GK & Current Affairs: June 29, 30, 2015

1. Which of the following pairs has been chosen for Bhasha Samman award for their work towards the enrichment of Kumauni language?
[A]K Meenakshi Sundaram and Acharya Munishwar Jha
[B]Charu Chandra Pande and Mathuradutt Mathpal
[C]Acharya Munishwar Jha and Mathuradutt Mathpal
[D]Mathuradutt Mathpal and K Meenakshi Sundaram
Answer: Charu Chandra Pande and Mathuradutt Mathpal
Notes:
Charu Chandra Pande and Mathuradutt Mathpal have been jointly recognised for Basha Samman award their work towards the enrichment of Kumauni, a language not recognised by the Akademi. The ‘Bhasha Samman’ carries a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, an inscribed copper plaque and a citation. In case of joint winners, the prize money is equally shared between the winners.
2. Who has been appointed as President of International Cricket Council (ICC)?
[A]Zaheer Abbas
[B]Mustafa Kamal
[C]Austin Garden
[D]John Shreff
Answer: Zaheer Abbas
Notes:
Former Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas was confirmed as ICC president. He was elected as president on the third day of the ICC annual conference in Barbados.
3. Which state has declared June 22 as Snake Bird Day?
[A]Kerala
[B]Maharashtra
[C]Tamil Nadu
[D]Karnataka
Answer: Kerala
Notes:
Kerala government has declared June 22 as Snake Bird Day. The move is a part of campaign to protect the endangered species. Known as darter-Anhinga melanogaster in scientific parlance, snake bird is a large slender long-necked water bird and is mostly black with silver wing markings.The species, which usually nests atop tall trees near wetlands, is largely found in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram districts. As per a recent survey, there are over 1500 snake birds in the country in which majority are in Kerala.
4. The Groningen gas field, which is largest natural gas field in Europe, is in which country?
[A]Brazil
[B]Netherland
[C]France
[D]Germany
Answer: Netherland
Notes:
The Groningen gas field is a largest natural gas field located near Slochteren in Groningen province in the northeastern part of the Netherlands. The gas field was discovered in 1959. It is the largest natural gas field in Europe and the tenth-largest in the world.
5. Hollywood composer, James Horner, who died recently, had won two academic awards for his work in which movie?
[A]The Karate Kid
[B]Aliens
[C]Titanic
[D]Avatar
Answer: Titanic
Notes:
James Horner was a famous Hollywood composer. He won two academic awards for his work on Titanic, one for the score and one shared with lyricist Will Jennings for best original song My Heart Will Go On. He is also composed the music for Aliens, The Karate Kid, Braveheart and string of other major films.
6. Which one of the following has won the ‘Best Welfare Organisation of the Year – 2015’ award?
[A]NUSI
[B]ISRO
[C]CITU
[D]INTUC
Answer: NUSI
Notes:
India’s oldest and largest shipping trade union, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) has been honoured with the ‘Best Welfare Organisation of the Year – 2015’ award.The award was presented to Abdulgani Y Serang , NUSI general secretary by Koji Sekimizu, Secretary General of International Maritime Organisation at a function held in London. The award is promoted by the United Kingdom based International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN).
7. Which country created the world’s first highway to protect endangered bees?
[A]Norway
[B]Sweden
[C]Australia
[D]Brazil
Answer: Norway
Notes:
World’s first highway to protect endangered bees is coming up in Norway’s capital Oslo. Oslo’s “bee highway” aims to give the insects a safe passage through the city, lined with relays providing food and shelter, the first such system in the world.
8. Who is the chairman of the committee on innovation and entrepreneurship set up by NITI Aayog?
[A]Gayathri Iyar
[B]Tarun Khanna
[C]Swati Piramal
[D]Vallabh Bansali
Answer: Tarun Khanna
Notes:
Tarun Khanna is the chairman of the committee formed to work out the “contours of the Atal Innovation Mission” and its underlying “Self Employment and Talent Utilization” mechanism. Apart from Khanna, a well-regarded professor of strategy at Harvard Business School who is director of Harvard University’s South Asia Institute, the committee includes vice-chairman of Piramal Enterprises Ltd Swati Piramal, co-founder of Enam Securities Vallabh Bhansali, non-executive vice chairman of Genpact Pramod Bhasin, IIT Bombay director Devang Khakkhar, IIM Ahmedabad director Ashish Nanda, Central Square Foundation chief executive Ashish Dhawan and Manish Sabharwal, chairman of the staffing and training company, Teamlease Services Pvt. Ltd.
9. Which organization gives Nansen Refugee Award?
[A]World Bank
[B]UNHCR
[C]WTO
[D]UNICEF
Answer: UNHCR
Notes:
The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award is awarded annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to an individual, group, or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced or stateless people. It was established in 1954. The Nansen Refugee Award is named after Fridtjof Nansen, the famous Norwegian polar explorer, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as the first High Commissioner for Refugees for the League of Nations.
10. Which Indian state has launched the Village Monitoring Project (VMP) to uplift villagers?
[A]Kerala
[B]Maharashtra
[C]Haryana
[D]Punjab
Answer: Haryana
Notes:
Haryana Government has launched a Village Mentoring Project (VMP) in a bid to improve healthcare and education of the villagers with a special emphasis on girl child. VMP is the first of its kind initiative in Haryana under which villages in the state would be mentored by leading educational institutions, corporate houses and other organizations. It will be launched in a phased manner in 5 villages each of the 22 districts in the state.

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