GK & Current Affairs : November 24, 2016

1. “Smart Water Distribution Monitoring” web portal has been launched by which state government ?
[A]Andhra Pradesh
[B]Telangana
[C]Kerala
[D]Tamil Nadu
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government has recently launched the “Smart Water Distribution Monitoring” web interface through which people can check the status of drinking water in the water tanks nearby. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system helps in reduction of water wastage as well as ensure seamless supply to the households. The monitoring portal is a part of ourvmc.org from where it can be accessed.
2. Which of the following entities has launched India’s first payment bank?
[A]Reliance Industries
[B]Airtel M Commerce Services
[C]Vodafone M-Pesa
[D]FINO PayTech
Answer: Airtel M Commerce Services
Notes:
Airtel Payments Bank Limited (or Airtel Bank), a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel Limited has launched India’s first payment bank with 7.25% interest on savings accounts as a pilot basis of its banking services in Rajasthan.Airtel Bank’s services can be accessed by Airtel customers on their mobile phones through the Airtel Money app, through USSD by dialing *400#; or via a simple IVR by dialing 400. Both the USSD & IVR options are available in Hindi and English language and work on simple feature phones as well. The non-Airtel customers can access Airtel Bank’s services by dialing 8800688006.
3. Who has been honoured with the 2016 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Award?
[A]Rainer Brinkmann
[B]William S. Benson
[C]Radhika Menon
[D]Wu Shengli
Answer: Radhika Menon
Notes:
Captain Radhika Menon from India has been honoured with the 2016 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Award for her exceptional bravery in the dramatic rescue of 7 fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in tumultuous Bay of Bengal waters in 2015 at IMO Headquarters in London. With this, she has become the first woman in the world to be awarded by the IMO. Menon is also the India’s first female Merchant Navy Captain. The annual award was established by IMO to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life and perform acts of exceptional bravery.
4. The 2016 World Robot Olympiad (WRO) will be held in which country?
[A]China
[B]Japan
[C]France
[D]India
Answer: India
Notes:
The 13th edition of World Robot Olympiad (WRO) will be held in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The theme for the competition is “Rap the Scrap”, where students would showcase solutions to reduce, manage and recycle waste using robotics technology. Over 2,000 participants from 55 countries are taking part in the international championship. The WRO is an annual robotics competition for students where participants will be presenting ideas on problem solving through the use of robots. The competition is being organized jointly by the India STEM Foundation and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under the Ministry of Culture.
5. The book “How to Steal a Ghost@Manipal” has been authored by whom?
[A]Shweta Taneja
[B]Aditya Sudharsan
[C]Sudha Murthy
[D]Amrish Tripathi
Answer: Shweta Taneja
Notes:
The book “How to Steal a Ghost@Manipal” has been authored by Shweta Taneja. It’s a novel about paranormal adventure, full of romance, jealousy, folklore, gadgets and ghosts.
6. India has recently signed bank information sharing deal with which country for the implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI)?
[A]Malaysia
[B]Switzerland
[C]Mauritius
[D]Singapore
Answer: Switzerland
Notes:
India has recently signed bank information sharing deal with Switzerland for the implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) between the two countries. With this joint declaration, India will automatically receive all financial information about its residents, including bank accounts and balances, dividends and interest income and sales proceeds used to calculate capital gains tax, from September 2019. The AEOI seeks to bring the era of banking secrecy to an end; eventually all financial information will be shared between governments. Switzerland is a signatory to the AEOI agreement under the aegis of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
7. Who has been appointed as the new Chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)?
[A]Danish Kapoor
[B]K K Sahoo
[C]Raghav Chandra
[D]Yudhvir Singh Malik
Answer: Yudhvir Singh Malik
Notes:
Yudhvir Singh Malik, an 1983-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He succeeded Raghav Chandra, who has been shifted to National Commission for Scheduled Tribes as secretary. Earlier, Malik was the special secretary in National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
8. Which Indian film has been nominated as Indian entry for ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal?
[A]Harmonia
[B]Allama
[C]Beluga
[D]A Real Vermeer
Answer: Allama
Notes:
“Allama”, a film directed by T.S. Nagabharana, has been nominated as Indian entry for the International Council for Film, Television and Audio-visual Communication (ICFT) UNESCO Gandhi Medal. ICFT Paris in collaboration with UNESCO will award the film that best reflects the Gandhi ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence, a prestigious Gandhi Medal and Certificate. “Allama” is a film about 12th century metaphysician, a son of a temple dancer who embarks on a quest for knowledge and answers to his four core sentiments, yearning, and obsession – Maddales, failures and self-realization.
9. Which committee was constituted by Union Government on Yoga Education in Universities?
[A]M M Lal committee
[B]Dwarakanath Bhavan Committee
[C]Suresh Lal Barnawal committee
[D]H R Nagendra committee
Answer: H R Nagendra committee
Notes:
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik has recently given information regarding Prof. H.R. Nagendra committee on Yoga Education in Universities in the Rajya Sabha. The 12-member committee has prescribed the curriculum for the following five courses: Bachelors of Science (yoga), Masters of Science(Yoga), Doctor of Philosophy(Yoga), Post Graduate Diploma In Yoga and Post Graduate in Yoga Therapy. The committee has also prescribed the details of courses to be run and qualification of yoga faculty in its report.
10. The 2016 International Tourism Mart has started in which state of India?
[A]Arunachal Pradesh
[B]Manipur
[C]Tripura
[D]West Bengal
Answer: Manipur
Notes:
The 5th edition of International Tourism Mart-2016 has started at Sanjenthong in Imphal, Manipur from November 23rd – 25th, 2016. The Union Ministry of Tourism has organized the annual event in association with the North Eastern States and West Bengal. The purpose of the event is to highlight the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets. .

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