GK & Current Affairs – June 22, 2016
1. Which of the following is the world’s most powerful supercomputer, as per the 2016 edition of Top500 list of supercomputers?
[A]Tianhe-2
[B]K Computer
[C]Titan
[D]TaihuLight
Answer: TaihuLight
Notes:
The Chinese supercomputer “the Sunway TaihuLight” has topped the Top500 list of the most powerful supercomputers for 2016. According to the Top500 site, Sunway TaihuLight is capable of performing some 93,000 trillion calculations per second and will be used for research and engineering work, including weather modeling and advanced manufacturing. The TaihuLight is followed by Tianhe-2, Titan, IBM BlueGene/Q system and Fujitsu’s K computer. The 47th edition of the TOP500 list has recently announced at the 2016 International Supercomputer Conference (ISC) in Frankfurt, Germany.
2. Which committee has submitted its report on examining the Specific Relief Act, 1963?
[A]Nidhi Mathur committee
[B]HR Khan committee
[C]Anand Desai committee
[D]Arghya Sengupta committee
Answer: Anand Desai committee
Notes:
The Expert Committee headed by Anand Desai, which was constituted to examine the Specific Relief Act 1963, has recently submitted its report to Union Law and Justice Minister DV Sadananda Gowda. The committee has recommended that the courts’ intervention in public works should be minimal, specific performance of contracts be made the rule and damages or compensation be the exception and a separate class of contracts for public utility contracts should be created.
3. The book “All of Us in Our Own Lives” has been authored by whom?
[A]Surendra Kumar
[B]Manjushree Thapa
[C]Parimala Ranganathar
[D]Madhumita Bhattacharyya
Answer: Manjushree Thapa
Notes:
The book “All of Us in Our Own Lives” has been authored by Manjushree Thapa. It is the story of an encounter between strangers who shape each others’ lives in fateful ways.
4. The International Conference on Yoga was hosted by which city of India?
[A]Chandigarh
[B]Lucknow
[C]New Delhi
[D]Mumbai
Answer: New Delhi
Notes:
The Vice President of India Mohd Hamid Ansari has inaugurated a two day international conference titled “Yoga for body and beyond” in New Delhi. In it, about 70 international delegates from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, Malaysia, Spain, Russia, Australia, China, Egypt, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, and Mauritius will attend the conference.
5. Which cancer causing chemical has been banned by Union Government as food additive?
[A]Potassium Bromate
[B]Potassium Iodate
[C]Potassium Chlorate
[D]Potassium Permanganate
Answer: Potassium Bromate
Notes:
The Government of India (GoI) has banned use of potassium bromate as a food additive in the preparation of bread and other food items as per the recommendations given by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The recommendations were based on a study conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). According to CSE, potassium bromate is a category 2B carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), which typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products and on the other hand, potassium iodate has harmful effects on the thyroid and may trigger disorders of the gland, which is used as a flour treatment agent. As per the study, 84 % of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. These two food additives are banned in many countries and listed as hazardous for public health. In case of potassium iodate, it has been referred to a scientific panel. And after study, the decision will be taken.
6. The 2016 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit will be hosted by which country?
[A]Tajikistan
[B]Uzbekistan
[C]Kyrgyztan
[D]Kazakhstan
Answer: Uzbekistan
Notes:
The 2016 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit will be hosted by Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 2-day meeting of heads of state of SCO is under the presidency of Uzbekistan. During the summit, the issues related to strengthen stability and security in Central Asia, expansion of SCO’s contacts with other international organization and states and also wide involvement of the SCO observer states and dialogue partners in practical cooperation within the organization will be discussed. In it, India and Pakistan will sign a memorandum of obligation for obtaining SCO member states status.
7. India has successfully launched a record 20 satellites from which launch vehicle, recently?
[A]PSLV C-39
[B]PSLV C-37
[C]PSLV C-41
[D]PSLV C-34
Answer: PSLV C-34
Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched a record 20 satellites in a single mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-34 has carried India’s latest earth observation satellite Cartosat-2 along with 19 co-passengers. The images sent by Cartosat-2 series satellite will be used for drawing maps, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring and water distribution. Of the 19-satellites, 12 are earth imaging “Dove satellites” of USA and another American satellite. The rest are from Canada (two) and one each from Germany and Indonesia. Two academic satellites are from Sathyabama University (Sathyabamasat) in Chennai and from College of Engineering (Swayam) at Pune.
8. Which state government has recently granted minority status to Jews community in the state?
[A]Kerala
[B]Maharashtra
[C]Tamil Nadu
[D]Odisha
Answer: Maharashtra
Notes:
The Maharashtra Government has recently granted minority status to Jews in the state, as per the provisions of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission Act, 2004. With this Maharashtra has become 2nd state (after West Bengal) to grant minority status to the Jewish community in India. As per the 2001 census, there are 4,650 Jews in the country of whom 2,466 are in Maharashtra. After being officially recognized as a minority community, the Jews would enjoy several privileges like other minority communities. It would become easier for them to register their marriages. They would also be able to set up their own educational institutes and practice and promote their culture
9. What is the India’s rank in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, as per the latest 2016 World Investment Report?
[A]15th
[B]11th
[C]10th
[D]19th
Answer: 10th
Notes:
India has been ranked 10th in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in the world , as per the latest 2016 World Investment Report by the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The list is topped by United States followed by Hong kong, China, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Brazil and Canada.
10. As of now, how many countries are members of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)?
[A]48
[A]56
[A]64
[A]96
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. As of now, there are 48 member countries of the group. India is not a member of it..
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