Daily GK Update 28th June 2017

1. All You Need to Know About PM Modi's Three-Nation Visit

i. PM Modi in Portugal-

The Journey of PM started on 24th June. In the first leg of his tour, he reached Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Over there, India and Portugal have signed eleven MOUs for cooperation in areas including double taxation avoidance, science and technology, trade and investment, nanotechnology, space research, administrative reforms and culture.

So the visit of Portugal was more oriented and focused towards development in the areas of Space, Science and Technology. 

About Portugal-

• Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.
• The Prime Minister of Portugal is Antonio Costa.
• The currency of Portugal is Euro.

ii. PM Modi in The USA-

In the second leg of his three-nation tour PM arrived in US capital Washington D.C. India and the United States agreed to enhance cooperation in fighting the menace of terrorism, extremism and radicalisation. According to the PM, the two countries will enhance intelligence exchange in respect of terrorist organizations.

So the PM visit to the USA was more focused towards combating Terrorism.

About The USA-

• Washington D.C. is the Capital of USA.
• Mr. Donald Trump is the 45th President of the USA.
• The Currency of the USA is American Dollar.  

iii. PM Modi in The Netherlands-
In the final leg of his three-nation tour, PM Modi arrived in Amsterdam, the capital of Netherlands, after concluding his visit to the US. PM Modi described the Netherlands as India’s “natural partner” in its economic development. India and Netherlands also signed three MOUs on water management, cultural cooperation and on amending social security arrangement. Mr. Modi also interacted with the CEOs of Dutch companies inviting them to utilize the vast opportunities provided by his ‘Make in India’ initiative.

So the visit in the Netherland was broadly focused on the Environmental and Economic Development of the Nation.

About The Netherlands-

• The Capital of Netherland is Amsterdam.
• Mr. Mark Rutte is the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
• The Currency of Netherland is Euro.

2. Romanian President appoints Mihai Tudose as Prime Minister

i. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appointed Social Democrat Mihai Tudose as the Prime Minister and mandated him to form a new government. Mihai Tudose, the outgoing economy minister of Romania, has been appointed as prime minister, days after the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) removed its own government following an internal power row.

ii. The 50-year-old Tudose now has 10 days to gain the vote of confidence in his government and his program.

Important Takeaways From Above News-

• The Capital of Romania is Bucharest.
• Its Currency is Romanian leu.

3. Google fined record 2.42 billion euros by European Commission

i. Google has been fined 2.42 billion euros ($2.7 Billion) by the European Commission after it ruled the company had abused its power by promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results.

ii. It is the biggest fine the EU has ever imposed on a single company in an antitrust case, exceeding a 1.06-billion-euro sanction handed down to U.S. chipmaker Intel in 2009.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google.
• Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google.
• It is the USA based Company.

4. ‘War room’ set up to deal with GST crises

i. Equipped with multiple phone lines and computer systems and manned by tech-savvy youngsters, a “mini war room” has been set up in the finance ministry to deal with crises related to the implementation of GST.
ii. The unit will act as a quick resource centre for central and state government officials to address their queries on the historic tax reform scheduled to be implemented from July 1. The action room will function from 8 am to 10 pm.
iii. It will provide prompt response to queries raised by states and central government officials. The room will act as a single-window for anything and everything related to the GST.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The GST Council is headed by the Finance Minister of India Mr. Arun Jaitley.
• GST will roll out from July 1st.

5. UP govt signs pact with ADB for strengthening of roads

i. Uttar Pradesh Government has signed an agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a loan of 1950 crore rupees for strengthening of roads in different district. The agreement was signed at Lucknow in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and ADB President Takehiko Nakao.

ii. As per agreement, ADB will provide the loan amount for Uttar Pradesh Main District Roads Development Project of 2782 crore rupees cost. State government will spend 832 crore rupees form its own resources on the project.
iii. Project is scheduled to be completed by 2024 and ADB will provide the loan for the period of 25 years on the interest rate of 2 percent.

Static Takeaways from Above News-

• Takeshi Watanabe was ADB's first President. 
• Takehiko Nakao is the current President of ADB. 
• ADB is headquartered in Mandaluyong, Philippines. 
• The Asian Development Bank was conceived in the early 1960s.

