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April issue 2016

The document provides a summary of key points from India's Budget 2016-17, including allocations and new schemes. Some highlights include: - Allocation of Rs. 35,984 crore for agriculture and farmers' welfare. - Rs. 87,765 crore allocated for rural sector programs. - Rs. 1,51,581 crore for social sectors including education and healthcare. New health insurance scheme to provide coverage up to Rs. 1 lakh. - Rs. 1,804 crore for skill development programs including opening 1,500 multi-skill training institutes.

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GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 1 GENERAL AWARENESS APRIL 2016 Vol. 4, Issue 10 A PUBLICATION OF GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD. SCO 13-14-15, 2ND FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH Contents CURRENT AFFAIRS DEC 2015 TO FEB 2016 01-39 BULLET NEWS SEPT. TO NOV. 2015 40-58 LATEST 100 GK MCQs 59-65 QUIZ & SSC CORNER 66-72 SPL. INSURANCE TERMS 81-82 THREE MONTHS GK BYTES 83-104 FIGURES TO REMEMBER REPO RATE (29.09.2015) 6.75% REVERSE REPO RATE 5.75% MARGINAL STANDING FACILITY RATE 7.75% STATUTORY LIQUIDITY RATIO 21.5% CASH RESERVE RATIO 4.00% BANK RATE 7.75% BASE RATE(s) (of various banks) 9.30 to 9.70% INDIA’s RANK IN Intellectual Property Index -2016 37th Overall Growth Prospectus 5th Global Talent Competitiveness Index 89th Nuclear Security Index 21st Ease of Doing Business (Forbes) 97th Human Development Index 130th ICT Development Index 131st Rank in Brand Value 7th Legatum Prosperity Index 99th Global Terrorism Index 06th Financial Secrecy Index 45th Ease of Doing Business (World Bank) 130th Number of Startups 03rd Global Competitiveness Index, WEF 55th Protection of Minority Investors 08th Global Innovation Index 81st Global Competitiveness 44th In terms of Peace 143rd Motherhood Index 140th BUDGET 2016-17: HIGHLIGHTS INTRODUCTION  India hailed as a ‘bright spot’ amidst a slowing global economy by IMF.  Growth accelerated to 7.6% in 2015-16.  Foreign exchange reserves touched highest ever level of about $350 billion.  7th Central Pay Commission recommendations and OROP implementation will put additional fiscal burden.  There is risk of further global slowdown and turbulence around the world. AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE  Allocation for Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare is Rs. 35,984 crore  Banking sector to provide farm loans for Rs. 9 lac crore.  ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ - 28.5 lakh hectares will be brought under irrigation.  5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells in rain fed areas and 10 lakh compost pits for production of organic manure will be taken up under MGNREGA  Soil Health Card scheme will cover all 14 crore farm holdings by March 2017.  2,000 model retail outlets of Fertilizer companies will be provided with soil and seed testing facilities during the next three years  All remaining 65,000 eligible villages to be connected under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana by 2019.  To reduce the burden of loan repayment on farmers, a provision of Rs.15,000 crore has been made in the BE 2016-17 towards interest Subvention RURAL SECTOR  Allocation for rural sector - Rs. 87,765 crore.  Every block under drought and rural distress will be taken up as an intensive Block under the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Mission  300 Rurban Clusters will be developed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission  100% village electrification by 1st May, 2018.  District Level Committees will be formed headed by senior most Lok Sabha MP from the district for monitoring and implementation of designated Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.  Priority allocation from Centrally Sponsored Schemes to be made to reward villages that have become free from open defecation. BUDGET 2016-17
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 2 SOCIAL SECTOR-HEALTH & EDUCATION  Allocation for social sector including education and health care –Rs.1,51,581 crore.  Rs. 2,000 crore allocated for initial cost of providing LPG connections to BPL families.  New health protection scheme will provide health cover up to Rs. One lakh per family.  For senior citizens an additional top-up package up to Rs. 30,000 will be provided.  3,000 Stores under Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Yojana will be opened during 2016-17. SKILL DEVELOPMENT  Allocation for skill development – Rs. 1804 crore.  1500 Multi Skill Training Institutes to be set-up.  Entrepreneurship Education and Training to be provided through Massive Open Online Courses JOB CREATION  GoI will pay contribution of 8.33% for of all new employees enrolling in EPFO for the first three years of their employment. Rs. 1000 crore provided for this. INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT  Total investment in the road sector, including PMGSY allocation, would be Rs. 97,000 crore.  100% FDI to be allowed through FIPB route in marketing of food products produced and manufactured in India. FINANCIAL SECTOR REFORMS  Allocation of Rs. 25,000 crore towards recapitalisation of Public Sector Banks.  Target of amount sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana increased to Rs. 1,80,000 crore.  General Insurance Companies owned by the Government to be listed in the stock exchanges. GOVERNANCE & EASE OF DOING BUSINESS  Introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on pilot basis for fertilizers.  Automation facilities will be provided in 3 lakh fair price shops by March 2017.  Special emphasis to sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, social sector including health, women and child development, welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, minorities, infrastructure.  Plan / Non-Plan classification to be done away with from 2017-18.  More than 1500 Central Plan Schemes to be rationalised and re-structured into about 300 Central Sector and 30 Centrally Sponsored Schemes. RELIEF TO SMALL TAX PAYERS  Ceiling of tax rebate under section 87A raised from Rs.2000 to Rs.5000 to lessen tax burden on individuals with income upto Rs.5 lacs.  Limit of deduction of rent paid under section 80GG raised from Rs.24000 per annum to Rs.60000, to provide relief to those who live in rented houses. CORPORATE TAX RATE PROPOSALS  New manufacturing companies incorporated on or after 1.3.2016 to be given an option to be taxed at 25% + surcharge and cess provided they do not claim profit linked or investment linked deductions and do not avail of investment allowance and accelerated depreciation.  Lower the corporate tax rate for the next financial year for companies with turnover not exceeding Rs. 5 crore (in the financial year ending March 2015), to 29% plus surcharge and cess.  Commitment to implement General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR) from 1.4.2017.  Exemption of service tax on services provided under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.  Exemption of Service tax on general insurance services provided under ‘Niramaya’ Health Insurance Scheme launched by National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING  100% deduction for profits to an undertaking in housing project for flats upto 30 sq. metres in four metro cities and 60 sq. metres in other cities, approved during June 2016 to March 2019 and completed in three years. MAT to apply.  Deduction for additional interest of Rs.50,000 per annum for loans up to Rs.35 lakh sanctioned in 2016- 17 for first time home buyers, where house cost does not exceed Rs. 50 lakh.  Exemption from service tax on construction of affordable houses up to 60 square metres under any government / semi government scheme. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION  Additional tax at the rate of 10% of gross amount of dividend will be payable by the recipients receiving dividend in excess of Rs. 10 lakh per annum.  Surcharge to be raised from 12% to 15% on persons, other than companies, firms and cooperative societies having income above Rs. 1 crore.  Tax to be deducted at source at the rate of 1 % on purchase of luxury cars exceeding value of Rs. ten lakh and purchase of goods and services in cash exceeding Rs. 2 lakh.  Securities Transaction tax in case of ‘Options’ is proposed to be increased from .017% to .05%.  Krishi Kalyan Cess, @ 0.5% on all taxable services (i.e. on service tax), w.e.f. 1 June 2016.  Infrastructure cess, of 1% on small petrol, LPG, CNG cars, 2.5% on diesel cars of certain capacity and 4% on other higher engine capacity vehicles and SUVs.  ‘Clean Energy Cess’ levied on coal, lignite and peat renamed to ‘Clean Environment Cess’ and rate increased from Rs.200 per tonne to Rs.400 per tonne.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 3 NEW SCHEMES AGRI & RURAL SECTOR  A dedicated Long Term Irrigation Fund will be created in NABARD with an corpus of about Rs. 20000 crore.  Promote organic farming through ‘Parmparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana’ and 'Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region'.  Unified Agricultural Marketing ePlatform to provide a common emarket platform for wholesale markets.  Rs. 800 crore for four dairying projects-Pashudhan Sanjivani’, ‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’, ‘E-Pashudhan Haat’ and National Genomic Centre for indigenous breeds  New scheme Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan proposed with allocation of Rs. 655 crore.  A new Digital Literacy Mission Scheme for rural India to cover around 6 crore additional household within the next 3 years. SOCIAL SECTOR – HEALTH & EDUCATION  ‘National Dialysis Services Programme’ to be started under National Health Mission through PPP mode  “Stand Up India Scheme” to facilitate at least two projects per bank branch. This will benefit at least 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs.  National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub to be set up in partnership with industry associations  Allocation of Rs. 100 crore each for celebrating the Birth Centenary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay and the 350th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.  Higher Education Financing Agency to be set-up with initial capital base of Rs. 1000 Crores  Digital Depository for School Leaving Certificates, College Degrees, Academic Awards and Mark sheets to be set-up.  National Board for Skill Development Certification to be setup in partnership with the industry and academia.  100 Model Career Centres to be operational by the end of 2016-17 under National Career Service. GOOD GOVERNANCE  Price Stabilisation Fund with a corpus of Rs. 900 crore to help maintain stable prices of Pulses.  “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” programme will be launched to link States and Districts in an annual programme that connects people through exchanges in areas of language, trade, culture, travel and tourism. GOVT HOUSE KEEPING (In %) Rupee Comes From Rupee Goes To Borrowings 21 Central Plan Outlay 12 Corporate Tax 19 Plan Asst. to State / UTs 09 Income Tax 14 Non Plan Asst. State/UTs 05 Custom Duty 09 Other-Plan Expenditure 12 Excise Duty 12 States Share of Taxes 23 Service Tax 09 Interest Payments 19 Non-Tax Revenue 13 Defence 10 Non Debt Capital Receipts 03 Subsidies 10 Total 100 Total 100 KEY BUDGET FIGURES – 2016-17 BUDGET HEAD Rs in Cr 1 Revenue Receipts (2+3) 1377022 2 Tax Revenue (net to centre) 1054101 3 Non-Tax Revenue 322921 4 Capital Receipts (5+6+7) 601038 5 Recoveries of Loans 10634 6 Other Receipts 56500 7 Borrowings and other liabilities 533904 8 Total Receipts (1+4) 1978060 9 Non-Plan Expenditure (10+12) 1428050 10 On Revenue Account - of which, 1327408 11 Interest Payments 492670 12 On Capital Account 100642 13 Plan Expenditure (14+15) 550010 14 On Revenue Account 403638 15 On Capital Account 146382 16 Total Expenditure (9+13)(Budget Size) 1978060 17 Revenue Expenditure (10+14) 1731037 18 Of Which, Grants for creation of Capital Assets 166840 19 Capital Expenditure (12+15) 247023 20 Revenue Deficit (17-1) 2.3% of GDP 354015 21 Effective Revenue Deficit (20-18) 1.2% of GDP 187175 22 Fiscal Deficit {16- (1+5+6)} 3.5% of GDP* 533904 23 Primary Deficit (22-11) 0.3% of GDP* 41234 *GDP for 2016-17 has been projected at Rs. 150.65 trillion.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 4 MAJOR BUDGET ALLOCATIONS Sr. No. Sector Allocation (Rs. in Cr) 1 Infrastructure 221246 2 MNREGA 38500 3 National Livelihood Mission (Rural & Urban) 3325 4 PM Kaushal Vikas Yojna 1700 5 Housing PM Awas Yojna 20075 6 PM Gram Sadak Yojna 19000 7 Rural Drinking water 5000 8 Swatch Bharat Abhiyan 9000 9 PM Fasal Bima Yojna 5500 10 National Health Mission 19000 11 White Revolution 1150 12 SSA 22500 13 ICDS 15860 14 Swatch Bharat Abhiyan 2300 15 Smart Cities & Atal Mission (AMRUT) 7205 16 Roads & Highways 55000 17 Deen Dayaal Gram Jyoti Yojna 3000 18 PM Mudra Yojna 1500 19 Recapitalisation- Banks 25000 20 Namami Ganga 2250 21 Solar Energy 4000 ECONOMIC SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS FISCAL DEFICIT  2015-16 fiscal deficit seen at 3.9 percent of GDP, seems achievable  India must adhere to the medium-term fiscal deficit target of 3 percent of GDP  India must move toward the golden rule of eliminating revenue deficits  Foreign portfolio flows have stabilized the rupee INFLATION  CPI inflation seen around 4.5 to 5% in 2016- 17, declining by over 6 percentage points since late 2013, will create space for easing of monetary conditions.  Expect RBI to meet 5 percent inflation target by March 2017 GDP PROSPECTS  7.6 per cent economic growth rate in 2015-16.  Estimated GDP growth rate for 2016–17 is 7–7.75 %.  Growth in industry is estimated to have accelerated in current fiscal.  Growth in the services sector moderated slightly, but still remains robust.  India's long run potential GDP growth projected between 8 per cent and 10 per cent.  Private investment must be the engine of long-run growth. SUBSIDIES AND TAXES  The direct fiscal cost of all the subsidies is roughly Rs. 378,000 crore or 4.2 percent of 2011-12 GDP.  The JAM Trinity – Jan DhanYojana, Aadhaar and Mobile – can eliminate leakages and distortion of subsidies.  Proposes widening tax net from 5.5% of earning individuals at present to more than 20% BANKING & CORPORATE SECTOR  Estimated capital requirement for banks likely around Rs 1.8 trillion by 2018-19  Govt proposes to infuse Rs. 70,000 crore rupees in bank capitals via budgetary allocations  Underlying stressed assets in corporate sector must be sold or rehabilitated RAIL BUDGET–2016 : HIGHLIGHTS Theme for this year: ‘Chalo, Milkar Kuch Naya Karen’ Three pillars of the strategy: Nav Arjan – New revenues, Nav Manak – New norms, Nav Sanrachna – New Structures. No hike in passenger fares. Gross Traffic Receipts kept at Rs 1,84,820 crore FACILITIES  Increased quota for senior citizens and women travellers  33 percent reservation to women in reserved quota in Railways will be introduced  Wifi at 100 stations this year and 400 stations next year.  Cleaning of toilets by requests through SMS.  Janani Sewa - Children's menu, baby foods, baby boards to be made available for travelling mothers.  e-catering to be extended to all rail stations  IRCTC will make available local cuisine of choice, hygienic food TICKETING  Enhanced capacity of e-ticketing system from 2,000 tickets/min to 7,200/min supporting 1.2 lakh concurrent users against 40,000 earlier.  Bar-coded tickets to be introduced on pilot basis to tackle menace of ticketless travel.  Will open ticket cancellation facility through 139 helpline number.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 5 NEW TRAINS  Uday Express - overnight double-decker train to be introduced on busiest routes, carrying capacity to be 40 percent more. Uday stands for Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-conditioned Yatri Express  Antyodaya Express superfast long distance fully unreserved trains for common man  Humsafar - fully air-conditioned third AC service with an optional service for meals  Tejas–futuristic trains with all the world class facilities will operate at speeds of 130 kilometre and above.  Deen Dayal coaches in regular long distance trains for unreserved passengers.  Aastha circuit trains to be introduced to connect 18 major pilgrimage centers INFRASTRUCTURE  All unmanned level crossings to be eliminated by 2020  Swacch Bharat: 17000 bio-toilets and additional toilets in 475 stations to be provided  India's first railway auto hub to be established in Chennai  Railways to shift to completely paperless contract system in 2016-17  All major stations to be brought under CCTV surveillance in a phased manner.  Porters (coolies) to be renamed as ‘Sahayak’ and to be given soft skills training and new uniform  GPS-based digital display in coaches for showing upcoming stations.  Rail university to come up at Vadodara, Gujarat BUDGET GLOSSARY APPROPRIATION BILL It is presented to Parliament for its approval, so that the government can withdraw from the Consolidated Fund the amounts required for meeting the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund till the Appropriation Bill is voted is enacted. CAPITAL BUDGET It consists of capital receipts and payments. It also incorporates transactions in the Public Account. It has two components: Capital Receipt and Capital Expenditure. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE It consists of payments for acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as also investments in shares etc, and loans and advances granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties. CAPITAL RECEIPTS The main items of capital receipts are loans raised by the government from public which are called market loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank of India and other parties through sale of Treasury Bills, loans received from foreign governments and bodies and recoveries of loans granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments and other parties. It also includes proceeds from disinvestment of government equity in public enterprises. CENTRAL PLAN It consists of the government’s budget support to the Plan and the internal and extra budgetary resources raised by public enterprises. CONSOLIDATED FUND It is made up of all revenues received by the government, loans raised by it, and also its receipts from recoveries of loans granted by it. All expenditure of the government is incurred from the Consolidated Fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without authorisation from Parliament. CONTINGENCY FUND It is an amount Rs 500 crore placed at the disposal of the President and is used by the government to incur all its urgent and unforeseen expenditure. Parliamentary approval for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an equivalent amount from the Consolidated Fund is subsequently obtained and the amount spent from the Contingency Fund is recouped to the Fund. EXPENDITURE BUDGET It contains expenditure estimates made for a scheme or programme under both revenue and capital heads. These estimates are brought together and shown on a net basis at one place by major heads. FINANCE BILL This contains the government’s proposals for levy of new taxes, modification of the existing tax structure or continuance of the existing tax structure beyond the period approved by Parliament. It is submitted to Parliament along with the Budget for its approval. FISCAL CONSOLIDATION A policy aimed at reducing government deficits and debt accumulation. FISCAL DEFICIT It is the difference between the revenue receipts plus certain non-debt capital receipts and the total expenditure including loans (net of repayments). This indicates the total borrowing requirements of the government from all sources.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 6 FISCAL POLICY The policy that decides the terms of government expenditure and revenue collection (taxation) to ensure best possible growth of the economy. It is the policy for deciding the shape of govt budget. FRBM ACT, 2003 The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act was enacted by Parliament in 2003 to bring in fiscal discipline in the govt expenditure. The FRBM Rules impose limits on fiscal and revenue deficit. In the long run, the fiscal deficit is required to be reduced to 3% of the GDP. GOVERNMENT BORROWING The money government borrows to fund public spending. It is the total amount of money that the country's Government has borrowed to fund its spending on public services and benefits. NON-PLAN EXPENDITURE It includes both revenue and capital expenditure on interest payments, the entire defence expenditure (both revenue and capital expenditure), subsidies, postal deficit, police, pensions, and economic services, loans to public enterprises and loans as well as grants to state governments, union territory governments and foreign governments. NON-TAX REVENUES Interest from loans to states, public bodies and PSUs is a key item under this head. So are dividends from PSUs. The government also earns income from the services it provides. Though the Railways is a separate ministry, all its money is routed through the consolidated fund. PLAN EXPENDITURE This is largely made up of the budget support to the central plan. It also comprises the amount the Centre sets aside for plans of states & Union territories. Like all budget heads, this is also split into revenue and capital components. PRIMARY DEFICIT If we deduct amount of interest payments from the amount of fiscal deficit, we get the amount of Primary Deficit. PUBLIC DEBT The government's borrowings are the burden of the people. The difference between borrowings and repayments is the net accretion to the public debt. Public debt can be split into two heads, internal debt and external debt. The internal debt comprises Treasury Bills, market stabilisation scheme, ways and means advances, and securities against small savings. PUBLIC ACCOUNT It is an account in which money received through transactions not relating to the Consolidated Fund is kept. For example, transactions relating to provident funds, small savings collections, other deposits etc. Public Account funds do not belong to the government and have to be paid back some time or the other to the persons and authorities who deposited them. Parliamentary authorisation for payments from the Public Account is not required. REVENUE BUDGET It consists of the revenue receipts of the government (which is tax revenues plus other revenues) and the expenditure met from these revenues. It has two components: Revenue Receipt and Revenue Expenditure. REVENUE EXPENDITURE It is meant for the normal running of government departments and various services, interest charges on debt incurred by the government and subsidies. Broadly speaking, expenditure which does not result in creation of assets is treated as revenue expenditure. All grants given to state governments and other parties are also treated as revenue expenditure even though some of the grants may be for creation of assets. REVENUE RECEIPTS It includes proceeds of taxes and other duties levied by the Centre, interest and dividend on investments made by the government, fees and other receipts for services rendered by the government. Excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts is called revenue deficit. VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) It is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its manufacture or distribution. The manufacturer remits to the government the difference between these two amounts, and retains the rest for themselves to offset the taxes they had previously paid on the inputs.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 7 NATIONAL NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 ANSARI VISITS BRUNEI, THAILAND Vice President Hamid Ansari paid a five day (Feb 1-5) visit to South East Asia covering Brunei and Thailand to boost the bilateral relations and trade prospects. Agreements were signed with Brunei in the fields of defence, health and sports. ABU DHABI PRINCE VISITS INDIA Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India. The two countries signed nine agreements covering cooperation in the fields of currency swap, culture, investments in the infrastructure sector, renewable energy, space research, insurance supervision, cyber security, skill development and commercial information sharing. MYSURU IS THE CLEANEST CITY Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the Quality Council of India to rank the Indian cities on the basis of cleanliness has ranked Mysuru at number one, followed by Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli. The least clean cities included Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Asansol (West Bengal). Among the cities in the Smart City Mission, Bhubaneswar has emerged as the top. NATIONAL AROGYA FAIR HELD IN DEHRADUN The 4-day National Arogya Fair organised by the central and state government in collaboration with CII was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand to showcase and promote the strengths, efficacy and affordability of the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems of medicines. Rs.580 CRORE FOR BANGLA RAIL LINK The Indian government has finally sanctioned Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link, a project that was finalized in January 2010. This project will reduce rail distance between Kolkata and Agartala from 1700 kms (via chicken neck) at present to 350 kms. NATIONAL DEWORMING DAY – FEB 10 India observed the first National Deworming Day on Feb 10 in schools and preschools (anganwadis) to combat parasitic worm infections among children. Free Albendezole deworming tablets were provided to children across the country. INDIA ASEAN HOLD DELHI DIALOGUE The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India. The theme for this year's dialogue is ASEAN-India Relations: A New Paradigm. ANTI-LEPROSY DAY – 30TH JANUARY Anti-Leprosy Day was observed on 30 January nationwide in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who attained martyrdom on 30 January 1948, to honour his selfless efforts to care for the people affected by this infectious disease. COINS IN MEMORY OF LAJPAT RAI Ministry of Culture released a commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a circulation coin of 10 rupees on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai. ROAD TO RESILIENCE PROGRAMME The Road to Resilience, an initiative of the World Bank to survey the entire Indian coastline was completed on 15 February 2016. It aims to implement support for six coastal disaster management and climate resilience projects covering all ten coastal states of India. GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT IN INDIA Birdwatchers from all over India took part in four day annual Great Backyard Bird Count and shared the information online. With more than 7,000 lists, totaling 735 species, India has second rank in world. House crow, common myna, Asian koel and black drongo were the most common species reported in India. 3 INDIANS IN TOP 50 RICHEST IN WORLD Three Indians — Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Group), Azim Premji (Wipro) and Dilip Shanghvi (Sun Pharma) —have made it to a global list of 50 wealthiest people at 27th, 43rd and 44th place, respectively. The list compiled by Wealth-X in collaboration with Business Insider is topped by Bill Gates.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 8 JNU STIRRED BY ANTI NATIONAL SLOGANS Nation’s prestigious university caught attention of intellectuals around the world, although for non academic reasons. A group of students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi staged a demonstration and raised anti national slogans leading to arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, President of JNU students union and two other student leaders on charges of sedition. The issue raised a storm in the country with different groups favouring and opposing the charge of sedition against the students. INDIA HAS 111 BILLIONAIRES The total number of billionaires from India has risen to 111, consolidating the country's third position after China and the US, according to Hurun Global Rich List 2016. The list is topped by Bill Gates while Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian at 21st rank. INDIA VERY POOR IN PROTECTING IPR In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), India ranked 37th on the 2016 Intellectual Property Index released by the Global Intellectual Property Centre, USA. The top rank was secured by USA, followed closely by UK, Germany and France while Venezuela was ranked last – 38th.  Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli arrived in New Delhi on Feb 19 on a six-day visit to India. The two countries signed 7 agreements for cooperation.  India and Afghanistan have agreed to allow visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of the two countries.  India has extended one million dollars assistance to cyclone-hit Fiji. The category five cyclone Winston had wind speed of upto 325 km per hour.  Global brand valuation firm Brand Finance has rated Tata Consultancy Services as the World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services.  The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) completed ten years in first week of February.  Banaras Hindu University (BHU) founded by Freedom fighter Pt Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13th February 2016.  The 42nd Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous annual classical dance festival, was held in the temple town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.  The biennial automotive show Auto Expo was held in Greater Noida in the National Capital Region.  The 47th two-day Conference of Governors of all Indian states and Lt. Governors of UTs was hosted by the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.  India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the rail communication agreement by mutual consent for three years from 19 January 2016.  The 6th National Science Film Festival & Competition was held at Nehru Science Center in Mumbai.  13th World Spice Congress was held in Ahmedabad from Feb 27-29 with the theme 'Target 2020: Clean, Safe and Sustainable Supply Chain'. JANUARY 2016 HOLLANDE PRESIDES OVER REPUBLIC DAY President of France, Francois Hollande arrived in Chandigarh on Jan 24 for a three–day visit to India. He was the honourable Chief Guest at the 67thRepublic Day Parade at New Delhi. An agreement was signed to provide technical and financial assistance for developing Puducherry, the erstwhile French protectorate, Chandigarh and Nagpur as a smart city. Besides, 16 other agreements, including one for purchase of 36 Rafale advanced fighter aircrafts, were also signed. He also inaugurated the interim secretariat of the International Solar Alliance - ISA and laid the foundation stone of its headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana. ISA is a specialized platform for cooperation among 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, for increasing utilisation and promotion of solar energy. FRENCH FORCES IN REPUBLIC DAY PARADE For the first time, a military contingent of a foreign country will take part in the Republic Day Parade on January 26. A contingent of the French army, which is already in India for a joint military exercise, will take part in the parade along with Indian armed forces. INDIA 5TH BEST COUNTRY FOR GROWTH According to the annual global CEO survey of consultancy giant PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) the top five markets considered as most important for overall growth prospects are USA, China, Germany, the UK and India. CEOs in India are showing much more confidence than their global counterparts when it comes to revenue growth for their companies.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 9 US HAS LARGEST NUMBER OF INDIANS India sends the largest number of engineers and scientists to the US with about 950,000 immigrant scientists and engineers coming from the country, according to a report. The number of scientists and engineers residing in the US rose from 21.6 million to 29 million from 2003 to 2013. INDIA IMPROVES ITS CORRUPTION STATUS In the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)-2015 by the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI), India has been ranked at 76th position in public sector corruption out of 168 countries, improving its slot from 85 in 2014 and 94 in 2013. The Index is topped by Denmark, followed by Finland, Sweden and New Zealand. NATIONAL VOTERS’ DAY 6th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across the country on Jan 25. The theme for this year was ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’. It was on this day in 1950 that the Election Commission came into existence. FIRST BLIND FRIENDLY TRAIN The Mysuru-Varanasi Express has become the country’s first blind friendly Braille-embedded train. It has been provided with metallic Braille signage indicating berth numbers, location of alarm chains, toilets, and emergency windows. INDIA HAS LARGEST DIASPORA India’s diaspora population is the largest in the world with 16 million people from India living outside their country in 2015, according to a latest survey conducted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. India is followed by Mexico, Russia and China. 20th NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL The 153rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was observed as National Youth Day across the country. Main event was the five day 20th National Youth Festival held in Naya Raipur, the new capital city of Chhattisgarh. The theme for the festival was "India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony". The mascot for the event was Wild Buffalo, the state animal of Chhattisgarh and named as 'Sangi', which means "friend". ‘JALLIKATTU’ – CENTRE ALLOWS, S C BANS The Union Government has allowed the conduct of the traditional bull-taming sports, ‘Jallikattu’, in Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated around Pongal in Tamil Nadu. However, on Jan 12, Supreme Court stayed the Central government notification allowing ‘Jallikattu’. MUMBAI 22ND, DELHI 24TH BEST CITY According to a study conducted by international real estate consultancy JLL, India’s financial capital Mumbai has been ranked 22nd, while the National Capital is placed at number 24 in the top-30 list of the world’s most powerful, productive and connected cities. The list is topped by Tokyo, followed by New York and London. N E INDIA STRUCK BY EARTHQUAKE A strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck northeast India on Jan 4. The epicentre of the earthquake was at Tamenglong, 33 kilometres away from Imphal in Manipur. Several persons were killed and many a buildings collapsed in Tamenglong. GOVT TO SIGN RAPTOR AGREEMENT The government has approved the signing of the Raptor MoU which aims at promoting internationally coordinated actions to conserve and reverse the decline of birds of prey such as eagles, kites, vultures, hawks and owls. India will become the 54th country to sign this agreement. INDIA TO MAKE BRIDGES IN MYANMAR The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the trilateral highway in Myanmar. This will facilitate all season movement of goods from Imphal to Mandlay in Myanmar and further entering Thailand. WORLD BANK LOAN FOR MINORITY YOUTH World Bank will provide a $ 50 million loan for ‘Nai Manzil'–Education and Skills Training for Minorities. Youth in BPL category in the age group of 17-35 years will be the main beneficiaries of the project.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 10 WORLD BANK LOAN FOR ZOO IN ANDHRA In a global first, the World Bank has agreed to provide $ 20 million assistance to reconstruct the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam (Andhra) which got devastated during cyclone Hudhud in October 2014. INDIA RANKS LOWLY 89TH IN TALENT HUNT The Global Talent Competitiveness Index compiled by the INSEAD Business School, France to rank the 103 countries on the basis of their ability to attract talent, has placed India at 89th rank, 11 steps below its rank last year. The index is topped by the Switzerland, followed by Singapore. INDIA RANKS LOW IN NUCLEAR SAFETY A Nuclear Security Index compiled by the Nuclear Threat Initiative of USA for 176 countries to assess global nuclear security conditions, for both – weapon grade nuclear material and possibility of sabotage, has placed India low at 21st rank among the 24 countries having one kg or more of the weapon grade nuclear material. Australia has been ranked as the safest country. ‘BHARAT PARV’ HELD IN DELHI A four day cultural festival 'Bharat Parv' was held at the Red Fort lawns in Delhi from Jan 26-29 to highlight the rich cultural and ethnic heritage of India, including cuisine and handicrafts from across the country. INDIA TO SHARE CLIMATE INFORMATION The World Meteorological Organisation has nominated India as the Regional Climate Centre to provide information to other South Asian countries on temperature and monsoon, including that about El Nino.  Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organising “Make in India Week” in Mumbai during February 13- 18, 2016 to hold investors meet for the manufacturing sector.  India’s share in IMF has increased to 2.75% from 2.44%, making it the eighth-largest shareholder in the Fund. Its voting rights now will rise to 2.6% from 2.34%.  The World Bank will give $ 250 million loan for Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project for reconstruction and recovery support in flood-affected areas.  India and Armenia signed an amended Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty (DTAA) to share information on banking and financial transactions.  The largest tricolour (66 x 99 feet) in the country was hoisted atop the Pahari Mandir in Ranchi, Jharkhand on the tallest pole – standing 293 foot.  Union Ministry of Finance released the draft report of Justice R V Easwar (Retd) Committee to simplify the provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961.  The child sex ratio in India now stands at 918 (per thousand male babies), dipping further from 927 in 2001, and reaching the lowest level since 1961.  Govt has decided to merge the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with the Ministry of External Affairs to avoid duplication of work and to improve efficiency.  India-Nepal Bus Service between Banbasa border in Uttarakhand and Kanchanpur in Nepal started on 4th January, after a gap of 27 years.  The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held on 9 January 2016 in New Delhi. It was a limited edition as now it will be organised once in two years.  India’s first World Music Festival will be held in Udaipur on Feb 12-13. Over 100 artistes from over 12 countries will take part in the festival.  103rd Indian Science Congress held at University of Mysore, Karnataka. Theme for this year was "Science & Technology for Indigenous Development in India".  International Kite Festival held at Sabarmati River front in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.  The Jaipur Literature Festival held at Hotel Diggi Palace, Jaipur (Rajasthan) from January 21 to 25.  National Conference on e-Governance held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. DECEMBER 2015 INDIA 97TH IN ‘DOING BUSINESS’ India has ranked a low 97th out of 144 nations on Forbes' annual list of the best countries for doing business in 2015, scoring poorly on issues like trade and monetary freedom and response to challenges like corruption and violence. Denmark topped the list. As per World Bank data, India ranks 130th. INDIA RANKS 130TH IN HDI As per the Human Development Index (HDI) compiled by the UNDP, India ranked a lowly 130th in the list of 188 nations. It is up by five ranks from last year's 135, thanks to higher life expectancy and gross national income. Stagnancy in education, women's empowerment and poverty continue to drag India down. Norway topped the ranking. HDI is a summary measure to assess long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development -a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 11 MODI VISITS RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN Prime Minister Modi visited Russia on Dec 23-24 to attend the 16th India-Russia annual summit. President Vladimir Putin gifted him an 18th century sword from Bengal and a page from Mahatma Gandhi's diary containing his handwritten notes. Russia and India signed 16 pacts. The agreements include joint manufacture of Kamov 226 multipurpose helicopters and construction of 12 atomic plants in India. PM Modi visited Afghanistan on Dec 25 to meet President Ashraf Ghani. He inaugurated the Parliament building which has been constructed by India. He made a surprise brief halt in Pakistan also to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif. MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT IN FOREST COVER According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2015, the total forest and tree cover is 79.42 million hectare, which is 24.16 percent of the total geographical area, up from 24.01 per cent in 2013. Of this, the forest cover is 7,01,673 sq km covering 21.34 per cent area. The total forest cover of the country has increased by 3, 775 Square kilometre and the tree cover has gone up by 1,306 Square kilometre. The maximum increase in forest cover has been observed in Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir. ACID VICTIMS TO BE UNDER DISABLED QUOTA The Supreme Court has directed all the State and UT Governments to consider acid-attack victims under the disabled quota to enable them to get reservations in government jobs as well as education benefits. WORLD BANK LOAN FOR SANITATION The World Bank has approved a USD 1.5 billion loan for the ambitious clean India campaign to support the government in its efforts to ensure all citizens in rural areas have access to improved sanitation and end the practice of open defecation by 2019. INDIANS HIGHLY IGNORANT - SURVEY A survey conducted by a London-based market research firm found people in Mexico and India were most inaccurate in perceptions on issues such as obesity, non- religious population, immigration, female employment, rural living and Internet access. Survey in 33 countries for ‘Index of Ignorance’ placed Mexico as most ignorant, followed by India.  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a 3 day visit to India. He attended Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi.  Panos Kammenos, Greek Defence Minister arrived in India on a three day visit. The two countries decided to enhance bilateral defence ties.  National Veda Convention and Vedic Conference held in Kozhikode, Kerala.  The Lok Sabha passed the Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 to establish the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as a National Standards Body.  India and South Korea have inked a new MoU on suspension of collection of taxes during pendency of mutual agreement procedure.  The ICT (information, communication & technology) Development Index places India a lowly 131st among 167 countries. South Korea tops the index. NEWS FROM STATES FEBRUARY 2016 HARYANA SINGED BY JAT AGITATION Prosperous state of Haryana suffered big loss due to widespread violent agitation by its Jat community demanding reservation for Jats in government jobs. The stir claimed around 30 lives, leaving over 300 as injured. The Supreme Court had rejected inclusion of Jats into the Central OBC list on ground that National Commission of Backward Castes does not consider them socially and economically backward in Haryana. LONGEST RAIL BRIDGE TO COME UP AT KATNI Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved construction of India’s longest railway bridge on Katni – Bina route in Madhya Pradesh. This 14 kms long bridge is three and half folds longer than the present longest Vembanad rail Bridge 4.6 Km in length, in Kerala. HARYANA TO CONDUCT AQUIFER MAPPING Haryana to soon become the first state in the country to have aquifer mapping done for its groundwater resources by May 2016. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock, from which groundwater can be extracted. VARANASI HAS WORST AIR QUALITY Central Pollution Control Board released its National Air Quality Indices (NAQI) for 24 cities. The index has a colour code and a numerical value to help in comparing pollution levels in different cities. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Muzzafarpur in Bihar topped the list for the worst air quality.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 12  30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela began at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana on Feb 1. Telangana is the Theme State this time.  The World Bank to give $ 35 million credit for the Citizen Access to Responsive Services Project of Madhya Pradesh.  Haryana and the Province of Ontario in Canada have signed a MoU for enhancing commercial and cultural ties between the two states. JANUARY 2016 ‘FREE’ WI-FI AT MUMBAI RLY STATION Mumbai Central has become the first ever railway station in India to have free high-speed Internet facility for thousands of its passengers. Railwayplans to extend this facility to 400 stations in near future. The service has been rolled out by Indian Railway’s telecom arm, RailTel in collaboration with Google. SIKKIM BECOMES FULLY ‘ORGANIC’ Sikkim has become India's first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation. Organic cultivation is free of chemical pesticides and chemical fertilisers as it tries to strike a harmonious balance with a complex series of ecosystems. KULLU NATI DANCE CREATES WORLD RECORD In Himachal Pradesh, the Nati folk dance of Kullu district has made a world record by entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the folk dance by largest number– 9,892 women. The dance was arranged last year on 26th October during International Dussehra festival. GANGA GRAM YOJANA TO START FROM U P Govt has launched Ganga Gram Yojana from Village Puth in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Under the scheme, 1600 villages of UP situated along the banks of river Ganga will be developed to minimize/stop pollution of the river from these villages. ARUNACHAL UNDER PRESIDENT RULE President Pranab Mukherjee gave assent under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution to the Union Cabinet’s recommendation for President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh, accepting the ground that there was a “constitutional breakdown” in the state as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.  For the first time, a study by the World Wide Fund- India has captured on camera evidence of the highly endangered species Snow Leopard inhabiting the high mountains of northern Sikkim.  The 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films was held in Mumbai from Jan 28 to Feb 03.  The Ardh Kumbh mela formally started at Haridwar on Jan 12. The first Snan of the Kumbh will take place on Makar Sankranti, Jan 14.  Kerala has become the first Indian state to achieve 100 per cent primary education (up to class iv) by implementing the programme ‘Athulyam’.  World Bank to provide $ 250 million loan for the Bihar’s Kosi Basin Development Project.  Bihar government has decided to give 35% reservation for women in all state government jobs.  Bihar govt has announced that no one can contest the panchayat elections scheduled in 2016 in the state, without having a toilet at their home.  Telangana has become the first state in the country to officially accept electronic motor insurance policies by the name ‘e-Vahan Bima’. DECEMBER 2015 PER CAPITA INCOME HIGHEST IN DELHI According to Delhi Government's Delhi Statistical Hand Book, the state recorded the highest per capita income among all the states in the country at Rs. 2,40,849 during financial year 2014-15. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Delhi, at current prices, in 2014-15 stood at Rs 4.51 lakh crore, up by 15.35 per cent over the previous year. DELHI IS MOST POLLUTED CITY IN WORLD Green Peace India released a report on National Air Quality Index (NAQI) for 17 countries, covering top 20 most polluted cities. As per the report, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world, while 13 Indian cities figured in the 20 most polluted cities in the world.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 13 NO TO DIESEL VEHICLES IN DELHI The National Green Tribunal has directed that no new or old diesel vehicle be registered in Delhi till Jan. 6, with a view to curb pollution in capital. It also directed all the govt departments to not to purchase any new diesel vehicle and make plans to phase out the existing ones.  The Konark Festival, the five-day festival of classical dances of India, was held in Konark, Odisha, in the back drop of the famous Sun Temple.  The International Sand Art Festival 2015 was held in Konark, Odisha.  For the first time, two Indian cities, Varanasi and Jaipur, have been selected in the Creative City Network of the UNESCO in the categories - City of Music and City of Crafts and Folk Art, respectively.  The Maharashtra legislature becomes the first legislature to launch an online mechanism for its members to send questions and move different motions in the House.  The Odisha state launched Anwesha scheme to provide free education to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students in the state.  The Bihar government has banned 15-year-old diesel vehicles from its capital's roads to control pollution.  India’s fourth and North India’s first cable-stayed bridge was inaugurated at Basohali in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, over river Ravi.  West Bengal has approved formation of five new districts in the state, bringing the total districts to 25.  Mumbai’s iconic boulevard Marine Drive also called the Queen’s Necklace completed 100 years on Dec 16.  Maharashtra has started the country's biggest Wildlife Rescue Centre at Gorewada near Nagpur to take care of sick, injured and rescued animals.  Losar, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Festival began on 12 December 2015 in Ladakh, J&K. The festival marks the beginning of New Year for Buddhists.  Uttar Pradesh has launched International festival on Birds in National Chambal Sanctuary to promote state as an international bird-watching destination.  Hornbill Festival held in Kohima, Nagaland from Dec 1 to 10 to highlight state’s rich cultural heritage.  Himachal Pradesh has become the first state to launch Rotavirus vaccination for controlling the child mortality rate (under 5 years of age) due to diarrhea. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FEBRUARY 2016 20 SMART CITIES ANNOUNCED Central government has announced the names of the first 20 urban areas that will be developed as smart cities. The selected cities will be equipped with basic infrastructure, efficient urban mobility and public transport, IT connectivity and e-governance mechanisms. The 20 selected cities are from 11 states and UT of Delhi. 1. Bhubaneswar 2. Pune 3. Jaipur 4. Surat 5. Kochi 6. Ahmedabad 7. Jabalpur 8. Vishakapatnam 9. Sholapur 10. Davangere 11. Indore 12. New Delhi 13. Coimbatore 14. Kakinada 15. Belagavi 16. Udaipur 17. Guwahati 18. Chennai 19. Ludhiana 20. Bhopal RURBAN MISSION LAUNCHED IN DONGARGARH The ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural- urban) Mission was launched from Chhattisgarh's Dongargarh block. It aims to draw an investment of over Rs 5,000 crore in three years to transform rural areas to economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces aimed at minimising rural migration to cities through skill development programmes. GOVT TO SET UP AIM AND SETU The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) in NITI Aayog to encourage innovations and entrepreneurship in the country. APP LAUNCHED FOR CLEAN TOURIST CENTERS Ministry of Tourism has launched a mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ to facilitate the public to communicate their complaints about any unclean area/garbage piles in and around 25 listed prime tourist destinations.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 14 E-TOURIST VISA FOR 37 MORE COUNTRIES Govt has decided to extend E-Tourist visa facility to 37 more countries from Feb 26, making the total count of countries under the scheme 150. The new countries include Austria, Brunei, Denmark, Greece, South Africa, Switzerland and Tajikistan. EPFO COVERAGE FOR 10 WORKER UNITS The Union Labour Ministry has decided to halve the threshold for coverage of firms under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from 20 at present to 10 workers. This will benefit over 50 lakh workers. YOU TUBE CHANNEL FOR FINANCE MINISTRY Finance Ministry has launched its official YouTube channel with a view to disseminate information to the public on a real-time basis. The channel showcases videos featuring schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Insurance schemes, among several others. PROJECT SUNRISE LAUNCHED TO FIGHT AIDS Government has launched Project Sunrise for prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North- Eastern states. The project seeks to improve interventions against human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among people who inject drugs (PWID). 24x7 TOLL FREE TOURIST INFOLINE Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the 24x7 Toll Free Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages including Hindi and English in New Delhi. It will assist the callers, particularly those who know little about India, with advice on action to be taken during times of distress while travelling in India to ensure a hassle free comfortable journey. TATA TO HEAD RAIL RESEARCH TEAM Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross functional team called Special Unit for Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) headed by veteran industrialist Ratan Tata for carrying out detailed analytics leading to optimised investment decisions and operations in railways. NDRF RAISES ‘DOG SQUAD’ In a maiden initiative, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has raised a squad of 162 dogs to aid its personnel in rescuing people trapped under debris in the aftermath of natural calamities like earthquake.  India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near Bagodara village in Ahmadabad to strengthen the aviation sector. The park will promote special units to manufacture spare parts for aircrafts.  National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016- 2030 released to define the strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030, in a phased manner.  The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031 unveiled by the environment ministry to focus on rehabilitation of threatened species of wildlife. JANUARY 2016 “START-UP INDIA, STAND-UP INDIA” Govt. has started a 19 point Start-up Action Plan with a Rs. 10,000 crore fund for funding of Start-ups. The new ventures will be exempted from paying income tax on their profit and visit of inspectors for 3 years. They will enjoy 80 per cent exemption in patent fee. An Atal Innovation Mission will be launched to give a boost to innovation. NEW CROP INSURANCE FOR FARMERS Government has launched the “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana", under which the premium will be paid by Central and state govt and the farmers will have to pay only a token premium of 2 per cent for kharif, 1.5 per cent for rabi and 5 per cent for commercial crops. 33% WOMEN IN PARA FORCES Govt has approved 33% reservation for women in Central Armed Police Forces such as CRPF and CISF at constable–level positions and 14-15% reservation at the constable level in border guarding forces such as BSF, SSB and ITBP. HYBRID ANNUITY MODEL FOR HIGHWAYS The government has approved the hybrid annuity model as one of the modes for implementing highway development projects. Under this model, 40% of the project cost is provided by the government during construction and the balance 60% is paid as annuity (installments) payments later on.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 15 E-TENDERS MUST FOR OVER 2 LAKH DEALS With a view to bring transparency in government purchases, it has been decided that all central ministries and public sector units will have to float e-tenders for procuring goods and services exceeding Rs 2 lakh. At present the limit is Rs 5 lakh. 61 MORE DISTRICTS UNDER ‘BETI BACHAO’ The Government has decided to extend the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to 61 more districts this year to improve skewed child sex ratio. The programme was launched in January 2015 in 100 districts with poor sex ratio across the country. SOCIAL SECURITY PACT WITH AUSTRALIA A new social security agreement signed between India and Australia has come into operation enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other's country, a pact likely to boost bilateral business linkages. GAVI TO PROMOTE VACCINATION IN INDIA To improve the quality and coverage of vaccination in India, Union Health Ministry has decided to use the expertise of Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), a global NGO working for promotion of vaccination in poor countries.  Operation Green Hunt refers to an all-out offensive by India’s paramilitary forces against the Naxalites in the Naxal affected five states.  River Information System - the first of its kind in India launched to facilitate safe and accurate navigation on National Waterway-1 (Ganga River).  Union Govt in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Govt has launched an initiative ‘Wattan ko Jano’ to familiarize the local youth with the development of the country in other states.  Sahaj Scheme launched for online booking of LPG cylinders through the unified web portal www.mylpg.in, available in 13 languages.  Government has decided to institute a new award category under the National Film Awards titled The Most Film–Friendly State/UT.  The Union Ministry of Shipping has started Project Green Ports to make Major Ports across India cleaner and greener.  Eight states have agreed to implement direct benefit of transfer of subsidy in kerosene in 26 districts w.e.f. April 1, 2016.  Finance Ministry to organise the India Investment Summit from Feb. 4 in New Delhi to attract global investors to promote Indian infrastructure sector.  The government has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to look into revamp of Censor Board.  A new luxury super fast express train 'Mahamana Express' named after Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya has been started between Varanasi to Delhi. DECEMBER 2015 APPS LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE HEALTHCARE Govt has launched 4 new Information Technology-based initiatives to provide citizen-centric health services. They include three applications:  Kilkari:An audio-based mobile service that delivers weekly audio messages to families about pregnancy, child birth and child care.  Mobile Academy: For providing training services to 9 million ASHA workers.  M-Cessation: Counselling helpline to help tobacco users to quit tobacco.  Toll free number 1800-11–6666 to provide round the clock counselling and treatment support services to TB patients NO LPG SUBSIDY FOR THE RICH Government has announced that taxpayers with an annual income of more than Rs 10 lakh will not get subsidised LPG cylinders from January, 2016. Over 20 lakh persons have reported annual income of over Rs. 10 lakh. At present, all households are entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rate of Rs 419.26, while the market price of each cylinder is Rs 608. MOBILE APPS LAUNCHED FOR FARMERS Govt. has launched two mobile apps for farmers. The app - Crop Insurance - will help farmers find out complete details about insurance cover available in their area. The other app called Agri Market Mobile can be used by farmers to get the market prices of crops in the mandi within 50 km radius of the device.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 16 6 NEW IITs & 5 NEW IISEs TO BE SET UP The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at an overall cost of over Rs 1,400 crore in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jammu, Kerala and Karnataka. Approval was also given for setting up of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. INJECTABLE POLIO VACCINE LAUNCHED The government has launched an injectable polio vaccine – Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) – which will be administered in addition to oral polio drops in the routine immunization programme. IPV injection will be given to children aged below one year along with the third dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), free of cost to double the immunity. LOK SABHA NOD FOR 101 WATERWAYS Lok Sabha passed a bill to develop 101 new waterways across the country aimed at providing a cheaper mode of transport and reducing traffic burden on roads. At present, there are only five National Waterways. NEW GUIDELINES ON FRAUDS Government has now made it mandatory for the auditors to report any suspected corporate fraud amounting to Rs 1 crore or more to the Corporate Affairs Ministry with a view to effectively curb the misdoings in corporate sector. NEW DESIGNATION FOR GOVT CLERKS Govt has decided to rename the posts of UDC (Upper Division Clerk) and LDC (Lower Division Clerk) under Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS) as Senior Secretariat Assistant and Junior Secretariat Assistant, respectively. NEW DATE FOR BS V-VI STANDARDS The government has advanced the date for implementation of the Bharat Stage (BS) V and VI norms for emission standards for four-wheelers by 3 years to April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2021, respectively. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, which provides for lowering the age for trial of juvenile from 18 years to 16 years, has been passed by Rajya Sabha. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha earlier.  Govt has asked the states and UTs to start Operation Smile-II from 1 to 31 January 2016 to rehabilitate / rescue the missing children.  Global Initiative of Academic Networks Scheme launched to boost the quality of higher education through international collaboration.  Central Board of Secondary Education has rolled out its latest mobile application E-CBSE for providing e- learning material for students and teachers.  With a view to provide relief to 3.7 lakh jute mill workers, the govt has approved mandatory use of jute packaging material for foodgrains and sugar.  Union govt. proposes to launch a $1-billion equity fund, with seed capital from public sector units, to support renewable energy companies. ECONOMIC INDICATORS FEBRUARY 2016 INDIA RECORDS 7.3% GROWTH IN OCT-DEC QR According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), growth of the Gross Domestic Product is estimated at 7.3% in the October-December 2015 quarter. The economy is projected to record a five-year high growth rate of 7.6% in 2015-16 with consumption supporting growth and manufacturing being a surprise performer. GDP GROWTH TUNED DOWN TO 7.2% The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has marginally revised downward the GDP growth for 2014-15 to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3% after factoring in the latest data on agriculture and industrial production. The real GDP or GDP at constant prices (2011-12) for the year 2014-15 stands at Rs 105.52 lakh crore. The per capita Net National Income at current prices is estimated as Rs 79,412 and Rs 86,879, respectively for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15. For 2015-16, the Net National Income at Current Prices is expected to be Rs. 93,231.00 MOODY’s PUTS INDIA’s GROWTH AT 7.5% Moody’s Investors Services has projected that Indian economy will grow at 7.5% in 2016 and 2017 as it is relatively less exposed to external headwinds like China’s slowdown and will benefit from lower commodity prices.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 17 EXPORTS CONTINUE TO SINK India’s exports contracted 13.6% in January — 14th month in a row — to $21.04 billion due to a steep fall in shipment of petroleum products and engineering goods amid tepid global demand. Imports, too, shrank 11% to $28.71 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $7.63 billion. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DOWN BY 1.3% According to data released by Central Statistics Office, country's industrial production declined for the second month in a row, shrinking 1.3 per cent in December 2015, mainly due to fall in manufacturing and capital goods output. Industrial output had grown 3.6 per cent in December 2014. CORE SECTOR GROWS BY MERE 0.9% Growth of eight core sectors slowed down to 0.9 per cent in December 2015 from 3.2 per cent in the same month of previous year as production of crude oil, natural gas and steel sectors declined. The eight core or infrastructure industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. JANUARY 2016 INDIA TO GROW BY 7.8% - WORLD BANK The Global Economic Prospect by the World Bank has projected a robust 7.8 per cent growth for the Indian economy in the current year based on strong investor sentiment in India and the positive effect of the recent fall in oil prices.  UNCTAD says that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into India nearly doubled to $ 59 billion in 2015 as against 36 per cent rise at the world level. DECEMBER 2015 INDIA TO GROW BY 7.9% - GOLDMAN SACHS Global financial analysts Goldman Sachs have said that India’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.9 per cent next fiscal driven by rising domestic demand and higher capital spending by the government, even though the global economy will remain anaemic. INDIA TO GROW BY 7.4% - S&P Standard & Poor's Ratings Services in its 'India Credit Spotlight' newsletter has noted that India's economy will grow at 7.4 per cent in the current fiscal, which will further improve to over 8 per cent in 2016-17 as significant reforms are required with Indian corporates and banks currently facing a weak operating environment. INDIA TO GROW BY 7.3% - UN REPORT The United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2016 report says that India would record a 7.3% growth in 2016 and 7.5% in 2017. It will continue to be the fastest growing economy in the world in 2016 and 2017 amid volatile global financial conditions that will see diminished trade flows and stagnant investment, the report said. FITCH KEEPS INDIA AT ‘BBB’ GRADE International ratings agency Fitch Ratings has announced that India’s investment rating would remain at ‘BBB-’ -- the lowest investment grade -- with a stable outlook, saying that strong medium-term growth outlook and favourable external finances will balance out weak structural features, including its business environment. ECONOMY & INDUSTRY FEBRUARY 2016 ‘MAKE IN INDIA WEEK’ INAUGURATED Prime Minister Mr. Modi inaugurated the Make in India Week on Feb 13 in Mumbai. He told representatives from 68 countries participating in the event that India was blessed with Democracy, Demography, and Demand, and his government has added 4th D – Deregulation, making it a four-dimensional India waiting for foreign investment and manufacturing companies. The week attracted investment commitments of over Rs.15 lakh crore. 10,000 Cr FUND FOR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY In a bid to kick start manufacturing in the electronics sector, government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore Electronic Development Fund. It will provide risk capital to companies developing new technologies in electronics, nano-electronics and information technology. 15.27 LAKH COMPANIES IN INDIA As per the latest data released by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the total number of companies registered in the country rose to more than 15.27 lakh in January 2016. However, only 10.76 lakh of them were active ones.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 18 G I TAG FOR BASMATI OF 7 STATES The Intellectual Property Appellate Board has directed Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai to issue ‘Geographical Indication’ tag for basmati rice to 7 states in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. These states are Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. This tag will help to preserve the unique identity of India’s aromatic basmati rice in the international market. TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT APPROVED Union Cabinet has approved (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), becoming 71st country to do so. The TFA seeks to ease customs procedures to boost commerce. FIRST PETROCHEMICAL PLANT IN NORTH EAST Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) started the Assam Gas Cracker project, the first ever Petrochemical project in entire North East India. The plant at Lepetkata near Dibrugarh, Assam will produce High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Linear Low Density polyethylene (LLDPE) totaling 2, 20,000 Tonnes per Annum (TPA) and 60,000 TPA of Polypropylene (PP) for downstream plastic processing industries. eKYC LAUNCHED FOR MUTUAL FUNDS India’s leading transfer agency for most of the mutual funds-CAMS (Computer Age Management Services) has launched Aadhaar-based eKYC app using OTP (one-time password) authentication to make mutual fund account opening and transactions a paperless and presence less process through the app myCAMS at www.camsonline.com . PARADIP REFINERY STARTS PRODUCTION Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery in Paradip, Odisha started production of petrol from the Rs. 34,555- crore facility that took over 14 years to complete. The Refinery, largest on the eastern coast, will primarily be producing BS-IV fuels for local consumption and for exports. With this refinery, IOC has now become country’s largest refiner, overtaking Reliance Industries Ltd. TRAI RULES IN FAVOUR OF ‘NET NEUTRALITY’ The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has barred telecom service providers from charging differential rates for data services, effectively prohibiting Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel’s Airtel Zero platform. TRAI said a fine of Rs. 50,000 would be levied per day, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakh, for any violation of these regulations by the service providers. INDIA TO GIVE $150 MN FOR CHABAHAR PORT India has approved a $150 million credit line for the development of Iran’s Chabahar port. The port in southeast Iran will allow direct trade with Iran, avoiding Pakistan and open up a new route to Afghanistan. INS VIKRANT REBORN AS ‘V’ MOTOR BIKE Bajaj Auto has launched a 150-cc motor bike named ‘V’ that contains metal sourced from India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. The ship was decommissioned in Jan 1997 and was sold as scrap in November 2014.  For the first time, 6 metro coaches, each 75 feet long, were shipped to Australia from Mumbai port as the first installment of 450 such coaches.  Govt has cut interest rates by 0.25% on short-term post office deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and other small saving schemes below five years of maturity.  Govt to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute in Sikkim as the state is country's first organic farming State.  Govt about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of its 5% stake in the Maharatna PSU National Thermal Power Corporation-NTPC, through OFS (offer for sale).  South Arabia emerged as the largest exporter of crude oil to India in Jan. 2016, exporting 9.4 lac barrels per day, followed by Iraq at 9.3 lac bpd.  Apprehensive of the name Zika, the virus, Tata Motors have decided to rename their latest hatchback model as Tiago instead of Zika.  Asian Development Bank will provide a $80 million loan for improving the infrastructure in the two North-Eastern cities of Agartala and Aizawl.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 19
