Insights Daily Current Events, 25 June 2015

Insights Daily Current Events, 25 June 2015

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Australia to join China-led infra bank

Australia, recently, announced that it would join the new China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding member, contributing about $930 million to the financial institution of which India will be the second largest shareholder.

About AIIB:

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an international financial institution proposed by China. The purpose of the multilateral development bank is to provide finance to infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific region.

• AIIB is regarded by some as a rival for the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which the AIIB says are dominated by developed countries like the United States and Japan.
• The authorised capital of AIIB will be $100 billion. AIIB’s headquarters is to be located in Beijing.
• India is the second largest shareholder in the Bank after China.
• In October, 21 countries signed the memorandum of understanding establishing the bank.
• It now has more than 40 members, including South Korea, Austria and Spain.
• It is being called as a very positive development in the sense that it opens up more borrowing opportunities.

Sources: The Hindu, BS, wiki.

Rosetta comet mission extended

Europe recently announced that its comet-chasing mission Rosetta would be extended until September 2016 and may end with the dying mothership touching down on the comet.

Rosetta:

Rosetta was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and reached the comet on 6 August 2014, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet. Rosetta took off from Earth 10 years ago carrying Philae and traveled 6.4 billion miles before arriving at the comet.

Philae:

Philae ’​s mission was to land successfully on the surface of a comet, attach itself, and transmit data from the surface about the comet’s composition. It is a robotic European Space Agency lander.

• It landed on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, more than ten years after departing Earth.
• The mission seeks to unlock the long-held secrets of comets — primordial clusters of ice and dust that scientists believe may reveal how the Solar System was formed.
• The scientific goals of the mission focus on “elemental, isotopic, molecular and mineralogical composition of the cometary material, the characterization of physical properties of the surface and subsurface material, the large-scale structure and the magnetic and plasma environment of the nucleus.”
• Sensors on the lander will measure the density and thermal properties of the surface, gas analyzers will help detect and identify any complex organic chemicals that might be present, while other tests will measure the magnetic field and interaction between the comet and solar wind.
• Philae is equipped with an array of experiments to photograph and test the surface of Comet 67P as well as to find out what happens when the roasting effect of the sun drives off gas and dust.

Sources: The Hindu, Wiki, ESA.

Financial Assistance from NSDF to Saina Nehwal for an Exclusive Full Time Physiotherapist

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has sanctioned financial assistance of Rupees Nine lakh to Saina Nehwal on her request for engaging the services of a full time exclusive Physiotherapist for the period of 15 months.

• The assistance will be utilized for payment of monthly remuneration to the Physiotherapist at the rate of Rupees Sixty Thousand per month. The selection of Physiotherapist has been done by Saina Nehwal herself.
• Saina Nehwal has been selected under Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme for financial assistance from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for training as part of preparation for Olympic 2016.

The financial assistance from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), approved for the Physiotherapist, is out of the contribution made by the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme under the National Sports Development Fund.

About National Sports Development Fund (NSDF):

The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in 1998.

• It was established with the objective of mobilizing resources from non-government resources, including private/public sector and non-resident Indians for the promotion of sports and games in the country.
• The funds available under NSDF are mainly used towards supplementing government assistance to the elite sportspersons who are medal prospects at major international events, for meeting their specific coaching/training requirements by way of provision of scientific support and training within the country and abroad, purchase of equipment, participation in international competitions etc.
• The objectives of the fund also include construction of sports infrastructure, taking up research projects and development studies and promotion of international cooperation.

Sources: PIB.

Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee Appointed as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court

In exercise of the powers conferred by article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President has appointed Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, senior-most Judge of the Karnataka High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court.

The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the state.

Sources: PIB.

Setting up of a National Memorial at the birth place of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan in Bihar

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Culture for setting up of a National Memorial at Lala Ka Tola, Sitab, Diara, District Chhapra (Saran) in Bihar. It is the birth place of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.