6. Priyanka Chopra appointed as ambassador for Government’s Skill India campaign

i. Actress Priyanka Chopra has been appointed as the ambassador for government’s flagship Skill India campaign, with the National Skill Development Corporation.

ii. Priyanka will use her celebrity status to motivate youngsters to hone their abilities through a media campaign.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The Skill India campaign was launched by Prime Minister Modi in July 2015.
• The government aims to train 40 crore people by 2022 through its skilling initiatives.
• The MD and CEO of National Skill Development Corporation is Manish Kumar.

7. Scientists create the brightest light ever produced on Earth

i. Scientists have created the brightest light ever produced on the Earth, shining a billion times stronger than the surface of the sun. The researchers discovered that it could be used as a new type of X-ray, capable of taking higher resolution images than the traditional kind.

ii. These could be used in hospitals but also by engineers, scientists and for security purposes. Normally an electron scatters just one photon of light at a time but the light beam produced in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Extreme Light Laboratory saw nearly 1,000 photons scattered at a time.

8. MSME Ministry launched 'Digital MSME Scheme', exchanged MoUs with SAP India, Intel and HMT

i. MSME Minister Mr. Kalraj Mishra has launched the Digital MSME Scheme and also exchanged three MoUs with SAP India, Intel and HMT. The United Nations has recently declared 27th June as the UN Day for MSMEs.

ii. It has been celebrated for recognizing the importance of the crucial role that the sector plays both in terms of job creation and contribution towards economic growth. The MSME has a total budget of Rs. 85.705 Crore including Government of India’s contribution of Rs. 58.105 crore during 2017- 18 to 2019-20. 

iii. International Trade Centre (ITC) has celebrated the first International MSME Day on June 27, 2017. The theme of MSME is ‘Small business – big impact’.”

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The move is in accordance with the government's 'Digital India' initiative.

9. ISSF Junior World Championship: India finish second in Junior Shooting World Championship

i. The Indian shooting squad has finished a creditable second at the ISSF Junior World Championship with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals in Suhl, Germany. India picked up a gold and silver in the team and individual sections of the 25m pistol junior men’s event.

ii. Anish Bhanwala won three medals, one of each colour. On day one, Anish had claimed gold in the 25m standard pistol men’s event. He also won another gold teaming with Anhad Jawanda and Shivam Shukla for the 25m pistol event.
iii. China topped the tally in the rifle/pistol tournament with 19 medals, including eight golds.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Full form of ISSF is International Shooting Sport Federation.
• Olegario Vazquez Rana is the President of ISSF.
•  ISSF Junior World Championship 2017 was held in Germany.
• China topped with total 19 Medals and India was second with total 8 Medals.

10. Federer lifts ninth Halle Open title, defeated Alexander Zverev

i. Swiss legend Roger Federer has clinched his ninth Halle Open title after beating Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-3 in the final. The top seed Roger Federer showed no mercy with fourth seed Alexander Zverev after wrapping up his ninth title in his 11th Halle final.

ii. The final took place at the Gerry Weber Stadion in Halle, Germany. The match was the quickest final in the history of the Halle Open.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Roger Federer is from Switzerland.
• Alexander Zverev is from Germany.
• The Halle Open also called as the Gerry Weber Open, is a tennis tournament held in Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

New Pattern English

Directions (1-5): In each of the following sentences, parts of the sentence are left blank. Beneath each sentence, five different ways of completing the sentence are indicated. Choose the best alternative from among the five options. 

Q1. Cars __________ to accommodate wheelchair users are vital to disabled people to get out and about and enjoy __________ lives.
(a) designed, their
(b) modified, healthy
(c) adapted, active
(d) modified, itinerant
(e) adopted, itinerant

Q2. Some __________ defending, especially in the second half of the game allowed the opposition to __________ and the defending champions lost the game.

(a) slack, score
(b) superb, lose
(c) robust, win
(d) superb, score
(e) slack, lose

Q3. Print, paper, and newspapers enabled the rise of new types of __________ based on expanded popular participation.
(a) class conflicts
(b) cultural forms
(c) social norms
(d) political systems
(e) ethical dilemmas

Q4. Businesses attempt to __________ the conflicts of interest between groups to ensure __________ operation of the organization.
(a) compromise, profitable
(b) reconcile, efficient
(c) reconcile, commercial
(d) stimulate, efficient
(e) encourage, professional

Q5. One in three people on our planet have no __________ to modern energy to light and heat the __________ in which they live.
(a) resource, homes
(b) right, houses
(c) contact, nations
(d) access, dwellings
(e) source, countries

Directions (6-15): Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the five given alternatives.