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 20 JANUARY 2016 2.36 LAKH MILLIONAIRES IN INDIA India is home to the fourth largest population of millionaires in the Asia Pacific region, with 2.36 lakh such high net worth individuals, while Japan topped the list with 12.60 lakh people, according to the Asia Pacific 2016 Wealth Report. HNWIs (millionaires) were defined as those individuals with net assets of USD 1 million or more. HALDIA TO GET WATERWAYS HUB The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is planning to set up a modern Indian Waterways Hub at Haldia, West Bengal to attract more investment in the state. The Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) is the main gateway for import and export of cargo destined or originating from Eastern, North Eastern and Northern parts of the country as well as landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan. GOVT SAYS ‘GOODBYE’ TO HMT WATCHES Govt has decided to close down three loss-making subsidiaries of HMT Ltd, (Hindustan Machines Ltd) namely HMT Watches Ltd, HMT Chinar Watches Ltd, and HMT Bearings Ltd. BS VI NORMS FROM APRIL 1, 2020 With a view to minimize the air pollution from vehicles, Govt has decided to implement strict emission norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020, by skipping BS- V altogether. Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms, introduced in 2000, are standards that have been set up the Centre to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicle. WORLD BANK LOAN FOR ‘NEERANCHAL’ World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1071 crore funding for the Neeranchal National Watershed Project which will benefit all the states in India by supporting their various irrigation projects.  India has overtaken Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter in 2015, shipping 10.23 million tonnes as against 9.8 million tonnes by Thailand.  The Asian Development Bank to extend a $625 million loan for the proposed $840 million Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor. DECEMBER 2015 INDIA TO MAKE SHIPS FOR LNG Cochin Shipyard has become the first shipyard in India to get the nod to build LNG (liquefied natural gas) transporting ships, making India fourth such country in world, after South Korea, Japan and China. The most critical part of an LNG ship is its cryogenic containment and handling system as the LNG has to be carried at a temperature of -163 degrees. LNG occupies 1/600th space of gaseous form. MORE TRANSACTIONS UNDER PAN The government has made it mandatory to quote PAN (permanent account number) for all transactions in excess of Rs.2 lakh to curb black money. This includes all payments made through cash, cheques or debit or credit cards. The new rule, effective from January 1, will cover purchases of all goods or services, such as say gold jewellery or furniture. JAPAN TO SUPPORT BULLET TRAIN During recent visit of Japan’s Prime Minister, India and Japan signed a number of pacts in key areas of defence and nuclear energy as well as building of first bullet train network between Mumbai- Ahmadabad at a cost of about Rs 98,000 crore. IMPROVEMENT IN ‘EASE OF DOING BUSINESS’ The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has informed that as a result of many steps taken to improve the ‘ease of doing business’ in the country, the average number of days taken for incorporation of a company has come down significantly to 4.51 days in November 2015 from 9.57 days in December 2014. CHANGI TO GUIDE A’BAD & JAIPUR AIRPORTS Government has signed an agreement with Singapore for using the services and expertise of the Singapore airport developer Changi for taking up operations and management of the Ahmadabad and Jaipur airports. ONGC JOINS ‘ZERO ROUTINE FLARING’ The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd has become the first oil company from India to join the global initiative ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ by World Bank to curb routine gas flaring at oil production sites around the world by 2030.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 21 SEBI ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR ‘GREEN BONDS’ The SEBI has released concept paper for issuance of Green Bonds. A green bond is like any other bond where a debt instrument is issued by an entity for raising funds from investors but the funds are 'ear-marked' for use towards financing ‘green’ projects only. INDIA TOPS IN INWARD REMITTANCES World Bank has said that India is the largest recipient of inward remittances receiving over 72 billion US dollars in 2014, followed by China at 64 billion US dollars. Of this, largest amount came from USA, $56 billion. INDIA GOT MOST FDI FROM SINGAPORE Singapore has replaced Mauritius as the top source of foreign direct investment into India during the first half of the current fiscal. During April to September period, India attracted $6.69 billion FDI from Singapore while from Mauritius, it received $3.66 billion only. WORK BEGINS ON TAPI GAS PIPELINE Leaders of four Asian countries met in Mary, Turkmenistan to join hands for the beginning of construction of 1800 kms long Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project which will provide energy-hungry India gas for its power plants. The pipeline will carry 90 million standard cubic metres a day of natural gas from Turkmenistan of which India and Pakistan will get 42 per cent each, while Afghanistan will get the remaining 16 per cent. PHARMA-OIL BARTER WITH VENEZUELA The government is considering a 'medicines for oil' barter system with Venezuela where Indian pharma exporters are facing problems to repatriate their sales proceeds due to restrictions imposed in that country. Venezuela is the third largest country in terms of oil imports into India. RELIANCE LAUNCHES 4G SERVICES Reliance Jio launched 4G telecom service providing data services with a speed up to 1 gigabyte per second. It offers a unique combination of telecom, high speed data, digital commerce, media and payment services. ‘PROJECT LEAP’ FROM BHARTI AIRTEL Country’s largest telecom services provider, Bharti Airtel will invest Rs. 60,000 crore over the next three- years in ‘Project Leap’ to upgrade its networks to provide quality services to meet increasing competition. GOOGLE STARTS YOU TUBE SPACES IN INDIA Google’s YouTube has collaborated with Whistling Woods International, a production house owned by Subhash Ghai, to open its first video production studio called YouTube Spaces in the country.  India received its first uranium consignment for its nuclear power reactors from Canada, after a gap of over four decades.  The first Goa to Mumbai double-decker Shatabdi train was flagged off from Panjim, Goa on Dec 6. BANKING & FINANCE FEBRUARY 2016 NO RATE CHANGE BY RBI The Reserve Bank maintained a status quo in its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review for year 2015-16 announced on Feb 2 by not changing any of the policy rates. Stating that current momentum of growth is reasonable, RBI maintained the FY 16 growth at 7.4 per cent, with downward bias. BANKS TO FOLLOW ‘IND AS’ NORMS The Reserve Bank has advised that banks should follow accounting standard ‘Ind AS’ converged with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from April 1, 2018. Ind AS implementation is likely to significantly impact the financial reporting systems and processes such as profit planning and budgeting, taxation, capital planning, and impact on capital adequacy.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 22 P G APTE REPORT RELEASED ON IROs The Reserve Bank of India has released the Report of the Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. P.G. Apte) on Introduction of Interest Rate Options in India. The report recommends liberalization of the interest rate derivatives market by allowing simple call and put Options, caps, floors and collars. PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS HIGH ON NPAs Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed by M. Veerappa Moily, a senior Congress MP submitted the report on the Net Non performing Assets (NPAs) of Public Sector Banks (PSBs). As per the report, NPAs in the country’s PSBs were around 205,024 crore rupees till September 2015 and the Gross NPAs during the same period were around at 369,990 crore rupees. S C ASKS RBI TO DISCLOSE BIG DEFAULTERS The Supreme court has asked the Reserve Bank of India to submit within six weeks a list of the companies which are in default of loans by the banks and financial institutions in excess of Rs 500 crore or whose loans have been restructured under corporate debts restructuring scheme. The list is to be furnished in a sealed cover to maintain confidentiality about the identity of defaulters. INCOGNITO VISITS TO CHECK CUSTOMER CARE Reserve Bank has decided to undertake ‘incognito visits’ by its officials to bank branches to check culture towards customer complaints and how banks have implemented Charter of Customer Rights. FDI RULES RELAXED FOR START UPS The Reserve Bank has relaxed several rules including foreign direct investment norms to boost start-up activity in the country. Now the start-ups are allowed to receive foreign funds irrespective of the sector in which they operate. SBI LAUNCHES "FLEXIPAY HOME LOAN" State Bank of India launched a new home loan scheme "FlexiPay Home Loan", offering higher amount and up to five years of interest moratorium to young professionals in the age group of 21 to 45 years. Borrowers will have the option of paying only interest during the moratorium (pre-EMI) period and thereafter pay moderated EMIs.  Govt to infuse Rs 5,000 crore as capital in the public sector banks to strengthen their balance sheet for compliance of Basel III capital norms.  RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap arrangement to SAARC nations till mid-November 2017 to enhance economic cooperation.  State Bank of India has started an exclusive ‘Japan Desk’ as a single nodal point for attracting FDI worth $30 billion from Japan. JANUARY 2016 NEW 100 AND 500 RUPEE NOTES Continuing its efforts to deter counterfeiting activities, the Reserve Bank of India, RBI, will soon introduce new banknotes of 500 rupees and 100 rupees denominations with enhanced security features. These notes will have ascending size of numerals in the number panels, bleed lines and enlarged identification mark. MASTER DIRECTIONS FROM RBI Reserve Bank has started the process of issuing 'Master Directions' on various regulatory issues in its bid to simplify the communication process. To begin with, 17 such Master Directions were issued covering foreign exchange transactions. ALL BIG VILLAGES TO HAVE BANK BRANCHES Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure that every village with a population over 5,000 should have a bank branch by March 2017 and asked the State Level Bankers' Committees (SLBCs) to identify such villages in their state. BANKS TO SELL ‘INDIA GOLD COINS’ Reserve Bank has permitted banks to sell India Gold Coins (IGC) with Ashok Chakra minted by Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) through their branches. Coins are available in denominations of 5 and 10 grams while a 20 gram bar is also being manufactured by MMTC. INCENTIVE FOR GOLD MONETISATION SCHEME RBI has advised that the government will pay 2.5% commission to banks for attracting more gold in the Gold Monetisation Scheme, as it has received very poor response from banks and customers. Only a few kilograms gold could be mobilized by the banks from the massive 2,000 tons of gold stashed in Indian households. Under the current scheme, citizens are encouraged to deposit jewellery, bars or coins with banks so it can be refined to meet fresh demand and cut the need for imports. The consumer would earn interest and, at the end of the deposit term, get the gold back in the form of bars.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 23 LOANS FOR WOMEN SHGs The RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate to Women Self-Help Group (SHG) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) Aajeevika scheme during 2015-16. RBI IMPOSES FINE ON SBT RBI imposed monetary penalty of one crore rupees on State Bank of Travancore for violation of its instructions including non–reporting of data to Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC). GOVT CHEQUES TO BE PAID THROUGH CTS RBI has decided to dispense with the requirement of physically forwarding paid central government cheques to the departments for clearance. From Feb 1, 2016, cheques will be paid through Cheque Truncation System (CTS) facilitating the presentation and payment of cheques without their physical movement. DECKS CLEARED FOR MUDRA BANK The Union Cabinet has approved conversion of MUDRA Ltd, an NBFC, into MUDRA Bank. It was also decided to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund for MUDRA Units (CGFMU) for guaranteeing loans - sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Yojana.  RBI has granted operational freedom to banks to offer all their products and services through the ATM channels provided technology permits the same.  RBI has hiked its shareholding in National Housing Bank by contributing Rs 1,000 crore towards the paid capital, bringing the total capital to Rs 1450 crore.  RBI has asked banks not to issue such 1000 rupee notes which, by mistake, were printed without security thread.  State Bank of India has become the first public sector bank to launch wealth management service ‘SBI Exclusif’ to cater to fast-growing affluent segment of the country.  The country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank became the first private bank to achieve the milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore in housing loan. DECEMBER 2015 RBI TO CUT SLR TO 20.50% The RBI has decided to lower the banks’ investment in government securities, also known as statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), to 20.5% by January 2017 from 21.5% at present. As per the new time table, SLR would be reduced to by 25 basis points to 21.25% as on April 2, 2016; 21% by July 9, 2016, 20.75% by October 1, 2016 to 20.75% and 20.50 % by January 1, 2017. BANKS CAN’T DENY INFO ON BORROWERS-SC The Supreme Court has ruled that the RBI and commercial banks cannot hide routine information, such as the names of top defaulters, the losses suffered by banks and details of action taken against erring banks, sought by the public under the Right to Information Act. Till now, banks denied such information on the ground that it was information held in a fiduciary capacity and could not be revealed to the public at large. 280/-
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 24 PRIORITY LENDING NORMS HIKED FOR RRBs RBI has hiked Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) from 60 per cent at present to 75 per cent of their total lending with effect from 1 January 2016. As on March 2015, there were 56 RRBs operating in the country with a network of 20059 branches. BANKS TO HAVE UNIFORM BASE RATE RBI has said that from April 1 next year, all banks will have to follow a new and uniform methodology to calculate base rate as per the marginal cost of funds. All new loans and renewals will now be priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) which will be the internal benchmark for such purposes. Banks will have to publish MCLR of five maturities every month-overnight rates, one month, three months, six months and one year. Like base rate, banks will not be allowed to lend below MCLR, except for few categories, like loans against deposits, loans to bank’s own employees. SBI FIRST TO ISSUE EMV CARDS State Bank of India has become first major bank in India to issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to its new customers to ensure enhanced secure transactions. EMV stands for Euro–Maestro–Visa. YES BANK GETS BRITISH AWARD Yes Bank, India's fifth largest private sector bank has bagged the prestigious 'Bank of the Year' award conferred by Britain’s 'The Banker' magazine. The awards are widely regarded as the Oscars for the banking Industry. HSBC QUITS PRIVATE BANKING IN INDIA Global banking major Britain’s HSBC (Hong Kong, Shanghai Banking Corporation) announced shutting down of its private banking business in India that offers wealth management services, from first quarter of 2016. They may continue their retail banking operations. Tech Mahindra has launched ‘MoboMoney’, India’s first ‘Tap N Pay’ contactless digital payment solution in the form of a prepaid wallet based on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Axis Bank has partnered with e-Mudhra to introduce ‘eSign’ – an online electronic signature service which facilitates an Aadhaar holder to digitally sign a document at the click of a button.  Announcing the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2, RBI Governor did not change any of the key policy rates.  RBI has granted in principle approval to the National Payments Corporation of India to function as the Central Unit for Bharat Bill Payment System.  Banks opened a whopping 19.52 crore accounts under the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana till the first week of December, 2015.  RBI has extended the deadline for exchanging pre- 2005 currency notes by another six months to June 30, 2016. It was to expire on Dec 31, 2015.  RBI has asked banks to make changes in ATM switches by March 31, 2016 to help customers register for mobile banking services from the ATM.  Govt released two commemorative coins of Rs.125 and Rs.10 as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar.  ICICI Bank has tied up with railway’s e-ticketing platform IRCTC to sell rail tickets through its website. DEFENCE, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FEBRUARY 2016 FLEET REVIEW OF NAVY HELD IN VIZAG Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected one of the largest maritime events in the recent past – the International Fleet Review 2016 held on 4 Feb to 8 Feb at Visakhapatnam coast. The theme of event was United through Oceans and mascot concept was Dolphin. Close to 75 Indian warships and 52 from Navies across the globe took part in the grand event. INS ARIHANT BECOMES OPERATIONAL The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear submarine INS Arihant is now ready for full fledged operations after passing a number of deep sea diving drills as well as weapons launch tests. INS VIRAAT TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2016 After nearly 60 years of sailing across the oceans, the Indian Navy's warhorse aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat is destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016. It was inducted in Indian Navy in May 1987 as refitted British warship – HMS Hermes. Government of Andhra Pradesh has agreed to base the ship off Visakhapatnam coast, converting it into a luxury hotel for promotion of tourism in the State.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 25 INDIA LARGEST IMPORTER OF ARMS A study by the Stockholm-based think-tank SIPRI states that India continues to be the world’s largest importer of arms, accounting for 14% of global arms imports in the period 2011–15. China ranks second with 4.7%, followed by Australia (3.6%), Pakistan (3.3%). PRITHVI II TESTE SUCCESSFULY Indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile, capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads up to 350 kms, was tested successfully as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range near Chandipur, Odisha. INDIA HOLDS JOINT NAVAL FEAT - IBSAMAR The fifth edition of 'Exercise IBSAMAR' (India, Brazil, South Africa Maritime) between the navies of Brazil, India and South Africa was held off the Goa coast from Feb 19 t0 29. This is for the first time that India is hosting this exercise. LIGHT REVOLVER ‘NIDAR’ LAUNCHED India’s first indigenously developed lightest revolver Nidar, weighing just 250 grams, was launched under the "Make In India" initiative by the state-run Ishapore Rifle Factory in West Bengal. ‘COBRA GOLD 2016’ Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 2016’ – the biggest multilateral military exercise hosted by Thailand, along with its counterparts from 35 countries, including USA, China and Pakistan. “SINO-INDIA COOPERATION 2016’’ Focusing on humanitarian aid and disaster relief, the Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ in Chushul- Moldo area of Ladakh border with China. MAHINDRAS TO M 777 HOWITZERS IN INDIA Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based multinational company has announced selection of Mahindra as its Indian partner for the around $700- million deal for the supply of 145 M777 ultra light howitzers to the Indian Army—the first new artillery guns after the Bofors scandal. The gun, with a strike range of 25 km, will form the backbone of the Mountain Strike Corps, being raised by the government for the mountainous borders with China.  LAMITYE 2016, the 7th joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) was held in Seychelles.  The 9th edition of India-Nepal Combined Military Exercise ‘Surya Kiran IX’ was held in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.  The Ministry of Defence to locally produce 106 upgraded Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas Mark 1-A” jets to replace the ageing fleet of MiG fighter aircraft.  The 4th India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol was conducted jointly by both navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Andaman Sea.  Japan joined the US, Russia, and China as one of the only countries to produce its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’  Saudi Arabia launched a massive military exercise – ‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20 nations in King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia. ‘KSHEER-SCANNER’ TO DETECT MILK PURITY Government has launched a device developed by the CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named ‘Ksheer-Scanner’ that instantaneously detects the adulterants like urea, salt, detergent, soda etc in milk. YOUTUBE RED LAUNCHED YouTube has launched its YouTube Red service. The original movies and show are part of Google parent Alphabet Inc's efforts to offer more to customers on YouTube Red, the $10-a-month service that allows viewers to watch videos across YouTube without ad breaks.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 26 ELUSIVE GRAVITATIONAL WAVES DISCOVERED After decades of search for Scientists working with the gigantic optical instruments in the LIGO [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory], USA, have detected for the first time, signals of gravitational waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away. These ripples in space-time were predicted by Albert Einstein, some 100 years ago. NOD FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTOR Union Cabinet has given ‘in principle’ approval for a proposal to have a gravitational wave detector in India under LIGO-India Project. It would cost at least Rs. 1,200 crore and may take at least eight years to be operational. JAPANESE SATELLITE TO STUDY BLACK HOLES The Japanese space agency has successfully launched a new X ray astronomy satellite – Astro–H to study the origin of black holes. The satellite has four telescopes that will enable the space agency to peer into far off galaxy clusters, providing data on how they were formed. 5 NEW JUPITER LIKE PLANETS DISCOVERED Scientists have discovered five new Jupiter-like planets having similar characteristics to the biggest planet in our solar system and orbit very close to their host stars. Newly discovered planets have been named as WASP- 119 b, WASP-124 b, WASP-126 b, WASP 129 b and WASP-133 b.  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34 for Diabetes type 2 patients.  Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed the world’s first vaccine for Zika virus.  Mobile messaging app WhatsApp crossed the one billion user milestone globally on Feb 02. JANUARY 2016 ‘RUDRA’ SHOWS UP AT R. DAY PARADE Indigenously designed and built advanced light helicopter (ALH) — “Rudra” made its debut at the Republic Day parade. This multirole attack helicopter is produced by the Defence Ministry’s unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for Indian Army. BARAK MISSILE TESTED BY INS KOLKATA Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully test-fired long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) Barak NG against a remotely piloted flying target over the Arabian Sea. Developed in collaboration with Israel, it has a range of over 80 kms. THE 68TH ARMY DAY was observed on 15 January, all over India. On this day in 1949, Lt.–Gen. (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. ‘SAHAYOG-KAIJIN 2016’ The 15th edition of bilateral exercise by the Indian Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart began off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the Bay of Bengal.  The DRDO successfully test-fired Nag anti-tank missile at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. It is a third generation fire-and-forget anti-tank missile and can be fired during night as well.  India will host a joint military exercise at Pune in March, 2016. Ten member countries of the ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners will take part in the exercise.  INS Kadmatt, the second indigenous stealth Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, was inducted in Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.  India and France began their eight-day counter- terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise ‘Shakti-2016’ in Rajasthan.  India has supplied three Mi-25 gunship helicopters to Afghan Air Force. 5TH SATELLITE OF IRNSS LAUNCHED The ISRO successfully launched the 5th satellite IRNSS 1- E of the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) on January 20. It is a set up of total seven satellites which will provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continent.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 27 NEW THRUSH BIRD FOUND IN NE INDIA Scientists have found a new variant of Thrush bird named as the Himalayan Forest Thrush in the northeastern India and parts of Tibet, Nepal and China. The scientific name of the bird is Zoothera Salimalii after the name of the great Indian ornithologist Salim Ali. NEW BREED OF TREE FROG DISCOVERED A class of frogs that grows in tree holes who as tadpoles feed on eggs laid by their mother, has been discovered in the north-east region. It has been named as Frankixalus Jerdonii. FIRST 3D PRINTED LIVER A Bengaluru-based technology startup has developed India’s first artificial liver tissue with the help of 3-D printing technology. This is a major step forward in the on-demand manufacturing of 3D printed human organs. NETFLIX STARTS SERVICES IN INDIA Global streaming pioneer Netflix (of USA) has launched its service in India, allowing viewers to access unlimited TV and cinema content online at prices starting Rs 500 a month. It has over 70 million members in over 190 countries watching over 125 million hours of content. FALCON 9 ROCKET FAILS AGAIN TO LAND BACK The NASA successfully launched Falcon 9 rocket made by SpaceX Company, from California to place ocean monitoring satellite Jason-3 in orbit. However, the rocket that was supposed to land back on a floating platform failed in its attempt and ended up in a blast due to crash landing. MOST ENERGETIC LIGHT EVER DETECTED Scientists have discovered the most energetic light ever detected in the universe from the centre of a supernova known as ‘Crab pulsar’ which is situated 6,500 light years away from Earth. It is surrounded by a region of intense magnetic field 10 thousand billion times stronger than that of the Sun. LARGEST SOLAR SYSTEM FOUND Astronomers have discovered the largest known solar system, consisting of a large planet that takes nearly a million years to orbit its star. The gas giant is one trillion kilometres away, making its orbit 140 times wider than Pluto's path around our Sun. CHEMISTRY GETS FOUR NEW ELEMENTS The periodic table of elements in Chemistry now has its seventh row completed with the introduction of four new chemical elements - 113, 115, 117 and 118, discovered by scientists in Japan, Russia and US. The new additions were formally verified by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on December 30, 2015. New elements can be named after a mythological concept, a mineral, a place or country, a property or a scientist. The first true iteration of the table was done by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. HUMAN LIKE ROBOT CREATED Scientists in Singapore have developed a human-like social robot named ‘Nadine’, with soft skin and flowing brunette hair, which is capable of autonomously expressing emotions and gestures like shaking hands and conversing.  China successfully launched Gaofen-4 Earth Observation Satellite toward a geostationary orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan, China. DECEMBER 2015 DEF. SERVICES MEET ON INS VIKRAMADITYA An annual Defence Services event called Unified Commanders Conference, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held on board Navy’s aircraft carrier - INS Vikramaditya, about 50 kms off Kochi coast. This is for the first time when the conference was held outside New Delhi. NEW ‘ISLAMIC MILITARY ALLIANCE’ FORMED 34 Islamic nations have agreed to form a new “Islamic military alliance” led by Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism with a joint operations center based in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Alliance includes a number of African countries but does not include Iran, Iraq and Syria.  INS Godavari, the country's first indigenously designed and built warship was decommissioned at Mumbai on Dec 24 after 32 years of service.  The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a joint naval exercise between Indian and Russian navies, started off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal.  Israeli military has successfully tested from a ship an advanced surface-to-air supersonic missile – Barak 8, co-developed with India. It has a range of 100 kms.  Govt has approved the purchase of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems from Russia.  Cochin Shipyard Ltd launched the Fast Patrol Vessel ‘ICGS Atulya’ for induction in Indian Coast Guard.  Indian Coast Guard has commissioned interceptor boat ‘ICGS C-422’ to further enhance its vigil along Pondicherry and South Tamil Nadu coast.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 28  India test-fired the indigenously built nuclear- capable Agni-I missile having a hitting range of 700 km, from a test range off the Odisha coast.  Pakistan successfully test-fired nuclear capable ballistic missile Shaheen 1A with a range of 900 kilometres & Shaheen-III which can carry nuclear warheads up to 2,750 kms PSLV – C29 LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY The ISRO successfully demonstrated its ability to launch multiple payloads in vastly different altitudes using a single flight of the rocket when it launched PSLV-C29 rocket carrying six satellites of Singapore. They included main satellite TeLEOS-1 and five mini satellites that were placed at an altitude of 550 kms. FALCON 9 LANDS ON EARTH US space company SpaceX created history on Dec 21 when its powerful Falcon 9 rocket landed back on earth within 10 minutes of its launch from the Cape Canaveral in Florida, after placing 11 satellites in orbit. This means that now it is possible to make rockets as reusable as airplanes, leading to huge savings in costs of sending satellites in space. ATLAS V CARRIES SUPPLIES TO ISS The Atlas V rocket of NASA, carrying much needed US supplies blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA, toward the International Space Station. The Cygnus capsule carried by the rocket contained more than 3,500kg of food, clothing, computer gear, spacewalk equipment and other supplies.  Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of eel named Bengal moray eel along the Digha coast in West Bengal.  China launched its first space telescope- the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite to study the mysterious dark matter.  China has approved commercial production of its first domestically developed electricity-powered aircraft known as RX 1E. INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 2016 DAWN OF DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR Myanmar embarked upon a new democratic era on Feb 1 as the MPs of National League for Democracy party lead by the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, took their seats in the parliament, marking end to the military rule since 1962. A RAY OF HOPE IN SYRIA A landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect in Syria at midnight of 26 Feb, supported by both – USA and Russia. This is the first major truce in five years of civil war that has claimed more than 2.7 lakh lives. BRITAIN TO HOLD REFERENDUM ON ‘BREXIT’ Britain is facing a big debate these days on the issue of ‘Brexit’–Britain’s exit from the European Union. Opinions are widely divided. Leaving EU has its own pros and cons. To decide the issue, it has been decided to conduct a referendum on June 23, 2016. WHO DECLARES ZICA EMERGENCY World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the explosive spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is linked to birth defects in the Latin American countries like Brazil, Mexico and even USA. ONE HUMANITY: SHARED RESPONSIBILITY United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has released a report called 'One Humanity: Shared Responsibility' which has called for a global campaign to prevent the destruction of humanitarian laws and to protect civilians in conflict. The report is a part of the World Humanitarian Summit to be held in May, 2016. FRANCE BANS WASTING OF FOOD France has become the first country in the world to legally ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks. Non compliance will attract fines and jail up to two years. WORLD GOVERNMENT SUMMIT IN DUBAI The three day annual World Government Summit was held in Dubai. 4500 participants from more than 130 countries participated to discuss challenges and opportunities before present and future governments worldwide.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 29 WORLD’s LARGEST SOLAR POWER PLANT The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, world’s largest solar power plant’s first phase started operations on February 4 in the Souss-Massa-Drâa area in Morocco. The plant holds the capacity to produce 580 MW to power over one million homes by 2018 and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 760000 tons per year. WORLD’s LONGEST TRAIN ROUTE OPENS The first cargo train under Beijing led-Belt and Road connectivity initiative along the New Silk Road from China to Iran completed its first journey from Yiwu near Shanghai on China’s eastern coast to Bander Abbas port in Iran. The 10,400 kms trip took just 14 days, a full 30 days shorter than the maritime voyage from Shanghai’s port to the Iranian port. HISTORICAL MEET OF TWO CHRISTIAN HEADS Nearly 1,000 years after the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity split apart, a first ever meeting between a Roman Catholic Pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch took place on Feb 12 in Havana, Cuba. Pope Francis, head of Roman Catholics and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill embraced and kissed each other and issued a global appeal for the protection of Christians under assault in the Middle East. USA LEADS HISTORICAL TRADE DEAL The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, lead by USA, one of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New Zealand on Feb 4. The deal aims to eliminate nearly all tariffs among the 12-member nations, accounting for about 40 per cent of the global economy. BANK OF JAPAN IMPOSES -IVE INTEREST RATE In a historic measure intended to boost the growth of the world's third largest economy, Bank of Japan has imposed, for the first time, a negative interest rate of minus 0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits placed with it. The decision, which penalises financial institutions for storing excess funds, aims to stimulate investment and credit and is meant to force a reduction of interest rates applied by banks. ALPHABET IS MOST VALUABLE COMPANY Alphabet, the company that owns Google, has overtaken rival Apple Inc in terms of value of market capitalisation on Feb 1 to emerge as the most valuable company of the world, having a market cap of $ 547.1 billion, higher than Apple's $529.3 billion. MERCER PLACES VIENNA AT THE TOP The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life by the global consulting firm Mercer has placed Austria’s capital Vienna at the top, followed by Zurich, Switzerland and Auckland in New Zealand. The worst life quality was in Baghdad, Iraq. New Delhi was placed at 142nd rank.  Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major rich and developing economies began a two-day meeting in Shanghai on Feb 26.  A two day summit between leaders from the ASEAN and The United States was held in California to dwell upon maritime security in the South China Sea.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement to improve cooperation in cyber defense. 130/-
