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Current Affairs Quiz: March 16 2018

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AffairsCloud brings you the complete and important daily current affairs March 16 2018 Quiz to achieve more marks in Banking , Insurance, UPSC, SSC, CLAT , Railway  and all other competitive Exams. We have prepared the current affairs quiz from our current affairs today updates.

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  1. After implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, ceiling of gratuity amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs_____________?
    1. 12.5 lakh
    2. 15 lakh
    3. 20 lakh
    4. 30 lakh
    5. 50 lakh
    Answer – 3. 20 lakh
    Explanation :
    On March 15, 2018, Lok Sabha passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which seeks to authorise Central Government to fix tax-free gratuity amount and period of maternity leave with an executive order. Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar in the Lok Sabha during the winter session. Under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, formal sector workers with five or more years of service are eligible for maximum Rs. 10 lakh tax-free gratuity after leaving job or at time of superannuation. After implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, ceiling of gratuity amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Need to bring in the amendment bill was felt as unions have been demanding for inclusion of this change into the Act. Thus, after passage of Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Rajya Sabha, Centre may notify tax-free gratuity of Rs 20 lakh for the organised sector.

  2. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted environmental clearance to which state, to set up an India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project?
    1. Kerala
    2. Karnataka
    3. Gujarat
    4. Tamil Nadu
    5. Telangana
    Answer – 4. Tamil Nadu
    Explanation :
    Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted environmental clearance for setting up India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project at Bodi West hills in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. In November 2017, Tamil Nadu State Expert Appraisal Committee had observed that proposed site forms part of the catchment area of various streams that contribute to the Vaigai watershed. Among these, most important condition is to obtain Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) consent to establish and operate the project. The INO project, jointly supported by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) envisages building a world class underground laboratory to study properties of neutrinos (subatomic particles produced by the decay of radioactive elements).

  3. India currently offers ________________ quantity of bio-fuel and bio-energy business to the world?
    1. 1 lakh crore
    2. 50 lakh crore
    3. 100 crores
    4. 1 lakh
    5. 50 lakhs
    Answer – 1. 1 lakh crore
    Explanation :
    On March 14, 2018, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the first edition of Delhi Energy Dialogue (DED) 2018 in New Delhi. The dialogue was organised by Ashden India Collective (AIC) in alliance with the Climate Parliament and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). While inaugurating the dialogue, Mr. Pradhan stated that India is a happening place for energy as every day 40 million people are going to hydrocarbon retail points to meet their demand and 190 million people are getting the benefit of subsidies. He also added that by 2040, India’s energy consumption will grow by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent and India currently offers 1 lakh crore of bio-fuel and bio-energy business to the world.

  4. In which Indian city, Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela, focusing on ‘doubling farmers’ income’ began at?
    1. Mumbai
    2. Kanpur
    3. Ahmadabad
    4. Allahabad
    5. New Delhi
    Answer – 5. New Delhi
    Explanation :
    Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela, focusing on ‘doubling farmers’ income’ began in New Delhi on March 16, 2018. The objective of Krishi Unnati Mela is to create awareness among farmers about latest agriculture related developments. Farmers and agri-scientists from various parts of India will be attending this Mela. 800 stalls displaying latest agriculture and allied sector technologies have been set up at the venue of Krishi Unnati Mela. A theme pavilion on doubling of farmers income, organic farming, cooperatives, farm inputs, has also been set up to familiarise farmers with the latest developments in the farming techniques.

  5. Which state hosted the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2018?
    1. Gujarat
    2. New Delhi
    3. Punjab
    4. Bihar
    5. Jharkhand
    Answer – 2. New Delhi
    Explanation :
    Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Theme of the conference: Challenges to Policing in 2020 – How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it. The conference was organised by the Asia-Pacific World Regional Office (APWRO) of IACP along with Intelligence Bureau.Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain was the host of the conference. Main focus of the conference: discussions on exploitation of cyber space by terrorist or organized groups for committing crimes and illegal activities. Ways to prevent such activities was discussed.

  6. In which state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th session of the Indian Science Congress 2018?
    1. Mizoram
    2. Arunachal Pradesh
    3. Sikkim
    4. Andhra Pradesh
    5. Manipur
    Answer – 5. Manipur
    Explanation :
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th session of the Indian Science Congress in Imphal, Manipur. Imphal has become the second city in the North-East India to host the Indian Science Congress. The Indian Science Congress has participation from 5000 delegations. Noble laureates, scientists, scholars and researchers from all over India take part in this congress. He inaugurated Luwangpokpa Multi-Sports Complex, Rani Gaidinliu Park, and few other projects after inaugurating the congress. He laid foundation stone of the National Sports University, 1000 Anganwadi Centres, 19 residential complexes for teachers, doctors and nurses, etc.