This industry preys on pestilence for profits. As the primary sector thrives under the benevolent gaze of the rain gods, according to the CMIE forecast for Business Today, the production of food grains will touch 187 million tons in 1994-95-up from 182 million tons in 1993-94-pesticides are likely to be a key input in the country’s race for a quantum jump in agricultural productivity.
That’s because a not-insignificant 30 percent of the production of food grains in the country is destroyed by insects, pests, plant pathogens, rodents, and birds every year. And even though the per capita consumption of pesticides is currently low-which is also a pointer to the industry’s potential – this country is still the world’s third largest consumer of pesticides.
Classified by target species, pesticides can be divided into four broad categories. Insecticides-like monocrotophos and fenvalerate – are used for killing insects. Herbicides – such as butachlor and anilophos – remove weeds and unwanted plants. Fungicides – like nickel chloride – kill fungi. And fumigants and rodenticides – such as zinc and aluminium phosphide – are used to kill rodents.
At present, insecticides contribute to almost 75 percent of the turnover of the pesticides industry in value terms and 85 percent in terms of volume. This is at variance with the trend in the West, where insecticides account for just 32 percent of pesticides consumption: it is herbicides and fungicides which account for the largest share of consumption in those countries.
In terms of manufacturing technology, the production of pesticides can be classified into two main categories; technical-grade materials and formulations. Technical-grade-material-the basic chemical of high purity-is manufactured in organized units, with the top 10 units accounting for more than 80 percent of production. Most of them have a dominant market share in one or two key products.
However, most pesticides are used as formulations, which are produced by the processing of technical grade materials and are manufactured by both large and small-scale units. In fact, the Insecticides Act of 1968 stipulates that 50 percent of the production of technical-grade pesticides must be supplied by every manufacturer to non-associated formulators.
While the stipulation aims at ensuring the sale of pesticides at cheaper prices, arbitrary control has led to a conflict of interests. Formulators complain that technical-grade manufacturers operate a cartel. The latter, however, claim that rising input costs-raw materials constitute 60 percent of the selling price of pesticides-are forcing hikes in selling prices.
The pesticides industry has over 80 registered technical-grade manufacturers and about 800 registered formulators. About 160 formulators are associated with technical-grade manufactures and boast of the advantage of being able to obtain raw materials easily, even during the peak consumption season.
As the level of technology required is relatively low, formulators have low fixed investment per unit of output. At 35 percent, the pesticides industry’s average capacity utilization is rather low. And this, notwithstanding the 1974 ban imposed by the government on the addition of formulation capacity. However, firms can expand their formulation capacities so long as such expansions are linked to the increased production of technical-grade material.
One of the main reasons for low capacity utilization in this industry is the seasonal nature of the demand for pesticides. The maximum amount of sales is recorded between July and November, which is reflected in the high inventories that are built up in the first quarter of the year. As the active ingredient deteriorates over time, a large number of formulations have a limited shelf-life.
At another level, the industry is characterized by the practice of credit sales to the trade. These credits – which are typically for 60 to 90 days-coupled with the high level of inventories-to cope with demand fluctuations-contribute to the working capital-intensive nature of the industry. That’s why most manufacturers have diversified, the most common diversification being pharmaceuticals. An analysis of pesticides sales as a percentage of the total sales of the major players confirms that most pesticides markers are well-diversified.

Q6. The growth in the production of food grains in 1994-95 over 1993-94 is predicted to be roughly 
(a) 187 million tons.
(b) 2 percent.
(c) 3 percent.
(d) 182 million tons.
(e)  7 billion

Q7. This country is the third largest consumer of pesticides in spite of
(a) a low per capita consumption of pesticides.
(b) 30 percent of production being destroyed by insects.
(c) our dependence on monsoons.
(d) food grain production being insignificant.
(e) poor technology.

Q8. The market for technical-grade pesticides in India is dominated by
(a) insecticide manufacturers.
(b) small scale sector.
(c) just ten units.
(d) large scale sector.
(e) is because there is no cartel of manufacturers.