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 30  Apple notched a record $18.4 billion in profit for the quarter ending 31st Dec 2015, the largest ever profit recorded by a single company in world's history.  A Twin Otter plane of Tara Air crashed on Feb 24 in Dana of Myagdi district of Nepal, killing all 23 people aboard.  On Feb 23, Pakistan’s parliament became the world’s first parliament to run fully on solar power.  World Radio Day was observed globally by UNESCO on 13 February 2016 with the theme ’Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’.  The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice observed on February 20 to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.  World Cancer Day was observed across the world on 4th February. This year’s theme was – We can, I can. JANUARY 2016 EASTERN USA BURIED UNDER 3 FEET SNOW A monster blizzard named ‘Snowzilla’ paralysed the entire US East Coast on Jan 24 with hurricane-force winds and record snow, killing over 25 persons and hitting some 85 million others, prompting up to 10 states to declare a state of emergency. The storm left as much as three feet of snow, paralysing transport links in New York and Washington DC. Several other parts of world in South Korea, Eastern China and Hon Kong also reeled under record breaking severe cold. FIRST ‘BEST COUNTRY REPORT’ RELEASED A joint team of U.S. News & World Report, BAV Consulting and Wharton School of Business has compiled a ‘Best Country Report’ to rank countries on 75 factors such as sustainability, adventure, cultural influence, entrepreneurship and economic influence. A survey of more than 16,200 business leaders, highfliers and other members of the public was carried out in 60 countries to select the best country in various categories. Germany was ranked as the best country, followed closely by Canada, U K, USA and Sweden. India was placed at the 22nd place. Some other winners are: Most modern country – Sweden Best Country to Raise Kids – Sweden Best Nation for Green Living - Sweden Best Country for Women - Denmark Most powerful country - USA No. 1 upcoming economy - India No. 1 nation to visit - Brazil CHINA’s GROWTH SLIPS TO 25 YEARS LOW The data released by China's the National Bureau of Statistics shows that China's economy grew 6.9 per cent in 2015, the slowest pace in last 25 years. GDP in 2015 reached about $10.3 trillion. ZIKA ATTACK IN SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES Countries like Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador are facing the threat of the Zika virus spread by mosquito bite. It is highly infectious and may also cause death. It is particularly harmful for pregnant ladies as it affects the foetus growth adversely. The Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, which also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. But in pregnant women, the virus can spread to the foetus and cause microcephaly, a condition involving brain shrinkage that severely limits a child's intellectual and physical development or death. HYDROGEN BOMB TESTED BY N KOREA North Korea conducted a powerful Hydrogen bomb test in a defiant and surprising move as there is a UN ban on testing and development of nuclear weapons. The test has drawn grave criticism from all major countries of the world, terming it as a ‘serious threat to the international peace and security’. A Hydrogen bomb is much smaller and easy to make than an Atom bomb but is far more destructive. CRUDE PRICES FALL TO 12 YEARS LOW Global crude oil prices plunged to 12 year low at $ 29.93 a barrel, plagued by abundant oversupply and the ongoing row between key producers Iran and Saudi Arabia dimming prospects for production cuts. Also, falling prices have prompted some producers to maximize output to prevent income falling too rapidly and to keep market share. EURO 2 BILLION TO SAVE FRENCH ECONOMY French President has announced what he called "a state of economic and social emergency" involving a Euro 2 billion plan to revive job creation and catch up with the world’s economy. The plan includes training half a million jobless workers, greater use of apprenticeships, and 2,000 Euro aid for small businesses that hire young workers. CHINA DEVALUES YUAN AGAIN China weakened the value of its Yuan currency by 0.51 percent to 6.5646 against the US dollar on January 7, its lowest value since 2011. It triggered a selloff in global markets, bringing alive the fears of competitive devaluation among emerging economies.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 31 THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLUE STAR SAPPHIRE The stone that weighs 1404.49 carats was discovered in a mine in Sri Lanka. Named as ‘The Star of Adams, its estimated cost is $100 million but could fetch much more when auctioned. WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2016: Digital Dividends, a report by the World Bank explores the impact of the internet, mobile phones, and related technologies on economic development in the world. THE WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER released by the U N World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) states that the international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 per cent in 2015 to reach a total of 1184 million in 2015. THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS — persons living in a country other than where they were born — reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole, a 41 per cent increase compared to 2000.  World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual meeting held at Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 23.  The World Health Organization has declared Liberia free of Ebola virus. Now there is no other country officially reporting Ebola cases.  Asia's largest underground railway station, covering a total area of 147,000 square metres, opened in Futian in Shenzhen city in south China.  Toyota continues to be the world’s biggest automaker selling 10.15 million vehicles in 2015, closely followed by Volkswagen and General Motors.  World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual meeting held at Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 23.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens became the world's fastest film to make one billion dollars at the global box office. DECEMBER 2015 THE 10th WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE The 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya from Dec 15 to 19. The meet adopted the Nairobi Package containing six issues aimed at benefitting organization’s poorest members. India was represented by the Union Commerce & Industry Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman. Director-General: Roberto Azevêdo , HQ: Geneva, Switzerland US LIFTS OIL EXPORT BAN United States has lifted a 40-year ban on oil exports, marking a historic shift for the booming US oil industry. The ban was first imposed in 1975 as the United States was reeling from the 1973-1974 Arab oil embargo. ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in which India holds 8.52 % share, along with other 56 countries, was formally established in Beijing on Dec 25. With an authorised capital of $100 billion and subscribed capital of $50 billion, the bank will invest in sectors like energy, transportation, urban construction, education and healthcare. ZIMBABWE TO ADOPT YUAN AS ITS CURRENCY Zimbabwe plans to adopt the Chinese Yuan as its currency with a view to cancel the debt worth 40 million dollars from China. Zimbabwe dumped its own currency in 2009 due to deep recession. China has become the largest investor in Zimbabwe, which has been shunned by the West over its human rights record UNSC RESOLVES AGAINST ISIS The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution to increase sanctions against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) group and other terrorist groups. The resolution seeks to cut off revenue flows including ransom payments to these groups, by all means. WOMEN ALLOWED VOTING IN SAUDI ARABIA In Saudi Arabia, at least 20 women won municipal council seats (roughly 1%) in the historic local elections in which females were allowed to cast votes and run for office for the first time in the country's history.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 32 PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT 200 NATIONS SIGN ‘PARIS AGREEMENT’ Nearly 200 nations adopted the first global pact to fight climate change on Dec 12 at COP 21 meet by UNFCCC at Le Bourget, France, calling on the world to collectively cut and then eliminate greenhouse gas pollution but imposing no sanctions on countries that don't. COP - Conference of the Parties UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  The nations agreed on following issues: A long- term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels;  Aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change.  To undertake rapid reductions in emission levels in accordance with the best available scientific methods.  Developed countries to continue their existing collective goal to mobilise USD 100 billion per year until 2025 when a new collective goal will be set. NEW CLIMATE INITIATIVE BY UNO The United Nations has launched a new initiative titled Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape to build climate resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries. It will strengthen the ability of countries to anticipate hazards, absorb shocks, and reshape development to reduce climate risks. INDIA COMMITS LOWER EMISSIONS Outlining India's initiatives and stand on climate issues at Paris climate meet, Prime Minister Modi said that India will reduce its emissions intensity by 33 percent of its GDP by 2030, on the basis of 2005 levels and 40 percent of country’s installed power capacity would be by non fossil fuels by 2022. INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE LAUNCHED At the Climate Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Modi initiated the idea of the international solar alliance to harness solar power as a major step to mitigate carbon gas emissions. This also aims at achieving the objective of keeping global warming below 2 degree Celsius between now and 2100. India has already submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) in which India has committed to generate 100 giga watt solar power by 2022. PARIS PACT ON WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE A wide geographic coalition of national and cross- border river basin organisations, governments, funding agencies, local governments, companies and civil society have adopted the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Paris. It encompasses individual commitments to implement adaptation plans, strengthening water monitoring and measurement systems in river basins and promoting financial sustainability and new investment in water systems management. 'MISSION INNOVATION' FOR CLEAN ENERGY World leaders from 20 countries, including India and global investors lead by Bill Gates, launched Mission Innovation at the COP21 in Paris for accelerating clean energy revolution across the world and to promote the use of renewable energy resources. SOME CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED NEWS SOUTH AMERICA REELS UNDER EL NINO The El Nino weather phenomenon in South Atlantic Ocean caused very heavy downpour in countries like Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, leading to massive flooding their major rivers, forcing lakhs of persons to flee from their homes.  In the Chinese Capital, Beijing, the government has issued its first red alert on pollution, the highest level in the system, ordering schools to close for four days due to hazardous air quality.  Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in northern England hit by “unprecedented” flooding. Army was called in to support local authorities.  A string of powerful tornado storms wreaked havoc across southern United States, killing scores of persons and causing extensive damage to houses and vehicles. ----
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 33 BRAZIL SLIPS INTO DEEP RECESSION Brazil's economy shrank by 1.7% in the third quarter of the year compared with the second quarter, deepening the country's worst recession in 25 years. Compared with a year ago, the economy is 4.5% smaller. The drop in economic activity was largely due to a drop in investment, which fell by 15% compared with a year ago, leading to massive unemployment. US FED HIKES RATES AFTER A DECADE The Federal Reserve of USA hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.50 on Dec 16, for the first time since 2006, reflecting its confidence in the stable growth of U.S. economy. The Fed strongly believes that the US economy had largely overcome the wounds of the 2007- 2009 financial crisis. It also raised its projection for its economic growth next year slightly, from 2.3 percent to 2.4 percent. Rates in the US have been at near-zero since 2008. Shortly after the Fed's announcement, major banks began announcing that they were raising their prime lending rate from 3.25 percent to 3.50 percent. FACEBOOK CEO DONATES 99% SHARES Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg while announcing the birth of his first child pledged to give away 99 per cent of his company shares, currently worth a whopping $45 billion, to make the world a “better place” for daughter Maxima and other children. YUAN APPROVED AS SDR CURRENCY The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to include the Chinese currency, the Yuan, in its Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket effective from October 1, 2016, besides the US dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. WORLD TSUNAMI AWARENESS DAY – NOV 5 The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe November 5 every year as World Tsunami Awareness Day for raising awareness about the dangers of tsunami and the importance of early warning systems for minimising damage.  The World AIDS Day was observed on 1 December 2015 across the world with the theme “Getting to zero, End AIDS by 2030”.  2nd World Internet Conference was held at Wuzen in Eastern China from Dec 16 to 18.  Mexico has approved the use of the first-ever vaccine against dengue fever - Dengvaxia, manufactured by French pharma major Sanofi Pasteur.  The Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.  Gambia, a tiny West African country has decided to become an Islamic republic because Islam is the religion of the majority of its citizens.  The first media summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping held at Beijing on Dec 1.  Food and Agriculture Organization of UNO launched International Year of Pulses on 10 November with the theme ‘nutritious seeds for a sustainable future’.  New Zealanders chose a new flag design featuring silver fern and red stars on a black and blue background. The new design will be confirmed by vote in March. PERSONS IN NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 U K SINHA: The government has extended Sinha's term as the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) till March 01, 2017. He took over as Sebi chairman in 2011. SAMEER ANJAAN: Bollywood’s popular lyricist has made into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing the most number of songs for Bollywood films. He wrote 3,524 songs for 650 Bollywood movies, as verified on December 15, 2015. NEYMAR: Iconic football player from Brazil was in news as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze his assets worth almost $ 50 million, including a yacht, a jet and several properties, on charges of tax evasion of around $ 16 million. GEN. RAJENDRA CHETTRI: Nepalese Army Chief was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by the President Pranab Mukherjee. JANUARY 2016 RAGHURAM RAJAN: RBI Governor was named ‘Global and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year 2015’ by the prestigious UK magazine The Banker for stabilising the Indian rupee, initiating key reforms to attract much needed foreign capital in the country and reining in a runaway price appreciation.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 34 AZIM PREMJI: Chairman of Wipro has been ranked as the most generous Indian of the year for the third time in a row with donations worth Rs. 27,514 crore, mainly in the education sector, as per the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015. APARNA KUMAR: An IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has successfully climbed the Mount Vinson Massif, the highest peak in the Antarctic sub-continent. She is the first woman officer of any All-India Services to have done so SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR: A prominent Shia cleric, highly critical of the ruling Al Saud dynasty, was executed by the Saudi Arabian govt for his alleged involvement in shooting policemen. His execution sparked widespread angry protests in eastern Saudi Arabia and in neighbouring Shia dominated Iraq and several other Shia territories. DECEMBER 2015 SHAH RUKH KHAN: Bollywood megastar has been ranked as the country’s top-earning celebrity with estimated earnings of Rs. 257.5 crore this year, pushing Salman Khan to the second position (202.75 crore) in the latest Forbes India Celebrity List for 2015. KATY PERRY: Global pop singer from USA is on top of Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid musicians of 2015, with $135 million in earnings. ANGELA MERKEL: German Chancellor has been named as the "Person of the Year" by the Times Magazine for her role in Europe's crises over migration and Greek debt. LAIMDOTA STRAUJUMA: Latvia’s first female Prime Minister announced her resignation after political squabbles within her center-right ruling coalition and dissatisfaction about her leadership. APPOINTMENTS FEBRUARY 2016 JUSTICE H L DATTU: Former Chief Justice of India has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. RAJENDRA SINGH: Appointed as the new Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. KALYAN SINGH: Governor of Rajasthan given the additional charge of Governor of Himachal Pradesh. K N VYAS: Appointed new Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai AMIT MITRA: West Bengal Finance Minister has been appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST). KALIKHO PUL: New CM of Arunachal Pradesh. PARAMESHWARAN IYER: Appointed as the new Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department to steer the Swachh Bharat Mission. He is the World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist. ARUNA SETHI: Appointed as the first women head of the Indian Cost Accounts Services D J PANDIAN: Former chief secretary of Gujarat has been appointed vice-president and chief investment officer of the newly formed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). JAI KUMAR GARG: appointed MD and CEO of Corporation Bank ARCHANA RAMASUNDRAM, IPS: Appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal, SSB. She is the first woman to head a paramilitary force. SSB guards Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. K DURGA PRASAD, IPS: Appointed Director General of Central Reserve Police Force. K K SHARMA, IPS: Appointed Director General of the Border Security Force. GURDEEP SINGH: Appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC Ltd. For the first time a Maharatna company chief has been selected through a search committee route. Amitava Bhattacharyya, IAS, Bimal Julka, IAS and D P Sinha, IPS have been appointed as the Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission GIANNI INFANTINO: Elected as the new President of world Football body –FIFA. He is a Football administrator from Switzerland and is Chief of European Football body UEFA. FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA: Elected as the new President of Central African Republic (CAR) YOWERI MUSEVENI: Elected new President of Uganda, for the fifth time. ALBERT PAHIMI PADACKE: New Prime Minister of the Central African country Chad. CHRISTINE LAGARDE: Re-appointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund for a second five-year term.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 35 JANUARY 2016 SAILESH: A senior IAS officer, appointed as the new Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. AMIT SHAH: Re-elected unopposed as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party - world’s largest political party, for a three-year term. ATULESH JINDAL: Appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) DINESH SHARMA: Elected to the 12-member board of directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). DEVENDER KUMAR SIKRI: Appointed as Chairman of fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India AMITABH KANT: Given additional charge of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog. He is Industry Secretary at present. URJIT PATEL: Reappointed as Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, for a second three-year term. Dr. GYANENDRA D BANDGAIYAN: Appointed as the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance. MARCELO REBELO de SOUSA: Elected as the new President of Portugal PAVEL FILIP: Appointed as the Prime Minister of Moldova, small poorest European country TSAI ING-WEN: Elected as the new President of Taiwan GIORGI KVIRIKASHVILI: Elected as the Prime Minister of Georgia, Europe. DECEMBER 2015 R.K. MATHUR: Appointed the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), breaking away from the convention of appointing the head from among the serving information commissioners. He is former union defence secretary. GAUTAM H BAMBAWALE: Appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Pakistan ARUN KUMAR JAIN: Appointed Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). SIR VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN: Nobel laureate in Chemistry, assumed Presidency of the Royal Society in London for a period of five years. It is one of most prestigious body of scientists. AWARDS & HONOURS FEBRUARY 2016 ARYABHATA AWARD 2013: The prestigious honour by Astronautical Society of India given to Dr Avinash Chander, former Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and ex-DRDO chief. Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for 2015-2016: (by Maharashtra government) won by Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan, a Padma Vibhushan awardee. Khuswant Singh memorial prize for poetry: awarded to Arundhathi Subramaniam for her poetry book 'When God is Traveller'. E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2015: Won by Vinita Gupta, CEO and Nilesh Gupta, MD of Lupin Ltd, a leading Pharma company of India. GOLDEN CONCH AWARD: (for the best documentary film) won by Manipuri documentary film Phum-Shang about the environmental problems of Loktak Lake, at the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival V SHANTARAM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Conferred upon veteran wildlife filmmaker Naresh Bedi BEST FIRST FOREIGN FILM AWARD: won by Titli, a feature film by Kanu Behl. Award is given by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. GREEN BOND PIONEER AWARD: won by Yes Bank for being the ‘Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India’. Yes Bank had issued India’s first ever ‘Green Infrastructure Bonds’ for Rs. 1000 crore in 2015
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 36 CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT: Germany’s prestigious honour conferred upon Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD: (by Amnesty International) won by Indian lawyer and human rights defender Henri Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch. Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur: (Knight of the Legion of Honour), one of the France's highest civilian honour was given to Fashion designer Manish Arora from New Delhi. ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP: Russia's top civilian awards given to Ramayah Shanmuga Sundar, Director of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant. CRYSTAL BEAR AWARD: Best film award in children category at the Berlin film festival won by Malayalam film Ottaal (The Trap) directed by Jayaraj Rajasekharan. GOLDEN BEAR AWARD: Berlin film festival’s top prize won by the Italian film Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea), a harrowing documentary about Europe’s refugee crisis. DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARD: (for best feature film) won by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for the film The Revenant 58th GRAMMY AWARDS, Los Angeles, USA, Feb 15 These are the highest awards given in the field of music. Category Album Artist Record of the year Uptown fund Mark Ronson Album of the year 1989 Taylor Swift Song of the year Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge Best Rock Performance Don't Wanna Fight Alabama Shakes Best World Music Album Sings Angelique Kidjo Best Music Video Bad Blood Taylor Swift 69th BAFTA AWARDS, London, Feb 14 British Academy of Film and Television Awards are the top film awards for Films screened in Europe. Best Film: The Revenant Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Mexico) - The Revenant Outstanding British film: Brooklyn JANUARY 2016 PADMA AWARDS ANNOUNCED India's highest civil awards after Bharat Ratna for the year 2016 were announced on the eve of Republic Day (25th January). These awards carry no cash component. Total 112 awards were announced which included 10 Padma Vibhushans, 19 Padma Bushans and 83 Padma Sris. Some of the famous winners are given below:- PADMA VIBHUSHAN - 10 Sr. No. Person Field From 1 Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth, Art-Cinema Tamil Nadu 2 Founder of the Reliance empire late Dhirubhai Ambani, — Trade & Industry — Maharashtra 3 Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Others- Spiritualism — Karnataka 4 Cinema baron Ramoji Rao Literature & Education- Journalism — Andhra Pradesh 5 Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan, Public Affairs — Delhi 6 Former DRDO chief VK Aatre, Science & Engineering — Karnataka 7 Cancer specialist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta Medicine- Oncology — Tamil Nadu 8 Eminent Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Krishnamurthi Art-Classical dance — Delhi 9 Classical vocalist Girija Devi Art-Classical Vocal — West Bengal 10 Indian-American economist Avinash Dixit Literature & Education — USA PADMA BHUSHAN - TOTAL 19 Sr. No. Person Field From 1 Anupam Kher Art-Cinema Maharashtra 2 Udit Narayan Jha Art-Playback Singing Maharashtra 3 Ram V Sutar Art-Sculpture UP 4 Vinod Rai Civil Service Kerala 5 Dr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard Literature & Education - Journalism Punjab 6 Hafeez Contractor Others- Architecture Maharashtra 7 R C Bhargava Public Affairs UP 8 Ms Saina Nehwal Sports-Badminton Telangana
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 37 9 Ms Sania Mirza Sports-Tennis Telangana 10 Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry (NRI/PIO) Trade & Industry Ireland PADHMA SRI – TOTAL 83 Sr. No. Person Field From 1 Ajay Devgn Art-Cinema Maharashtra 2 Ms Priyanka Chopra Art-Cinema Maharashtra 3 S S Rajamouli Art-Film Direction and Production Karnataka 4 Madhur Bhandarkar Art-Film Direction and Production Maharashtra 5 Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah Literature & Education Assam 6 Prof Pushpesh Pant Literature & Education- Journalism Delhi 7 Piyush Pandey Others-Advertising & Communication Maharashtra 8 Ujjwal Nikam Public Affairs Maharashtra 9 Ms Deepika Kumari Sports-Archery Jharkhand 10 Dilip Sanghvi Trade & Industry Maharashtra ASHOKA CHAKRA: Nation's highest peacetime gallantry award, , has been awarded posthumously to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces) for his acts of most conspicuous gallantry ineliminating 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down his life in the line of duty in Sep 2015 in Kupwara sector of Jammu & Kashmir. JNANPITH AWARD FOR 2015: Noted Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhari became the 56th writer to be conferred with India's highest literary honour. His most noted works include novels 'Amruta' and 'Uparvas’. 61ST FILMFARE AWARDS DECLARED Best Actor: Ranveer Singh for Bajirao Mastani Best Actress: Deepika Padukone for Piku Best Film: Bajirao Mastani Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao Mastani Lifetime Achievement: Moushumi Chatterjee THE HINDU PRIZE, 2015: (for best novel) won by Easterine Kire, poet, novelist and children’s writer from Nagaland, for her novel When the River Sleeps. DSC Prize for South Asian Literature: Anuradha Roy for her novel Sleeping on Jupiter. YASH CHOPRA MEMORIAL AWARD: Given to veteran actress Rekha for her contribution to the film industry. KNIGHTHOOD HONOUR IN UK: conferred upon Dr Harpal Singh Kumar, an Indian-origin cancer research expert for his influential work on prevention and treatment of cancer. Lorenzo Natali Media Prize for 2015 (Asia-Pacific): Ankita Anand journalist for sensitive portrayal of life for young women facing the threat of the diktat of khap panchayats in Haryana. WINNERS OF 73RD GOLDEN GLOBES 2016 Held on Jan 10 at Los Angeles, California, USA Best Motion Picture (Drama): ‘The Revenant’ Best Actor (Drama): Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘The Revenant’ Best Actress (Drama): Brie Larson for Room Best Director: Alejandro Inarritu - The Revenant. THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA: The highest civilian honour of Australia conferred upon three Indians -- Sajeev Koshy, a Keralaite dentist settled in Melbourne for his service to dentistry in Victoria, C Jagadish, an eminent professor at Australian National University, Canberra and Jay Chandra, an eye doctor in New South Wales. Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award: David Beckham, famous footballer from Britain, for his tireless work to save and improve the lives of children around the world. PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award (USA): Won by the Harry Potter author J K Rowling for her support for free expression and charitable causes. DECEMBER 2015 THE GOLDEN PEACOCK: Award for best feature film at the 46th International Film Festival of India won by the Colombia film ‘Embrace of The Serpent’ directed by the Ciro Guerra. The award carries cash prize of Rs 40 lakh. GARWOOD AWARD for ‘Outstanding Global Leader in Open Innovation’: The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee was conferred this award by the UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business, California, USA. NATIONAL SCIENCE MEDAL (USA): Indian-American tumour scientist Prof. Rakesh Jain has been selected for this top US science award. SOUTH EAST ASIA WRITE AWARD: Won by Singapore based Indian origin writer J M Mali for his contribution to Tamil literature. Started in 1979, these awards are presented annually to poets and writers from ASEAN countries. MAILER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE, USA: India-born author Salman Rushdie has been selected for this prestigious award that honours writers who fully exercise their freedom of creativity and thrive on dialogue and debate. QUEEN's YOUNG LEADERS AWARD – 2016: Two Indians, Kartik Sawhney and Neha Swain, have won this prestigious award in the United Kingdom for their work in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 38 Miss Universe 2015: Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines Miss International 2015: Edymar Martínez of Venezuela Miss Earth 2015: Angelia Ong from Philippines Miss Intercontinental 2015: Valentina Rasulova from Russia Miss World 2015: Mireia Lalaguna from Spain BOOKS & AUTHORS FEBRUARY 2016 ‘Playing It My Way’ - Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography, has entered the Limca Book of Records in the category of best-selling books, with 1,50,289 copies sold. An Economist In The Real World by Kaushik Basu Bullets and Bylines by Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist Lal Bahadur Shastri: Netritva ke Sutra by Anil Shastri and Pawan Chowdhary Dial D for Don — Inside Stories of CBI Case Missions by Neeraj Kumar, former Police Commissioner of Delhi Ancestral Affairs by Keki Daruwalla. Why We Love the Way We Do by Preeti Shenoy The Bestseller She Wrote by Ravi Subramanian In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin by Anup Sardesai Transendence – a book by Former President APJ Abdul Kalam based on his spiritual experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj. JANUARY 2016 ‘Azad Bachpan ki Aur’ by Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace prize winner The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996 by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India India’s Foreign Policy by Muchkund Dubey, a former Indian Foreign Secretary The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time – an autobiography of Subhash Chandra, media moughal, founder of Zee TV. Maru Bharat Saru Bharat (My India Noble India) written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj. This is the 300th book written by Maharaj ji. A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson - The book won the novel-of-the-year prize at Britain's Costa Book Awards 2015. Go Set a Watchman, the second novel by Harper Lee, topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies. 'Anything But Khamosh' – biography of Shatrughan Sinha written by Bharathi S Pradhan. DECEMBER 2015 The Bose Brothers and Indian Independence – An Insider’s Account by Madhuri Bose, the grand-niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power, an autobiography of Sharad Pawar This Unquiet Land by Barkha Dutt Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. See Me by Nicholas Sparks. Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham. OBITUARY FEBRUARY 2016 USTAD ABDUL RASHID KHAN: The oldest performing vocalist of Hindustani Music, Padma Bhushan awardee, a descendant of Tansen, passed away in Kolkata at the age of 107 years. GEN. K V KRISHNA RAO: Former Army Chief who played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, died of a cardiac arrest in New Delhi. He was 92. ...............continued on page no. 73
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 39
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 40 NATIONAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015  The ‘Constitution Day’ of India was observed on 26th November to spread awareness of Indian Constitution and its architect Dr. B R Ambedkar.  P M visited England on November 12 for a three day trip. He became the first serving Prime Minister of India to address the UK's Parliament.  India and Australia have announced the completion of procedures for bringing the two-nation nuclear deal into force.  Li Yuanchao, the Vice-President of China visited India to review cooperation on better river water management and cultural exchanges.  As per the annual report on world's most valuable nation brands compiled by Brand Finance, India is world's 7th most valued nation brand.  The US remains on the top with a valuation of 19.7 billion dollars, followed by China and Germany  P M Modi has been ranked as the world's ninth most powerful person by Forbes magazine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is at no one.  According to a report, the number of internet users in India is expected to touch 402 million by December 2015, a 49 per cent jump over last year.  India has been ranked 99th in Legatum Prosperity Index 2015 out of 142 countries.  7th Central Pay Commission headed by Justice AK Mathur submitted its report to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Nov 19.  It recommended 23.55 percent hike in pay and allowances of government employees.  The pay will go up by 16 percent, allowances by 63 percent and pension by 24 percent.  The pay revision will come into effect from January 2016.  The Global Gender Gap Report 2015 has ranked Iceland at top, followed by Norway and Finland. India ranked low at 108th rank.  As per the Global Terrorism Index 2015, India ranks 6th in list of 162 nations worst hit by terrorism in 2014. Iraq tops the list, followed by Afghanistan.  First India International Science Festival was held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi  46th International Film Festival of India, IFFI began in Panaji, Goa with the screening of ‘The Man Who Knew the Infinity’.  PM Modi visited Singapore for two days, Nov 23-24 and signed 10 agreements on mutual co-operation.  Prime Minister Mr. Modi visted Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to attend Asean-India meet, Asean summit and the East Asian Summit.  Hamid Ansari, Vice President visited Indonesia on Nov 2. Agreements in the field of cultural exchange and renewable energy were signed with Indonesia.  Bhutan's PM Tshering Tobgay visited India to preside over the 'India Ideas Conclave' in Goa.  The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, ranked 99th in a list of top 100 institutions by the ‘Times Higher Education Rankings for Engg. & Technology’.  A report by global consultancy firm KPMG says that India has emerged as the top country when it comes to corporate responsibility reporting.  India re-elected on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for a period of six years.  Seven Indian celebrities including Asha Bhosle, Sania Mirza and veteran actress Kamini Kaushal have made it to BBC's list of 100 most aspirational women.  Telephone subscriber base in India reached 102.26 crore at the end of September while fixed line base continued to fall, as per data compiled by TRAI. Bullet News (SEPT. – NOV. 2015)
