GK & Current Affairs Quiz: April 8, 2017

Notes:
India has been ranked 40th out of 136 countries in the 2017 World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (GTTCI), as per WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017. In the global ranking, Spain has topped the list, followed by France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. The report ranks countries across 14 dimensions, revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector. Apart from the ranking, the report also showed how the industry is a force for good in an otherwise largely stagnant global economy. The global travel and tourism sector accounts for 10% of global GDP, growing faster than other sectors and providing one in 10 jobs.

Notes:
Indian boxer K Shyam Kumar has won a gold medal in the 49- kilogram category at the Thailand International Tournament in Bangkok on April 8, 2017. He clinched the medal without even stepping inside the ring for his summit clash, as Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan was unable to play the final match due to his injury.

Notes:
Lance Havildar Prem Bahadur Resmi Magar of the Gorkha Rifles has been posthumously conferred the 2016 Kirti Chakra award by President Pranab Mukherjee at the defence investiture ceremony in New Delhi. The late Lance Havildar eliminated four terrorists during an operation in Jammu and Kashmir on June 16, 2016. The honourable President Mukherjee has also presented 13 Shaurya Chakras, of which four were posthumous, and 45 Distinguished Service medals. These include 15 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 28 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals. The Kirti Chakra is the second highest peacetime gallantry award i.e. awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle.

Notes:
The Rajasthan government has imposed a 10% cow cess as surcharge on stamp duty for protection and propagation of cows. The surcharge will be applicable on non-judicial instruments. The cess will have a bearing on costs of making documents like property sale or lease deeds, rent agreements and mortgage. Though, judicial stamps, revenue ticket and insurance ticket have been excluded from this order. Rajasthan is the only state in India which has a dedicated Cow Ministry. At present, the Rajasthan Cow Ministry is allocated 11% share of the entire land registrations revenue.

Notes:
The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) is the India’s premier advanced research facility in the field of veterinary medicine and allied branches. It is in news because Scientists at the IVRI is in process of setting up a Deoxyribo- Nucleic Acid (DNA) bank for wild animals, the first of its kind in North India, which is expected to start at the end of 2017. So far, they have collected samples of 140 species. Through the DNA bank, scientists at IVRI’s Centre for Wildlife will be able to tell the name and schedule of the species if they get only a part of the meat, hair, blood, skin or bone of any animal. Besides, the centre is also collecting serum of animals. The move will help clamp down on wildlife poaching and smuggling and also aid in research on wildlife species. At present, a DNA bank exists in Hyderabad. The headquarters of IVRI is located at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) programme to deal with self-driven cars, autonomous unmanned vehicles and aircraft navigation systems. The CPS is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the deployment of computer-based systems that do things in the physical world. For instance, the self-driven cars produced by Google and Tesla.

Notes:
Uruguay will become the first country in the world to fully allow the production, sale and consumption of marijuana when its pharmacies will be allowed to sell marijuana in July 2017. It adopted a revolutionary law that fully legalized production, sale and consumption of marijuana. Under the law, buyers must sign up for a national registry of marijuana users to ensure they have fulfilled licensing procedures and do not exceed the monthly maximum purchase of 40 grams (1.4 ounces). Under the law, users also have the option to grow their own pot at home, or join cannabis clubs that grow it in cooperatives.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government has recently launched the Deendayal Rasoi Yojana (DRY), under which subsidized meals will be available at Rs 5 per plate to people, especially the economically disadvantaged sections of society. Under the yojana, anyone can have a wholesome meal at Rs 5 which includes four chapatis, one vegetable curry and Dal every day between 11 am to 3 pm. The arrangement would cater to at least 2000 persons every day. The wheat and rice would be made available at these canteens at Rs one each through fair price shops. Local municipal bodies will make the water and electricity available free-of-cost. The funds for setting up these centres would be made available under Chief Minister’s Urban Infrastructure Scheme.

Notes:
Hindi film ‘Dhanak’ has won the Best Children’s Film award at the 64th National Awards. The award carries a ‘Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)’, a certificate and cash prize of Rs. 1.5 Lakh. The awards ceremony will be held on 3 May 2017. The movie is written and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.

Notes:
The National Children’s Film Festival (NCFF) has inaugurated by the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu at Vuda Theater in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 7 April, 2017. The 3-day fest is organized by the Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI). It is the largest film festival for children in India giving the audience quality and wholesome entertainment. The purpose of the film festival is to expose children to quality cinema and to introduce novel elements beyond films.