Current Affairs Current Affairs - 23 September 2015 - Vikalp Education

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Current Affairs - 23 September 2015

General Affairs

PM Modi to Head to US With $3.1 Billion Deal For Boeing
  • PM Modi to Head to US With $3.1 Billion Deal For BoeingNEW DELHI:  Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, the cabinet today cleared the purchase of Boeing's Apache and Chinook helicopters in a deal worth around $3.1 billion, government sources said.

    The new 22 Apache attack and 15 heavy lift Chinook helicopters are meant to replace the military's ageing Soviet-origin choppers.

    "Both have been cleared," a defence ministry source told news agency Reuters.

    The PM heads to the United States tomorrow. He will attend the UN General Assembly session in New York before heading to Silicon Valley where his appointments include atown hall at Facebook's headquarters.

    The deal is the first big military contract for the US since PM Modi's government took office.

    The Chinook's primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply.

    India and the US have rapidly expanded military and business ties in recent years, despite discord over issues such as intellectual property rights and market access.

    Washington is keen to step up cooperation across the board, seeing India as a strategic partner in the face of an increasingly powerful and assertive China.

    The Chinook is a tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter.

    The initial batch of Apache helicopters is meant to replace the Indian Air Force's ageing fleet of Soviet-era Mi-35 attack choppers and will be armed with Hellfire and Stinger missiles.

    The Indian Army has separately requested a fleet of at least 39 of these attack aircraft, some of which it wants to deploy as part of a new mountain division it is raising along the disputed border with China, according to sources.

      Mayawati Criticises Mohan Bhagwat's Remarks on Quota Regime
      • CBI Will Proceed as Per Requirement of NRHM Case: DirectorNEW DELHI:  BSP supremo Ms Mayawati today attacked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement on review of quota regime and threatened a nationwide protest against the Narendra Modi government if it "toed" the line of the Sangh leader.

        "If the Narendra Modi government tries to toe the line of Bhagwat, if it tries to tamper with the humanitarian provision of reservation as enshrined in the Constitution, then BSP will launch a nation-wide mass agitation which will prove costly to the government," she said at a press conference in New Delhi.

        The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the RSS wants to push the Dalits and the downtrodden back into the "dark ages of exploitation" against which B R Ambedkar had to struggle and framed a Constitution based on humanitarian considerations.

        She claimed Mr Bhagwat's remarks have created a lot of anguish among the Dalits and the backwards. "But so far neither the Narendra Modi government nor the BJP have come out openly to reject the demand of the RSS for which the BSP criticises them in strongest possible words."

        She "warned" the government of a nation-wide stir if it takes any step in favour of the RSS chief's demand.

        "We did the same during the rule of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government when it tried to end reservation in the garb of Constitution review. The then government was forced to withdraw its agenda," she said.

        She said BSP is concerned on the issue of review of the reservation policy as the reins of the PM Modi government are in the hands of the RSS.

        "The government can any time definitely do something in one way or the other to tamper with the arrangement of reservation. Therefore, we will keep a vigil on the issue," she said.

        Dubbing BJP and Congress as "extremely casteist", Ms Mayawati said the two have done little to improve the condition of the Dalits and the backwards in the last several years.

      India Summons Home Envoy to Nepal as New Charter Sours Ties
      • India Summons Home Envoy to Nepal as New Charter Sours TiesNEW DELHI:  India has summoned home its ambassador to Nepal for urgent talks, officials said today, following a sudden downturn in ties after the Himalayan nation adopted a new constitution that sparked weeks of border violence that killed more than 40 people.

        The new strain in relations with Nepal - which acts as a buffer state with China - threatens to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regional diplomacy push aimed at countering Beijing's expansion of influence in South Asia.

        Nepal's new charter took effect on Sunday, despite fierce protests from minority groups in the southern plains whose homeland provinces are to be split up.

        India's ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, arrived in New Delhi on Monday for day-long consultations, foreign ministry officials in New Delhi and Kathmandu said.

        In a statement, the foreign ministry criticised Nepal over the unabated violence in its southern region, where police shot at least three protesters on Monday.

        "We had repeatedly cautioned the political leadership of Nepal to take urgent steps to defuse the tension in these regions," the foreign ministry said in the statement late on Monday. "This, if done in a timely manner, could have avoided these serious developments."

        The comments highlight a deterioration in ties after the government's swift response in aid efforts for Nepal this spring, following two devastating earthquakes that killed more than 9,000 people.

        Indian freight companies and transporters moving goods through Nepal's southern plains have also complained about security in the area, the statement added.

        India and landlocked Nepal share an open border and are bound by long-standing economic, cultural and ethnic ties. But Nepal has frequently railed against what it calls meddling in its affairs by New Delhi.