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 41  As per the global Financial Secrecy Index released by Tax Justice Network of UK, India ranked 45th among 92 countries in terms of financial transparency.  11th National Tribal Crafts Mela ‘Aadishilp’ held in New Delhi.  First international film festival for the persons with disabilities (IFFPD) will be held in Delhi from 1 to 3 December 2015.  Second World Congress on Disaster Management was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from 19 to 22 November.  Global Cancer Summit held at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru from Nov 18 to 20.  The 17th Asia Pacific Youth Forum meet was held in Kozhikode, Kerala to share ideas for the empowerment of youth to protect the Earth.  9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (RPBD) was held at Los Angeles, California, USA on the 14th and 15th November 2015.  According to a global survey of 26 countries, India is the fourth most vacation-deprived nation with 65% saying they feel vacation-deprived.  Militant outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), declared as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.  The National Milk Day observed on 26 November to mark 94th birth anniversary of the Father of the White Revolution-Dr Verghese Kurien.  The British Govt has selected Pune and Amravati from Maharashtra and Indore from Madhya Pradesh for developing them as 'Smart City'. OCTOBER 2015  India has emerged as the country with the best representation on the 2015 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.  The 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi from Oct 26 to 29.  Doordarshan has emerged as the most watched Hindi channel in terms of time spent per viewer  India has improved its position to 130 from 142 in 2015 in the World Bank's 2016 rankings in terms of ease of doing business.  India has emerged as the youngest startup nation in the world where over 72 per cent of founders are less than 35 years old.  President Pranab Mukherjee made a six-day visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel from Oct 10 to15.  G-20 summit 2018 will be hosted by India in New Delhi. The 2016 summit will be hosted by China and the 2017 summit will be hosted by Germany.  Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, came to New Delhi on an official visit to take part in the third Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC)  India has moved up 16 positions, from 71st in 2014 to 55th place on the Global Competitiveness Index 2015-16 compiled by the World Economic Forum  In terms of protection of small investors, India ranks 8th, ahead of the USA, Germany and Japan, as per a study conducted by the World Bank.  The Supreme Court has allowed the use of Aadhaar cards for all central and state schemes, including MNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana  The Supreme Court has rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment  India and France signed a MoU to conserve, develop and publicize written heritage at the National Library in Kolkata.  The Environment Ministry has approved annual plans for Kerala, Mizoram, Manipur and Jharkhand under the National Mission for a Green India (GIM).  Portugal became the first European and 17th overall country to sign the MoU on the establishment of Nalanda University in Bihar.  The Union Cabinet has approved Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Israel and Vietnam. SEPTEMBER 2015  The “World Wealth Report 2015” showed that there were 1.98 lakh High Net worth Individuals in India in 2014, earning 11th rank in the world.  The IISC Bangalore and the IIT Delhi have been placed 147 and 179 respectively in the Quacquarelli Symonds’ list of top 200 universities for 2015-16.  India's ranking has slipped further down to 81 in the list of Global Innovation Index, compared to 76 in 2014  India-Belarus Inter-govt Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation meet held in Minsk, Belarus.  The first ever count of India's leopards, has put the spotted cat population at 7,910 in and around tiger habitats across the country.  A two day Disaster Mitigation conference of SAARC nations was held in New Delhi  Maharashtra govt has acquired the house in London where Dr B R Ambedkar lived in 1921-22 when he was studying at London School of Economics.  Government has decided to shift the administrative control of the Unique Identification Authority of India the Ministry of Communication & IT.  A two day Hindu-Buddhist Conference was held at Bodhgaya, Bihar on Sep 5-6.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 42  Prime Minister Modi addressed the Sustainable Development Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York on Sep 25.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Dublin, capital of Ireland on Sep 23 to have bilateral talks with his Irish P M Endy Kenny.  Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari had a four-day visit to the South East Asian countries of Cambodia and Laos.  Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi on Sep 14 to have delegation level talks on various important bilateral issues.  All India Radio released the digital version of the grand epic Ramcharitmanas as a set of digital CDs produced by its old recordings.  India and Indonesia have signed a treaty for repatriation of wanted prisoners and cooperate in all criminal matters.  The three-day Vishwa Hindi Sammelan (World Hindi Conference) was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Sept. 10-12. NEWS FROM STATES NOVEMBER 2015  In Tamil Nadu, heavy rains by north east monsoon claimed over 102 lives. The rains threw normal life out of gear in almost all parts of the state  Mysuru Railway Station in Karnataka has become the first blind-friendly Railway Station in India.  South Australia state has signed a historic 'sister- state agreement' with Rajasthan to pave new ways to boost export and investment opportunities  Chhath festival was celebrated in different parts of the country on Nov 17-18 with great religious fervour and gaiety.  Migratory birds mostly from Northern Eurasia, Siberia, Kazakh and remote areas of Russia and Southeast Asia have arrived in Chilka Lake, Odisha.  Annual Hundred Drums Wangala Festival held near Tura, Meghalaya. It is the thanksgiving post-harvest festival of the Garo tribes of North East India.  APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojna launched in Maharashtra to provide at least one cooked meal for pregnant and lactating women in the tribal areas.  The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has been adjudged the best-maintained international airport in the country  Northeast’s first exclusive hospital for elephants has been established at the Kaziranga National Park, Assam.  Norway reopened its Consulate General office in Mumbai after four decades of closure in 1973.  Karnataka launched the ‘Tourist Mitra’, a 175- member friendly force, to reinforce smooth and secure experiences for tourists. OCTOBER 2015  In Odisha, all the 531 police stations in the state have been computerized to allow online filing of FIR from anywhere in the state  Mission ‘Abaas’ launched in Odisha to provide (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG) and slum dwellers.  Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been appointed Maharashtra’s brand ambassador for Tigers  District Court in Khunti, Jharkhand became county's first solar powered district court. SEPTEMBER 2015  Andhra govt has successfully linked two of its major rivers - Godavari and Krishna towards making the state "drought-proof".  A World Bank's report on ease of doing business in states ranks Gujarat at number one, followed by Andhra Pradesh GOVT INITIATIVES NOVEMBER 2015  The government launched Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojna (UDAY) to improve the ability of power distribution companies (DISCOMs)  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched 10 schemes for the benefit of disabled persons.  Govt has launched the Technology Acquisition and Development Fund (TADF) to facilitate acquisition of clean and energy efficient technologies.  To revamp criminal justice system in the country, the govt has approved implementation of two systems –  CCTNS - Crime and Criminals Tracking Network and Systems and ICJS - Integrated Criminal Justice System  Accessible India campaign launched at 27 international airports and 75 railway stations to make them disabled-friendly.  Govt has approved State Annual Action Plans (SAAP) of 81 mission cities in 5 states under AMRUT for 2015-16.  National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) and Swadesh Darshan schemes launched to achieve 1% share of international tourist arrivals by 2016-17 from the present 0.68 %.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 43  Govt has made it mandatory to use waste plastic in bituminous mixes for road construction to overcome the problem of disposal of plastic waste  Monetary limit to approve foreign investment proposals of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board – FIPB hiked to Rs 5,000 cr, from Rs. 3,000 cr at present.  Govt launched 3 web portals/apps in education field: –e-Pathshala: for educational resources, –Saaransh: for educational improvements, and –Shala Siddhi: National Programme on School Standards and Evaluation Framework for online evaluations.  The deadline for completion of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity through all- weather roads, reduced from 2022 to 2019.  Agriculture Ministry to launch ‘Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries’ for growth and development of fisheries.  Govt has allowed German language to be taught as additional foreign language in Kendriya Vidyalayas as per the National Education Policy, 1986.  From Nov. 12, a railway ticket could be booked online up to 30 minutes prior to the departure of a train as Railways has modified their booking system.  Govt to continue 90% central funding for the core Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the 8 northeastern states, while 10% will be borne by the states. OCTOBER 2015  The IIT Council has decided to waive full fee (Rs. 90,000/-) for the physically challenged students from the current academic session in all the 15 IITs  Govt has launched an e-Sahyog pilot project of Income-Tax Department aimed at reducing compliance cost, especially for small taxpayers.  Government has launched Central Victim Compensation Fund to support the victims of various attacks, such as rape, acid attacks, human trafficking etc.  Govt has launched the 'Science Express Climate Action Special' exhibition train from Delhi, aimed at spreading awareness about the effects of climate change  The Union Health Ministry has permitted transfer of blood from one blood bank to another to help out needy hospitals.  Govt has decided to raise the wage ceiling for calculating bonus to Rs 7,000 and workers drawing a monthly salary up to Rs 21,000 will be eligible for bonus.  Doordarshan will telecast a programme on Apprenticeship Training Scheme - Hunarbaaz, from Oct 18.  Govt has approved the World Bank assisted National Watershed Management Project Neeranchal for promoting effective irrigation in nine states.  Govt has launched a pilot programme - Kisan, which will use satellite imaging to get accurate data on crop yields and collection of data of hailstorm.  Govt has notified ‘Mid Day Meal Rules, 2015’ under the National Food Security Act, 2013 for improved administration and efficiency of the scheme.  Govt has signed a MoU with the New India Assurance Company to provide Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme, for the Persons with Disabilities  In the age group of 18 to 65 years with family annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000.  Health insurance cover up to Rs. 2,00,000 per annum as family floater.  The Central Board of Direct Taxes, CBDT has simplified the format and procedure for self declaration by individuals in 15G and 15H forms.  Government has launched Green Highways policy to promote greening of Highway corridors with participation of farmers and public sector.  One per cent of the total project cost of all highways projects will be kept aside for the highway plantation and its maintenance.  Government has unveiled ‘National Institutional Ranking Framework’ for annual ranking of engineering and management institutes in the country.  Government has eased the penal provisions for undeclared or mis-declared baggage that will attract arrest or prosecution, from Rs 5 lac to Rs 20 lac.  To enable Indians living abroad to access old age income security, RBI has allowed NRIs to subscribe to the National Pension System (NPS) of PFRDA  India's first community reserve to protect the endangered Gangetic River Dolphins will come up on River Hooghly in West Bengal.  Govt has approved setting up of three new AIIMS at Nagpur in Maharashtra, Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh and at Kalyani in West Bengal  Govt has launched Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy-2015 to promote greening of Highways.  The Union cabinet has approved construction of a National War Memorial and Museum near the famed India Gate in the national capital.  Govt plans to spend around 70,000crore rupees in 12 major ports in the next 5 years under Sagarmala Project for port-led development in coastal areas.  Govt has formed a Committee headed by Justice R V Easwar, former Judge of Delhi High Court to suggest simplifications in the Income Tax Act, 1961.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 44 SEPTEMBER 2015  Govt has approved the Sovereign Gold Bond and the Gold Monetisation Scheme.  The govt announced to roll out the welfare measure under One Rank One Pension-OROP for Armed Forces personnel from July 1, 2014.  The govt has identified 305 cities/towns across nine states for implementation of 'Housing for All' scheme, named 'Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana.  Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana launched for the welfare of people and areas affected by mining related operations.  Govt has approved Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission to transform rural areas into economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces.  Govt to provide additional 50 work days in 2015-16 in drought-hit areas under MGNREGA to provide relief to farmers  EPFO has increased the maximum amount assured under its Employees' Deposit inked Insurance Scheme to Rs 6 lakh, from current Rs 3.6 lakh.  The Deptt of Industrial Policy and Promotion has implemented an electronic payment system to become the first govt department to have 100 per cent cashless transactions.  Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) at New Delhi.  Life Insurance Corporation of India has created a platform where policyholders may avail of electronic KYC norms linked to the Aadhar card.  Railways has launched a paperless unreserved ticketing mobile application for the passengers travelling from New Delhi to Palwal Section. ECONOMIC INDICATORS NOVEMBER 2015  Moody's Investors Service has said that the Indian economy would grow at 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal and improve marginally in the following year.  Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has said that the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.2 per cent this fiscal. OCTOBER 2015  World Bank says that India is expected to overcome the global slowdown and its GDP may grow by 7.5 per cent despite a weak export recovery.  The World Economic Outlook Update from the IMF says that India's growth is expected to strengthen from 7.3 per cent this year to 7.5 per cent next year. SEPTEMBER 2015  As per CSO data, GDP for April to June this year rose by 7 percent compared to a growth rate of 7.1 percent for the same period in last fiscal.  The ADB has cut India’s growth forecast to 7.4% on concerns of delay in reforms, weak demand, external slowdown and weak monsoon. ECONOMY NOVEMBER 2015 MSP OF RABI CROPS HIKED Rs./Qtl CROP MSP CROP MSP Wheat 1525 Rapeseed / Mustard 3350 Barley 1225 Masoor 3325 Safflower 3300 Grams 3425  The Confederation of All India Traders has launched an e-commerce portal, ‘e-lala’ to promote interests of 5.77 crore small businesses  As per a recent IMF study, India's GDP can expand by 27 per cent if the number of women workers increases to the same level as that of men.  Government has announced the levy of a Swachh Bharat cess of 0.5% on all services liable for service tax (14%) from November 15.  With Cotton production estimated at around 400 lakh bales, India is expected to emerge as the largest cotton producer in the world in 2015-16.  35th India International Trade Fair,IITF was held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The theme of the fair this year is Make in India  CCEA has approved 10% stake sale in Coal India Ltd to mop up around Rs 20,000 crore. Govt has targeted Rs 69,500 crore disinvestment in this fiscal.  France has committed to invest over 2 billion Euros for Smart City projects in India with special focus on Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry.  India and Brazil have signed a MoU to cooperate for raising productivity of cattle and buffaloes  World Bank granted $75 million loan to the Andhra Pradesh for its Rural Inclusive Growth project aimed at enhancing agricultural incomes of small farmers.  Asian Development Bank to give $ 273 loan for improving rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 45 OCTOBER 2015  The S C has imposed 'Environment Compensation Charge' of Rs 700 and Rs 1300 on commercial vehicles entering Delhi from Nov 1 for 4 months.  A study by the Savills World Research shows that Mumbai is world's cheapest city to live and work among 12 top metropolitan cities of the world.  Govt plans to include Sin Tax in the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) law.  Sin tax is an excise tax levied on products and services like alcohol, tobacco and gambling considered bad for health or society.  India and Germany have signed two loan agreements worth 125 million Euros for financing Green Energy Corridor project in H P and Andhra.  Anil Baijal committee submitted its report for developing suitable methodologies for monitoring CSR provisions  TRAI has made it mandatory for telecom operators to compensate consumers by Rs.1 for call drops with effect from 1 January, 2016.  The Ministry of Environment has granted environment clearance for the greenfield international airport at Mopa in Goa.  Railway plans to launch Vikalp scheme from 1st of November to give passengers the option of journey by another train if they decide to do so.  National Green Tribunal has directed all trucks etc, entering Delhi, to pay an environmental compensation charge in addition to the toll tax.  The Export Import Bank of India has extended a Line of Credit of $87 million to Zimbabwe for renovation and up-gradation of Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant.  The World Bank has promised $30 billion financial assistance to the Railways for its forthcoming infrastructure projects.  ADB has agreed to give a $123.51 million loan to upgrade tourism infrastructure and services in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.  Bajaj Auto has launched ‘Qute’, the quadricycle RE60 for export to 16 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia at price of around $2000.  Future Group has entered into a partnership with Baba Ramdev promoted Patanjali Ayurved to sell the latter's FMCG products through its Big Bazaar stores.  Real estate developer Tata Housing has tied-up with social networking firm Facebook to sell its affordable homes online. SEPTEMBER 2015  Govt has announced that the minimum alternate tax (MAT) will not be applicable on capital gains made by FIIs prior to April 1, 2015.  The Food Ministry has notified mandatory export of four million tonne of sugar for the 2015-16 sugar season starting October 1.  From 28 September 2015, the commodities market regulator Forward Markets Commission (FMC) has become part of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).  NTPC achieved record highest single-day electricity generation of 733.12 million units on August 27 from its 33 power plants  Govt has banned the sale of Diclofenac drug in multidose vial. Henceforth, it will be sold only in single-dose vial packaging for human use.  The real estate major Dalian Wanda Group of China plans to invest around Rs. 66,000 crore in Haryana to develop an industrial zone and township.  The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry launched SAHAJ scheme for online booking of LPG connections  The West-Central Railway zone, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh has become the first Railway Zone to eliminate all unmanned level crossings.  The World Federation of Exchanges has confirmed that the Bombay Stock Exchange has the highest number of listed companies in the world - 5689.  Asian Development Bank to provide $ 500 million loan for better management of essential urban services and financing of water supply in Rajasthan.  ADB to extend a loan of $ 200 million to Jharkhand for upgrading roads in next four years. BANKING NOVEMBER 2015  3% interest subvention scheme launched to allow exporters to avail loans from banks at a lower rate.  RuPay card usage condition of at least one transaction in 45 days hiked to 90 days for filing a claim under accident insurance cover in PMJDY accounts  State Bank launched the country's first low-income state infrastructure equity partnership (or the Neev fund) in London.  Indian corporates plan to raise fund by issuing rupee-denominated ‘masala bonds’ in foreign capital markets.  Masala bonds are Indian rupee denominated bonds issued in overseas capital markets by Indian corporates.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 46  Sovereign gold bonds were opened for public subscription from Nov 5-30 for min 2 grams of gold, up to a maximum of 500 grams.  RBI has allowed state and district central co- operative banks to offer ‘view only’ internet banking to its customers.  ‘View only’ means that customers can use online services such as balance enquiry, a/c statement and request for supply of cheque books.  RBI has granted an "in-principle" approval to three companies to set up and operate a new Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).  HDFC Bank has become the first Indian bank to launch Sonic branding (Musical Logo) to be used across ATMs, phone banking, mobile banking  RBI has decided to stop the barter system - trading of goods without exchange of money at the Indo- Myanmar border, from December 1.  The RBI has allowed foreign investors to buy default non-convertible debentures and bonds provided their maturity is for three years or more.  RBI has decided that a foreign bank in India can deploy a max of 4 expatriates for each branch and not more than 6 for their H O functions. OCTOBER 2015  The RBI has decided to create a new Financial Inclusion Fund- FIF with a corpus of 2,000 crore rupees by merger of two different funds.  The 2 fund are - Financial Inclusion Fund and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund  Govt has decided to allow foreign investment up to 100 per cent in White Label ATM operations under the automatic route to promote financial inclusion.  ICICI Bank has become the first bank in the world to launch mVisa - a card-less and device-less payment solution.  Recent RBI data shows that among public sector banks, the UCO Bank had highest ratio of NPAs at 8.5 per cent of its loans in 2014-15  SBI receives RBI nod to set up a subsidiary to frame and implement a uniform policy for all the real estate properties owned or rented by the bank.  RBI has said that the banks will be free to set interest rate on Gold Deposit Schemes and principal and interest of the deposit will be denominated in gold.  Reserve Bank of India has opened its sub-office in Imphal in Manipur.  The RBI has granted permission to the Indian corporate to issue rupee bonds outside India. These bonds would be exempted from capital gains tax.  The Reserve Bank has signed a MoU with Bangladesh Bank for exchange of supervisory information.  The government plans to bring down its stake in the IDBI Bank to 49 per cent, from 76.5 per cent at present with a view to make it more efficient.  HDFC Bank has automated its personal loan approvals through their ATMs that would track the customer's history and authorize a loan accordingly.  HDFC Bank has been rated 27th safest bank in the world, according to the Bank Safety Ranking done by the international financial magazine 'The Banker’. SEPTEMBER 2015  In its 4th bi-monthly monetary policy review announced on Sep 29, RBI cut the benchmark repo rate by 50 basis points, from 7.25 to 6.75 per cent.  Consequently, the reverse repo becomes 5.75% and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate becomes 7.75%.  RBI has allowed banks to change the ownership of an errant corporate even before the loan account turns 'bad' or non performing asset – NPA.  RBI plans to put into circulation high security banknotes in the denominations of 500 and 1000 rupees incorporating three new/revised features:  Ascending size of numerals in the number panels, introduction of bleed lines and enlarged identification mark.  Banks to conduct Mega Credit Campaigns to generate easy availability of credit to Micro Enterprises under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).  Mudra has been established as a subsidiary of SIDBI to provide refinance to all banks seeking refinancing of small business loans under PMMY.  The Reserve Bank has declared State Bank of India and ICICI Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).  Systemically Important means anything or feature which is important for entire system.  Seeking to promote financial inclusion, the RBI has granted in principal approval to 10 entities to set up small finance banks.  These banks will focus on unbanked sections such as small farmers, micro business enterprises, micro and small industries etc.  The RBI has permitted banks to offer loans below base rate to their whole time directors and CEOs.  RBI has asked concurrent auditors of commercial banks to submit their review of non-performing loans directly to the banks  They will discontinue the practice of submitting it to the statutory auditors who conduct quarterly and half yearly review of bank accounts.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 47  India is joining the UN-based 'Better Than Cash Alliance', which promotes transition from cash to digital payments.  RBI has inked a MoU with the Nepal Rastra Bank for Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information.  Two commemorative coins of Rs 125 and Rs 10 were released on the eve of Teachers' Day in the memory of former President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.  The Reserve Bank of India will shortly put into circulation Rs 5 coins to commemorate golden jubilee of Indo-Pak War 1965.  The RBI has liberalised external commercial borrowing norms for NBFCs, allowing them to use the foreign funds to finance domestic equipments.  RBI plans to permit domestic companies to borrow money from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and insurance funds as part of the ECBs.  Axis Bank has rolled out a full-fledged mobile app ‘Lime’ that enables shopping, making payments and banking, all under one window.  Indian Bank has launched IndPay mobile app service to enables its customers to operate bank accounts anytime from anywhere. DEFENCE, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER 2015  The Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM), jointly developed by the Israel and DRDO successfully flight tested from the Israel Naval Platform  The nuclear-capable ballistic missile Dhanush was successfully test fired from warship INS Subhadra, off the Puri coast of Odisha  Indian Army successfully test-fired the land attack variant of the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan.  Agni-IV, the nuclear-capable ballistic missile, tested for a range of 4,000 kms from Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island), off the Odisha coast.  India test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile, which has a strike range of 350 kms from the test range off the Odisha coast.  The DRDO test-fired an Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile from Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha’s Balasore district.  DRDO has developed Advanced Torpedo Defence System “Maareech” and “Vaarunaastra” for use by the Indian Navy  INS Vishwakarma, a premier training establishment of the Indian Navy for the shipwrights commissioned in Vishakhapatnam.  ICGS Arinjay, a Fast Patrol Vessel was commissioned in Indian Navy at Kochi. ICGS – Indian Coast Guard Ship  ‘Indra-2015’, the seventh edition India-Russia Joint Military Exercise held in Bikaner district of Rajasthan.  China has displayed its strongest combat and reconnaissance drone CH – 5 that can fly with a weight of 3,000 kg and carry 900 kg of equipment and weapons.  India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-15 was successfully launched by the European Ariane rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.  Under its ‘Project Loon’, Google is using big balloons floating at a height of 20 kms for transmission of Internet services in India  Russia launched its first early warning system satellite named EKS or Integrated Space System. Its official name is Kosmos 2510 (Tundra 11L).  China’s Tianhe-2 supercomputer has emerged as the world’s most powerful supercomputer system for the sixth consecutive time.  UK Scientists have developed the world's first 'porous' liquid that can be used to capture and dissolve large amounts of harmful carbon gas emissions  Facebook has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) to create 100 Wi-Fi hotspots in rural areas of western and southern India.  A new species of the Dracula ant, likely to be of Stigmatomma group of predaceous ants, was discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala.  China's first lunar rover, Yutu, set a record for the longest stay on the Moon by completing almost two years stay, landing on moon on Dec 14, 2013.  China launched a civil communication satellite ChinaSat-2C from the Xichang space center in Sichuan province. OCTOBER 2015  Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders released the first Scorpene category submarine INS 'Kalvari' for sea trails at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai.  The navies of India, United States and Japan began a five-day joint operation-'Malabar exercise' on October 14 on the eastern coast in Bay of Bengal  4th Sri Lanka-India Exercise (SLINEX) of two navies was held in Bay of Bengal, off the Trincomalee coast in Sri Lanka, from October 27 to November 1.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 48  A 14-day joint training exercise 'Mitra Shakti 2015', involving military contingents from India and Sri Lanka, was held in Pune from Sep 29 to Oct 12  India has signed a deal with Slovenia for supply of 194 Pipistrel micro-light aircraft to be used by Indian Air Force, the Navy and the.  Indigenously built naval warship INS Kochi, the stealth guided missile destroyer, was inducted in the Indian Navy on Sep 30.  The Defence Ministry has approved the induction of women officers into the combat stream of IAF, allowing them for first time, to fly fighter aircrafts.  Fast patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Anmol was inducted in the Coast Guard Region (North East) in Kolkata.  The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, for the first time, has decided to deploy women in combat duties at its high-altitude posts along the Indo-China border.  India’s first indigenously built torpedo launch and recovery vessel - INS Astradharini, inducted in Indian Navy on Oct 6 at Vishakhaptnam.  5th Indo-China Joint Military Training Exercise- HAND-IN-HAND conducted at Kunming Military Academy, Yunnan, China from 12 to 23 October.  A joint maritime exercise of naval patrol vessels - Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) between India and Indonesia began on 3 Oct in the Andaman Sea.  India’s first dedicated astronomy research satellite Astrosat was successfully launched on Sep 28 by the PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota.  Microsoft Corp and Google Inc have agreed to bury all patent infringement litigation against each other, settling 18 cases in USA and Germany.  NASA scientists claimed to have found the strongest ever evidence of liquid water on Planet Mars that could help sustain future manned missions. SEPTEMBER 2015  Govt to purchase 15 Chinook helicopters that will lift heavy loads and 22 AH-64D Apache advanced attack helicopters from USA.  India and the US have created a "joint challenge coin" to symbolise their unique partnership in creating a next-generation aircraft carrier for Indian Navy.  One side of the coin reads "Chale Chalen Saath Saath" and the other reads “Forward Together We Go".  Indian Navy has established its largest missile storage and replenishment facility named INS Vajrakosh at Karwar base in Karnataka  Indian Coast Guard has commissioned two new ships named Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Apoorva and Interceptor Boat C-421.  India to buy 10 Heron TP armed drones capable of firing missiles, from Israel to enhance our cross- border military strike capability.  The first bilateral maritime exercise between Australia and India ‘Ausindex-2015’ began on Sep 12 off the shores of Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.  On 16 September, International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed across the world.  The theme and the slogan for the year 2015 are 30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together and Ozone: All there is between you and UV, respectively.  China has successfully launched a newly-developed satellite launch rocket Long March-6(Chang Zheng-6).  Hinduja business group has launched Hits (Headend-in-the-Sky) digital broadcasting platform - NXT Digital to provide over 500 TV channels to cable operators  Google and Indian Railways are planning to work jointly on Project Nilgiri to set up free Wi-Fi hotspots across 400 select railway stations.  Facebook has decided to rebrand its Internet.org programme to 'Free Basics' for providing more services and stronger security measures.  Study by researchers at the Yale University, USA shows that there are over 3 trillion trees on Earth, based on ground survey data and satellite pictures. INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 2015  In one of the worst gruesome terrorist attacks, over 129 people were killed and more than 300 were wounded in multiple ISIS terrorists’ shootings in Paris  Several persons, including policemen were killed in Terai region of Nepal due to Madhesi agitation leading to acute shortage of fuels and medicines  Madhesis, the Indian-origin inhabitants of the Terai region, have been protesting against division of their ancestral homeland in the new Constitution.  A two day summit of Heads of G-20 nations was held in Antalaya, Turkey to dwell on inclusive economic growth and climate change.  Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held in Manila.  Leaders of the ASEAN group of nations have declared the establishment of an EU-style regional economic bloc, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)  For the first time, Oxford Dictionary has chosen an emoji pictograph, commonly referred to as an emoticon, as its 2015 Word of the Year  Russia suspended all its flights to Egypt after one of its civil aircraft was blown up in mid air by militants soon after take-off from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 49  The International Day for Tolerance observed globally on 16 November with an aim to educate people about the need for tolerance  27th ASEAN summit (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was held in Kuala Lumpur on November 21.  The 10th East Asia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov 22, under the theme Our People, Our Community, Our Vision.  UNESCO rejected Kosovo's bid for membership as it failed to receive the support of two-thirds of the UNESCO’s member nations.  Islamist militants laid siege to the Radisson Blue Hotel in Bamako, capital of Mali killing at least 27 persons from different nations.  The World Health Organisation on 16 November 2015 launched the World Antibiotic Awareness Week with the theme Antibiotics: handle with care.  Operation Inherent Resolve is the name of US military operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.  The World Meteorological Organisation has said that global average temperatures this year are likely to be the warmest on record.  Young supporters of Hong Kong's democracy movement, known as 'Umbrella Soldiers', won few seats in the elections dominated by pro-Beijing forces.  Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola-free by the WHO, prompting nationwide celebrations tinged with sadness over the loss of 4,000 victims to the disease.  Global pharma major Pfizer and Botox maker Allergan have entered into a $ 160 billion merger agreement, the biggest ever deal in pharma sector.  China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba created a new record in online sales netting $14.33 billion on the annual Singles Day on Nov 13. OCTOBER 2015  A World Bank report says that the number of people living in extreme poverty is likely to fall for the first time below 10% of the world’s population in 2015.  Around 702 million, 9.6% of the world’s population will be living in extreme poverty in 2015, down from 902 million or 12.8% in 2012.  India had largest number of poor in 2012, but its poverty rate at 21.2 per cent is one of the lowest among developing countries.  The World Bank has revised its benchmark poverty from living on or below $1.25 a day to $1.90 a day.  The European Union has started a new operation termed Operation Sophia to actively intercept boats smuggling refugees.  Finance Ministers of 20 nations vulnerable to climate change launched the V-20 Group on 8 October 2015 in Lima, Peru.  To commemorate the 70th anniversary of UNO on Oct 24, more than 200 monuments in 60 countries will be lit up in blue- the official colour of UNO.  NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) forces conducted their massive field exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 from Oct 3 to Nov 6  UNCTAD says that the growth rate for world in 2015 is expected to remain more or less unchanged from last year, at 2.5 per cent.  11 Pacific Rim nations, including Canada and Chile to Japan and Australia have agreed to sign with USA, the largest regional trade accord in history.  China has operationalised the world’s highest mega hydropower station at Zam in Tibet, built on Brahmaputra River  China has announced the end of its hugely controversial 45 years old one-child policy. Now, all couples would be allowed to have two children.  China's GDP decelerated to 6.9 per cent in the third quarter of this year, posting its worst growth since the 2009 global financial crisis  China successfully launched the Tianhui-1C mapping satellite into its designated orbit from Jiuquan satellite launch centre  Senior executives of IMF and World Bank Group held their annual three-day meeting in Lima, Peru to address current challenges facing the world economy.  The WTO, has lowered 2015 global trade forecast to 2.8 percent in the face of a slowdown in the economies of emerging countries.  China has launched the first phase of “China International Payment System (CIPS)” to promote Yuan’s global usage SEPTEMBER 2015  U N General Assembly formally adopted on Sep 25 the new global 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs)  They aim to end poverty, hunger, assure gender equality, and build a life of dignity for all, over the next 15 years.  These goals cover three important aspects - economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.  Indians in USA have launched "Mission 2022" in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries to promote business between two countries.  Nepal's parliament has approved new constitution, which will come into effect from Sep 20
