Monday, 26 June 2017

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS APRIL 2017

1.    Who was sworn in as a US Supreme Court justice at the White House on April 10, 2017?
 Neil Gorsuch.

2.     Which countries signed 22 agreements in the fields of defence cooperation, civil nuclear energy, space and cyber security on April 8, 2017?
India and Bangladesh.

3.    Who was crowned Miss Teen Universe 2017 at the sixth edition of the pageant held in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua?


Srishti Kaur.(India).

4.    Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been named the youngest ever UN Messenger of Peace, with a special focus on girls' education?
Malala Yousafzai.
Malala Yousafzai was named UN Messenger of Peace by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The 19-year-old Pakistani activist became known around the world after she was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban on her way home from school in 2012.

5.    Veteran batsman and Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Test cricket who announced his retirement from international cricket on April 8, 2017?
Younis Khan.
Younis Khan has played 115 matches in his Test career, scoring a total of 9,977 runs at an average of 53.06 and 34 centuries. He also scored 7,249 runs in 265 ODIs with seven centuries before quitting in 2015. He knocked his highest score of 313 runs against Sri Lanka in February 2009.  Khan became the first player in the history of Test cricket to score centuries in 11 countries when he smashed his 34th century at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Australia.

6.    Who won the Chinese Grant Prix -2017, a Formula One motor race that took place in April 2017?
Lewis Hamilton.

7.    Which becomes world's first country to let pharmacies sell marijuana from July 2017?
Uruguay.
 The tiny South American nation has ended the three-year process of legalising cannabis consumption for recreational use. The development was the last step in implementing a law that Uruguay adopted in 2013, while legalising the production, sale and consumption of marijuana.

8.    Spain’s first female defense minister and a leading Socialist politician, passed away on April 11, 2017?
Carme Chacon.
She was Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2011 in the cabinet led by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Chacon helped modernise the armed forces when she took the helm of the Ministry of Defence in 2008.

9.    In which country, a three-month state of emergency has been declared in April 2017 after suicide bombers targeted two Coptic churches, killing at least 44 people and injuring dozens more in the run-up to Easter?
Egypt.

10.    A former Indian naval officer who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on April 10, 2017 on charges of spying?
 Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Jadhav is facing charges of espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.

11.     Which country executed more people in 2016 than all other nations combined, according to Amnesty International's 2016 global review of the death penalty?
China.

12.    British-Indian educationist, who was named “Asian Businesswoman of the Year”?
Asha Khemka.
Khemka was honoured with one of the UK’s top civilian awards - Dame, the female equivalent of knighthood – in 2014 and has since won several accolades for her work in education in Nottingham.

13.    Twice World Cup Football winners Argentina sacked their coach on April 10, 2017 after a string of poor results. ? Name that coach?
 Edgardo Bauza.

14.    Who is selected as captain of Indian national hockey team for the 26th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament?
P.R. Sreejesh.

15.    Indian origin educationalist who has been named the Asian Businesswoman of the Year-2017?
Asha Khemeka.
Dame Asha Khemka, Principal and CEO of West Nottinghamshire College, was honoured for her efforts in the field of education and skills.