  7. ‘LaQshya’ program is related to which of the following?
    1. Maternity
    2. Agriculture
    3. Schools
    4. College
    5. Politics
    Answer – 1. Maternity
    Explanation :
    The launch of ‘LaQshya’ program that aims to improve quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT), was recently announced by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
    Aim: LaQshya aims to enhance quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs).
    Implementation: It will be implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and First Referral Unit (FRU), and Community Health Center (CHCs).This program will reduce maternal and newborn mortality count. It will offer Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women in public health facilities.
    This program will implement ‘fast-track’ initiatives to obtain results in 18 months. Facility that obtains 70% score on NQAS will be given LaQshya certification. Facilities that obtain more than 90%, 80% and 70% score will be awarded Platinum, Gold and Silver badge respectively.

  8. Who was invited as the chief guest, in the golden jubilee of independence celebrations of Madagascar, the island nation?
    1. Sushma Swaraj
    2. Smriti Rani
    3. Arun Jaitely
    4. Narendra Modi
    5. Ram Nath Kovind
    Answer – 5. Ram Nath Kovind
    Explanation :
    Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was on a six-day official visit to island nations of Mauritius and Madagascar from March 11, 2018. These visits of President Kovind held lot of significance as Mauritius and Madagascar are located in Indian Ocean, a region where China has been increasing its naval presence in recent times. Besides, President Kovind’s visit to Madagascar was the first ever visit by an Indian President and he was chief guest at the island nation’s golden jubilee of independence celebrations, a high honour.

  9. India has ranked _____ among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Energy Transition Index?
    1. 76th
    2. 77th
    3. 78th
    4. 79th
    5. 80th
    Answer – 3. 78th
    Explanation :
    India has ranked 78th among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Energy Transition Index. Energy Transition Index benchmarks 114 countries on the current level of their energy system performance, and the readiness of their macro environment for transition to a secure, sustainable, affordable and inclusive future energy system. The index is a part of first edition of ‘Fostering Effective Energy Transition report’, prepared by World Economic Forum (WEF) with analytical support from McKinsey & Company.

  10. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has raised the exposure limit under exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) for residents and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to _______across all currency pairs.
    1. USD 250 million
    2. USD 200 million
    3. USD 150 million
    4. USD 100 million
    5. USD 500 million
    Answer – 4. USD 100 million
    Explanation :
    Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has raised the exposure limit under exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) for residents and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to USD 100 million across all currency pairs. This decision comes after RBI raised the exposure limit to USD 100 million in February 2018. ETCD, in USD/INR, EUR/INR (Euro), GBP/INR (Great British Pound) and JPY/INR (Japanese Yen) are primarily used by Indian exporters and importers and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to hedge their risk against currency price fluctuations. It is to be noted that for taking positions within the prescribed limit, corporate/individuals are not required to present any proof on underlying exposure. Earlier exposure limit was USD 15 million for USD-INR contracts and USD 5 million for other currency pairs.

  11. Which company tied up with Global IME Bank to expand its money remittance services between Indo-Nepal Corridor?
    1. Reliance Trust
    2. Adani Group
    3. M&M Finance
    4. TATA Trust
    5. Muthoot Finance
    Answer – 5. Muthoot Finance
    Explanation :
    Muthoot Finance Ltd., the flagship company of Muthoot Group tied up with Global IME Bank to expand its money remittance services between Indo-Nepal Corridor. As per the terms of the tie-up, Nepali migrant residing in India would be able to transfer money instantly (by paying nominal charge of Rs. 200) to their families in Nepal from any of the 4600 branches of Muthoot Finance. In Nepal, 193 branches and more than 7000 pay out centres of Global IME Bank will serve as remittance receiving points for Nepali families. Millions of Nepali migrants residing in business cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru and also in the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh will get benefit of this facility without opening a bank account.

  12. Name the Indian actress who received the “UK Golden Flame Award” at the opening ceremony of the Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London?
    1. Simi Garewal
    2. Zeenast Aman
    3. Madhubala
    4. Poonam Dhillon
    5. Saira Banu
    Answer – 1. Simi Garewal
    Explanation :
    Indian actress Simi Garewal received the “UK Golden Flame Award” at the opening ceremony of the Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London. Simi Garewal is an actress and a talk show host. She has been honoured with this award for her contribution to Indian cinema. The Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival is held between 15 and 25 March 2018. It is held in London, Leicester, Manchester and Edinburgh.

  13. Pakistan appointed whom as the new chief of Pakistan air staff?
    1. Air Marshal Rao Qamar
    2. Air Marshal Suleman
    3. Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan
    4. Air Marshal Sohail Aman
    5. Air Marshal Anwar Faizal
    Answer – 3. Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan
    Explanation :
    Pakistan appointed Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan as the new chief of Pakistan air staff. Mujahid Anwar Khan will take charge as Pakistan Air chief on 19th March 2018. He replaces Sohail Aman. Currently, Mujahid Anwar Khan is Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Support) and Director General, Air Force Strategic Command at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

  14. Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) said that, a cloned Assamese buffalo male calf was born for the first time. This cloned buffalo was named as?
    1. Mira
    2. Ombretta
    3. Cumulina
    4. Kaga
    5. Sach-Gaurav
    Answer – 5. Sach-Gaurav
    Explanation :
    Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) said that, a cloned Assamese buffalo male calf was born for the first time. The Assamese buffalo clone calf named Sach-Gaurav was born on 22nd December 2017 through a normal delivery. The calf was born to a Murrah buffalo. The Assamese buffaloes were seen only in the north-east India. They were mostly used for agricultural work. The birth weight of the calf was 54.2 kg. It was healthy and had normal physiological parameters.

