GK & Current Affairs – December 8, 2015

1. The Central Research Institute in Yoga and Naturopathy will be set up in which of the following Indian states?
[A]Kerala
[B]Maharashtra
[C]Gujarat
[D]Odisha
Answer: Odisha
The Central Research Institute in Yoga and Naturopathy will be set up in Khordha District, Odisha. It will be set up by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), which is an autonomous body under Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is an apex body in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy, actively engaged in promotion, propagation, research, education, training and publication work.
2. What is the underlying theme of the ‘Kala Ustav’ event, which is being held under the aegis of Union HRD Ministry in New Delhi?
[A]Apna Desh, Apni Sanskirti
[B]Unity of Mankind
[C]Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
[D]Save Tree, Save Future
Answer: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
Recently, the four-day ‘Kala Ustav’ event began at Bal Bhawan in New Delhi with the underlying theme of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. The event is being organised by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The event brings together students from across India, who will showcase their respective cultures through dance, music, visual art and theatre.
3. Which of the following countries will host the Heart of Asia conference in 2016?
[A]Pakistan
[B]Bhutan
[C]India
[D]Sri Lanka
Answer: India
The 2015 ‘Heart of Asia’ conference is hosted by Islamabad, Pakistan. The focus of the 5th conference is to increase cooperation for countering security threats and promotion of connectivity in the region. From India, the external affairs minister Ms. Sushma Swaraj is attending the ministerial-level meeting. The 14 countries viz. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the UAE had launched the initiative launched in 2011 for encouraging economic and security cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours for dealing with the common problems of terrorism, extremism and poverty. India will host the 2016 Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.
4. Which of the following states is the first to allow the MLAs to raise online questions?
[A]Kerala
[B]Maharashtra
[C]odisha
[D]Madhya Pradesh
Answer: Maharashtra
The Maharashtra state legislature has become the first in the country to launch an online mechanism for legislators to send questions and move different motions in the House. The website “mls.org.in” has been launched as part of Digital MLAs initiative in the winter session of state legislature in Nagpur. To access the website, all MLAs and MLCs have been given unique user names and passwords so that they can send their questions and requests online. The system also facilitates them to move different motions like calling attention and half-an-hour discussion questions for legislature sessions. This facility is designed by the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) and available on Unicode and can be accessed in Marathi.
5. On which date, the International Volunteer Day is observed?
[A]December 3
[B]December 5
[C]December 10
[D]December 21
Answer: December 5
The International Volunteer Day is observed on December 5. The theme for this year’s observance is ‘The world is changing. Are you? Volunteer!’. The day is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, NGOs, UN agencies, government authorities and the private sector.
6. Which of the following organisations is the first from India to join the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative?
[A]ONGC
[B]IOCL
[C]NTPC
[D]Essar Oil Ltd
Answer: ONGC
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has become the first oil company from India to join the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative. The Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 is a global initiative to end routine gas flaring at oil production sites around the world. The Governments that support the Initiative would provide a legal, regulatory, investment and operating environment that is conducive to upstream investments and to the development of viable markets for utilization of the gas and the infrastructure necessary to deliver the gas to these markets. This will provide companies the confidence and incentive as a basis for investing in flare elimination solutions. Till date, 45 governments, companies and organizations has joined “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” Initiative.
7. The I-LTEO programme is launched by which of the following union ministries?
[A]Ministry of HRD
[B]Ministry of Culture
[C]Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
[D]Ministry of Commerce
Answer: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
Recently, India has launched the Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO) programme to scientifically monitor 8-different biomes (natural landscapes) across the country. The purpose of the programme is to identify and monitor targeted socio-ecological challenges and help build capacity within India. The I-LTEO will cover the Western Himalayas to Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas to Andaman and Nicobar islands, central India to the Sundarbans and from Jammu and Kashmir to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
8. The headquarters of National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) are located at which city?
[A]Kochi
[B]Chennai
[C]Bengaluru
[D]Hyderabad
Answer: Chennai
Recently, the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has launched Wind Energy Resources Map of India at 100 meter above ground level and solar radiation map at ground level on online Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. The Wind and Solar Resource Maps will not only help and guide the wind and solar power developers and other stakeholders in identifying potential areas for the development of wind & solar power projects in the country but also help the central and state agencies in planning and developing the infrastructure including transmission system, required for installing renewable power projects in these potential areas. The NIWE is an autonomous R&D instituted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
9. At which of the following places, India is developing its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)?
[A]Mangaluru
[B]Chennai
[C]Kolkata
[D]Mumbai
Answer: Mangaluru
In the first phase, India is developing Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) at Vishakapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur (near Mangaluru). In the second phase India is planning to develop the SPRs at Chandikhol (Odisha), Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Rajkot (Gujarat). The SPRs acts as a valuable buffer against short term oil supply disruptions as well as to buy and store oil when prices are low and release them to refiners when there is a spike in global rates.
10. Who of the following is the winner of the 2015 BWF Female Player of the Year Award?
[A]Bao Yixin
[B]Zhao Yunlei
[C]Carolina Marin
[D]Saina Nehwal
Answer: Carolina Marin
Carolina Marin of Spain has won the 2015 BWF Female Player of the Year Award. Marin was in contention for the award along with China’s Zhao Yunlei and Bao Yixin and India’s Saina Nehwal. She started and ended the year on a perfect note by winning the All England in March and the Hong Kong Open in November. In between, she picked up three other World Superseries titles and retained her World Championships gold medal. China’s Chen Long retained the Male Player of the Year award that he won last year.

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