Today's GK (9-9-13)

Scientists discovered the Single Largest Volcano beneath the Pacific Ocean

Scientists discovered the single largest volcano in the world, a dead colossus deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. The single largest volcano is called Tamu Massif. It is 310000 square kilometers in area and can be compared with Mars’ vast Olymus Mons volcano, the largest in the Solar System. The volcano was located some 2 km below the sea. The Mauna Loa in Hawaii was the previous largest volcano on Earth. The massif is located some 2km below the sea.

It is located on an underwater plateau known as the Shatsky Rise, about 1600km east of Japan. Its formation took place about 145 million years ago when massive lava flows erupted from the centre of the volcano to form a broad, shield-like feature.

Tamu Massif was constructed in a short (geologically speaking) time of one to several million years and it was extinct since. The Tamu Massif extends some 30 km (18 miles) into the Earth's crust.

Manmohan Singh released a Postage Stamp in memory of Lala Jagat Narayan

Manomohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India on 9 September 2013 released a Postage Stamp in the memory of the freedom fighter and former Member of Parliament, Lala Jagat Narayan. The postage stamp was released in New Delhi.

About Lala Jagat Narayan

• He was a leader of Congress Party
• In the pre-independent India; he acted as the Personal Secretary of Lala Lajpat Rai
• He also served as the editor of the Bhai Parmanand’s weekly Hindi newspaper, Akashvani
• As per the White Paper released by the Government of India, Narayan was killed in September 1981, in an assassination for criticizing, Bhindrawale
• He was born on 31 May 1899

I&B Ministry launched All India Radio's Free News SMS Service

Union ministry of information and Broadcasting on 9 September 2013 launched All India Radio's Free News SMS service at a function in New Delhi. A web portal on Bharat Nirman Campaign was also launched.

Under the free SMS service, registered listeners will be provided news headlines free of cost on their mobile phones. For registering, a listener has to subscribe to the service by typing AIRNWS, Space, then his or her name, on the mobile and send the SMS to 08082080820 or give a missed call to the same number.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is a branch of the Government of India. It is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to information, broadcasting, the press and films in India.

The Ministry is responsible for the administration of Prasar Bharati-the broadcasting arm of the Indian Government. The Censor Board of India is the other important body under this ministry which is responsible for the regulation of motion pictures shown in India.

Campbell became the Youngest Pilot to fly across the World on Single Engine Aircraft

Ryan Campbell (19) of Australia on 7 September 2013 became the youngest person to fly a single engine aircraft, solo around the globe. Campbell began his journey across the globe on 30 June 2013 from Wollongong in Southern New South Wales.

He completed his journey after flying for 200 hours through 14 different countries and ended the journey a Wollongong. In 70 days his flight recorded a distance of 44448 kilometers.

Before, Ryan Campbell, Jack Weigand (21) of America held the world record of journeying across the globe. Weignad booked the world record in May 2013.

The first solo flight was completed by Ryan at the age of 15 and he obtained his commercial license as a pilot at the age of 18 years.

Scientists identified Genes Key to Human Longevity

A new scientific study showed that ageing works through a special set of genes that everyone has, the rDNA genes. The international team led by Dr Takehiko Kobayashi from the National Institute of Genetics in Mishima, Japan, found that if we improve the stability of the rDNA genes, which are quite unstable, the lifespan of baker's yeast could be extended. It could help in studying cell ageing.

The scientists tried to understand how the Sir2 gene reduces aging in yeast. Sir2 genes gained prominence as potential human anti-ageing genes with the discovery that resveratrol, a component found in red wine, activates them.
However, subsequent research has shown that resveratrol doesn't extend lifespan in mammals. The yeast Sir2 gene controls rDNA stability, but also has many other targets in the cell. The breakthrough came when the scientists found a way to separate Sir2's effect on the rDNA from its other effects.

This allowed them to show that Sir2's anti-ageing effect comes exclusively through stabilisation of the rDNA genes. Kobayashi originally proposed a role for rDNA instability in ageing five years ago, but unequivocal support for this theory has been lacking until now.

These new results suggest that finding a way to artificially improve rDNA gene stability may delay the ageing process in humans too. However, Ganley cautions that the role of the rDNA genes in human ageing still needs to be clarified.

SEBI barred 34 entities of Capital Market for Fraudulent Dealings

SEBI on 8 August 2013 barred 34 entities from the capital market for fraudulent dealings in the shares of 12 companies. It also restrained, Sunil Mehta, the main conspirator of the alleged manipulative trades from accessing the securities market for a period of seven years.

The 13 entities were barred for a period of five years as they were the active players of manipulation activities and were directly connected to Mehta. The remaining 21 entities were restricted from accessing the securities market for a period of three years.

The irregularities were figured out by SEBI after it probed into the stock trading activities of 12 firms, since March 2009 to 15 December 2009. It its probe, SEBI identified huge changes in the prices of the shares.

Sunil Mehta played a key role in creation of fraudulent deals by envisaging the scheme for manipulation of prices and volumes of the selected scrip’s. Further he enlisted the assistance of few people, who directly aided him in placing manipulative orders in the trading account of several persons.

The 12 firms include Mavens Biotech, KSL & Industries, KBS Capital Management, Lotus Eye care Hospitals, Panoramic Universal, Asian Star Company, MVL Limited, Rasi Electrodes, Allcargo Global Logistics, Sat Industries, Ushdev International, and Anil Products

India's Onion Exports fell Sharply by 81 Percent in August 2013

India's onion exports fell sharply by 81 percent to 29247 tonnes in August 2013 as compared with August 2012 as per the data released by the cooperative Nafed, following the government curbs imposed on the overseas sale to improve domestic supply and check prices.

On 14 August 2013, the government had imposed a minimum onion export price of 650 US dollars per tonne to restrict shipments and control prices after it touched 80 rupees per kg in retail markets on supply crunch. The retail price of onion continues to rule at 50-60 rupees per kg in most parts of the country.

During the April-August period of fiscal 2013-14, onion exports fell to 697028 tonnes as against 850634 tonnes in the year-ago period. However, in value terms, the outbound shipments rose sharply to 1341 crore rupees from 844 crore rupees.

India is the second largest producer of onion in the world after China. It is estimated to have harvested 166 lakh tonnes of the staple vegetable in 2012. The country had earned 2294 crore rupees from the export of 18.22 lakh tonnes of onion in financial year 2012-13.

Kerala Government launched E-Payment Facility

Kerala state government on 5 September 2013 launched an E-payment facility which allows people to pay various utility bills and access government department services online. The payment of Utility bills of Kerala State Electricity Board, Kerala Water Authority, BSNL and university fees could be done through the gateway using credit and debit cards of 66 banks identified for the scheme.
One can avail the service at all Akshaya e-centers of the government which would act as decentralized information hubs and service delivery points. The service could be used by any citizen having access to the internet.

The attempt was to bring all collections to a common platform of E-payment facility. More services would be added to the system from time to time.

A total of 23 revenue services can now be accessed through the E-payment gateway. The services included those from the motor vehicles department and local self-governments.