16.    COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS OF 64TH NATIONAL FILM AWARDS/WINNERS OF NATIONAL FILM AWARDS 2016
Best Feature Film: Kasaav (Marathi)
Best Direction: Rajesh Mapuskar for Ventilator(Marathi)
Best Actor: Akshay Kumar for Rustom (Hindi)
Best Actress: Surabhi C.M for Minnaminungu – the Firefly (Malayalam)
Best Supporting Actor: Manoj Joshi for Dashakriya (Marathi)
Best Supporting Actress: Zaira Wasim for Dangal (Hindi)
Best Child Artist: Adish Praveen for Kunju Daivam (Malayalam), Nur Islam and Samiul Alam for Sahaj Pather Gappo (Bengali), Manohara. K for Railway Children (Kannada)
Best Male Playback Singer: Sundharayyar for song Jasmie E from film Joker (Tamil)
Best Female Playback Singer: Iman Chakraborty for song Tumi Jaake Bhalo Basho from film Praktan (Bengali)
Best Cinematography: S. Thirunavukarasu for 24 (Tamil)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Screenplay writer (original): Syam Pushkaran for Maheshinte Prathikaaram (Malayalam)
Screenplay Writer (Adapted): Sanjay Krishnaji Patil for Dashakriya (Marathi)
Dialogues: Tarun Bhascker for Peli Chuplu (Telugu)
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY
Sound Designer: Jayadevan Chakka Dath for Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (Malayalam)
Re-recordist of the final mixed track: Alok De for Ventilator (Marathi)
Best Editing: Rameshwar for Ventilator (Marathi)
Best Production Design: Subrata Chakraborthy, Shreyas Khedekar and Amit Ray for 24 (Tamil)
Best Costume Designer: Sachin Lovalekar for Cycle (Marathi)
Best Make-up Artist: NK Ramakrishna for Allama (Kannada)
Best Music Direction (Songs /Background Score): Bapu Padmanabha for Allama (Kannada)
Best Lyrics: Vairamuthu for song Entha Pakkam from film Dharma Durai (Tamil), Anupam Roy for Tumi Jaake Bhalo Basho from Praktan(Bengali)
Special Jury Award: Mohan Lal
Best Choreography: Raju Sundaram for Janatha Garrage(Telugu)
Best Special Effect: Naveen Paul for Shivaay (Hindi)
SPECIAL MENTION
Sonam Kapoor for Neerja (Hindi)
Adil Hussain for Mukti Bhawan (Hindi) and Maj Rati Keteki (Assamese) Producer Red Carper Moving Pictures and director Shubhashish
Bhutiani for Mukti Bhawan (Hindi) Producer Eleeanora Images Private Ltd and director Nila
Madhab Panda for Kadvi Hawa (Hindi)
Best Feature Film in each of the language specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution
Best Assamese Film: Maj Rati Keteki
Best Bengali Film: Bisorjon
Best Hindi Film: Neerja
Best Kannada Film: Reservation
Best Konkani Film: K Sera Sera –Ghodpachen Ghoddtelem
Best Malayalam Film: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Best Marathi Film: Dashakriya
Best Telegu Film: Peli Chuplu
Best Gujarati Film: Wrong Side Raju
Best Tamil Film: Joker
Best Feature Film in each of the languages other than those specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution
Best Moran Film: Haanduk
Best Tulu Film: Madipu
Non-Feature Films
Best Non Feature Film: Fireflies In The Abyss
Best Debut Film of a Director: Soz…A Ballad of Maladies by Tushar Madhav
Best Biographical/ Historical Reconstruction: Zikr Us
Parivashka: Begum Akhtar
Best Arts/Cultural Film: In The Shadow of Time and The Lord of The Universe
Best Environment Film including Agriculture: The Tiger Who Crossed The Line
Best Film on Social Issues: I Am Jeeja and Sanath
Best Educational Film: The Waterfall
Best Exploration/Adventure Film: Matitle Kusti
Best Investigative Film: Placebo
Best Animation Film: Hum Chitra Banate Hain
Special Jury Award: The Cinema Travellers
Best Short Fiction Film: Aaba
Best Film on Family Values: Little Magician
Best Direction: Aaba Aiktaay Naa?
Best Cinematography: Kalpvriksha” and Adnyat
Best Audiography: In Return Just A Book
Best Editing: Gudh
Best Music: Leeches
Best Narration/Voice Over: Makino
SPECIAL MENTION
Director Amitabh Parashar for The Eyes of Darkness
Director Ramen Borah and Sibanu Borah for Sikar Aru Sitkar
Director Soumya Sadanandan for Chembai-Descoperire A Mea Unei Legend
BEST WRITING ON CINEMA
Best Book on Cinema: Lata : Sur Gatha by Yatindra Mishra
Best Film Critic: G. Dhananjayan
Most Film Friendly State Award: State of Uttar Pradesh
Special Mention: State of Jharkhand

17.    Which university remain India's top educational institutions in the overall and university categories in the National Institutional Ranking Framework's India Rankings 2017?
The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