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 50  Nepal’s Constituent Assembly rejected the demand for converting the country in to a Hindu state, sparking violent protests across the nation.  The US Defence headquarters Pentagon has established a first-ever country special cell-India Rapid Reaction Cell to strengthen its defence ties with India  The G-20 meet of Finance Ministers in Ankara, Turkey, launched a new grouping – W20 (women 20) aimed at boosting the role of women in economic growth.  Canada, world's 11th-biggest economy has fallen into a recession, dragged down by falling energy prices and economic troubles in China.  In recently concluded 2015 Singapore General Elections, People’s Action Party (PAP) led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has emerged victorious.  Two-day Conference of G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors held in Ankara, Turkey on September 4 and 5.  As per the new secular constitution of Nepal, Cow has been declared as the National Animal of Nepal. PERSONS IN NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 PAWAN MUNJAL: Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp, was the highest paid director with a remuneration of Rs.43.91 crore during the 2014-15 financial year. ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA: Chairperson of SBI remains the most powerful woman in the Indian business sector, according to Fortune India’s latest rankings of Indian business women. LIONEL MESSI: International iconic Football star has been picked up by the Tata Motors as their global brand ambassador for their passenger vehicles. VICTOR PONTA: Romanian Prime Minister was in news as he announced his resignation bearing moral responsibility for a nightclub blaze that killed 32 people. OCTOBER 2015 NAINA LAL KIDWAI: Chairperson of HSBC India since 2009 will retire by the end of this year, having completed 58 years of age. JERRY SEINFELD: He has been named as the world’s highest paid comedian by Forbes. The 61-year-old comedian earned $ 36 million between June 1, 2014 and June 1, 2015. SEPTEMBER 2015 ARVIND PANAGARIYA: Vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, has been appointed as the sherpa for G20 negotiations. ANUPAM KHER: Bollywood actor was in news as he was conferred with the Honoured Guest of Texas award in Houston, USA for his contribution to the cinema and the world of art. CHANDA KOCHHAR and Arundhati Bhattacharya have been ranked as top two in a list of most powerful business women in Asia-Pacific, prepared by the global magazine Fortune. They head ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, respectively. INDRA NOOYI: PepsiCo CEO is the sole Indian-origin executive in Fortune's list of 50 most powerful women in business (placed 2ND), which has been topped by General Motors CEO Mary Barra. JHUMPA LAHIRI: Noted Indo American novelist was honoured with the prestigious National Humanities Medal by the American President in recognition of her works highlighting human relation-ships. QUEEN ELIZABETH II: The 89 year old Queen of Great Britain reached a major milestone on Sep 8 by becoming the longest-reigning monarch (since Feb 02, 1952) in Britain’s history GENNADY PADALKA: Russian astronaut was in news as he created the record for having spent the most time in space. His latest mission lasted 168 days, bringing his total to 879 days in space over five trips. APPOINTMENTS NOVEMBER 2015 JUSTICE T S THAKUR: New Chief Justice of India (43rd), succeeding Justice H L Dattu. NITISH KUMAR: Elected as the new Bihar Chief Minister SYED AKBARUDDIN: Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York. NAVTEJ SINGH SARNA: Veteran diplomat, an IFS officer of 1980 batch, has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. VIJAY KESHAV GOKHALE: Senior diplomat has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to China. RAGHURAM RAJAN: Governor RBI has been elected Vice-Chairman of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) at Basel, Switzerland.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 51 SUBIR GOKARAN: Former RBI Deputy Governor has been appointed as an Executive Director on the board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). MAHESH KUMAR JAIN: MD and CEO of Indian Bank. R K TAKKAR: MD and CEO UCO Bank SURESH N PATEL: Appointed as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Bank. T.S.R. SUBRAMANIAN: Former Cabinet secretary has been appointed chairperson of a committee set up by the HRD Ministry to draft the new education policy. HARSHAVARDHAN NEOTIA: Elected as the President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for the year 2016. SUNIL KANORIA: Appointed as the President of The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Ms. ZARIN DARUWALA: Appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bank, India. JUSTICE AJIT PRAKASH SHAH: Appointed as the ethics officer (ombudsman) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). MAURICIO MACRI: elected as the new President of Argentina. JOHN POMBE MAGUFULI: Elected as the new President of Tanzania OCTOBER 2015 ARUN JAITLEY: chosen as Finance Minister of the Year, Asia by London-based publication Emerging Markets. SHEKHAR BASU: Renowned scientist has been appointed as the Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission. SHASHANK MANOHAR: New President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India NAJIB SHAH: Appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) VIDYA DEVI BHANDARI: Noted Nepali Communist leader elected as Nepal’s first woman President by the Parliament. K P SHARMA OLI: Veteran Communist party leader elected as Nepal's new Prime Minister JIMMY MORALES: elected as the President of Guatemala ALPHA CONDE: Re elected as the President of Guinea JUSTIN TRUDEAU: Newly elected Prime Minister of Canada from Liberal Party. ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO: re elected as the President of Belarus PEDRO PASSOS COELHO: Newly elected Prime Minister of Portugal JIOJI KONROTE: elected as new President of the Pacific island mini country Fiji. SEPTEMBER 2015 RATAN P WATAL: New Union Finance Secretary RAJIV MEHRISHI: Appointed as the new Union Home secretary. DEEPAK GUPTA: Appointed as Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). J MANJULA: Director General, Electronics & Communication Systems cluster of the DRDO. She is the first woman DG of a DRDO cluster. Ms. STUTI NARAIN KACKER: Appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). ALEXIS TSIPRAS: Re-elected as the Prime Minister of Greece. He had resigned last month. SHERIF ISMAIL: Elected as the new Prime Minister of Egypt MALCOLM TURNBULL: New Prime Minister of Australia. AWARDS & HONOURS NOVEMBER 2015 THE INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE, DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT-2015: Awarded to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its “immense contributions” in assisting millions of refugees KIREN RIJIJU: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, was designated as the Disaster Risk Reduction Champion for the Asia Region by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). RAMNATH GOENKA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Kuldip Nayar, a veteran journalist, columnist and author for his contribution to journalism. KALA SHIKHAR AWARD: Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma for lifetime achievement. NEW YORK GLOBAL LEADERS DIALOGUE HUMANITARIAN AWARD: Bindeshwar Pathak, Social Activist and founder of Sulabh International
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 52 INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S PEACE PRIZE: awarded to Abraham Keita (17) of Liberia for his “tireless campaigning” to end violence against minors. OCTOBER 2015 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize 2015: Jacob Tsimerman of the University of Toronto, Canada. The age limit for the prize has been set at 32 because Ramanujan achieved so much in his brief life of 32 years. MAN BOOKER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2015: won by Jamaican author Marlon James for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings. Best Short Film Award at the 2015 London Film Festival won by an Indian short film of 11 minutes, An Old Dog’s Diary. CONFUCIUS PEACE PRIZE (China): Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean President, for “injecting fresh energy” into the global quest for harmony. HARVARD HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has been selected for the prestigious award given by the Harvard University. European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose flogging sentence for causing insult to Islam invited global criticism. SEPTEMBER 2015 SKOCH AWARD (India) FOR SMART GOVERNANCE: Won by Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for its initiatives on Universal Account Number (UAN) Programme. VYAAS SAMMAN FOR 2014: Noted Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka for his work 'Premchand ki Kahaniyon ka Kaal Kramanusaar Adhyayan' GANDHI PEACE PRIZE-2014: Awarded to ISRO for its contribution in nation’s development through satellite based education, health care facilities. UNESCO ‘Award of Excellence’ 2015: Won by India for the remarkable conservation efforts of the majestic Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala Indian film Angry Indian Goddesses, a story about a group of Indian girls in Goa gone wild, was voted as the first runner-up at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. OBITUARY NOVEMBER 2015 RAM KRISHNA TRIVEDI: Former Gujarat governor, Chief Election Commissioner of India and Central Vigilance Commissioner, passed away at 94. K. SANKARAN NAIR: Former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) died in Bengaluru at 94. ASHOK SINGHAL: Veteran patron of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) passed away in Gurgaon due to a prolonged illness. He was 89. BRIJMOHAN LALL MUNJAL (92): Hero Motocorp Ltd founder died in Delhi after prolonged illness. SAEED JAFFREY: Veteran Bollywood actor died in London. He was 86. He was known for his roles in movies Gandhi, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Henna and Masoom. T R GOVINDARAJAN: Senior football administrator and veteran referee from Tamil Nadu, died after a brief illness. He was 90. MAHIP SINGH: Noted writer and journalist passed away in Gurgaon, after a brief illness. He was 85. HELMUT SCHMIDT: Former West German Chancellor, who led the country for eight years (1974-82) at the height of the Cold War, died at the age of 96. OCTOBER 2015 RAVINDRA JAIN: Veteran music director-singer-lyricist passed away in Mumbai. He was 71. Though blind, he gave music for hit films like Chor Machaye Shor, Geet Gaata Chal, Chitchor and Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se, in the 70s and was associated with epic TV serials like Ramayana and Mahabharata. SYED ZAHOOR QASIM: Renowned marine biologist considered as the founder of Polar Biology in India, passed away in New Delhi. He was 88. K S L SWAMY: Renowned Kannada filmmaker, producer, actor and playback singer passed away in Bengaluru. He was 77. Dr. SYED AHMED: Governor of Manipur passed away at Mumbai. He was 73. He was a senior Congress leader. ASHWANI KUMAR: Ex DGP of Border security Force and ex President of the Indian Hockey Federation, passed away at 95. LABH JANJUA: Noted Punjabi singer, famous for chartbusters like “London Thumakda” and “Jee karda bi jee karda”, died untimely in Mumbai
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 53 MANORAMA (Achhi): Legendary Tamil comedian and actress, who had starred in over 1,000 southern films, died at 78 in Chennai. GAJANAN PENDHARKAR: Chairman of world famous ayurvedic cosmetics company – Vicco Laboratories, died in Mumbai. He was 81. HENNING MANKELL: Best-selling Swedish crime writer, whose detective character Kurt Wallander became a worldwide phenomenon, died at 67 after a battle with cancer. SEPTEMBER 2015 JAGMOHAN DALMIYA: President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), hailed as the architect of India's rise as the game's financial superpower, passed away in Kolkata. AADESH SHRIVASTAVA: Noted Bollywood music composer passed away at a young age of 51 as he was suffering from cancer. M M KALBURGI: 77 year old Kannada scholar and ex Vice Chancellor of Kannada University was shot dead by two men at his Dharwad home in Karnataka. JACKIE COLLINS: Popular British-American romance novelist passed away in California, United States. She wrote 32 novels, all of which appeared on The New York Times bestsellers list. YOGI BERRA: Legendary Baseball player from USA, whose humorous quotes made him one of America's most beloved sports icons, died at the age of 90 CHANDRA BAHADUR DANGI: verified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's shortest man - at 21.5 inches (54.6cm) - died of an undisclosed illness in American Samoa. He was 75 and was ill for long. PLACES IN NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 MOUNT RINJA: In Indonesia, hundreds of tourists were stranded for a third day as volcanic ash from eruptions from Mount Rinja forced the closure of airports in three Indonesian islands. OCTOBER 2015 DADRI: Small town in Uttar Pradesh was in news due to mob lynching of 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi in village Bisara on Sep 28 on rumors that he killed a cow for consuming beef. The incident led to strong reactions all over India as a strong example of surging ideological intolerance, particularly in context of religion, leading to return of government honours by several eminent intellectuals. KOTKAPURA: Town in district Faridkot, Punjab witnessed widespread violent protests by Sikhs against the alleged desecration of a 'bir' of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari village. Later, the protests spread to several other towns, even in certain places in UK and Canada. CHANG LA: Situated about 80 km east of Leh (J&K), the place was in news as the world’s highest research station, established by the DRDO at an altitude of 17,500 ft became functional there. BIR BILLING: Place in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh was in news as the first Paragliding World Cup of South East Asia started there from October 16. HURRICANE PATRICIA struck Mexico's Pacific coast on 23 October, forcing thousands to flee homes and beach front resorts. TYPHOON KOPPU attacked the north eastern Philippines on October 18 with fierce winds, displacing 16,000 villagers and knocking out power in entire provinces. SANTA CATARINA PINULA: A small town in Guatemala, a mini country south of Mexico, was in news s at least 171 persons were killed there in sudden mudslides that smashed into a nearby village. BAGHDAD: The heavily fortified Green Zone in the capital of Iraq has been opened to the public for the first time in 12 years as a part of a reform drive. ARCH OF TRIUMPH: A historical monument built about 2,000 years ago in Palmyra, Syria was in news as it was blown up by the ISIS terrorists. SEPTEMBER 2015 PETALWAD, JHABUA: Small town in Madhya Pradesh was in news as around 100 people were killed and many more injured after a massive blast caused by mining explosives stored in a building ripped through a crowded market area. MINA: Holy place for Muslims, near Mecca was in news as over 720 people were killed and over 860 others injured there in a stampede as Haj pilgrims jostled their way to perform symbolic stoning of the devil, marking the culmination of the annual Haj pilgrimage. MECCA: Muslims’ holiest place in Saudi Arabia was in news as at least 107 persons were killed and over 200 injured in an accident caused by crane collapsed on Sep 11 during the annual hajj pilgrimage. COQUIMBO, CHILE: Area in Northern Chile was in news as more than 9,000 people were left homeless after it was struck by a 8.3-magnitude quake on September 16.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 54 MOUNT ASO: One of the largest volcanoes on Japan's main southern island of Kyushu, erupted on Sep 14, sending a plume of black smoke 2 km high, but there were no reports of damage or injuries. SPORTS WORLD NOVEMBER 2015 Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis lifted their ninth trophy of the season, winning BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore Pankaj Advani, India's most successful cueist won the record 15th world title by winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Egypt, defeating Zhua Xintong of China. Heena Sidhu has won Gold in 10 metre Air Pistol event at 13th Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. Jitu Rai won silver medal Shiva Thapa, top Indian boxer was ranked number 2 in the latest international rankings in the 56 kg category. Siril Verma, 16 year old shuttler from India won the silver medal at the BWF World Junior Championships held in Lima, Peru. 8th Men’s Junior Asia Hockey Cup: India’s junior men’s team won the cup at Kuantan, Malaysia by defeating Pakistan. 69th senior National Aquatic Championships 2015: Mana Patel (women) and Virdhawal Khade (men) were declared the best swimmers, at Rajkot, Gujarat. Surjit Hockey Tournament: Railways defeated Indian Oil in the finals played in Jalandhar. Wasim Jaffer became the first player in Ranji Trophy history to notch up 10,000 runs. He reached the milestone playing against Bengal in Kolkata. Anju Bobby George, former long jump world champion has been appointed as the chairperson of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Shashank Manohar, BCCI President was authorised to represent BCCI in ICC (International Cricket Council) as its Chairman. China Open Superseries Premier Badminton tournament: Xuerui Li of China beats Saina Nehwal to win the Women's Singles title at Fuzhou, China. World number one Novak Djokovic has become the first player to win the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals for the fourth consecutive time by beating Roger Federer in the finals played in London. Swiss Indoors Basel Tennis title: Won by Roger Federer by defeating Rafael Nadal Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, won the BNP Paribas WTA Finals title at Singapore, beating Petra Kvitova Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Mexican Grand Prix F1 championship in Mexico City and the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Czech Republic won the prestigious women’s team tennis trophy - Fed Cup after beating Russia in final played in Prague, capital of Czech Republic. FIFA Under 17 Football World Cup: Nigeria defeated Mali to win the championship held in Chile. The Rugby World Cup: New Zealand lifted the cup beating Australia in the Final played in London Mitchell Johnson, Australia’s most devastating fast bowler of his era, retired from all international cricket on Nov 17. The first ever day-night Test match in the history of cricket started as the third Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in Australia. Belgium moved to the top of the FIFA world ranking list in football for the first time, leaving behind giants like Argentina and world champions Germany. India ranks pretty low at 172nd place. OCTOBER 2015 HIGHER DIET MONEY FOR SPORTSPERSONS Ministry of Sports has decided to enhance the diet allowance for national level sports persons. The athletes competing in the power games under Category ‘A’ (boxing, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting and throw events in athletics) will receive Rs. 700 per day against Rs. 320 at present. Athletes under Category ‘B’ (sprint and team events) will get Rs400 per day, while sportspersons under Category ‘C’ (golf, shooting and archery) will be entitled for Rs. 300 per day. Indian archer Abhishek Verma created history by winning a silver medal in the Archery World Cup Final held in Mexico City, becoming the first ever Indian to bag Archery World Cup Final medal. Anirban Lahiri won the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month award at Singapore Deborah Herold, 20 year old Indian cyclist became the first ever Indian to win a gold medal, three silver and one bronze medal in women's elite section in the in Taiwan Cup Track International Classic in Taiwan. Yuki Bhambri achieved a career-best rank of 99, becoming the first Indian tennis player to come under 100 since 2010 in the ATP world rankings.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 55 Shweta Rathore became the first Indian female bodybuilder to win a silver medal in the 49th Asian championship held in Uzbekistan Urvashi Rautela won the Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva 2015 title to become India’s representative for the Miss Universe pageant. Saketh Myneni, India’s tennis player won the Vietnam Open trophy in the finals played at Ho Chi Minh City. Amit Kumar, Indian para-athlete bagged silver in men's club throw F51 event in the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha Zaheer Khan, one of India's greatest fast bowlers, bid adieu to international cricket, admitting that he could no longer handle the rigours of the game. Ajay Jayaram won the men’s Badminton title at the Dutch Open Grand Prix at Almere (The Netherlands). Pankaj Advani won the IBSF World Billiards Championship in Adelaide, Australia. Abhinav Bindra clinched gold in the men's 10 metre Air Rifle event of the Asian Air Gun Championships in New Delhi. Heena Sidhu clinched a Gold medal in the 10-metre air pistol event of the Asian Air Gun Championships in New Delhi. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their seventh title together on Oct 3 by winning the Wuhan Open women’s doubles title at Wuhan, China. The Indian teams won five out of six team events in the Commonwealth Youth, Junior & Senior weightlifting championships held in Pune, Maharashtra. Virender Sehwag, one of the world’s most destructive batsmen to have played the game, announced his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League, bringing an end to an illustrious career spanning 14 years. Vijender Singh, India’s Olympian boxer made a smashing professional debut by knocking out Britain's Sonny Whiting in the middleweight category at Manchester, UK. The 12th SAF (South Asian Games) games will be held from February 6 to 16 in 2016 in Guwahati and Shillong. VIJAY KUMAR MALHOTRA: Govt of India has appointed veteran sports administrator as the President of the All India Council of Sports. The 16th National Women Boxing Championship was held at Bongaigaon in Assam REFUGEES ALLOWED IN OLYMPICS The International Olympic Committee has announced that refugee athletes will be allowed, for the first time, to take part in next year's Olympics. Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal to win men’s title in the China Open at Beijing, China. Spain’s Garbine Muguruza won the women's singles title Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their eighth title of the season by lifting the women’s doubles title. Cristiano Ronaldo of The Real Madrid won the record fourth Golden Boot for scoring highest – 48 goals in the season. China’s Xuerui Li won the Denmark Open Badminton Title in the women’s single category, defeating P V Sindhu of India at Odense, Denmark. Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia clinched the French International Badminton title in Paris. Sultan of Johor Cup (Hockey): Great Britain defeated Indian junior men's team to lift the cup in Malaysia. Sergey Karjakin of Russia won the World Cup Chess Championship, defeating compatriot Peter Svidler in Baku, Azerbaijan. Lewis Hamilton of Britain won the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi, Russia, Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan and U S Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Luis Leao Pinto of Portugal won the Asia’s premier mountain biking race to get the crown of ‘King of the Himalaya’. Women’s European Volleyball Championship was won by Russia at Rotterdam, Russia. China won the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Championship by defeating the Philippines at Changsha, China. Some 2,000 athletes from many indigenous ethnic groups from 30 countries took part in the first World Indigenous Games held in Palmas, Brazil. SEPTEMBER 2015 YOGA GIVEN SPORTS STATUS The Sports Ministry has decided to recognize Yoga as a sports discipline and place it in the Priority category. Fencing has also been upgraded from others to General category, based on the past performance in major international events.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 56 Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award NAME SPORTS 1. Jot Singh (ITBP) Mountaineering 2. Arunima Sinha Mountaineering 3. Wg. Cdr. Paramveer Singh Aqua sport 4. Col. Satish Chander Sharma Mountaineering 5. Lt. Col Satyendra Verma Sky diving The Indian wushu team fetched a rich haul of 1 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze medals at the 5th International Pars Wushu Cup in Tehran, Iran. Deepak Lather won a gold in the 62 kg category in weight lifting in the fifth Youth Commonwealth Games in Apia, Samoa. India stood fifth in the final medal tally in the Commonwealth Youth Games. Anil won the gold medal in the 50 kg freestyle category at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships at Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. OP Jaisha and Sudha Singh finished 18th and 19th respectively in the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing. Jaisha, however, set a new national record by registering a time of two hours, 34 minutes and 43 seconds. Manpreet Kaur of Railways created a new national record in shot-put throwing, claiming a distance of 17.96 meters at the 55th National Open Athletics Championship at Kolkata. Apurvi Chandela clinched the silver medal in women’s 10m air rifle event of the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Finals in Munich, Germany. Ravi Shastri to continue as the Team Director of the Indian cricket team till the 2016 T20 World Cup to be held in India. 55th National Open Athletics Championship started at SAI Complex in Kolkata on Sep16. The 42nd World Bridge Teams Championships opened in Chennai on Sep 26. U.S. OPEN TENNIS ENDS AT NEW YORK Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic won the title beating Roger Federer Women’s Singles: Flavia Pennetta won the title by beating Roberta Vinci, both from Italy. Flavia announced her retirement after winning the title. Men’s mixed doubles: won by Leander Paes and Martina Hingis. Paes becomes the player to have won highest number, of mixed doubles grand slams (Nine). Women’s doubles: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won the title. Sebastian Vettel from Germany won 2015 Singapore Grand Prix of Formula One car race Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix F1 championship at Monza, Italy. Shane Watson: Australia's veteran all-rounder announced his retirement from Test cricket on September 6, playing his last match in Cardiff, UK. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in Durban, South Africa, for the first time. Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang Province in East China, has been chosen by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to host the 2022 Asian Games. BOOKS & AUTHORS NOVEMBER 2015 BOOK AUTHOR Combating Hunger and Achieving Food Security M.S. Swaminathan Chronicles of Time and Chance Raymond Francis Isar Because We Say So Noam Chomsky Why India Is Not A Great Power (Yet) Bharat Karnad My Gita Devidutt Pattnaik The Mare's Trap Wendy Doniger. What Happened to Netaji Anuj Dhar Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations Nandan Nilekani and Viral Shah India-Myanmar Relations Rajiv Bhatia The Clintons' War on Women Roger Stone and Robert Morrow Mrs Funnybones Twinkle Khanna To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story Jairam Ramesh. A Children’s History of India Subhadra Sen Gupta. The Country of First Boys Amartya Sen Baat Niklegi toh Phir Sathya Saran Dreaming Big: My Journey to Connect India – an autobiography of Sam Pitroda, noted technocrat who brought telecom revolution in India. The Chinar Leaves veteran Congress leader and close aide of the Gandhi family M L Fotedar Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri,
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 57 An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy ex Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The Courage to Act - A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath by Ben S. Bernanke. The author is the ex governor of the Federal Reserve of USA and the book is about the lessons learnt from the recessions like 2008 Financial Crisis. The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue an autobiography of Frederick Forsyth, noted thriller novelist. Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Days Salman Rushdie. The Monsoon War: Young Officers Reminisce 1965 India-Pakistan' Capt Amarinder Singh and Lt. Gen. Tajindar Shergill The Curse of Surya Dev Prasad. Hubris: Why Economists Failed to Predict the Crisis and How to Avoid the Next One Meghnad Desai. The Power of Meow David Michie Muslim Cosmopolitanism in the Age of Empire Seema Alavi Portrait of a Serial Killer Khushwant Singh (edited by Mala Dayal) Making India Awesome Chetan Bhagat Combating Hunger and Achieving Food Security Prof. M. S. Swaminathan The Country of First Boys Amartya Sen The Devil take Love Sudhir Kakar R. D. Burman: The Prince of Music Khagesh Dev Burman Locale, Everyday Islam and Modernity M. Raisur Rahman Ghosts of Calcutta Sebastian Ortiz India Former Union Environment and Forest Minister, Jairam Ramesh. Green Signals: Ecology, Growth, and Democracy in India Central Asia Relations: The Economic Dimension Amiya Chandra ‘Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years’ A S Dulat. He was the Chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Special Advisor on Kashmir in Vajpayee's PMO after his retirement. The Making of Miracles in Indian States Arvind Panagariya and M Govinda Rao Who Will Cry When You Die Robin S Sharma Conflict Resolution in Multicultural Societies — The Indian Experience Jhumpa Mukherjee Chaos of the Senses Ahlem Mosteghanemi Flood of Fire Amitav Ghosh Men Explain Things to Me Rebecca Solnit The Crown Prince, the Gladiator and the Hope: Battle for Change Ashutosh Super Economies: America, India, China and the Future of the World Raghav Bahl
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GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 59 Latest MCQs ON CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY GK TEST – 01 1. Which railway station in India is the first one to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet facility? a) Chennai Central station b) Mumbai Central station c) New Delhi station d) Kolkata station e) Church Gate, Mumbai 2. Which of the following is/are NOT true in the context of Savings Bank Accounts and Current Accounts in India? 1. The use of cheque book is allowed in both the types of accounts 2. Both the accounts can be run as long as the customer wants to 3. The KYC requirement can be waived off for certain categories of savings accounts. a) 1 only b) 1 and 3 c) 2, 3 d) 2 only e) 3 only 3. Which of the following is NOT a popular stock market index? a) Kospi b) NASDAQ c) MSCI d) CAC 40 e) Mid Dax 4. The acronym FCCB is related to a) Money raised domestically through bonds b) Money raised abroad through rupee bonds c) Money raised abroad through bonds d) Money raised using the equity route e) Full convertibility of rupee 5. Which Person of Indian Origin has won the 2016 Oscar award for technical excellence? a) Nitin Gupta b) Rahul Thakkar c) Puneet Jain d) Nischal kumar e. None of these 6. The University of Hyderabad was in news recently due to a) Its winning the top rank among all Indian universities in a global survey b) Certain incidents of rioting on the campus c) The tragic death of a scholar, which led to widespread trouble on the campus d) Its being made the nodal centre for online linking of the library resources in all Indian universities e) None of these 7. Which of the following words/expressions denotes paperless trading in shares? a) CDSL b) ASBA c) T + 2 d) Trading ring e) Demat 8. Who has authored the book “The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time”? a) Puneet Jain b) Uday Kotak c) Ratan Tata d) Subhash Chandra e) Rahul Bajaj 9. An unhealthy bank loan can be sold to another party using a process called a) Asset reconstruction b) Bill discounting c) Arnortisation d) Hedging e. Evergreening 10. Arunima Sinha, an Indian sportsperson, who dominated the headlines last month, belongs to which sport? a) Ice skating b) Wushu c) Athletics d) Mountaineering e) Badminton 11. Mrinalini Sarabhai, who passed away recently, was related to which field? a) Classical dance b) Science c) Journalism d) Sports e) Literature 12. The World Health Organization has declared a medical emergency on account of which disease? a) Ebola b) AIDS c) Dengue d) Zika virus e) Malnutrition 13. The 10th anniversary of which flagship government welfare programme was celebrated recently? a) Mid-Day Meal Scheme b) Sukanay Yojana c) Swavlambon Yojna d) Right to Education Act e) MNREGS 14. Who has become the first Russian to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame?
