GK and Current Affairs Updates

In 2016 which has been a zany year for the north pole, with multiple records set for low levels of monthly sea ice. 
●    The Arctic is super-hot, even as a vast area of cold polar air has been displaced over Siberia.
●    At the same time, one of the key indicators of the state of the Arctic the extent of sea ice covering the polar ocean is at a record low. 
●    The ice is freezing up again, as it always does this time of year after reaching its September low, but it isn’t doing so as rapidly as usual.
●    In fact, the ice’s area is even lower than it was during the record-low 2012.
●    This is the second year in a row that temperatures near the North Pole have risen to freakishly warm levels. 
●    During 2015’s final days, the temperature near the Pole spiked to the melting point thanks to a massive storm that pumped warm air into the region.

Celestial bodies and the planetary structure have always been a great source of mystery, both for the ordinary people the space explorers. 
●    A number of researches and explorations have previously been held in space structures, planets, and stars, in order to crash all those hidden secrets of nature. 
●    During some of such researches, we realized the fact that the sun is the roundest object of the entire cosmos and this has been believed since long. 
●    But recently a new roundest-ever natural object spotted 5,000 light years away which completely smashed the previous intergalactic testimony.
●    A team of astrophysicists found a new star – ‘Kepler 11145123’ which is almost double the size of the current title holder sun and has been flagged down Sun as the roundest object in nature.
●    The sun was the former title-holder – however, it has been thumped from its post by the gigantic star which measures around 1.5 million km.

The World Health Organization declared an end to its global health emergency over the spread of the Zika virus on Friday, prompting dismay from some public health experts confronting the epidemic.
●    An agency advisory committee said it ended the emergency formally known as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern because Zika is now shown to be a dangerous mosquito-borne disease, like malaria or yellow fever.
●    Committee members repeatedly emphasized that they did not consider the Zika crisis over.
●    “We are not downgrading the importance of Zika,” said Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of the W.H.O.’s health emergencies program.
●    Like all mosquito-borne diseases, Zika is seasonal and may repeatedly return to countries with the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry it
●    Individual countries facing serious new Zika outbreaks could still declare local emergencies.
●    But other experts worried that the W.H.O.’s declaration might slow the international response to an epidemic that is still spreading.

An important marker of progress in climate negotiations post the Paris accord, COP22 at Marrakesh, concluded here early on Saturday morning with negotiators from over 190 countries setting a deadline of 2018 to finalise the rule book, which would turn pledges made in Paris into action.
●    But the very fact that the conference (COP22) which was scheduled to conclude on Friday, stretched into the next day, showed that on tricky issues like finance, consensus remains elusive between the developed and the developing world.
●    A clear roadmap to meet the 2018 deadline was drawn out. 
●    The rules will specify the ways and means for measuring and accounting of emission reductions in all countries and they will be framed in such a way that it can take care of transparency of action of all countries as per their respective pledges under the agreement which was adopted by 195 countries in December last year in Paris.

The director of space physics laboratory (SPL) at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Anil Bharadwaj has been chosen for the Infosys Prize 2016 in the category of physical sciences. 
●    He has been recognised for his planetary studies, including experiments on Martian atmosphere. 
●    He is one among the six recipients of the award in six categories.
●    The prize comprises a cash award of Rs 65 lakh, a 22-carat gold medallion and a citation.
●    The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), focusing on rocket and space vehicles for India's satellite programme. 
●    It is located in Thiruvananthapuram, in the Indian state of Kerala.
●    Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is the largest among the ISRO facilities. 
●    It is a centre for the design and development of satellite launch vehicles and associated technologies.

The Government has taken a new initiative to create a Film Promotion Fund to promote Indian cinema in the International Film Festivals. This initiative would help independent filmmakers to promote their work across the globe. The Government efforts to project India as a soft power and Filming Destination has been a win-win situation so far, in terms of attracting global stakeholders from various quarters of film industry to India as well as Indian films, expertise and talent being accepted globally at international festivals. The announcement to this effect was made at the curtain raiser Press Conference for IFFI 2016 in Delhi.
●    The Film Promotion fund would provide financial assistance to the films which would be selected in any competition section of an International Film Festival of repute or being India’s official nomination to the Academy Awards under Foreign Film Category for promotional activities. Directorate of Film Festivals has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing this initiative based on the recommendations of a panel of experts constituted by the Government.
●    The 47th edition of IFFI would screen three films for specially-abled children with special audio described technology under the Accessible India Campaign/ Sugamaya Bharat Abhiyan. This screening would take place in collaboration with UNESCO and Saksham.
●    Inspired by the Government’s Clean India Drive, IFFI 2016 will showcase a special package of 20 award winning short films based on the Swachh Bharat theme. These 20 films were short listed from 4,346 entries and awarded at the ‘Swachh Bharat Film Festival’ organized by National Film Development Corporation on 2nd October in New Delhi.
●    Another initiative is Centenary Award for Best Debut Feature of a Director. IFFI would recognize young talent under this new competition section. This section would showcase some of the outstanding directorial debuts of 2016 from across the world of cinema. The winner would be honoured with a Silver Peacock and a cash price of rupees ten lakhs.
●    2016 in collaboration with the International Council for Film, Television and Audio-visual Communication (ICFT), Paris and UNESCO would also present the “ICFT- UNESCO Gandhi Medal” to a film, which reflects the ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence.
●    IFFI 2016 is introducing a new laser based phosphor wheel projector from Barco Electronics, used for the very first time in any film festival across the globe.

Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda Deemed University, Nalanda is going to celebrate its glorious 65th foundation Anniversary on 20th November, in which Shri Ramnath Kovind, the Governor of Bihar would be the Chief Guest. 
●    Prof. Lokesh Chandra, a renowned scholar of Indology and Buddhism and the President of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi will be the Guest of Honour, who will deliver the Special lecture on “Genesis of Nalanda Mahavihara (University)”. 
●    The Vice Chancellor Shri M. L. Srivastava will distribute certificates of excellence to the students for achieving ranks in the various events of the university like sports, speech completions and regular examinations. 
●    On this occasion two books one, written by Dr. Shriknat Singh, titled “Interface Between Buddhism & English Literature” and two, Dr. H.K. Tiwari, titled “NaiKavita : VividhParidrishya ” will be released by the Governor of Bihar. 
●    Inaugural programme will be followed by a cultural programme to be performed by the students of the Mahavihara.

The word Post Truth was named as word of the year 2016 by Oxford Dictionaries on 16 November 2016. The word was selected after research conducted by Oxford Dictionaries revealed a fact that the use of word post-truth saw an increase of about 2000 percent over its usage in 2015.
●    The Word of the Year of Oxford Dictionary is an expression or word that is chosen to reflect the passing year in language. These words are chosen by the Oxford after reviewing and debating on the merits of the words, ethos, mood or preoccupations of that particular year. 
●    Post-truth (adjective): Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.
●    It is also become associated with a particular noun, in the phrase ‘post-truth politics’.
●    The word post-truth has been in existence for more than a decade but its usage saw a spike some events of recent past. The events that saw increase in frequency of usage of term post-truth like
●    It was used maximum time in June 2016 in the United Kingdom during European Union referendum.
●    It also saw its usage during the United States Presidential election. It again saw the rise in usage in July 2016 when Donald Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination.
●    As per Oxford Dictionaries, the word post-truth was first used in a 1992 essay of the Nation Magazine. The essay was written by the late Serbian-American playwright Steve Tesich. Reflecting on the Iran-Contra scandal and the Persian Gulf War, Tesich lamented that ‘we, as a free people, have freely decided that we want to live in some post-truth world’. There is evidence of the phrase ‘post-truth’ being used before Tesich’s article, but apparently with the transparent meaning ‘after the truth was known’, and not with the new implication that truth itself has become irrelevant.

In a first, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed a team of 135 women commandos in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand.
●    The 135 women commandos belong to the 232 battalion’s Delta company. At present, they are undertaking operations under the guidance of the CRPF’s 133 battalion near Khunti on the outskirts of Ranchi.
●    The 135 women commandos will be equally capable of neutralising Naxals in par with men commandos.
●    They hold expertise in carrying out all types of anti-Maoists operations and will play important role in tackling women Naxals.
●    They have been trained in several case studies and carry out their operation in a perfect manner.
●    They are also equipped with modern weapons and software to assist them in executing their plan.
●    The Central Reserve Police Force is India's largest Central Armed Police Forces.
●    It functions under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
●    Its primary role lies in assisting the States/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counterinsurgency.
●    It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939.
●    After the Independence of India, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949.
●    With 235 battalions and various other establishments, it is considered country’s largest paramilitary force and has a sanctioned strength of 308862 personnel.

The Union Government has declared Zakir Naik’s NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), as an ‘unlawful organisation’ and banned it for five years on 15 November 2016. 
●    ‘Unlawful organization means any organization that conducts or gets involved in any activity deemed punishable under Section 153A or 153B of the Indian Penal Code. These two sections are provisions that deal with threat to social and communal harmony.’
●    The ban was imposed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) after a final go-ahead at a Union Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A formal notification for the same will be soon issued by the Home Ministry. 
●    Provocative speeches by Zakir Naik: In many speeches compiled by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Naik can be heard praising Osama Bin Laden, justifying suicide bombings and making objectionable comments against Hindus, their religious places and gods. 
●    Naik’s suspicious relationship with Peace TV:  A lot of the International Islamic Channel, Peace TV’s content is formed from Naik’s hate speeches. 
●    Criminal cases filed against Naik: FIRs have been filed against Naik and other members of IRF in two police stations of Mumbai, one in Kerala and two in Sindhudurg under Section 153A or 153B of the Indian Penal Code.
●    Large amount of money transfers have also been detected from Naik’s UK-based charity IRF International to Peace TV. 
●    An educational trust run by Naik, is also under scanner and has been prevented from receiving any foreign funding.