Heart Research Centre, in Kolkata. She was 88 years old. She was admitted to BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata with cardiovascular ailments. She died at 8.45 pm on 24th October 2017 due to cardiac arrest. She is survived by a daughter.

Answer – 2. Brasilia
Explanation
The first International Day of Diplomats was celebrated in Brasilia. Diplomats of Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey participated in the First International Day of Diplomats celebration in Brasilia. The idea of celebrating International Day of Diplomats is to recognise the hard work and sacrifices of diplomats and their families. This idea has gained wide support from the international community, including diplomats of various countries.

Answer – 2. Suresh Prabhu
Explanation
Minister for Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu launched the official website for the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). CIPAM has been set up under the support of DIPP to implement the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy. Secretary of DIPP, Ramesh Abhishek was also present during the launch.

Answer – 3. Battery
Explanation
Researchers from Brunel University in the UK have developed the first 3D printed wearable ‘battery’. The 3D printing method of the wearable ‘battery’ stacks silicone, glue and gel electrolyte, layer by layer to make a supercapacitor. The supercapacitor stores energy on its surface without chemical reactions.

Answer – 2. Delhi and the NCR
Explanation
The Supreme Court has fined of Rs 2 lakh on the Union Environment Ministry for not fixing the pollution emission standards of Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide for 34 categories of industries as per May 2 order and also SC banned of using pet coke and furnace oil in Delhi and the NCR to control the air pollution.

Answer – 4. Sana Iqbal
Explanation
Cross-country woman bike rider Sana Iqbal died in a car accident in Hyderabad. Sana Iqbal met with a car accident while driving with her husband Abdul Nadeem in Hyderabad. She had severe head injuries and was declared dead while undergoing treatment at a nearby private hospital. She fought against suicide and depression by spreading awareness through her bike rides.

Answer – 3. 10
Explanation
As per 2015 proposal of Government, biochemical oxygen demand (BoD) in water treated by upcoming STPs should not be more than 10 mg/litre. BoD is a marker for organic pollutants in the water.mThis requirement has been eased and now upcoming STPs will have to conform only to 30 mg/litre of BoD (permitted by the current law).

Answer – 5. CISCO
Explanation
American technology conglomerate, Cisco Systems has finalised a deal to acquire American communication software and service provider BroadSoft for $1.9 billion. The acquisition deal will be completed during the first quarter of 2018. CISCO will pay $55 per share in cash. This deal will enable CISCO to migrate away from its stagnating switches and routers business and will help to foray in selling unified communications software to big telecommunications firms.

Answer – 4. To Contest in the Upcoming Parliamentary Elections
Explanation
Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Nepal’s ambassador to India has resigned from his position to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections. He handed over his resignation to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara on 6th October 2017. A cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on 23rd October 2017 accepted the resignation of Upadhyay.

Answer – 4. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje
Explanation
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje launched an e-book titled ‘India 2017 Yearbook’. ‘India 2017 Yearbook’ was compiled by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and former Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi. Rajiv Mehrishi said that, the e-book includes lot of information on important dignitaries, state policy, public schemes and important data about demographics, trade, economy and many other topics.

Answer – 5. China
Explanation
Electric car maker Tesla has set up its first electric car manufacturing plant outside the US at Shangai in China. China has the world’s largest auto industry. China charges a tariff of 25 percent on imported cars when compared with 2.5 percent in the United States and 9.8 percent in the European Union. China also has a 17 percent VAT that is charged not only on the price of the car but also on the tariff, so that the taxes are effectively compounded.

Answer – 1. Finance Minister
Explanation
On October 24, 2017, Union Government announced to infuse Rs. 2.11 lakh crore capital over the next two years into public sector banks (PSBs). This announcement was made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley post a cabinet meeting in which this recapitalisation plan was approved. 18000 crore out of Rs. 2.11 lakh crore will be funded through Government’s Indradhanush Plan. In 2015 Government had announced Indradhnush Plan to infuse Rs 70,000 crore in public sector banks over four years to meet their capital requirement as per Basel –III norms.

Answer – 5. Singapore
Explanation
As per ‘Global Passport Power Rank 2017’, compiled by international financial advisory firm Arton Capital, passport of Singapore is now the “most powerful” passport in the world. Next to Singapore its Germany, Sweden and South Korea.

Answer – 1. 4 days
Explanation
On 24th – 27th October 2017, Chhat Pooja is celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Chhath Puja is one of the most ancient Hindu Vedic festivals. The festival is observed for 4 days. It is dedicated to lord Surya, the Hindu Sun god and his wife Usha. Pujas are performed to obtain their blessings and support to sustain life on earth. The main day, or Chhath, falls on October 26. It is named so, because chhath means sixth, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika.

Answer – 4. Madhya Pradesh
Explanation
Madhya Pradesh was the first state to announce that starting from 2018, it will switch to January-December financial from the existing April-March cycle. It was also announced that current fiscal works will be completed by December 2017 and next year’s budget will be presented by end of December 2017 or in beginning of January 2017.

Answer – 2. Madras High Court
Explanation
The Madras High Court has banned the use of photographs or pictures of living persons on banners, flex boards and signboards in Tamil Nadu. The order states that, pictures of the chief minister, ministers or politicians cannot be used in posters or hoardings. It has also banned the use of photos of people sponsoring the pictures. The Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to make sure that provisions of the Tamil Nadu open places (prevention of disfigurement) act, 1959, were amended from time to time.

Answer – 4. Netherlands
Explanation
There world’s first 3D-printed concrete bridge was inaugurated at the southeastern town of Gemert, Netherlands. The bridge is 26 feet long and less than 12 feet wide. The bridge is made of reinforced, pre-stressed concrete. Printing the bridge took around 3 months. It consists of nearly 800 layers. The bridge was commissioned by the province of North-Brabant and led by the company BAM Infra. The bridge’s elements were printed locally at the Eindhoven University of Technology.

Answer – 1. Ministries of Power and Textiles
Explanation
Ministries of Power and Textiles jointly launched SAATHI (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help small Industries). Under the SAATHI initiative, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), would provide energy efficient Powerlooms, motors and Rapier kits to the small and medium Powerloom units at no upfront cost. EESL is a public sector entity under the administrative control of Ministry of Power.

Answer – 2. Jharsuguda
Explanation
Odisha’s second airport at Jharsuguda town would be ready for operation by the end of November. The airport is among five airports in Odisha chosen to provide regional flight services under the Centre’s ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’ (UDAN) scheme.

Answer – 2. Alok Kumar Pateria
Explanation
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Alok Kumar Pateria, IPS (Indian Police Service) Officer (MP:86) as Additional Director General (ADG) of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). His appointment has been made on deputation basis for a period up to 31.05.2020. This is the date of his superannuation from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.