Q9. The relationship between formulators and producers of technical-grade material
(a) is determined by the market.
(b) is rather strong in India.
(c) depends on their end – use.
(d) is partly governed by law.
(e) the seasonal nature of demand.

Q10. The hike in selling prices
(a) is blamed by formulators on manufacturers.
(b) is the consequence of administered pricing.
(c) is caused by the Act of 1968.
(d) is because there is no cartel of manufacturers.
(e) our dependence on monsoons.

Q11. The percentage of formulators who can boast of being able to obtain raw materials easily is
(a) 60
(b) 10
(c) 50
(d) 20
(e) 45

Q12. High inventories are built up during
(a) October, November, December.
(b) April, May, June.
(c) July, August, September.
(d) low per capita consumption.
(e) None of these

Q13. The pesticides industry is characterized by credit sales, the typical credit is
(a) 30 percent of sales.
(b) 2 to 3 months.
(c) to the customers of technical-grade material.
(d) 100 percent of sale.
(e) 7 months

Q14. That the pesticides makers are well diversified is indicated by the 
(a) dominance of pesticides sales in the total sales.
(b) reduction in pesticides production.
(c) analysis of pesticides sales as a percentage of total sales.
(d) hike in prices of pesticides.
(e) small scale sector.

Q15. Capacity utilization in the pesticides industry is low because of
(a) a ban on expansion.
(b) the seasonal nature of demand.
(c) poor technology.
(d) low per capita consumption.
(e) is determined by the market.

Solutions

S1. Ans.(c)
Sol.  adapted, active. There is nothing in the context to justify healthy or itinerant. option {A} ‘enjoy their lives’ is grammatically correct but logically it does not justify “to get out and about” – hence active is justified. Cars can be adapted, modified or designed. The best combination, however, is option {C}.

S2. Ans.(a)
Sol.  slack, score. Fits in the context of the sentence correctly.

S3. Ans.(d)
Sol.  political systems. ‘based on expanded popular participation’ and ‘print, paper, and newspaper’ (media) control the word in the blank. political systems relate to both, whereas all the other options are not necessarily related to one or the other.  

S4. Ans.(b)
Sol.  reconcile, efficient. Conflicts need to be reconciled if operations are to be efficient. Conflict of interests controls the first blank. Operations control the second word. Some of the other options (e.g., option d) may make sense -but it is not natural communication or logic, it is contrived sense.

S5. Ans.(d)
Sol.  access, dwellings.  ‘modern energy’ controls the first blank in the context, ‘in which they live’ and ‘heat and light’ control the next blank., hence dwellings.

S6. Ans.(c)
Sol. 3 percent.

S7. Ans.(a)
Sol. a low per capita consumption of pesticides.

S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. The market for technical-grade pesticides in India is dominated by just ten units.

S9. Ans.(d)
Sol. The relationship between formulators and producers of technical-grade material is partly governed by law.

S10. Ans.(a)
Sol. The hike in selling prices is blamed by formulators on manufacturers.

S11. Ans.(d)
Sol. The percentage of formulators who can boast of being able to obtain raw materials easily is 20.

S12. Ans.(b)
Sol. High inventories are built up during April, May, June.

S13. Ans.(b)
Sol. The pesticides industry is characterized by credit sales, the typical credit is 2 to 3 months.

S14. Ans.(c)
Sol. That the pesticides makers are well diversified is indicated by the analysis of pesticides sales as a percentage of total sales.

S15. Ans.(b)
Sol.  Capacity utilization in the pesticides industry is low because of the seasonal nature of demand.

Word Analogy Questions

Directions (1-15): In each of the following questions a capitalized pair of words is given, followed by five numbered pairs of words. Four of the numbered pairs exhibit the same relationship between the words as the capitalized pair of words. Identify the numbered pair which does not exhibit the same relationship as the capitalized pair.