  15.  _____________ has launched an innovative analytical approach to enhance the deployment of electric and diesel locomotives run passenger trains?
    1. Indian Railways
    2. Indian Parliament
    3. Central Government
    4. ISRO
    5. HAL
    Answer – 1. Indian Railways
    Explanation :
    Indian Railways has launched an innovative analytical approach to enhance the deployment of electric and diesel locomotives run passenger trains. A software dependent mathematical decision support system will be utilised to improve the productivity of locomotives. This system has been developed by Ministry of Railways along with experts. It is implemented all over India. This system finds out the minimum number of locomotives needed to run all the passenger trains according to time table, also fulfilling the maintenance and operation necessities at the same time. In Budget 2018-19 a project to implement this process of locomotive link optimization using decision support system software in Indian Railways has been sanctioned. It will be implemented by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).

  16. Name the Indian Wells Tournament Director, who has announced his retirement from professional tennis.
    1. Lindsay Davenport
    2. Steffi Graf
    3. Tommy Haas
    4. Martina Hingis
    5. Daniela Hanta
    Answer – 3. Tommy Haas
    Explanation :
    Tommy Haas of Germany, the Indian Wells Tournament Director, has announced his retirement from professional tennis. Tommy has announced his retirement at the age of 39. He became world number two in May 2002. He bagged silver medal in the Olympic Games in 2000. He has achieved 569 career wins. He was made Tournament Director at Indian Wells in 2016.

  17. Which country’s cricket team gained One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time?
    1. UAE
    2. Myanmar
    3. China
    4. Bhutan
    5. Nepal
    Answer – 5. Nepal
    Explanation :
    Nepal cricket team gained One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time. Nepal cricket team has gained ODI status after it won over Papua New Guinea by six wickets in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe on 15thMarch 2018. This is a significant achievement for Nepal as that Nepal cricket board is currently suspended by ICC.

  18. Which country hosted the 14th Asian Cross Country Championship 2018?
    1. USA
    2. China
    3. UK
    4. Germany
    5. Russia
    Answer – 2. China
    Explanation :
    India’s Sanjivani Jadhav won bronze medal in women’s 8km cross country race in the 14th Asian Cross Country Championship at Guiyang in China.Sanjivani Jadhav covered the 8 km distance in 28 minutes and 19 seconds and won bronze medal in the women’s 8km event. She was surpassed by China’s Li Dan (28:03) and Japan’s Abe Yukari (28:06). Indian women’s team comprising Sanjivani, Swati Gadhave, Jhuma Khatun and Lalita Babar also bagged a bronze medal. Performance of three best finishers of a country in the individual race is taken into account for team medal.

  19. Emily Nasrallah recently passed away. Who is she?
    1. Dancer
    2. Singer
    3. Politician
    4. Author
    5. Journalist
    Answer – 4. Author
    Explanation :
    On 13th March 2018, Lebanese author and feminist Emily Nasrallah, passed away after battling cancer, in Beirut, Lebanon. Emily Nasrallah was 87 years old. She started her career as a journalist. She published her first book “Birds of September” in 1962. She was born in 1931. She stayed in Lebanon along with few other women writers during the civil war and wrote about the war.

  20. Which country’s cricket team has released the book named ‘A Tribute to Jagu’ as a tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya?
    1. Pakistan
    2. India
    3. Australia
    4. Sri Lanka
    5. Afghanistan
    Answer – 4. Sri Lanka
    Explanation :
    Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has released the book named ‘A Tribute to Jagu’ as a tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya. This book has been compiled by SLC as a commemoration of Jagmohan Dalmiya’s contributions to cricket. They honoured him posthumously as the greatest non-Sri Lankan contributor to Sri Lankan cricket. Avishek, son of Jagmohan Dalmiya, who is the joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) received the book.

  21. When is world sleep day observed all over the world?
    1. March 13
    2. March 14
    3. March 15
    4. March 16
    5. March 17
    Answer – 4. March 16
    Explanation :
    On 16th March 2018, World Sleep Day was observed all over the world. World Sleep Day is an annual event organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society. When: It is observed every year on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox. The next World Sleep Day will be on 15 March 2019. Why: This day aims to reduce the burden of sleep problems by means of better prevention and management of sleep disorders. Theme for World Sleep Day 2018: Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to Enjoy Life.

STATIC GK based on Current Affairs

  1. ‘Experience our Expertise’ is the tagline of which bank?
     Yes bank

  2. What is the Theme for World Sleep Day 2018?
     Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to Enjoy Life

  3. Durand Line is the border line between which two countries?
     Afghanistan & Pakistan

  4. Biju Patnaik International Airport is in?
     Bhubaneswar, Odisha

  5. World Economic Forum (WEF) was founded in the year?
     1971





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