SIPVS Knowledge is Power
1) What is the new name of the iconic Teen Murti Chowk war memorial in Delhi that was renamed during the India visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 14 January 2018? – Teen Murti Haifa Chowk
Explanation: As a symbolic gesture of friendship with Israel, India renamed the iconic Teen Murti Chowk war memorial as ‘Teen Murti Haifa Chowk’ on 14 January 2018 to mark the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This memorial is situated near the Teen Murti Bhavan, the official residence of the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
– Haifa is the name of the Israeli port city that was freed from the hands of a joint Ottoman, German and Austro-Hungarian force by Indian soldiers on 23 September 1918.
– The Indian soldiers fighting for the Allied Powers, captured Haifa and cleared a crucial route for the Allies. A total of 44 Indian soldiers from the three princely states (Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore) died during the liberation of Haifa.
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2) The UIDAI on 15 January 2018 allowed face recognition as additional means of Aadhaar authentication to be used in combination with existing ways such as fingerprint or iris scan. This new recognition facility will be made available by which date? – 1 July 2018
Explanation: The face recognition allowed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is going to help in inclusive authentication of those who are not able to biometrically authenticate due to their worn out fingerprints, old age or hard work conditions. The facility is being allowed only in a “fusion mode” that is along with other existing means of authentication, and will be available by 1 July 2018.
– As of now, two modes of biometric authentication, fingerprint authentication and iris authentication, are allowed under Aadhaar. The new method of face recognition will also be allowed “on need basis”.
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3) Which country broke India’s monopoly in providing Internet access to Nepal by becoming country’s second Internet service provider during January 2018? – China
Explanation: China on 12 January 2018 became Nepal’s second Internet service provider and it thus broke India’s monopoly in providing Internet access to Nepal. China Telecom Global (CTG) started proving Internet services in the country by teaming up with Nepal Telecom.
– The new terrestrial fibre cable launched in 2016 by CTG will now connect Nepal and China through the Jilong (Rasuwagadhi) border gateway. CTG has also expanded Internet services to Pakistan, Laos and Thailand.
– So far, Nepal had been linked to the global internet network through Indian telecom operators, using optical fibre connections in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Birgunj, among others.
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4) Which company during January 2018 completed the acquisition of Tata Chemicals’ urea fertilisers business for Rs. 2,682 crore and thus paving the way for first-ever foreign direct investment (FDI) in the highly regulated urea sector? – Yara Fertilisers India
Explanation: Yara Fertilisers India, a subsidiary of Norway-based Yara International ASA, on 12 January 2018 completed the first-ever foreign direct investment (FDI) in India’s fertilizer sector as it acquired the urea fertilisers business of Tata Chemicals for Rs. 2,682 crore.
– The deal included transfer of all assets and liabilities (working capital) of the Babrala plant in Uttar Pradesh. With this acquisition, Yara’s current turnover of $40 million in India will increase to $350 million.
– The Babrala plant, which was commissioned in 1994, is the most energy-efficient plant in India with energy efficiency on par with Yara’s best plants across the globe.
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5) What is India’s rank in the Global Manufacturing Index (GMI) that was released by World Economic Forum (WEF) on 14 January 2018? – 30th
Explanation: India was placed at 30th position in the Global Manufacturing Index (GMI) that was released by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) on 14 January 2018. India was placed five places behind China (25th). In terms of the scale of production, India has been ranked ninth, while for complexity it is at 48th place.
– The report has categorized 100 countries in four major groups for its ranking which include, Leading (strong current base, high level of readiness for future); High Potential (limited current base, high potential for future); Legacy (strong current base, at risk for future); or Nascent (limited current base, low level of readiness for future).
– India has been placed in the Legacy group alongside Hungary, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Thailand and Turkey, among others. Meanwhile, China is on the list of leading countries.
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Source: nirdeshak.com