About Jai Prakash Narayan:

• He was an Indian independence activist, social reformer and political leader. He is popularly called “LokNayak”.
• He participated in Non Cooperation movement (NCM), Civil disobedience movement (CDM) and Vinoba bhave’s Sarvodaya and Bhoodan movement.
• In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in recognition of his social work. Other awards include the Magsaysay award for Public Service in 1965.
• The Patna airport is also named after him.

Sources: The Hindu, Wiki.

Insights Secure Prelims 2015

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Welcome to Insights Secure Prelims – 2015 initiative. The following questions are based on current events that appear in PIB (Public Information Bureau) and from some important newspapers. For more challenging question papers (Full Length), please join our Preliminary Exam – 2015 Test Series (Please Click Here for Reviews)

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1. Question 1 of 5

   1. Question

   Consider the following statements regarding Jai Prakash Narayan:

   1. He actively participated in Vinoba Bhave’s Sarvodaya and Bhoodan movement.
   2. In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
   3. He is popularly called “LokNayak”.

   Which of the above statements is/are correct?

   • a) 1 and 3 Only
   • b) 2 and 3 Only
   • c) 1 and 2 Only
   • d) All
   Correct
   

   Solution: d)

   Incorrect
   

   Solution: d)
2. Question 2 of 5

   2. Question

   With reference to Philae, a robotic lander, consider the following statements:

   1. It is a robotic lander developed by the European Space Agency.
   2. Its mission was to land successfully on the surface of a comet, attach itself, and transmit data about the comet’s composition.
   3. It was carried by the Rosetta Spacecraft.

   Which of the above statements is/are CORRECT?

   • a) 1 and 2 Only
   • b) 2 and 3 Only
   • c) 1 and 3 Only
   • d) All
   Correct
   

   Solution: d)

   Incorrect
   

   Solution: d)
3. Question 3 of 5

   3. Question

   The Chief Justice of a High Court in India is appointed by the President in consultation with:

   1. The Chief Justice of India.
   2. The Governor of the state concerned.
   3. The Chief Minister of the State Concerned.

   Choose the correct answer using the codes goven below:

   • a) 1 and 2 Only
   • b) 2 and 3 Only
   • c) 1 Only
   • d) All
   Correct
   

   Solution: a)

   Incorrect
   

   Solution: a)
4. Question 4 of 5

   4. Question

   With reference to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), consider the following statements:

   1. It was established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1998.
   2. It was established with the objective of mobilizing resources from non-government resources for the promotion of sports and games in the country.

   Which of the above statements is/are correct?

   • a) 1 Only
   • b) 2 Only
   • c) Both
   • d) None
   Correct
   

   Solution: c)

   Incorrect
   

   Solution: c)
5. Question 5 of 5

   5. Question

   Consider the following statements regarding the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):

   1. India is the second largest shareholder in the Bank after China.
   2. AIIB’s headquarters is to be located in Beijing.
   3. Taiwan is one of the Prospective Founding Members (PFM) of AIIB

    

   Which of the above statements is/are true?

   • a) 1 Only
   • b) 1 and 3 Only
   • c) 2 and 3 Only
   • d) 1 and 2 Only
   Correct
   

   Solution: d.

   As of 15 April 2015, there are 57 Prospective Founding Members (PFM). Hong Kong joins the delegation of China in the negotiations. Belgium, Canada, and Ukraine are considering joining the AIIB. Colombia, Japan, and the United States have no immediate intention to participate. North Korea and Taiwan were rejected by China to join as a PFM. Hungary and Taiwan are applying for ordinary member to join AIIB.

    

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Infrastructure_Investment_Bank#Membership

   Incorrect
   

   Solution: d.

   As of 15 April 2015, there are 57 Prospective Founding Members (PFM). Hong Kong joins the delegation of China in the negotiations. Belgium, Canada, and Ukraine are considering joining the AIIB. Colombia, Japan, and the United States have no immediate intention to participate. North Korea and Taiwan were rejected by China to join as a PFM. Hungary and Taiwan are applying for ordinary member to join AIIB.

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Infrastructure_Investment_Bank#Membership