        In an editorial, Nepal's leading English language daily, the Kathmandu Post, acknowledged the failure of efforts to reconcile opposition groups to the constitution, but warned India not to overstep the line of diplomacy.

        "India could box itself in a difficult position and lose its diplomatic leverage against certain parties and sections of the polarized society," the paper said.

        Nepal's new constitution creates seven states in a federal system, but is opposed by groups who want to re-establish Nepal as a Hindu nation, and others who feel it is unfavourable to people in the plains.

        China has welcomed the new charter.

      Xi Jinping, PM Modi to Vie for Investments on Rare Simultaneous US Visits
      • Xi Jinping, PM Modi to Vie for Investments on Rare Simultaneous US VisitsBEIJING, CHINA:  On his maiden State Visit to the US aimed at allaying concerns over faltering Chinese economy, President Xi Jinping today left for America, coinciding with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip during which the two Asian leaders will vie for investments and influence in their contrasting styles.

        While the US and Chinese officials will examine thorny issues ranging from cybersecurity to the South China Sea, Xi's main mission will be to reassure investors that the world's second largest economy is stable and open for business.

        Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, Premier Li Keqiang yesterday said China aims to develop open and transparent capital markets and there was no basis for continued currency depreciation.

        "We will actively nurture capital markets that are open, transparent and stable in the long term," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted Li as telling visiting British Finance Minister George Osborne, allaying fears over the recent devaluation of the Chinese economy.

        The four per cent depreciation of Chinese currency Yuan last month shook the world markets, prompting the US to put off plans to rise interest rates.

        Xi Jinping kicks off his visit in Seattle where he would address a meeting of 30 CEOs of top US and Chinese business houses. Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Pepsi's Indra Nooyi, top US business tycoon Warren Buffet, Apple CEO Tim Cook were among the leaders of business houses tipped to attend the meeting.

        PM Modi too is scheduled to meet over 50 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies over dinner hosted in New York on September 24. He is scheduled to have similar get together with CEOs of digital companies in the Silicon Valley during his visit to the US West Coast on September 26-27.

        President Xi will be in the US for week-long maiden visit during which he would visit Seattle and Washington followed by New York where he would address a series of meetings at the UN, marking the 70th anniversary of the world body's founding day.

        PM Modi too would address the UN Sustainable Development Summit, attend the summit on UN peacekeeping hosted by President Barack Obama and host a summit of G-4 leaders, India, Brazil, Japan and Germany to press for the expansion of the Permanent Membership of the UN Security Council.

        China is the only country among the Permanent members of the UNSC which has not yet come out in support of India's permanent membership in the expanded UN Security Council.

        An article in the state-run Global Times has said that India made a "biggest mistake" by aligning with Japan, Germany and Brazil as they have opponents in the region.

        Also China yesterday issued a position paper on the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations in which it made no direct reference to UNSC expansion.

        Though PM Modi and Chinese President Xi will be attending the US Sustainable Development and 70th anniversary summits, there was no proposal for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN.

      Protein-Based Sensor May Spot, Kill Cancer Cells

      • Protein-Based Sensor May Spot, Kill Cancer CellsNEW YORK:  Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a protein-based sensor that can detect a particular DNA sequence in a cell and then trigger a specific response, such as cell death.

        This system can be customised to detect any DNA sequence in a mammalian cell and then trigger a desired response, including killing cancer cells or cells infected with a virus, the researchers said.

        "There is a range of applications for which this could be important," said study senior author James Collins, professor at MIT.

        "This allows you to readily design constructs that enable a programmed cell to both detect DNA and act on that detection, with a report system and/or a respond system," Mr Collins noted.

        The technology is based on a type of DNA-binding proteins known as zinc fingers. These proteins can be designed to recognise any DNA sequence.

        "The technologies are out there to engineer proteins to bind to virtually any DNA sequence that you want," lead author Shimyn Slomovic from MIT noted.

        "This is used in many ways, but not so much for detection. We felt that there was a lot of potential in harnessing this designable DNA-binding technology for detection," Mr Slomovic said.

        To create their new system, the researchers needed to link zinc fingers' DNA-binding capability with a consequence -- either turning on a fluorescent protein to reveal that the target DNA is present or generating another type of action inside the cell.

        The researchers achieved this by exploiting a type of protein known as an "intein" -- a short protein that can be inserted into a larger protein, splitting it into two pieces.

        The MIT researchers also deployed this system to kill cells by linking detection of the DNA target to production of an enzyme called NTR.

        The researchers are now adapting this system to detect latent HIV proviruses, which remain dormant in some infected cells even after treatment.

        Learning more about such viruses could help scientists find ways to permanently eliminate them.