18.    Who has become India’s first transgender sub-inspector of police?
 K Prithika Yashini

19.    Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist who was recognised as one of the foremost singers in the Hindustani tradition and as an innovative exponent of the Jaipur gharana, passed away on April 3, 2017?
Kishori Amonkar.
She was a performer of the classical genre khyal and the light classical genres thumri and bhajan. Amonkar received several of India's national awards and civilian honours, including the Padma Bhushan, in 1987, and Padma Vibhushan in 2002. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 1985 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for 2009. She was awarded the prestigious Dr. T. M. A. Pai Outstanding Konkani Award in 1991. In 2016, she was one of seven recipients of the M.S. Subbalakshmi Award for classical music.

20.    Media proprietor and the founder of the Dainik Bhaskar group of newspapers that has a presence in 14 states of India with 62 editions and has an estimated readership of over 15 million, passed away on April 12, 2017?
Ramesh Chandra Agarwal.

21.    Who has emerged as the most followed world leader on photo-sharing app Instagram with a whopping 6.9 million followers, surpassing US President Donald Trump?
Narendra Modi.

22.    The first woman of the Muslim faith to serve as a judge on any court in U.S. was found dead on the banks of the Hudson River in New York City. What is the name of that woman judge?
 Sheila Abdus-Salaam.

23.    Who has been appointed as the co chairman of Infosys on April 13, 2017?
Ravi Venkatesan.

24.    Who won the man of the series award in the three ODI Cricket matches between Pakistan and West Indies held in West Indies in April 2017?
Shoaib Malik (Pakistan).
Series- Pakistan won the 3-match series 2-1.

25.    American actor and comedian  who was best known as a writer and cast member of the Comedy Central sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show, passed away on April 12, 2017?
Charlie Murphy.

26.    Which country gave Malala Yousafzai honorary citizenship on April 12, 2017?
Canada.
She will become just the sixth person to be given honorary Canadian citizenship. The others include: Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi, Aga Khan.

27.    Afghanistan wicket-keeper batsman who has been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council with effect from 26 April 2017 on the grounds of violating doping rules?
Mohammad Shahzad.

28.    Who won the Singapore Open Super Badminton Series-2017 defeating Srikanth Kidambi i(India) in the final?
Sai Praneeth.

29.     Well known American actor who appeared as Sheriff J.W. Pepper in two James Bond films, passed away on April 15,2017?

Clifton James.
He is best known for his roles as Sheriff J.W. Pepper alongside Roger Moore in the James Bond films Live and Let Die (1973) and The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), the sheriff in Silver Streak (1976).

30.    Veteran batsman and Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Test cricket Younis Khan announced his retirement from international cricket on April 8, 2017?
Younis Khan.
He is the first and only Test cricketer to score a century in all 11 countries that have hosted Test Matches. Younis Khan scored 34 Test centuries and 7 ODI centuries.

31.    Who has been appointed as Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for a period of five years?
B.Venugopal.
The top management of LIC consists of the chairman and four managing directors. With these appointments, LIC has four MDs, with the other two being Usha Sangwan and Hemant Bhargava, who was appointed in mid-February.  

32.     Name the world's largest coral reef system which has been damaged due to unprecedented coral bleaching in consecutive years, according to the results of an aerial survey?
The Great Barrier Reef (Australia).
The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

33.    Who has been appointed as Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to India in April 2017?
Sohail Mahmood.

34.    Who became the first ever player to complete 10,000 runs in T20 cricket?
Chris Gayle.
Gayle reached the milestone in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s match against Gujarat Lions in tenth edition of the Indian Premier League.

35.    Which team holds the record for lowest team total in Indian Premier League?
Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Royal Challengers Bangalore crashed with a meager 49 runs on the board against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Garden on April 23, 2017. They fell short of Rajasthan Royals' score of 58, which was made way back in 2009 in Cape Town against RCB. Surprisingly, the highest score of IPL also belongs to Royal Challengers Bangalore. (i.e 263/5 against Pune Warriors).

36.    Renowned filmmaker and actor who has won the Dadasaheb Phalke award for the year 2016 for his outstanding contribution to the film industry? 