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 60 a) Marat Safin b) Justine Henin c) Sergei Bubka d) Amelie Mauresmo e) None of these 15. Pick the odd one out: a) Fleet Street b) Mint Street c) Dalal Street d) Wall Street e) All the above have a certain commonality 16. Which European country had declared an economic emergency recently? a) Germany b) France c) United kingdom d) Denmark e) Greece 17. In terms of environmental pollution, which one does not cause any harm to the atmosphere around us? a) Sulphur Dioxide b) Suspended Particulate Matter c) Carbon Dioxide d) Nitric Oxide e) Carbon Monoxide 18. Find the expression which does NOT gel with the rest of the group? a) Virtual banking b) Internet banking c) Branchless banking d) Brick and mortar banking e) Mouse and Click banking 19. Which company has become the most valuable publicly-traded company in the world? a) Alphabet b) Apple c) Facebook d) Microsoft e) Yahoo! 20. Which state has become India’s first fully organic state? a) Tripura b) Sikkim c) Himachal Pradesh d) Haryana e) Goa 21. Which organization has won the National Award one-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN)? a) EXIM Bank b) SIDBI c) EPFO d) NABARD e) PFRDA 22. Match the following departed personalities and the fields which they belonged to. P. Haxell Wexller 1. Banking Q. Helmut Schmit 2. Politics R. SS Tarapore 3. Army S. JFR Jacob 4. Cinematography T. Balram Jakhar 5. Loksabha Speaker P Q R S T A. 4 2 1 3 5 B. 1 4 2 1 5 C. 3 4 3 1 5 D. 2 3 1 5 4 E. None of these combinations is correct 23. With reference to the above map of India, the area suffering from the worst male-to-female sex ratio is located in/on a) The extreme right side b) The top side of the map c) The region slightly below the top d) The bottom side of the map e) A scattered manner 24. Which of the following is NOT related to the climate change phenomenon? a) Emission trading b) CoP21 c) Carbon ratio d) International Solar Alliance (ISA) e) Kyoto Protocol 25. Cross-selling, in the context of banking, refers to a) Selling different banking products to an existing bank customer b) Selling a banking product to different members of the same household c) Selling a banking product to an altogether new customer d) Cold calling a customer in order to sell a new banking product e) Selling banking products to a group of customers jointly 26. Which state was the themes state for the 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela? a) Rajasthan b) Telangana c) Haryana d) West Bengal e) None of these
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 61 27. Currently, what is the base year for calculating the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India? a) 2008-09 b) 2010-11 c) 2011-12 d) 2012-13 e) 2004-05 28. A mutual fund in India is constituted as a ………….. and its assets are managed by a/an ………….. a) trust, asset management company b) bank, company c) trust, fund management committee d) society, company e) trust, bank 29. Who has been selected for the 2016 Amnesty International Human Rights Award? a) Pradeep Hedau b) Monira Rahman c) Henri Tiphagne d) Abel Barrera e) Kailash Satyarthi 30. Justice Sanjay Mishra’s appointment as the Lokayukta of ………… remained controversial and was finally cleared by the Supreme Court. a) Madhya Pradesh b) Uttar Pradesh c) Haryana d) India e) Uttrakhand 31. The loan to which of the following is/are part of priority sector lending in India? 1. Farmers 2. Minorities 3. Exporters 4. Big industries a) 1, 2 b) 1, 3 c) 1, 2, 3 d) 1, 4 e) All of these 32. In which north-eastern state of India was the President’s rule imposed recently, which led to a court case too? a) Manipur b) Assam c) Arunachal Pradesh d) Nagaland e) Mizoram 33. India ranks ……….on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2015. a) 55th b) 76th c) 87th d) 95th e) 130th 34. On which day is the National Girl Child Day celebrated in India? a) April 21 b) January 24 c) March 23 d) February 11 e) January 12 35. Which of the following vectors in responsible for the transmission of Zika virus to humans? a) Mosquitoes b) Birds c) Pigs d) Rats e) Infected food 36. Which of the following is NOT related to exports in India? a) DICGC b) EOU c) EPZ d) EXIM e) ECGC 37. Ang San Su Kyi, who assumed the presidency of Mynamer recently, belongs to the a) Military junta b) Freedom Party c) National League for Democracy d) Greenpeace Party e) State Democratic Council 38. Out of the following, the correctly matched pair is a) G8: Developed countries b) W20: World 20 c) UNCTAD: Human development d) UNFCCC: Climate change e) UNCITRL: Children’s rights 39. The prestigious International Naval Fleet Review took place recently in a) Chennai b) Mumbai c) Vishakhapatnam d) Kozhkode e) Dharwad 40. The newspapers in the past few months had splashed headlines like Fed hikes key policy rates in 7 years In the above context, the words Fed and policy rates refer to the a) Chinese central bank and the devaluation of Yuan against the US Dollar b) American central bank and the exchange value of dollar w.r.t. other currencies c) American central bank and the overnight lending rate respectively d) French central bank and the bank rate respectively e) American central bank and the Fed rate respectively 41. Find the odd out. a) Sovereign debt b) Gilt-edged bonds c) Debentures d) Dated securities e) Government securities 42. This country saw a democratically elected government for the first time in many decades after a prolonged pro-democracy movement launched by a lady. This lady had been under house arrest for most of the past 25 years and despite winning a thumping majority in the recent elections, faced uncertainly regarding her chances of forming a government due to a constitutional ban. The above lines refer to a lady named a) Kim Campbell b) Aang San Su kyi c) Angela Markel d) Khaleda Zia e) Janet Yellen 43. Harper Lee, who passed away recently, was a/an A. Scientist B. Sportswoman C. Comedian D. Musician E. Authoress 44. A GI tag refers to A. Film certification
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 62 B. Indigenous medicines C. Patents D. ISI mark E. agricultural items for exports 45. Last month, all newspapers across the world had front-page headlines similar to LIGO’s Find Creates Ripples The word find above most likely refers to A. Gravitational waves in space-time first predicted by Albert Einstein, which were detected by LIGO scientists B. The existence of black holes in the universe C. Experimental proof for the relativity theory D. The gene responsible for aging in humans E. Both A and B 46. From which country will India get ultra-light Howitzer guns? A. The USA B. France C. Russia D. Sweden E. Israel 47. Which of the following has become the biggest refinery in India with an annual refining capacity of 1.5 cr ton of crude oil? A. Indian Oil, Bombay High B. Reliance Petro, Surat C. Indian Oil, Vishakhapatnam D. Reliance Petro, Jamnagar E. Indian Oil, Paradip 48. The new chief of SEBI will be A. Urjit Patel B. UK Sinha C. SS Tarapore D. Arundhati Bhattacharya E. D Swaroop 49. Pick the odd one out. A. Space-time B. Li-Fi C. Hotspot D. 3D Printing E. Bandwidth 50. The abbreviation InvIT refers to A. Investment in India Trust B. Investment for Income Tax Savings C. Invitation for Investment in IT D. Investment in IT E. Infrastructure Investment Trust ANSWER KEY TEST – 01 Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. 1 B 2 E 3 C 4 C 5 B 6 C 7 E 8 D 9 A 10 D 11 A 12 D 13 E 14 A 15 A 16 B 17 C 18 D 19 A 20 B 21 C 22 A 23 C 24 C 25 A 26 B 27 C 28 A 29 C 30 B 31 C 32 C 33 B 34 B 35 A 36 A 37 C 38 D 39 C 40 E 41 C 42 B 43 E 44 C 45 E 46 A 47 E 48 B 49 A 50 E FEBRUARY GK TEST – 02 1. The investment made in ………… does NOT lead to any tax rebate under Indian tax laws. A. Repayment of principal component on an education loan B. Repayment towards a home loan C. New Pension Scheme D. Equity Linked Savings Scheme E. Medical insurance policies 2. Which team has won the 2016 Premier Badminton League (PBL)? A. Hyderabad Hunters B. Delhi Acers C. Mumbai Rockets D. Awadh Warriors E. Punjab Powers 3. Pick the odd one out. A. Dial D for Don: Inside Stories of CBI: Neeraj Kumar B. Why We Like the Way We Do: Preeti Shenoy C. Life Mantras: Subroto Roy Sahara D. Making India Awesome: Chetan Bhagat E. Transcendence: Shobhaa De 4. The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to come up in A. Chandigarh B. Gurgaon C. Mysore D. Surat E. Udaipur 5. The Interim Test Range (ITR) of the Defence Research and Development Organization for missile testing, is located in A. Karnataka B. Andhra Pradesh C. Kerala D. Odisha E. West Bengal 6. The latest public sector bank in India, set up by the central government, is A. Bhartiya Mahila Bank B. Dena Bank C. Bank of India D. Axis Bank E. IDBI Bank 7. A kind of inflation, which is beyond any reasonable levels, and which cannot be brought under control, is known as A. Walking Inflation B. Hyperflation C. Creeping inflation D. Running inflation E. None of these 8. Which pair has won 2016 Australian Open women’s double title? A. Julia Gorges and Anna-Lena Gronefeld B. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis C. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka D. Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova E. Sania Mirza and Lucie Safarova 9. The acronym FEMA is related to A. Financial management of companies B. Fiscal consolidation policies C. Distribution of finances between the centre and the states
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 63 D. Violations of foreign exchange norms E. The rules regarding inflation targeting fixed by the RBI 10. Which Indian film has bagged the Best First Foreign Film Award by the 2016 French Syndicate of Cinema Critics (FSCC)? A. Court B. Shahid C. Titli D. Masaan E. Annhe Ghode Daa Daan 11. The Employee Provident Fund provisions will now be applicable to all those organizations, which employ a minimum of A. 5 workers B. 20 workers C. 50 workers D. 10 workers E. 100 workers 12. Pick out the choice which does NOT mention an economic bloc. A. OPEC B. EU C. OECD D. AEC E. BRICS 13. Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who passed away recently, hailed from A. The United Kingdom B. The United States of America C. France D. Canada E. Russia 14. Which of the following is NOT a government- sponsored welfare programme? A. Kushal B. Sambhav C. Prerna D. Gyanprabha E. Sugamya Bharat 15. The Red Data Book of the World Wildlife Fund contains A. The locations of ecologically sensitive zones in the world B. The names of extinct species C. The names of endangered species D. The names of newly-discovered species E. None of these 16. Who was NOT one of the Padma awardees on the Republic Day this year? A. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar B. Anupam Kher C. Udit Narayan D. Rajnikanth E. Raj Kumar Hirani 17. The Start Up India project is designed to encourage A. Farmers B. New entrepreneurs C. SC/ST entrepreneurs D. Enterprises in the IT sector E. Agro-based industries 18. The President’s rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh under Article 356 due to A. The state government’s failure to hold an Assembly session for more than 6 months B. The unwillingness of any party to form a government C. A hung assembly D. Scarcity of funds to run the state government E. The state government’s non-compliance with the Central Government’s directives 19. Which of the following is the first public sector bank to launch wealth management services? A. State Bank of India B. Allahabad Bank C. UCO Bank D. Canara Bank E. Punjab National Bank 20. Which private sector bank has become the first private sector bank in India to cross the Rs. 1 lakh crore mark in home loans? A. HDFC Bank B. Indus-Ind Bank C. ICICI Bank D. Axis Bank E. Yes Bank 21. Marvin Minsky, the pioneer of _____________, died recently due to cerebral hemorrhage. A. Mouse B. Artificial Intelligence C. Printer D. Integrated circuits (ICs) E. Supercomputers 22. Which Bollywood veteran was honoured with the third Yash Chopra Memorial Award 2016? A. Priyanka Chopra B. Sridevi C. Rekha D. Lata Mangeshkar E. None of these 23. The book “Go Set a Watchman” written by ____________ was in news for topping the 2015 US bestseller list. A. J.K. Rowling B. R K Rowling C. Harper Knee D. Harper Lee E. None of these 24. The acronym CERT-In stands for A. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team B. Certificate of Emergency Readiness Technology C. Certificate of Emergency Threat Readiness D. Council for Emergency Response in Threat Situations E. Council for Emergency Threat Response 25. Pick the odd one out. A. Sudheer Tailang: Cartooning B. Jack Maa: Business C. Nida Fazli: Poetry D. John Nash: Mathematics E. Sitara Devi: Classical music 26. Which of the following is the highest battlefield in the world? A. Aksai Chin B. Tulbul Peak C. Siachen glacier D. Karakoram range E. Point 84 27. Which of the following is TRUE of the TRAI order on differential internet data pricing? A. It has held such pricing to be in violation of the TRAI norms B. It has allowed such pricing subject to certain riders
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 64 C. It has stayed it for the moment, pending a final decision to be taken after consultations D. It has taken the issue to the Supreme Court E. None of these 28. What is the rank of India in Ease of Doing Business (World Bank)? A. 141st B. 150th C. 125th D. 130th E. 122th 29. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in India has developed a new drug to treat A. Cancer B. Dengue C. Goitre D. Diabetes E. Malaria 30. The minimum number of days for which a Fixed Deposit can be made in India, is A. 7 B. 30 C. 364 D. 180 E. 90 31. Hawala, FEMA, Money Laundering --- all these terms/ acronyms are related to A. Banking operations B. Black money in India C. Forward markets D. Illegal transactions in foreign exchange E. Stock markets 32. Which of the following is a correct combination? A. Sariska: Elephant reserve B. Dachigam: Rhinoceros sanctuary C. Bharatpur: Bird sanctuary D. Manas: One-horned deer sanctuary E. Periyar: Asiatic lion sanctuary 33. The Basic Savings and Deposit Account is actually a the new name of the savings accounts opened earlier by the name A. Non-KYC accounts B. Passbook accounts C. Basic accounts D. No Frill accounts E. Simple accounts 34. Geeta Phogat is related to which of the following sports? A. Archery B. Wrestling C. Badminton D. Boxing E. Marathon 35. In which account is the nomination facility NOT available? A. Recurring Deposit Account B. Home loan account C. Current Account D. Savings Bank Account E. Fixed Deposit Account 36. The letter C in the acronym ECS implies A. Collateral B. Cash C. Copy D. Credit E. Clearing 37. A new National Organic Farming Institute will come up in A. Punjab B. Goa C. Haryana D. Sikkim E. Mizoram 38. Which of these countries has launched a long- range rocket defying international warnings? A. Iran B. South Korea C. North Korea D. Israel E. Iraq 39. E-tendering has been made compulsory for all government purchase orders beyond A. Rs. 2 lakh B. Rs. 10 lakh C. Rs. 5 lakh D. Rs. 20 lakh E. Rs. 1 lakh 40. India has often been labeled the world capital of this lifestyle disease due to the fact that Indians are genetically predisposed to it, apart from having a sedentary lifestyle. Doctors often recommend regular exercise, weight loss and diet control to avoid it. Which commonly found disease is being talked about in the preceding lines? A. Obesity B. Diabetes C. Cardiac attack D. Hypertension E. Cancer 41. Currently, the child sex ratio in India as per 2011 census stands at A. 924 B. 927 C. 956 D. 918 E. 1036 42. The newly started Mahamana Express running between Varanasi and New Delhi commemorates the memory of A. C Rajgopalachari B. CF Andrews C. Dr. BR Ambedkar D. Mahatma Gandhi E. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya 43. The maximum credit balance permissible at a time, in a savings account operated by a major on behalf of a minor under guardianship (U/G), can be A. Rs. 50, 000/- B. Rs. 50, 000/- C. Rs. 5, 00, 000/- D. Rs. 1, 00, 000/- E. Any amount 44. Refer to the following front-page news item published recently in a popular newspaper. The US-led coalition is hitting __________ "harder than ever," President Barack Obama said, sharpening his rhetoric as he came under criticism for his strategy. Obama sought to convey forward momentum even as Americans' fears grew and said. "In many places, it has lost its freedom of movement because they know we will wipe them out." Based on a reading of the above paragraph, which of the following choices should fill up the above blank most appropriately?
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 65 A. Syria B. ISIS C. Russia D. LeT E. Global terrorism 45. Which of the following players won the Australian Open Men’s Single trophy 2016? A. Sebastian Vettel B. Roger Federer C. Novak Jokovich D. Andy Murray E. None of these 46. All major economic indicators like those on inflation, income and industrial output in India are released by the A. Central Statistical Office B. Finance Ministry C. NITI Aayog D. Reserve Bank of India E. National Sample Survey Organization 47. Who was/ is the first Indian Prime Minister to address the British Parliament? A. PV Narsimha Rao B. Narendra Modi C. Indira Gandhi D. Atal Bihari Vajpayee E. None of these 48. Select the WRONG statement. A. There is no limit on the no. of withdrawals using cheques one can do in a current account B. There is no limit on the no. of withdrawals using cheques in a savings bank account C. The interest payable on a fixed deposit and a recurring deposit is typically the same in a given bank. D. Under the interest rate subvention schemes, the interest rate cut is offered by the government and not the lending bank E. All these statements are correct 49. The acronym DTAA refers to A. Indirect taxes B. Tax evasion C. Technology D. Tax avoidance E. Banking 50. Arrange the following debt instruments in the increasing sequence of their maturity period. 1. Treasury bills 2. G-Secs 3. LAF borrowings A. 1, 3, 2 B. 1, 2, 3 C. 3, 2, 1 D. 3, 1, 2 E. All of these have the same maturity period ANSWER KEY TEST – 02 Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. 1 A 2 B 3 E 4 B 5 D 6 A 7 B 8 B 9 D 10 C 11 D 12 A 13 B 14 A 15 C 16 E 17 B 18 A 19 A 20 C 21 B 22 C 23 D 24 A 25 E 26 C 27 A 28 D 29 D 30 A 31 D 32 C 33 D 34 B 35 B 36 E 37 D 38 C 39 A 40 B 41 D 42 E 43 E 44 B 45 C 46 A 47 B 48 B 49 D 50 D ..... GYANM ONLINE TESTS MORE THAN 200 TESTS FOR Rs. 300 ONLY  TEST SERIES FOR IBPS PO / CLERK FOR PRELIMS  50+ SHORT TESTS OF QUANTS, REASONING & ENGLISH  PASSWORD WITH ONE YEAR VALIDITY ACCOUNT DETAILS NAME: GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK BRANCH: Sector 34, Chandigarh A/C NO: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989 OR CALL @ 09257211740 09646888377
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 66 GYANM QUIZ - 11 How much do you know about the world around you? Take the quiz below to find out for yourself and WIN some exciting prizes as rewards. 1. Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon in A. Sarnath B. Kusinara B. Bodh Gaya C. Lumbini 2. Which of these gases is produced in bio-gas plants? A. Methane B. Propane C. Nitrous Oxide D. Carbon Dioxide 3. The Kangaroo is the national bird of A. England B. Australia C. Canada D. Switzerland 4. Who created the first-ever English dictionary? A. Dr. Samuel Johnson B. William Shakespeare C. John Keats D. Alexander Pope 5. Which one is the oldest mountain range in India? A. The Shivaliks B. The Aravalis C. The Himalayas D. The Satpuras 6. One can vote in Lok Sabha elections if one is at least ………. old. A. 18 years B. 21 years C. 30 years D. 25 years 7. Which of the following is a city state? A. Singapore B. Taiwan C. Hong Kong D. Macau 8. The child sex ratio in India has touched its lowest point (2011 census) at A. 992 B. 918 C. 948 D. 927 9. Which of the following is called a “necessary evil”? A. Friction B. Elasticity C. Viscosity D. Gravitation 10. The second round of bank nationalization in India was completed in A. 1949 B. 1969 C. 1980 D. 1991 Heartiest congratulations to the winners of Gyanm Quiz-10! 1. Rishab – Bengaluru 2. Aruna– Solan The winners are being informed by post. Name: ______________________________________ Address: ____________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ PIN: _____________________ Mobile: ___________________________________ _ My answers to Gyanm Quiz - 11 are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Signature _______________ TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Please send your responses to the quiz, along with your COMPLETE ADDRESS and PIN CODE, by 25th March, 2016. The responses can be sent By e-mail to gynam.college@gmail.com OR On Whatsapp mobile number 09646888377 OR By post to Gyanm College of Competitions, SCO 13-15, 2nd Floor, Above Domino’s, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh-160034 2. ONLY the residents of India are eligible to participate. 3. In case of multiple correct entries, a draw will be held to decide the winner/s. 4. The Prize/s CANNOT be exchanged for cash. 5. The decision of the jury shall be FINAL and BINDING on all the participants. 6. The winners’ names shall be announced in the May, 2016 issue.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 67 Profit And Pleasure ON MONUMENTS Profit and Pleasure not only tickles your nerve cells but also makes you learn interesting facts about the world. This time around, we are focusing on some famous monuments. Here we go! 1. These ancient temples, built by the Chandellas, stand testimony to the architectural and sculptural excellence of Indian artists. Besides, the statues and the carvings reveal the depth of knowledge the ancient Indians had achieved in matters concerning sex. Which world-famous temples are we talking about? 2. This iron pillar, erected in the memory of a great Indian warrior some 1400 years ago, has withstood the vagaries of extreme weather like rains, sunlight and winds without any rust or even a scratch on its face. Until recently, the scientists could not understand the technology behind it and were unable to replicate it successfully. Which technological marvel is being discussed above? 3. These four observatories in four cities, built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur in the 18th century, reveal his scientific and progressive bent of mind. They were designed for astronomical observations and calculations. The scientific precision with which they have been built would surprise a student of modern science. What is the popular name given to these observatories? 4. The Taj Mahal, though touted as a marvel of architecture, is actually based on another lesser- known medieval monument in Delhi. The design and the architectural features of both these buildings show great similarity. Can you recall this monument, situated in today’s Delhi? 5. The jaw-dropping beauty of these ruins is a reminder of the old grandeur of the Vijayanagar Empire and its urban centres. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique historical importance. Which famous tourist city is being referred to above? 6. This is the holiest of all the Sikh shrines, the foundation stone of which was laid by a Muslim saint Mian Mir. Its four gates, implying liberal entry and equality, are open to all irrespective of their faith or creed. These gates lead to the sanctum sanctorum or the actual place of worship, which is decorated with the yellow metal. Which world-famous Sikh shrine is being discussed above? 7. This building in Shimla was the summer retreat of the British Viceroys in India, who could not put up with the oppressive summer heat of north India. Post-independence, it was converted into a national- level research centre and right now, it serves as an academic campus for researchers. Which British-era building are we talking about? 8. This building in modern Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) served as the headquarters of the East India Company in India those days. The historic building used to house the clerks working for the company, which used to run its base from there. Currently, it houses the Secretariat of the West Bengal government. Which historic monument has been referred to above? 9. This building in New Delhi commemorates the unsung, unknown soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while serving the motherland. Which modern monument are we discussing here? 10. Lakhs pay their homage and seek blessings at this famous sufi shrine in Ajmer, which commemorates the memory of a legendry sufi saint. The annual urs is a major tourist draw here. Can you recall the name of the sufi saint in question? SOLUTIONS 1. Khajuraho temples (Madhya Pradesh) 2. Iron Pillar in Mehrauli (Delhi), located within the Qutub Minar complex 3. Jantar Mantar 4. Humayun’s tomb 5. Hampi (Karnataka) 6. The Golden Temple, Amritsar 7. The Viceregal Lodge 8. The Writers Building 9. India Gate 10. Khwaza Moinuddin Chishti
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 68 SSC CORNER INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS GENETICS Genetics is the study of heredity, which is the biological process of a parent passing certain traits onto his/her children. Every child inherits genes from both the biological parents and these genes, in turn, express specific traits. Some traits may be physical, for example, hair and eye color and skin colour etc. On the other hand, some genes may also carry the risk of certain diseases that may pass on from parents to their offspring. It is generally considered a part of biology, but it intersects frequently with many life sciences. Gregor Mendel, a late 19th-century scientist, is the considered the father of genetics. Mendel studied trait inheritance i.e. patterns in the way traits are handed down from parents to offspring. He observed that pea plants inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". Modern genetics has expanded beyond inheritance to studying the function and behavior of genes. ORIGINS OF HEREDITY After the rediscovery of Mendel's work, the scientists tried to determine which molecules in the cell were responsible for inheritance. In 1911, Thomas Hunt Morgan argued that genes are located on chromosomes, based on the observations on Drosophila, the fruit fly. Morgan's observation of sex-linked inheritance in Drosophila led him to the hypothesis that the genes are located on chromosomes. DNA STRUCTURE James Watson and Francis Crick determined the double helix-like structure of DNA in 1953, using X-ray crystallography. Their double-helix model had two strands of DNA with the nucleotides pointing inward, each matching a complementary nucleotide on the other strand to form a twisted ladder with rungs. This structure showed that genetic information exists in nucleotides on each DNA strand. If the strands are separated, new partner strands can be reconstructed for each based on the old strand. This property gives DNA its nature where one strand of new DNA is from an original parent strand. The genetic information lies within the cell nucleus of each cell in the body. The information can be considered to be retained in a book. Part of this book with the genetic information comes from the father while the other part comes from the mother. GENES AND GENETICS Each gene is a piece of genetic information. All DNA in the cell makes up for human genome. There are about 20,000 genes on one of the 23 chromosome pairs found in the nucleus. About 12,800 genes have been mapped to specific locations (loci) on each chromosome. This database was begun as part of the Human Genome Project. Genetic processes work in combination with an organism's environment and experiences to influence development and behavior, referred to as nature versus nurture. The intra- or extra-cellular environment of a cell or organism may switch gene transcription on or off. A classic example is two seeds of genetically identical corn, one placed in a temperate climate and one in an
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 69 arid climate. While the average height of the two corn stalks may be genetically determined to be equal, the one in the arid climate only grows to half the height of the one in the temperate climate, due to lack of water and nutrients in its environment. THE GENE A gene is a portion of DNA that codes for a known cellular function or process (e.g. to "make melanin molecules"). The nucleotides (molecules) that make up genes can be seen as 'letters' in the English language. Nucleotides are named according to the four nitrogenous bases they contain - cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine. A single gene may have a small or a large number of nucleotides. A single gene often interacts with neighboring genes to produce a cellular function. CHROMOSOMES The genes lie within the chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of these small thread-like structures in the nucleus of their cells. 23 or half of the total 46 comes from the mother while the other 23 comes from the father. The chromosomes contain genes just like the pages of a book. Some chromosomes may carry thousands of important genes while some may carry only a few. The chromosomes, and therefore the genes, are made up of the chemical substance called DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). The chromosomes are very long thin strands of DNA, coiled up tightly. Chromosomes are numbered from 1 to 22 and these are common for both sexes and are called autosomes. There are two other chromosomes given the names X and Y and are also termed sex chromosomes. The X chromosome is much larger than the Y chromosome. The genes are further made up of unique codes of chemical bases comprising A, T, C and G (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine). These chemical bases make up combinations and permutations, similar to the words on a page. These chemical bases are part of DNA. The words, when stringed together, act as the blueprints that tells the body cells when and how to grow, mature and perform various functions. With age, the genes may be affected and may develop faults and damages due to environmental and internal toxins. MALES AND FEMALES Women have 46 chromosomes (44 autosomes plus two copies of the X chromosome) in their body cells. They have half of this or 22 autosomes plus an X chromosome in their egg cells. Men have 46 chromosomes (44 autosomes plus an X and a Y chromosome) in their body cells and have half of these 22 autosomes plus an X or Y chromosome in their sperm cells. When the egg joins with the sperm, the resultant baby has 46 chromosomes (with either an XX in a female baby or XY in a male baby). MULTIPLE GENE INTERACTIONS Organisms have thousands of genes, and in sexually- reproducing organisms, these genes generally assort independently of each other. This phenomenon is known as "Mendel's second law" or the "Law of independent assortment". It means that the alleles of different genes are shuffled between the parents to form offspring with different combinations. SELF-QUIZ 1. How were the laws of heredity discovered? 2. How do you define genes? 3. What is the role of DNA in body functioning? 4. How does the process of sex determination work in humans? 5. What do you mean by the Human Genome Project?
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 70 How much well-equipped are you with vocabulary to express yourself in different situations? Take the quiz below to find out for yourself and also learn some new words as a BONUS! Directions: Given below are certain words printed in BOLD letters, followed by four choices in each case. Find out the choice which best conveys the meaning of the word in question. You will find the detailed solution to this exercise in this issue only. 1. APROPOS A. Smooth B. Relevant C. Handsome D. From Germany 2. SHRILL A. Through voice B. Critical C. In disagreement D. Jarring 3. TACIT A. Stay at a place B. Silent C. Closed D. Change dramatically 4. VOLUBLE A. Aged B. Abusive C. Excessive talker D. Fond of writing 5. INCOMMUNICADO A. Speaking little B. Decent C. Connected D. Related to eyes 6. AGGRESSIVE A. Hostile B. Roundabout way C. Peace-loving D. Pungent 7. COMMENDABLE A. Horrible B. Common C. Enjoyable D. Highly commendable 8. PLETHORA A. Going deep into a river B. A bunch of some objects C. Flexibility D. Flood 9. PACIFIST A. Broker B. Full of love C. Peace-loving D. Related to oceans 10. LEGEND A. Having no legs B. Historical C. Of heights D. Unproven 11. URBANE A. Sophisticated B. Having holes C. Well-educated D. Practical 12. TENACIOUS A. Hardworking B. Lazy C. Sensible D. Urgent 13. BUBBLY A. Swaying B. Confused C. Likely D. Lively 14. PENSIVE A. Shining B. Praiseworthy C. Thoughtful D. Reckless 15. SEDULOUS A. Persistent B. Dirty C. Interesting D. Worthy of hatred MY SCORE RATING 0-3 Get going! 4-7 Work hard! 8-11 Great, you’re almost there! 12-15 Wow! SOLUTION 1. Apropos: related, relevant, to the point Popular synonyms: pertinent, germane Examples: A. Your ideas were not apropos the discussions going on. B. All the matters apropos better relations will be taken up at the talks. 2. Shrill: adjective: jarring, piercing, searing (sound) Popular synonym: strident Examples: A. The MLAs made a shrill demand for the CM’s resignation. B. There is shrill opposition to the proposal for mandatory use of passport as an ID card.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 71 3. Tacit: adjective: silent, unspoken Popular synonyms: taciturn Examples: A. It was her tacit support to her husband’s unlawful activities, which encouraged him to go all the way into the world of crime. B. By not raising your voice against this plan, you would be tacitly supporting this atrocious idea. 4. Voluble: adjective: expressive, talkative Popular synonym: vocal Examples: A. A good salesman has to be, by definition, a voluble speaker. B. Her voluble speech gave us headache many a time. 5. Incommunicado: adjective: silent, speaking very little Popular synonym: taciturn Example: Many people are incommunicado at social events but they are quite vocal with their friends. 6. Aggressive: adjective: fighting, contentious Popular synonyms: belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious Derivation: Aggression Examples: A. Aggressive nations like North Korea always keep global tensions alive with their nuclear tests. B. The aggressive attitude she carries does not let reach a compromise with others. 7. Commendable: adjective: praiseworthy Popular synonyms: superlative, first-rate Examples: A. Shabana’s commendable portrayal made the drama a super hit. B. The phone specifications look commendable on paper but the final test lies in its use. 8. Plethora: noun: great excess, abundance Popular synonyms: cornucopia Examples: A. The reputed college library has a plethora of books on all topics. B. The plethora of hundreds of TV channels offers an unlimited choice to suit all tastes and preferences. 9. Pacifist: adjective: related to peace, peace-loving Popular synonyms: pacific Derivation: Pacifism Examples: A. The pacifist leader made all efforts to end the long-standing enmity. B. He was known to have a pacifist nature and often made peace between the warring parties in her college. 10. Legend: noun: a story/ incident of doubtful origin, un-historical Popular synonym: apocryphal, unsubstantiated Examples: A. Several legends about the freedom struggle are quite popular but most historians do not accept them. B. The storyteller often narrates many legends, often taken to be true by lay people. 11. Urbane: adjective: sophisticated, well-bred Popular synonym: debonair Examples: A. A diplomat has to be urbane- mannered while dealing with his foreign counterparts. B. The girl’s urbane disposition helped her bag the airhostess job. 12. Tenacious: adjective: persevering, hardworking Popular synonyms: industrious, sedulous Derivation: Tenacity Examples: A. My tenacious managerial work was finally recognized with a promotion. B. You may be intelligent, but without a tenacious application of mind, you can achieve nothing. 13. Bubbly: adjective: cheerful, lively Popular synonyms: vivacious, animated Example: Her bubbly face lit up every party and made it a super hit event. 14. Pensive: adjective: serious, in a thinking mood Popular synonyms: thoughtful, pondering, cogitative Examples: A. Newton sat under a tree in a pensive mood as an apple fell from above. B. As opposed to her usually pensive husband, she is an outgoing, friendly person. 15. Sedulous: adjective: hardworking, persistent Popular synonym: persevering Examples: A. A new business requires sedulous planning and thorough execution. B. The mantra of success in life is overcoming every failure and doing sedulous hard work to overcome one’s weaknesses.