Q1. CHILD: PAEDIATRIC

(a) heart : cardiologist

(b) nerves : neurologist

(c) tumours : oncologist

(d) blood : haematologist

(e) eyes : gynaecologist

Q2. COLOURS : RANGOLI

(a) lights : diwali

(b) kites : pongal

(c) rakhi : baisakhi

(d) carols : Christmas

(e) colours : Holi

Q3. COOK : EAT

(a) hard word : success

(b) exam : result

(c) design : plain

(d) thirst : drink

(e) hunger : eat

Q4. PARSIMONIOUS : STINGY

(a) sumptuous : lavish

(b) indigent : wealthy

(c) niggardly : miserly

(d) puerile : juvenile

(e) penury : poverty

Q5. LECTURER : COLLEGE

(a) teacher : school

(b) peon : office

(c) student : theatre

(d) reader : university

(e) actor : movies

Q6. DENTIST : TOOTH

(a) aurist : ear

(b) trichologist : hair

(c) cardiologist : lungs

(d) dermatologist : skin

(e) optician : eye

Q7. CONSONANCE : DISCORD

(a) laud : criticize

(b) digest : divest

(c) conciseness : lengthiness

(d) aversion : affection

(e) like : dislike

Q8. INIMICAL : HOSTILE

(a) bounteous : abundant

(b) mellifluous : melodious

(c) lucid : clear

(d) tranquil : placid

(e) docile : obstinate

Q9. DICTATOR : TYRANNY

(a) patriot : rebelliousness

(b) philanthropist : benevolence

(c) altruist : selflessness

(d) miser : parsimony

(e) democrat : discussion

Q10. BOTANY : PLANTS

(a) ornithology : birds

(b) ichthyology : fish

(c) zoology : animals

(d) philology : politics

(e) psychology : behaviour

Q11. APPLE : FRUIT

(a) bat : insect

(b) tulip : flower

(c) dodo : bird

(d) whale : mammal

(e) snake : reptile

Q12. LION : CUB

(a) deer : fawn

(b) horse : foal

(c) cow : calf

(d) goose : gosling

(e) goat : nanny

Q13. IGLOO : ESKIMO

(a) nest : bird

(b) monastery : monk

(c) jail : accused 

(d) nunnery : nun

(e) bee : hive

Q14. TEACHER : INSTRUCT

(a) actor : entertain

(b) soldier : defend

(c) moralist : preach

(d) judge : govern

(e) ruler : rule

Q15. CHURLISH : REFINE

(a) hinder : assist

(b) commodious : congested

(c) ambiguous : explicit

(d) digress : deviate

(e) radiant : brilliance

Solutions

S1. Ans.(e)

Sol. A doctor for children is paediatric, for heart is cardiologist, for blood haematologist and for tumours oncologist and for nerves neurologist.

Choice (E) (a gynaecologist doesn’t treat the eye)

S2. Ans.(c)

Sol. Colors are a part of rangoli and holi, lights of Diwali, kites of Pongal and carols of Christmas.

Choice (C) (Rakhi is not a part of Baisakhi)

S3. Ans.(c)

Sol. In order to eat we must cook, in order to succeed work hard, to get result take an exam, to drink be thirsty and hungry to eat.

S4. Ans.(b)

Sol. The words in each pair are closely connected – parsimonious is stingy, sumptuous is lavish, niggardly is miserly, puerile is juvenile. Indigent and wealthy are opposites.

S5 Ans.(c)

Sol. A lecturer works in a college just as a teacher works in a school, a peon in an office, a reader in a university and an actor in movies.

Choice (C) (a student does not work at a theatre)

S6. Ans.(c)

Sol. A cardiologist treats heart ailments hence choice (C) is wrong.

S7. Ans.(b)

Sol. The relationship between the capitalized pair of words is antonymous. Choice (B) does not denote this relationship.

S8. Ans.(e)

Sol. The relationship between the capitalized pair of words is synonymous. Choice (E) represents an antonymous relationship.

S9. Ans.(a)

Sol. Dictator symbolizes tyranny. Choice (A) is different because patriot does not symbolize rebelliousness.

S10. Ans.(d)

Sol. All the other pairs of choices represent the study of living beings. Only choice (D) is different.

S11. Ans.(a)

Sol. Choice (A) is different because bat is not an insect. It is a mammal.

S12. Ans.(e)

Sol. The young one of a goat is a lamb not nanny. Hence, choice (E) is different.

S13. Ans.(c)

Sol. Jail is not a dwelling place for the accused, hence choice (C) is different.

S14. Ans.(d)

Sol. The duty of a teacher is to instruct while the duty of a judge is to dispense justice not govern unlike it is represented in choice (d).

S15. Ans.(d)

Sol. The relationship between the capitalized pair of words is antonymous. Choice (D) does not denote an antonymous relationship.