Current Affairs Quiz , 21 Nov 2018

1) The Central Bureau of Investigation comes under the aegis of which of the following ministries?

a) Ministry of Home Affairs
b) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
c) Ministry of Law and Justice
d) Ministry of Defence

Answer: b
Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal has recently withdrawn the general consent for CBI investigation.
• Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal withdrew the “general consent” granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) thereby effectively curtailing the agency’s power in the States.
• The CBI and all agencies under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, will now have to approach the State government for permission for investigation on a case by case basis.
What is general consent?
o Unlike the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is governed by its own NIA Act and has jurisdiction across the country, the CBI is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act that makes consent of a state government mandatory for conducting investigation in that state.
o There are two kinds of consent:
• Case specific consent:
• Given that the CBI has jurisdiction only over central government departments and employees, it can investigate a case involving state government employees or a violent crime in a given state only after that state government gives its consent.
• General Consent:
• General consent” is normally given to help the CBI seamlessly conduct its investigation into cases of corruption against central government employees in the concerned state.
• Almost all states have given such consent. Otherwise, the CBI would require consent in every case.
What does withdrawal mean?
o It means the CBI will not be able to register any fresh case involving a central government official or a private person stationed in these two states without getting case-specific consent.
o Withdrawal of consent simply means that CBI officers will lose all powers of a police officer as soon as they enter the state unless the state government has allowed them.

2) The Scopus Young Scientist Awards is organised by Elsevier in collaboration with which organisation in India?

a) NITI Aayog
b) National Academy of Science
c) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
d) CSIR

Answer: b
• The Scopus Young Scientist Awards, first launched by Elsevier in 2006, is part of an Elsevier’s global initiative to support early career researchers in their quest to advance the frontiers of science across a broad range of disciplines.
• In 2009, India officially adopted the program within its scientific community through Elsevier’s collaboration with The National Academy of Sciences, India.
• The program honours outstanding young researchers in India who are building their careers in academic research, helping them gain recognition for their work.
• This year NASI Scopus Awards has introduced 5 multi-disciplinary categories that are aligned with national missions of Make in India, Digital India, Healthy India and Clean India.

3) Institutions Innovation Council Programme was recently launched by

a) NITI Aayog
b) Ministry of Science and Technology
c) Ministry of HRD
d) None of the above

Answer: c
• Ministry of Human Resource and development has launched Institution’s Innovation Council programme.
Institutions Innovation Council Programme:
• Ministry of Human Resource Development has established an “Innovation cell” at AICTE with a purpose to systematically foster the culture of Innovation in all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country.
• The purpose of formation of network of Institution’s Innovation Councils (IICs) is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas and processes resulting in innovative activities in their formative years.
• More than 1000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have already formed IICs in their campuses and enrolled for the IIC network managed by MHRD’s Innovation cell to promote innovation through multitudinous modes leading to an innovation promotion eco-system in their campuses.
• It is a significant step in institutionalising innovation and developing a scientific temperament in the country.

4) The Igla-S missile system will be procured by India from which of the following countries?

a) Russia
b) USA
c) Israel
d) Iran

Answer: a
• The Igla-S MANPADS is a new-generation system with a new performance capability for this weapon type – high kill probability of such small-size targets as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles
• It is designed for use against visible aerial targets at short range such as tactical aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), cruise missiles etc
• It will have maximum range of 6km, altitude of 3km along with all-weather capability

5) Vajra Prahar is a joint training exercise conducted between India and

a) Australia
b) USA
c) Iran
d) Vietnam

Answer: b
• The 12-day long joint military exercise between India and the United States, ‘Vajra Prahar’, currently being held here is focussing tackling of terror.
• With three days into exercise, Vajra Prahar has been immensely beneficial in getting exposure to various techniques employed on battle field, said US soldiers.
• Soldiers of 1st Special Forces Group, accommodated in the foreign troops training node at MFFR, Bikaner, also appreciated the fitness level of Indian soldiers.