GK & Current Affairs: April 27, 28, 2015

1. Which mission was launched by NASA to better understand the components of exoplanet?
[A]NExSS
[B]MExSS
[C]XExSS
[D]RExSS
Answer: NExSS
NASA launched the Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) project to study the exoplanet. The project aims to better understand the various components of exoplanet, as well as how the parent stars and neighbouring planets might interact to support life. Reference
2. What is the name of Indian Navy’s proposed new base near Porbandar in Gujarat?
[A]INS Mahatma Gandhi
[B]INS Subhash Chandra Bose
[C]INS Sardar Vallabhai Patel
[D]INS Bhaghat Singh
Answer: INS Sardar Vallabhai Patel
Notes:
Indian Navy will commission a new base near Porbandar in Gujarat. The new base will be named INS Sardar Vallabhai Patel. This will be the second base on the Gujarat and will be commissioned on 9 May by Gujarat Chief Minister. The move is to check increased threat along maritime border with Pakistan. Reference
3. Which auto-mobile maker launched the Safe Roads campaign to create awareness about road safety?
[A]Tata Motors
[B]Mercedes Benz
[C]Toyota
[D]Hyundai
Answer: Mercedes Benz
Notes:
German automaker Mercedes Benz has launched Safe Roads campaign to emphasise awareness on road safety in India. The campaign is a joint CSR initiative of Mercedes Benz global headquarter and its group firm operating in India. According to reports approximately 140,000 people die every year on Indian roads, largely due to ignorance of safety norms and rules.
4. Who is the recipient of the 2015 Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment?
[A]Sangeeta Bhatia
[B]Vinodh Mehta
[C]Arvind Mishra
[D]Subhash Ghani
Answer: Sangeeta Bhatia
Notes:
Indian-origin scientist Sangeeta Bhatia, has been named the recipient of the 2015 Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment. Bhatia is currently scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She won the prestigious $2,50,000 Heinz award for her work in tissue engineering and disease detection. The Heinz Awards annually recognise individuals for their extraordinary contributions to arts and humanities; environment; human condition; public policy; and technology, the economy, and employment. Reference
5. Which team has won the Men’s National Hockey Championship 2015?
[A]Karnataka
[B]Telangana
[C]Indian Railways
[D]Madhya Pradesh
Answer: Indian Railways
Notes:
Railway Sports Promotion Board has won the 5th Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship 2015. In the final match, they defeated Uttar Pradesh Hockey team by 5-3 goals which was played at Pune. While in this championship, the 3rd Position was secured by Air India Sports Promotion Board who had outplayed Hockey Gangpur-Odisha by 5-3 goals.
6. The Bipolar disorder is related to which among the following?
[A]Heart
[B]Lungs
[C]Brain
[D]Liver
Answer: Brain
Notes:
Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes, including severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Thus, it is a brain disorder. Other related disorder is Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Reference
7. The Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) was launched to promote which sector?
[A]Automobiles
[B]Textile
[C]Electronics
[D]Ship Building
Answer: Electronics
Notes:
The Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) was launched to promote large-scale manufacturing, to offset disability and to attract domestic and global investments into the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in India. The scheme is available for both new projects and expansion projects. The scheme provides subsidy for investments in capital expenditure – 20% for investments in SEZs and 25% in non-SEZs. Reference
8. Which countries won the men and women world team chess championship, respectively?
[A]China and Georgia
[B]China and India
[C]India and Georgia
[D]Russia and China
Answer: China and Georgia
Notes:
China won the FIDE men’s world team chess championship for the first time in Tsaghksdzor, Armenia, after beating India 3-1 in the last round. The Chinese team composed of Bu Xiangzhi, Ding Liren, Yu Yangyi, Wei Yi and Wang Chen, finished with 15 points from nine rounds in the round-robin tournament which featured the world’s best 10 teams. Ukraine took the silver with 12 points, and hosts Armenia had bronze with 11 points. Georgia won the 2015 FIDE Women’s World Team Chess Championship by defeating the host country and three-times champion China.
9. Who is the chairman of BCCI technical committee that has recommended several changes in Ranaji format?
[A]Sachin Tendulkar
[B]Anil Kumble
[C]Rahul Dravid
[D]Ajay Jadeja
Answer: Anil Kumble
Notes:
Anil Kumble is the chairman of BCCI technical committee constituted to recommend several changes in Ranaji format. The committee has recommended the number of overs to be increased from 90 to 95 per day in the four and five-day games of the Ranji Trophy and also do away with the single point for salvaging a draw after conceding a lead. Reference
10. For which of the following novels, India’s Siddhartha Gigoo has won the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Asia region?
[A]Umbrella Man
[B]The Garden of Solitude
[C]Reflections
[D]Fall and Other Poems
Answer: Umbrella Man
Notes:
Siddhartha Gigoo has won the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Asia region for “Umbrella Man”, a tale of surreal meditation on mental health and the environment. Born in Srinagar in 1974, Gigoo’s first novel “The Garden of Solitude” was first published in 2011. He has also written two poetry books, “Fall and Other Poems” (1994) and “Reflections” (1995). Meanwhile, the African regional winner is “Light” by Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria), the Canada and Europe Regional Winner is “The Human Phonograph” by Jonathan Tel (UK) the Caribbean Regional Winner is “The King of Settlement 4” by Kevin Jared Hosein and the Trinidad, Pacific Regional Winner is “Famished Eels” by Mary Rokonadravu (Fiji).

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