GK & Current Affairs: October 8, 9, 2015
1. Who has been elected as the new head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?
[A]Lee Hoi-chang
[B]Rajendra Pachauri
[C]Hoesung Lee
[D]Jean-Pascal van Ypersele
Hoesung Lee
The South Korean economist, Dr. Hoesung Lee (69) has been elected as the new chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of United Nations. He succeeded India’s Rajendra Pachauri, who served as IPCC chair for 13 years and resigned in February 2015 amid a sexual harassment scandal. Prof Lee, an expert on climate economics and sustainable development, is a professor at the Graduate School of Energy and Environment of Korea University in Republic of Korea. He is also part of the president advisory board on climate change of Asian Development Bank (ADB). He is the fourth person to lead the IPCC in its 27-year history.
2. Which among the following countries launched an International Payment System to globalize Yuan?
[A]China
[B]Japan
[C]Taiwan
[D]Indonesia
China
China launched the first phase of its much anticipated China International Payment System (CIPS) that provides capital settlement and clearing services for cross-border Yuan transactions for financial institutions domestically and abroad. It will enhance efficiency and increase global use of the Chinese currency.
3. As per the 2015 Quality of Death index, what is the rank of India among 80 countries?
[A]71
[B]70
[C]67
[D]69
Answer: India
The 2015 Quality of Death Index (QDI) ranked United Kingdom (UK) as the best place to die in the world, where as India ranked 67 among 80 countries it has selected. The UK topped the list followed by Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Belgium and Taiwan. The report from the London-based Economic Intelligence Unit, titled ‘The quality of death: Ranking end-of-life care across the world’ is meant to measure how well do governments across the world work to improve life for their citizens so that they “die well”, insisting, economic growth alone cannot improve health facilities for the aged. The QDI, commissioned by the Lien Foundation, a Singaporean philanthropic organisation, is based on qualitative and quantitative indicators and took interviews of over 120 palliative care experts from around the world.
4. The Jilin-1 satellite has been launched by which country recently for commercial remote sensing services?
[A]USA
[B]Japan
[C]Russia
[D]China
China
For commercial remote-sensing services, China launched “Jilin-1” satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s Gansu province, included one optical remote-sensing satellite, two satellites for video imaging and another for imaging technique testing. All four satellites were developed and produced by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd. The company will also take charge of commercial operations of the satellites to provide remote-sensing data and relevant products, which may be used for the monitoring, development and surveying of resources as well as mapping and disaster prevention for domestic and overseas clients.
5. Recently, which Indian company won the 2015 MIT Climate CoLab award?
[A]Amul
[B]Reliance
[C]Nualgi
[D]Tata
Answer: Nualgi
An India-based bio-tech firm, Nualgi won the prestigious Climate CoLab award given by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge in Washington, DC. With this, Nualgi became the first Indian company to win the 2015 MIT contest. This Indian technology firm founded by T Sampath Kumar of Bangalore after 15 years of research and development in the field of Nano biotechnology. The firm is used to grow diatom algae in all types and volumes of water, from aquariums to oceans. The Climate CoLab organises annual contest on various issues relating to climate change, fuel consumption, energy consumption for sewage treatment and water supply.
6. Who has been recently honoured with fifth Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award?
[A]Amir Khan
[B]A R Rahman
[C]Sharukh Khan
[D]Akshay Kumar
A R Rahman
Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman will be honoured with the Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award. He will receive the award in Mumbai on 26 October. The first Hridaynath Award was presented to Lata Mangeshkar. Asha Bhosle, Amitabh Bachchan and Sulochana Tai have also received this award.
7. Who among the following has won prestigious Vayalar Ramavarama Literary award?
[A]N S Madhavan
[B]Benyamin
[C]Subhash Chandran
[D]K G Sankara Pillai
Subhash Chandran
Noted Malayalam writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee Subhash Chandran has won this year’s prestigious Vayalar Ramavarama Literary award. He won the award for his novel ‘Manushyanu OruAmukham’. The honour, named after eminent poet and lyricist late Vayalar Ramavarama, carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh, statuette and a citation, Vayalar Ramavaram Memorial Trust members.
8. Who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2015?
[A]Angus Deaton
[B]Samuel Wilson
[C]Caleb Henry
[D]Steve Jurczyk
Angus Deaton
The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2015 has been awarded to Angus Deaton of Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. Mr Deaton won the prestigious award for his analysis of consumption, poverty and welfare. The economics award officially known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel wasn’t created by Nobel, but by Sweden’s central bank in 1968. Though it’s handed out along with the other prizes and the criteria for selecting winners are the same, it’s not a Nobel Prize in the same sense.
9. The Wilson disease is caused due to accumulation of which chemical in tissues?
[A]Magnesium
[B]Copper
[C]Iron
[D]Silicon
Answer: Copper
Wilson’s disease or hepatolenticular degeneration is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues; this manifests as neurological or psychiatric symptoms and liver disease. It is treated with medication that reduces copper absorption or removes the excess copper from the body, but occasionally a liver transplant is required.
10. Recently, Alexander Lukashenko, was re-elected as president of which country?
[A]Belarus
[B]Ukraine
[C]Afghanistan
[D]Jordan
Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko has been re-elected as Belarus for a fifth term. As per the Belarusian Central Election Commission, Mr Lukashenko garnered 83.5% of total vote casted. His closest contender trailed behind with less than 5%. Mr Lukashenko’s vote share was an increase from 79.7% vote share in 2010.
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