K.Viswanath.
 He is the 48 recipient of the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of ₹10 lakh and a shawl. He also won the Padma Shri award, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 1992, in addition to his collection of prestigious recognition including five National Awards, 20 Nandi Awards and 10 Film fare Awards.  A recipient of five National Film Awards, Viswanath is celebrated for his film Sankarabharanam, Sagara Sangamam, Swati Mutyam, Saptapadi, Kaamchor, Sanjog and Jaag Utha Insaan.

37.    Name the 101-year-old from Chandigarh (India) who made history at the World Masters Games on April 24, 2017 when she became the oldest woman ever to claim gold in the 100-meter dash?


Man Kaur.

38.    On 23 April 2017, who became the first Pakistani and 13th ever batsmen to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket?
Younis Khan.

39.     Which state won the team title at the National Youth Athletics Championship-2017?
Haryana.
Haryana emerged champions with 166.5 points, while Kerala could manage only 134.75 points to finish runners-up.

40.    Who has been appointed as the new ambassador to the USA on April 22, 2017?
Prince Khaled bin Salman.

41.    The Supreme Court on April 24, 2017 directed the reinstatement of former Kerala DGP who had been removed from the post by the Kerala government last year. Who is he?
T.P. Senkumar.

42.     American writer and philosopher who was the author of the philosophical novels Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (1974) and Lila: An Inquiry into Morals (1991), passed away on April 24, 2107?
Robert.M.Pirsig.

43.    Veteran Bollywood actor-turned politician who played lead roles in many films and is best remembered for his performances in Mere Apne,  Gaddaar, , Amar Akbar Anthony,  passed away on April 27, 2017?
Vinod Khanna.
After making his debut in 1968, Khanna first acted in supporting and antagonistic roles; as an angry young man in the movie Mere Apne, as the main villain in the super-hit movie Mera Gaon Mera Desh and as the military officer turned fugitive in the critically acclaimed movie Achanak. Khanna became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and left the film industry in 1982 for five years.
He was the MP from the Gurdaspur constituency between 1998–2009 and 2014–2017. In July 2002, Khanna became the minister for Culture and Tourism in the Atal Behari Vajpayee cabinet. Six months later, he became the Minister of State for external affairs.

44.     Olympic swimmer who has been appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency?

Yusra Mardini.

45.    Which state won the Sub Junior National Football Title-2017 defeating Meghalaya in the final?
Mizoram.

46.    Surrey and England all-rounder who  has announced his retirement from Cricket  at the age of 25?

Zafar Ansari.
Zafar Ansari has retired from cricket in order to pursue a career in the legal profession, just four months after playing his third, and final, Test for England.

47.    Which country blocked access to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia on April 29, 2017, citing a law that allows the government to ban certain websites for the protection of the public?
Turkey.
The restrictions were imposed by Turkish Law due to the article on state-sponsored terrorism, where Turkey was described as a sponsor country for ISIS and Al-Qaeda, which Turkish courts viewed as a public manipulation on mass media. Despite multiple requests by Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority, Wikipedia refused to edit the article to comply with Turkish law.

48.    Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a new scheme on April 27, 2017 to boost air travel between smaller cities by making flights far more affordable for "tier 2" and smaller towns. What is the name of that scheme?
UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik).
A maiden low-cost Shimla-New Delhi flight and two other low-cost flights were launched on April 27, 2017 as part of the government’s regional connectivity scheme.

49.    India’s first ‘village of books’ is recently inaugurated in Maharashtra. Where is it located?
Bhilar in Satara district.

50.    Social and environmental activist who has won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize-2017, dubbed as the Green Nobel?
Prafulla Samantara.
Samantara was instrumental in mobilising Dongria Kondh tribes in their struggle against Vedanta's now defunct bauxite mining project in Odisha. The prize, dubbed as the Green Nobel, is awarded to individuals whose work influenced grassroots.

51.    On April 24, 2017, a NASA astronaut broke the record for most total days spent in space by any NASA astronaut, at more than 534 days. Name that astronaut?
Peggy Whitson.
Whitson is a biochemist who has twice commanded the International Space Station.