10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : May 22, 2018

UDAN aims to develop the regional aviation market. It is a market-based mechanism in which airlines bid for seat subsidies. Interested airline and helicopter operators can start operations on hitherto un-connected routes by submitting proposals to the Implementing Agency. The operators could seek a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) apart from getting various concessions.

The selection of airports where UDAN operations would start would be done in consultation with State Government and after confirmation of their concessions.

Under the scheme:

• Central Government would provide concessions in the form of reduced excise duty, service tax, permission to trade ASKMs for Non-RCS (UDAN) Seats and flexibility of code sharing at the RCS (UDAN) airports.

• State governments will have to lower the VAT on ATF to 1% or less, besides providing security and fire services free of cost and electricity, water and other utilities at substantially concessional rates.
• Airport operators shall not impose Landing and Parking charge and Terminal Navigation Landing Charges in addition to discounts on Route Navigation Facility Charges.

The Greyhounds are a special force in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that specialise in anti-insurgency operations against Naxalites and Maoists. Recently, the Home Ministry announced that it is training officials to be part of “Black Panther”. This would be a anti Naxal Combat Unit on the lines of Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

BASIC is a group of four newly industrialized countries. It was formed in 2008. These countries were committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Led by China, they brokered a deal with the US and EU.Apart from climate, these countries are also cooperating on economic and technological front. Recently, the 26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change was held in Durban.The countries committed to the full, effective and sustained implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.

In order to attract the best global talent and investment, UAE has liberalised its Visa Policy. UAE would issue long-term residency visas for up to 10 years to international investors and “exceptional talents” including professionals and students.0-year residency visas would be granted for specialists in medical, scientific, research and technical fields, as well as for all scientists and innovators.Five-year residency visas would be given for students studying in the UAE.

Queqiao is a relay satellite launched by China to explore the darker side of the Moon.  It was launched on Long March-4C rocket from the Xichang launch centre in the southwest of the country. It is the first country to send a probe to soft-land on and rove the far side of the moon.

The satellit will settle in an orbit about 455,000 km from the Earth and will be the world’s first communication satellite operating at that height.

The Enforcement Directorate is a law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India. It is present under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. It was created in 1947 as the Enforcement Unit to handle violations under FERA. It was later renamed to “Enforcement Directorate” in in 1957. It also handles cases of violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,2002.