10 PM Current Affairs Quiz #2 September 3, 2019

Explanation: The IIP is estimated and published on a monthly basis by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO). As an all India index, it gives general level of industrial activity in the economy. The modification made by the CSO is to bring a new base year of 2011-12. Besides the new base year, different sectors have been amended based on National Industrial Classification (NIC), 2008. Following are the main changes brought in the new series of IIP:
Base year has been updated to 2011-12 by upgrading the item basket and weighting structure.
National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2008 has been adopted in the new series of IIP.
Items in the item basket are selected at NIC 3-digit level to increase representativeness.
Number of item groups has increased from 399 to 407out of which 149 are new/ emerging items.
Electricity generation from renewable energy sources has been included under the ‘Electricity’ sector.
Weights are rationalised to appropriately to reflect the actual value addition of each sector incorporating effects of subsidies.
New use-based classification has been adopted with following categorisation: (i) Primary goods, (ii) Capital goods, (iii) Infrastructure/ construction goods, (iv) intermediate goods, (v) Consumer durables, and (vi) Consumer non-durables.

Explanation: The United States and ten Southeast Asian countries kicked off maritime drills on Monday, as part of a joint exercise extending into the flashpoint South China Sea with eight warships, four aircraft and more than a thousand personnel. The first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) between the regional bloc and Washington will last for five days, starting at the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand and ending in Singapore. The drills come at a time of stepped-up US engagement in the region and tensions between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations over the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Explanation: About 70 hatchlings of the rare Black Softshell and Indian Softshell turtles bred in the ponds of two temples in Assam were on Monday released in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, about 50 km east of Guwahati.
The sanctuary is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ because of similar landscape and a sizeable population of the one-horned rhino.
The “wild restocking” of the two turtle species was done under a joint programme of the management committees of two temples — Ugratara in Guwahati and Hayagriv Madhav in Hajo about 35 km north-west — the Assam Forest Department and two NGOs specialising in the conservation of reptiles.
Assam is the most species-rich State in India in terms of turtle diversity. It is home to 20 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises out of 29 species found in India. But, 80% of these species are threatened with extinction.

Explanation: The P&W 1100G-JM engine that powers A320neo planes is a “fan driven-geared turbine engine” manufactured by US-based P&W. The engine has been “type certified” by the Federal Aviation Administration of the US and, subsequently, by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It is more fuel efficient, generates more thrust, and produces less noise and is environment friendly. At present, there are 127 P&W engine-powered A320neo aircraft in India and 436 operating globally. In India, IndiGo operates 92 P&W powered A320neo planes, while GoAir has 35 such aircraft in its fleet.

Explanation: Pune is the best city to live in India, while Delhi is among the worst cities in terms of economic prospects, according to the Ease of Living Index rankings published recently by the union ministry of housing and urban affairs. In terms of safety and security, Bengaluru is among the worst, the Ease of Living report suggests. The Ease of Living Index rankings are based on 79 indicators, which are grouped under four “pillars”: institutional, social, economic, and physical. Physical services, which include housing, water supply, sanitation, etc, are allotted the highest weight (45%) in determining the city rankings. Economy and employment are together assigned a mere 5% weight.