        The findings appeared in the journal Nature Methods.

      Business Affairs 

      Sensex tumbles below 26K at close, Nifty below 7,900
      • Sensex tumbles below 26K at close, Nifty below 7,900Taking a sharp U-turn by giving up all the early gains, the benchmark BSE Sensex slipped into the negative terrain tumbling by over 541 points, tracking weak European markets amid lingering global growth worries.
        The NSE Nifty too came under pressure, which cracked below the 7,900-mark at the fag end of the session on Tuesday.
        In addition, offloading of bets by participants ahead of September expiry in the derivatives segment on Thursday queered the pitch.
        The 30-share index, which rose over 146 points in early trade, slumped below the crucial 26,000-mark at close to quote at 25,651.84, down by 541.14 points, or 2.07 per cent.
        The index had shed 25.93 points in Monday's choppy trade.
        The NSE Nifty dropped 165.10 points, or 2.07 per cent, to close at 7,812.
        Furthermore, fresh weakness in the rupee, which depreciated 7 paise to Rs 65.80 (intra-session) against the dollar, dampened mood.
        Sentiment turned off-colour after European markets declined in early trade as investors weighed Federal Reserve pointers that global growth concerns that delayed a rate hike last week could be temporary.
        Major losers that pulled down the key indices were Vedanta, Hindalco, NTPC and Tata Motors.
        Globally, FTSE fell 2.11 per cent while France's CAC and the pan-European Euro Stoxx were down up to 2.76 per cent.
        The Shanghai Composite index, however, rose 0.92 per cent.

      China's Lead Eastern Investment buys 10% in Reliance Games' Zapak
      • Reliance Group Chairman Anil AmbaniIn a strategic partnership, China's Lead Eastern Investment Group on Tuesday announced the acquisition of 10 per cent stake in Reliance Games' Zapak Mobile Games for $15 million.
        Besides, Reliance Games, Lead Eastern and Creative Cultural will form a three-way joint venture in China to develop and market mobile games, with 40 per cent, 51 per cent and 9 per cent stakes, respectively.
        Lead Eastern focuses on film and television production investments, while Hong Kong-based Creative Cultural manages intellectual property rights acquired from major Hollywood studio companies and leverages these properties through themed entertainment attractions and mobile games.
        Reliance Games is part of Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Entertainment and the deal with Lead Eastern values its mobile gaming venture Zapak at $150 million.
        The new JV in China will create, operate and market mobile games based on Intellectual Properties owned and acquired by Zapak.
        Lead Holding group is a leading conglomerate in China, with diversified business interests in real estate, tourism, finance, media and entertainment and gaming.
        Its listed unit Lead Eastern has interests in films, television, gaming content creation, broadcasting and distribution.
        Reliance Group Managing Director Amitabh Jhunjhunwala said the partnership with Lead Group will accelerate the growth and reach of the group's gaming business in China marketplace and also help in its expansion in the global markets.
        This partnership will enable both the companies to leverage their core competencies, he said in a statement. Lead Eastern Company's Chairman Chunfeng Wang said, Strategic partnership between Lead Eastern and Reliance Games will enable the two companies to expand extensively in China and global markets. 

          Rabi crops' output seen at 132.78 mts in 2015-16, says Radha Mohan Singh
          • Rabi crops' output seen at 132.78 mts in 2015-16India's winter-sown grains output is seen at 132.78 million tonnes in the current crop year ending next June, versus 130.75 million tonnes a year ago, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.
            "So far the monsoon deficit is at 14 per cent, but we have had good rains in the past few days and it should help increase soil moisture for the rabi (winter) crop," Singh told reporters on Tuesday.
            Winter crops account for about half the country's grains output.
            India's June-September monsoon rains are so far 14 per cent below normal due to El Nino , a weather pattern caused by Pacific Ocean warming that can cause drought in South Asia. Rains were 12 per cent deficient in 2014, cutting grains output by 4.7 per cent in the year to June 2015.

          All you want to know about the govt's proposed National Encryption Policy
          • The government has exempted social media includingWhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter among others from the ambit of encryption policy after the public uproar on privacy issues. Here is all you need to know about the proposed National Encryption Policy:

              All you want to know about the govt's proposed National Encryption Policy
            • The draft on National Encryption Policy proposes to introduce the New Encryption Policy under section 84 A of Information Technology Act 2000. This section was introduced through an amendment in 2008.
            • The proposed encryption policy aims to enhance the country's information security.
            • According to the policy, all encrypted data has to be stored in plain text format for a period of 90 days and made available to the security agencies. Since all web-based social media messaging services use some form of encrypted data, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Line, Google Chat and Yahoo Messenger would have come under its ambit. But the government has now exempted social media messaging services from the purview of encryption policy.
            • In case of the user having communicated with foreigner or entity abroad, then the primary responsibility of providing readable plain text along with the corresponding encrypted information would be that of the user in the country.
            • Payment gateways, e-commerce and password based transactions have also been exempted from the encryption policy.
            • The draft has all statutory organizations, executive bodies, business and commercial establishments, including all public sector undertakings and academic institutions under its purview.
            • The 'C category' of the draft includes all citizens including government personnel and business performing non-official or personal functions.
            • The draft on National Encryption Policy proposes legal action that could also entail imprisonment for failure to store and produce on demand the encrypted message sent from any mobile device or computer. The draft, issued by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, would apply to everyone, including government departments, academic institutions, and citizens and for all kinds of communications - be it official or personal.
            • Besides this, all service providers located within and outside India that use encryption technology for providing any type of services in India must register themselves with the government, as per the draft.
            • The experts, however, have reservations on the proposed encryption policy. They point out the possibility that the 'plain text' data can be manipulated by hackers or by a government official with encryption keys.
            • The draft on encryption policy has been put online and is open to public comment till October 16.

              China dismisses India's apprehensions on Silk Road projects
              • Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPCChina on Tuesday dismissed any apprehensions in India on its ambitious multi-billion dollar Silk Road projects stretching across continents to build infrastructure and improve connectivity with the avowed aim of expansion of trade and development.
                It also sought to assure India that there are benefits for countries joining the projects envisaged under the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) unveiled by President Xi Jinping two years ago.
                "There are some media which say China is in an expansion mode and damaging the world. The key objective of OBOR is to share benefits with all countries involved with China, the second largest economy in the world," Liu Yunshan, the fifth ranking member of the powerful Standing Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) said.
                He was answering a question on apprehensions in India about the OBOR projects that they may undermine India's strategic economic and security interests.
                Strategic experts in India are divided with some favouring that it should join the projects to reap the benefits while others view them with suspicion.
                The OBOR comprises the entire periphery of the Indian subcontinent, including Pakistan, and also that seeks to connect the east with the west through the central Asian region.
                Liu was interacting with a select group of top editors from international news organisations which had come to participate in the media cooperation forum on the OBOR organised by CPC's organ, People's Daily, the largest Chinese newspaper.
                The meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People.
                India has not officially commented on the OBOR in its full form.
                Replies to questions in Parliament on the project always elicited the line that India has taken note of it.
                India is silent on the implementation of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) in the Indian Ocean region.
                New Delhi has objected to the $46 billion China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it goes though the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) but is taking part in the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor.
                In order to implement the projects, China has set up a $40 billion Silk Road Fund and floated the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with a subscribed capital of $50 billion.
                India and 56 other countries are members of the Beijing-based AIIB.

                  General Awareness

                  International Airports in India


                    • Hello Friends,
                      We have seen in most of the exam one question is asking from International Airports in India. So we have provided you List of International Airports in India for upcoming exams like – RRB, IBPS, SSC, FCI and many more upcoming exams.
                      StateCity Airport Name
                      Andaman and Nicobar IslandsPort BlairVeer Savarkar International Airport
                      Andhra PradeshVisakhapatnamVisakhapatnam International Airport
                      AssamGuwahatiLokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
                      BiharGayaGaya International Airport
                      DelhiNew DelhiIndira Gandhi InternationalAirport
                      GoaGoa/tdGoa International Airport/Dabolim Airport
                      GujaratAhmedabadSardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
                      Jammu & KashmirSrinagarSrinagar Airport
                      KarnatakaBengaluruKempegowda International Airport
                      KarnatakaMangaloreMangalore International Airport
                      KeralaKochiCochin International Airport
                      KeralaKozhikodeCalicut International Airport
                      KeralaThiruvananthapuramTrivandrum International Airport
                      Madhya PradeshBhopalRaja Bhoj International Airport
                      MaharashtraMumbaiChhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
                      MaharashtraNagpurDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport
                      ManipurImphalTulihal International Airport
                      OdishaBhubaneswarBiju Patnaik International Airport
                      PunjabAmritsarSri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport
                      RajasthanJaipurJaipur International Airport
                      Tamil NaduChennaiChennai International Airport
                      Tamil NaduCoimbatoreCoimbatore International Airport
                      Tamil NaduMaduraiMadurai Airport
                      Tamil NaduTiruchirapalliTiruchirapalli International Airport
                      TelanganaHyderabadRajiv Gandhi International Airport
                      Uttar PradeshLucknowChaudhary Charan Singh International Airport
                      Uttar PradeshVaranasiLal Bahadur Shastri Airport
                      West BengalKolkataNetaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport

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