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GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 73 ...............continued from page no. 38 JASWANT SINGH RAJPUT: Two time Olympic gold winner in Hockey, passed away at the age of 90 years. O N V KURUP: Jnanpith award winning, very popular and most respected Malayalam poet from Kerala passed away at the age of 84. He was honoured with Padma Sri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011. SUDHIR TAILANG: Well-known cartoonist, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 55. He was suffering from brain cancer. He worked for leading national news papers and was awarded Padma Sri in 2004. NIDA FAZLI: Renowned poet and lyricist, who enthralled several generations with his soul-stirring compositions like Kabhi kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta and Hosh waalon ko khabar kya, died in Mumbai due to heart failure. He was 78. S.S. TARAPORE: Former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, died at Mumbai at the age of 80. BALRAM JAKHAR: Veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker, four times M P, passed away in New Delhi. He was 92. AKBAR KAKKATTIL: Noted Malayalam novelist and short story writer passed away at the age of 62. HARPER LEE: One of America's most celebrated novelists whose 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" was read by millions worldwide, died at the age of 89. Equally popular was his second novel – Go Set a Watchman, published in 2015. In fact, it was the original manuscript of her first novel. BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: Former UN Secretary General, the Egyptian diplomat who became the first Secretary General from Africa in 1992, died in Cairo. He was 93. SUSHIL KOIRALA: Former Prime Minister of Nepal and President of Nepali Congress passed away in Kathmandu after prolonged illness. He was 78. EDGAR MITCHELL: NASA astronaut, who was the sixth man to walk on the Moon from Apollo 14 mission in Feb 1971, died in West Palm Beach, Florida at age of 85. JANUARY 2016 MRINALINI SARABHAI: Veteran dancer and Padma Bhushan recipient passed away in Ahmedabad. She was 97. One of the most celebrated Indian classical dancers; she was proficient in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Lt–Gen. J F R JACOB (retd): Ex Governor of Goa and Punjab and war hero of 1971 Bangladesh war, passed away in New Delhi after a brief illness. He was 92. He wrote his memoirs by the title “An Odyssey in War and Peace.” GENERAL O P MALHOTRA: Former Punjab Governor and ex-Chief of Army Staff passed away in Gurgaon due to old-age complications on Dec 29. He was 93. V. RAMA RAO: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Sikkim Governor passed away in Hyderabad after prolonged illness. He was 80. RAJESH VIVEK UPADHYAY: Noted film/ TV artist died in Hyderabad. He was 66. Rajesh was mainly known for his roles in films like Lagaan (Guran) and Swades. MUFTI MOHAMMAD SAYEED: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister breathed his last at the All–India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He was 79. He founded the Peoples Democratic Party in J&K in 1998. SAROSH HOMI KAPADIA: Former Chief Justice of India, 68, passed away in Mumbai. A.B. BARDHAN: Veteran Communist Party of India leader, 92, passed away after a long illness at New Delhi. DAVID BOWIE: One of the most influential recording artists of all time in UK, passed away due to throat cancer. He was 69. MARVIN MINSKY: Noted mathematician and the computer scientist, pioneer of artificial intelligence, died at the age of 88 in Boston, USA. NATALIE COLE: Grammy-winning US singer passed away in Los Angeles. She was 65. She gave super hits like Our Love and This Will Be.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 74 HASKELL WEXLER: Oscar – winning US cinematographer died in California. He was 93. He was one of the America’s most influential cinematographers. YASUTARO KOIDE: The world’s oldest man died in Nagoya, Japan at the age of 112 DECEMBER 2015 SADHANA (Shivdasani/Nayer): Veteran actress, who mesmerised audience with her beauty and powerful performances in timeless hits like “Hum Dono”, “Love in Simla” and “Waqt”, died in Mumbai after a brief illness. She was 74. She will always be remembered for her iconic fringe hair on forehead, famous as ‘Sadhna cut’. SHARAD JOSHI: Renowned agro-economist, founder of Shetakari Sangthana, crusader for farmers’ rights and a former Rajya Sabha member, died at Pune at 81. MAM RAMASWAMY: Industrialist, founder of Chettinad Group, former parliamentarian passed away in Chennai at the age of 84 after prolonged illness. USTAAD SABRI KHAN: Renowned sarangi player died at age of 88 due to breathing problems. He was decorated with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. DR. ROBERT L. SPITZER: Veteran psychiatrist who gave psychiatry its first set of rigorous measuring standards to describe mental disorders, died in New York. He was 83. ELDAR RYAZANOV: Russian legendary film Director died in Moscow at the age of 88. He directed some of the most popular and beloved comedies such as Irony of Fate, The Garage and Office Romance. PLACES IN NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 KUMBAKONAM: Temple town of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu was the venue for the famous Mahamaham festival on Feb 22. The event occurs once in 12 years and is also referred to as the Kumbh Mela of the South. ELEPHANTA ISLAND: Located near Mumbai, a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures depicting the cult of Shiva, was in news because the island, which was dependent upon diesel- powered generators for electricity until now, will be completely electrified by August, 2016. MURUD-JANJIRA BEACH: A picnic along the Arabian Sea went horribly wrong for a group of collegians from Pune when 13 of them drowned off the Murud-Janjira beach in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. CYCLONE WINSTON: One of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation Fiji, killing over 44 persons, flattening remote villages and cutting off communications. JANUARY 2016 PATHANKOT: A group of 6 suspected Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab in the wee hours of January 2, engaging security forces in a fierce gunbattle lasting two days. All the attackers were killed but not before 7 defence personnel attained martyrdom. KALIACHAK: A small town 25 kms southwest of Malda in West Bengal was in news as more than a dozen policemen were injured and police station was set on fire in mob fury in an incident of communal violence. UMAID BHAWAN PALACE: in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has been adjudged the best hotel in the world based on reviews and opinions collected by travel site Trip Advisor for its ‘Travellers’ Choice awards for Hotels'. CHARSADDA: At least 25 persons were killed and several other were seriously wounded when Taliban suicide attackers stormed the prestigious Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, near Peshawar in Pakistan. MAZAR-e-SHARIF: City in Afghanistan was in news as the Indian Consulate there was attacked by the heavily armed terrorists. An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists ended in the killing of all attackers. RAMADI: City in Iraq was declared liberated from the Islamic State group after clinching a landmark victory against the jihadists. The city was lost to IS in May, 2015. DECEMBER 2015 KANNUR: Town in Kerala was in news as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated 35,950 cannon balls at the historic Fort St Angelo in the town. The cannon balls made of iron, weighing 800 gms to 10 kg., were unearthed when workers were digging the earth to lay a cable channel for a light and sound show. JAZAN: Port city in southwestern Saudi Arabia was in news as a fire in its general hospital killed 31 people and injured 107. SHENZHEN: In China, more than 90 persons were killed due to a landslide caused by the collapse of a huge mound of waste construction mud in Shenzhen industrial area in south China.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 75 SAN BERNARDINO: A city in California, USA was in news as gunmen opened fire on a holiday party at a social services agency, killing 14 people and wounding 17 others. Two gunmen were killed later on. TYPHOON NONA (Melor): Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from the central Philippines as a typhoon with winds of up to 150 kph made landfall, causing heavy rains leading to massive flooding and landslides. SPORTS WORLD FEBRUARY 2016 Dutee Chand, ace sprinter set a new national record in the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha. Kidambi Srikanth won the Men's Singles title of the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships held in Lucknow, U P. Anirban Lahiri, India’s top golfer has been voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an online poll. Rishabh Pant, Wicketkeeper-batsman in India U-19 team created world record for fastest 50 playing against Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Mirpur, Bangladesh. Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis won the St. Petersburg Ladies Doubles Trophy. 12th South Asian Games came to an end on Feb 16 at Guwahati. India finished at the top with a record 308 medals - 188 Gold, 90 Silver and 30 Bronze. Shooter Chain Singh won record 6 Gold medals. Hosted city was Shillong and Guwahati. 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in 2019. Ranji Trophy: Mumbai won the prestigious cricket championship defeating Saurashtra in Pune, Maharashtra. The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj won the three-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka 3-0 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Hockey India League: Jaypee Punjab Warriors won the championship by beating Kalinga Lancers in Ranchi, Jharkhand. 36th National Chess team Championship was won by the Indian Railways in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Punjab defeated Mizoram to lift the Dr BC Roy Trophy for the National Junior Football Championship at Hoshiarpur, Punjab. 83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Aditya Mehta won the title by defeating Manan Chandra in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 34th Senior National Rowing Championship held at Hussainsagar Lake, Hyderabad. Kerala won the 61st National School Athletics championship held in Kozhikode, Kerala India achieved a rare 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 International against Australia in Sydney to emerge on the top of the ICC T20 rankings. The Indian women’s cricket team made history on Jan 29 by clinching its maiden T20 series win over three- time world champions Australia in Melbourne. Fittipaldi of Brazil won the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 race in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. AUSTRALIAN OPEN concludes in Melbourne, Australia. First of the four grand slams of tennis Men’s Singles: World Number One Novak Djokovic of Serbia beats Andy Murray of Britain Women’s Singles: Germany's Angelique Kerber got her maiden grand slam title by beating defending champion world no 1, Serena Williams of USA Men’s Doubles: Jamie Murray of UK and Brazil’s Bruno Soares won the title Women’s Doubles: Sania Mirza of India Martina Hingis of Switzerlandwon the title Quinton De Kock, batsman from South Africa became the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10 centuries in ODIs. He notched it up in just 55 innings, beating the record of Hashim Amla who had notched up 10 tons in 57 innings. He scored his 10th century in Centurion, SA, playing against England. Brendon McCullum, New Zealand Skipper has smashed the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls, playing against Australia at Christchurch. Previous record was held by Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq, in 56 deliveries. Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: won by Sean Abbott, the bowler from Australia. ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup: The West Indies won the cup for the first time, beating three time champions India in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 76 Badminton Asia Team Championships: China and Indonesia won the women’s and men’s categories, respectively, in Hyderabad. 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted by Fukuoka city of Japan and by Doha, Qatar in 2023. The first ever Asia Cup in its T-20 format started from February 24th in Bangladesh. The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be hosted by England in June 2017. Helmet for Umpires: Concerned about the safety of its on-field officials, the ICC has decided to provide specially designed helmets to umpires in the upcoming World T20 in India to ensure their safety. JANUARY 2016 DHANWADE SCORES RECORD 1009 RUNS Mumbai teenager Pranav Dhanawade scripted history by becoming the first batsman ever to notch up a four- figure score by smashing an unbeaten knock of 1009 including 59 sixes and 129 fours in 6 hours 35 minutes. The 15-year-old, playing for KC Gandhi Higher Secondary School, reached the gigantic score in just 323 deliveries with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 312.38 in the game against Arya Gurukul in the Bhandari Cup inter-school tournament organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s off-spinner was ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings for 2015. PV Sindhu won the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Badminton title beating Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour in the final at Penang, Malaysia. Jehan Daruvala of India won the New Zealand's most popular motor race the Lady Wigram Trophy. Siril Verma, young Indian badminton player was declared number one in junior men's singles category in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings. APURVI CHANDELA broke the world record on 5 January 2016 to grab a gold medal in the women's 10 metre air rifle event with a score of 211.2 at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix in Savsjo, Sweden. Later, she won her second gold in 10 metre tri series event, thereby also winning the title of ‘Shooter of the Tournament’ V V S Laxman's classy innings of 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001 has been rated as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years in an online survey by the ‘Cricket Magazine’. ONGC won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament by beating Railways in New Delhi. Rakhi Haldar and Kavita Devi won gold in their respective weight categories in the Senior National Weightlifting Championships held in Patiala, Punjab. Arunima Sinha, the amputee mountaineer who set a record by climbing the Mount Everest, conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain outside Asia, at 6960.8 metres. India won the first T20 Asia cup Cricket for Blind beating Pakistan by 44 runs in the finals held at Kochi, Kerala. Delhi International Chess Tournament started in Delhi on Jan. 9 BCCI ANNUAL HONOURS 'Cricketer of the Year' - Men: Virat Kohli, Indian Test captain 'Cricketer of the Year' - Women: Mithali Raj, 1st Indian woman and 2nd in world to complete 5,000 runs in ODI India beat defending champions Afghanistan 2-1 in the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Chennai Open Tennis: Stanislaus Wawrinka (Swiss) won the cup for the third time in row, beating Borna Coric of Croatia. The 76th All-India Inter-University Athletics Championship was held in Patiala and the Punjabi University emerged as the overall champions for the sixth year in a row. Senior National Wrestling Championship, New Delhi Gold won by Bajrang Punia in Men's 65kg and Ritu Phogat in women's 48kg Freestyle categories. Priyanka Phogat won the gold in the women’s 55kg category. Overall championship was won by Railways in men’s category and by Haryana in women’s category. Vijay Merchant (U-16) Trophy: Punjab won the cricket trophy after beating Mumbai in Bengaluru. Premier Badminton League: Delhi Acers won the title by beating Mumbai Rockets in New Delhi. Indian women boxers won 4 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals at the 5th Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) Nations Cup in Ruma, Serbia. The 61st National School Athletic Meet held at Kozhikode, Kerala from Jan 29. Justice (Retd) R M Lodha committee appointed by the S C to look into the affairs of BCCI has recommended sweeping reforms that include a bar on ministers from occupying positions, putting a cap on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalising betting.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 77 Japan's Izumo Takuto and Hong Kong's Zhu Chengzhu won the boys' and girls' table tennis titles, respectively, in the 11Even Sports 2015 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. FIFA Ballon d'Or award: Lionel Messi of Argentina won the World Player of the Year Award for the fifth time. FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli Lloyd, US midfielder claimed her first award. INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION ANNUAL AWARDS 2015 Player of the Year (men): Robert Van der Horst, The Netherlands Player of the Year (women): Lidewij Welten, The Netherlands World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the Qatar Masters Open Chess Tournament. Ronnie O'Sullivan of Britain won his sixth World Snooker Masters title after defeating Barry Hawkins in London. Shivnarine Chanderpaul: The West Indies batsman announced his retirement from international cricket Veteran tennis star Marat Safin became the first Russian player to enter the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame, USA. 2015 BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL Tennis Tournament at Brisbane, Australia. Men’s Singles: Milos Raonic of Canada defeated Roger Federer Women’s Singles: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beats A Kerber Men’s Doubles: Henri Kontinen & John Peers Women’s doubles: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis Australia has declined to take part in forthcoming Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh citing security reasons. DECEMBER 2015 NATIONAL P V Sindhu has won the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament for the third consecutive time, beating Minatsu Mitani of Japan. Thakur Anoop Singh won the Mr. World title in the World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. Deborah Herold has become the first Indian female cyclist to be ranked fourth in the World Elite Women Ranking for the 500m time trial event. Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy won the doubles title in the Mexico Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament in Mexico City. Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Syed Kirmani, India's former wicket-keeper batsman who played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs between 1976 and 1986. The award is given by the BCCI in the honour of India’s first test cricket captain, Col C K Naidu. Gujarat won their maiden Vijay Hazare Cricket Trophy by beating Delhi in the finals played in Bengaluru. 18th Asian Luge Championship: Shiva Keshavan of Manali, HP won a silver medal at Nagano, Japan. Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament: India’s K Srikanth suffered a very narrow defeat from Tommy Sugiarto who won the finals in Malang, Indonesia. 59th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi. Vijay Kumar, Olympic medalist won gold in the men's 25-metre centre fire pistol Apurvi Chandela won Gold medal in the 10-metre Air Rifle event Chain Singh won the Gold in the 50-metre Rifle event Elizabeth Susan Koshy won Women's 50m Rifle Gold The 68th National Track Cycling Championship held at Ludhiana, Punjab. The 22nd National Cricket Tournament for the visually impaired was held in New Delhi. 2nd Indian Super League Football tournament: Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa in the finals played in Goa. Commonwealth Table-Tennis Championships were held in Surat, Gujarat. India topped the medal tally with 16 medals. All India Football Federation has named midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh and striker Bala Devi as the Player- of-the-Year and woman Footballer - of - the - Year, respectively.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 78 Senior National Weightlifting Championships, Patiala: Haryana's Deepak Lather won gold medal in the men's 62kg category and set a new national record. Vikas Thakur of Services created a new national record as he won the gold medal in the 85kg category. 12th National Ice-Skating Championship held in Gulmarg, J&K from Dec 30 to Jan 03, 2016. Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) awarded Player of the Year title for the PGTI Order of Merit to Bengaluru’s S Chikkarangappa as he won the McLeod Russel Tour Championship at Kolkata. India won four-match Test series against South Africa, 3-0, played in India. Pro Wrestling League: Mumbai Garuda outclassed Haryana Hammers to clinch the inaugural title in New Delhi. Two new teams, Pune and Rajkot have become the new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a period of two years, replacing the suspended teams of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Hockey World League: Australia defeated Belgium to lift the title at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium, Raipur, Madhya Pradesh. THE 12TH SOUTH ASIAN GAMES will be held in Guwahati and Shillong from February 6 to 16, 2016. A replica of a rhinoceros calf, named Tikhor has been selected as the mascot of the games. The highly endangered one-horned rhinoceros is the state animal of Assam. INTERNATIONAL Robert Lewandowski, Polish professional footballer’s nine-minute, five-goal haul for German Football Club Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg earned him Guinness World Record for fastest three, four and five goals. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Underdog Tyson Fury shocked the boxing world by giving a stunning defeat to the reigning world heavy weight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine on Nov 28, becoming the first Briton to hold a world heavyweight crown since 2011. BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 award won by tennis star Andy Murray of UK Dan Carter, winner of Rugby World Cup from New Zealand, has been named 2015 Sports Personality of the Year. Chen Long of China and Carolina Marin of England were declared Male and Female Player of the Year, respectively, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in Dubai. CRICKETER OF THE YEAR - 2015: Australian batsman Steve Smith has been selected for this prestigious award by the ICC. He was also named ‘Test Cricketer of the Year. ODI Cricketer of the Year 2015: South Africa's ODI captain batsman AB de Villiers FIFA Club World Cup: Barcelona (Spain) won the cup by beating River Plate (USA) in finals played in Yokohama, Japan. The International Tennis Federation announced following rankings for 2015: Men’s World Champion - Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Women’s World Champion - Serena Williams (the USA) Men’s Doubles World Champions - Jean-Julien Rojer & Horia Tecau Women’s Doubles World Champions: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis Great Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 after the British Andy Murray beat Belgium's David Goffin in Ghent, Belgium. Brendon McCullum, New Zealand cricket captain announced on Dec 22 his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Ethics Committee of football's global governing body FIFA has banned its President Sepp Blatter and European football Chief Michel Platini from all football- related activities for eight years on corruption charges. ALL THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN SOURCED FROM VARIOUS NEWS PAPERS AND GOVT. PRESS RELEASES
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 79 DAYS AND DATES FEBRUARY World Cancer Day 04th Feb World Radio Day 13th Feb Valentine’s Day 14th Feb Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day 20th Feb Central Excise Day 24th Feb National Science Day 28th Feb MARCH World Wildlife Day 03rd March International Women’s Day 08th March No Smoking Day 13th March World Disabled Day 15th March St. Patricks Day 17th March World Sparrow Day 20th March World Poetry Day 21st March World Water Day 22nd March World Meteorological Day 23rd March World Stage Artists Day 27th March World Earth Hour (8:30 pm to 9:30 pm) 29th March Financial Year Ending 31st March APRIL April Fool’s Day 1st April National Maritime Day 05th April World Health Day 07th April World Heritage Day 18th April Civil Service Day 21st April World Earth Day 22nd April World Books Day 23rd April World Maleria Day 25th April World Intellectual Property Day 26th April .... GYANM ONLINE TESTS MORE THAN 200 TESTS FOR Rs. 300 ONLY  TEST SERIES FOR IBPS PO / CLERK FOR PRELIMS  50+ SHORT TESTS OF QUANTS, REASONING & ENGLISH  PASSWORD WITH ONE YEAR VALIDITY ACCOUNT DETAILS NAME: GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK BRANCH: Sector 34, Chandigarh A/C NO: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989 OR CALL @ 09257211740 09646888377
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 80 Some Insurance Terms ACT OF GOD: Event caused by nature that is so unpredictable as to be unavoidable, for example, the timing and location of earthquakes or floods. Acts of God are normally insured against as a matter of course. ACTUARY: A person professionally trained in the technical aspects of insurance and related fields. The actuary estimates how much money must be contributed to an insurance pension fund in order to provide future funds. ANNUITY PLANS: These plans provide for a "pension" (or a mix of a lumpsum amount and a pension) to be paid to the policy holder or his spouse. In the event of death of both of them during the policy period, a lumpsum amount is provided for the next of kin. ASSIGNMENT: A method by which the policy holder can transfer his interest in the policy to another person, usually to a creditor (bank). An assignment can be made by an endorsement on the policy document or as a separate deed. Assignment can be of two types: Conditional and Absolute ASSURED (INSURED): The person whose life is covered by a policy of insurance. AVERAGE CLAUSE (CONDITION OF AVERAGE): In marine and commercial insurance and some fire insurance policies, a clause in the policy that stipulates certain items shall be subject to average if there is underinsurance. CAVEAT EMPTOR: Latin for “let the buyer beware”. In legal terms, it means that a buyer should use his or her common sense, and that the law is not prepared to aid someone who buys anything foolishly. CO-INSURANCE: When several insurance companies form a group and come together to issue one single policy. COMPENSATION: In case of life insurance, the amount to be paid by the insurance company to the policy holder or his nominees in case of death. In case of general insurance, the amount paid to the policy holder to compensate for his loss. The amount is paid on the basis of the prior agreement which clearly states the amount to be paid in case ‘contingency’. CONTINGENCY: The occurrence of the eventuality for which the policy is taken is called ‘contingency’. In case of life insurance, the death is the contingency, in case of fire insurance, the incident of fire in the factory are the contingencies for which the compensation is paid to the insured or his nominees. COVER NOTE: A document issued by an insurance company giving cover for a short time, often one month, while a complete policy (and, possibly, an insurance certificate) is drawn up and issued. ENDOWMENT POLICY: The policies taken up for a specific period are known as ‘endowment policies’. The insurer has to pay the premium for a specific period for which the policy is taken or till death, ‘whichever is earlier’. The insured amount is payable either at the end of specified number of years or upon the death of the insured person, whichever is earlier. EX-GRATIA PAYMENT: In insurance, a payment made to settle an issue (such as an insurance claim) but without admitting liability. FREE LOOK PERIOD: It refers to the short period available immediately after buying a policy within which the policyholder can return the policy, if he is not satisfied with its terms and conditions. The premium paid by the policyholder is also returned after deducting expenses. GRACE PERIOD: It refers to the period available after the due date for paying the premium during which it can be deposited, along with a penalty, if stipulated. INDEMNITY: Legal principle that specifies the insured should be restored to approximately the same financial position as existed before the loss. It is security against responsibility for one's actions. INSURABLE INTEREST: The reasonable concern of a person to obtain insurance for any individual or property against unforeseen events such as death, losses, etc. is known as Insurable interest. A person is expected to have reasonable interest in a longer life for himself, his family, business and hence is in need of acquiring insurance for these. Therefore, insurable interest is often related to ownership, relationship by law or blood and possession. However, it is not an important element of life insurance contracts under modern law. Entities not subject to financial loss from an event do not have an insurable interest and cannot purchase an insurance policy to cover that event. INSURANCE POLICY: The document issued by the insurance company which states the names of the persons insured and the terms of the policy is known as Insurance Policy.
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 81 INSURANCE: A contract of indemnity under which the insurer agrees to provide compensation to the insured in the event of a specified occurrence, e.g. a loss of life or damage to property and in return, the insured pays the insurer a premium, usually at fixed intervals. INSURED: The person on whose life the policy is taken. The insurer has shifted the burden of risk to his life to the insurance company on payment of a particular amount as mutually decided called premium. INSURED AMOUNT: The maximum amount that the insurer has to pay in case of the contingent event happening, is called ‘insured amount’. In case of life insurance, the insured amount is paid either at the time of death of the insurer. INSURER : The organisation which has undertaken to make compensatory payment to the insured or to his nominees in case of contingency, is the insurer. LAPSED POLICY: A policy which has terminated due to non-payment of the premium due and is no longer in force. MATURITY CLAIM: The payment to the policy holder at the end of the stipulated policy term is called a maturity claim. MATURITY: The date upon which the face amount of a life insurance policy, if not previously invoked due to the contingency covered (death), is paid to the policyholder. MONEY BACK POLICY: Unlike endowment plans, in money back policies, the policy holder gets periodic "survivance payments" during the term of the policy and a lumpsum amount on surviving its term. NOMINATION: A provision by which a policyholder can designate any person to receive the policy money in the event of his death. The insured person chooses or nominates his/her nominee at the time of buying the life insurance policy. Nominee is usually the spouse, children or parents. The insured person can nominate one or more person as his/her nominee. OVER INSURANCE: when the insured takes insurance for value more than the value of the expected loss. A car is valued at rupees five lacs and the owner gets it insured for ten lacs. It is a moral hazard for the insurer because the insured may be tempted to make a false claim. PREMIUM: The amount that is needed to be paid to the insurance company to keep the policy going (alive) is known as premium. It is the price of the insurance cover. RE INSURANCE: To take precaution against a larger risk perceived, the insurance companies cover their risk by taking insurance from the reinsurer; e.g. an insurance company having insured an aircraft may further take insurance from another company as it may not be able to bear the risk of paying the compensation in case of contingency. RISK: It is the obligation assumed by the insurer while issuing a policy. The spreading of risk across a broad base of the population, adjusted for statistical probability, and the protection against catastrophic loss, forms the basis of insurance business. SURRENDER VALUE: The amount payable to the policy holder in the event of his deciding to terminate the policy before the maturity of the policy. SURVIVAL BENEFIT: The payment of sum assured to the insured person which has become due by installments under a money back policy. THIRD PARTY INSURANCE: The insurance policy purchased by the insured from the insurer for protection against the claim against the claims of the third party. The first party is responsible for its own loses whether caused by itself or the third party. UNDER INSURANCE: Inadequate insurance cover taken by the insured or the holder of a policy. In the event of a claim, underinsurance will result in loss to the insured. In such a case the amount of claim to be paid by the company will be less than the actual loss that suffered by the insured. UNDERWRITER: Person or institution that agrees to take up a proportion of the risk of something, in return for a commission, for example, an underwriter may take up the shares of an issue that are not bought by the public. VESTING AGE: The age at which the receipt of pension starts in an insurance-cum-pension plan. VOID CONTRACT: A contract drawn up on the basis of misunderstanding on both sides. Such a contract is deemed never to have existed. WHOLE LIFE POLICY: A policy in which premiums are paid throughout the life time of life assured. The claim will be paid only in the event of the death of the insured. This policy has lowest premium. WITHOUT-PROFIT POLICY: These policies are not entitled to participate in bonuses. WITH-PROFIT POLICY: Policies entitled to bonus, which is paid at the time of claim-death or maturity one with-profit policies. TYPES OF GENERAL INSURANCE
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GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 83 Latest G.K. Bytes FEBRUARY – 2016 1) Name the two South East Asian countries recently visited by our Vice President: Brunei and Thailand 2) First Grand Slam of Tennis 2016 was held at which place: Melbourne, Australia 3) _____________ won the Men’s Singles title of Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 4) _____________ won the Women’s Singles title of Australian Open: Angelique Kerber 5) Angelique Kerber, winner of Women’s title in Australian Open, is from which country: Germany 6) Which Union Ministry has decided to reduce the threshold for coverage of firms under the EPFO: Labour Ministry 7) What is the full form of EPFO: Employees’ Provident Fund Organization 8) The threshold for coverage of firms under the EPFO has been reduced to _________ workers from 20 at present: 10 9) General K V Krishna Rao, former Army Chief was in news for what reasons: He passed away 10) General K V Krishna Rao played key role in which major Indian war: 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War 11) ICC has decided upon what new measures for the safety of the umpires: They will be provided by specially designed helmets 12) The Indian women’s cricket team made history by clinching its maiden T20 series against which country: Australia 13) Name the author of the book Why we love the way we do: Preeti Shenoy 14) Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin is a book written by which author: Anup Sardesai 15) What is the name of the book by Former President APJ Abdul Kalam based on his spiritual experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj: Transendence 16) What is the name of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft which is about to replace the MiG fighters: Tejas Mark 1-A 17) The GDP growth for 2014-15 has been scaled down to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3%, by which Government organization: Central Statistics Office (CSO) 18) As per latest CSO data, per capita income during 2015-16 is likely to be above ________ thousand rupees: 77 19) As per a list compiled by Wealth-X in collaboration with Business Insider, _______ is the 2nd richest person in India: Ajim Premji 20) Central government has selected how many cities in the first phase for development as smart cities: 20 21) ADB will provide a $80 million loan for improving the infrastructure in which two North-Eastern cities: Agartala and Aizawl 22) Henri Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch was recently awarded which international honour: Human Rights Award 23) Human Rights Award is given by which global organization: Amnesty International, Germany 24) A commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a circulation coin of 10 rupees was released on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of which great freedom fighter: Lala Lajpat Rai 25) 34th Senior National Rowing Championship was held at Hussainsagar Lake in which city: Hyderabad 26) Anti-Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January in the honour of which national leader: Mahatma Gandhi 27) Name the player who won the 83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Aditya Mehta 28) Which city hosted the 83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Indore, MP 29) Gurdeep Singh has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of which Maharatna company: NTPC Ltd. 30) What is the full form of NTPC Ltd: National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. 31) Indian railways, for the first time, has exported six metro coaches to which country: Australia 32) Which country has produced the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’: Japan 33) Growth of core sector was mere 0.9% December, 2015. How many industries are there in core sector: Eight 34) In its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review for year 2015-16 announced on Feb 2, RBI changed which of its policy rates: None 35) Which paramilitary force of India has appointed, for the first time a woman as its Director General: Sahastra Seema Bal 36) Sahastra Seema Bal looks after the security of which part of border of India: Nepal and Bhutan 37) K Durga Prasad, a senior IPS officer has been
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 84 appointed Director General of which paramilitary force: CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) 38) __________ has been appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force: K K Sharma 39) UN initiative for peace talks to resolve the civil war issue in Syria was held in which place: Geneva 40) Which global social networking application recently crossed the one billion user milestone: WhatsApp 41) The first ever Asia Cup in its T-20 format started from February 24th in which country: Bangladesh 42) Murud Janjira Beach was in news as 13 members of a group of students drowned there during a picnic. Where is this beach: District Raigad, Maharashtra 43) Which of India’s neighbour country has agreed to allow visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of India: Afghanistan 44) MPs led by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, took their seats in the parliament, marking end to the military rule since 1962 in which country: Myanmar 45) India achieved a rare 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 International against which country to emerge on the top of the ICC T20 rankings: Australia 46) Name the veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker, who passed away recently: Balram Jakhar 47) President of India recently conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army to Chief of Army of which country: Nepal 48) 61st National School Athletics championship were hosted by which city: Kozhikode, Kerala 49) Which state won the 61st National School Athletics championship: Kerala 50) Dial D for Don is a book written by former Police Commissioner of Delhi. Name him: Neeraj Kumar 51) Ancestral Affairs is a book written by which author: Keki Daruwalla 52) World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the explosive spread of which disease: Zika Virus 53) As per recent market reports, which is the largest company of the world in terms of market capitalization: Alphabet 54) Which bank has launched a new home loan scheme "FlexiPay Home Loan", offering higher amount and up to five years of interest moratorium to young professionals: State Bank of India 55) Name the former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India who passed away in February: S.S. Tarapore 56) The World Bank has agreed to give $ 35 million credit for the Citizen Access to Responsive Services Project of which state: Madhya Pradesh 57) Jai Kumar Garg has been appointed MD and CEO of which public sector bank: Corporation Bank 58) 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted by _______city of Japan: Fukuoka 59) Which company has launched a 150-cc bike named ‘V’ that contains metal sourced from India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant: Bajaj Auto 60) Men’s Singles Title in the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships was won by which player: Kidambi Srikanth 61) Name the veteran wildlife filmmaker who won the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award: Naresh Bedi 62) 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela was held at which place: Faridabad, Haryana 63) Name the Indian film that won the Best First Foreign Film Award given by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics: Titli 64) D J Pandian, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat has been appointed vice-president and chief investment officer of which newly formed global financial institution: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 65) Which govt organization has launched the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34 for Diabetes type 2 patients: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 66) For what purpose the Government has decided to infuse about 5,000 crore rupees capital in the public sector banks: To strengthen their balance sheet for compliance of Basel III capital norms 67) Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed the world’s first vaccine against which major disease: Zika Virus 68) Name the major employment scheme run by govt. that completed 10 years in February: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 69) Name the state that won the Dr BC Roy Trophy for the National Junior Football Championship: Punjab 70) The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, led by ______, one of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New Zealand on Feb 4: USA 71) Name the former Prime Minister of Nepal and President of Nepali Congress who passed away in Kathmandu: Sushil Koirala 72) Who was Nida Fazli who enthralled several generations with his soul-stirring compositions like Kabhi kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta and Hosh waalon ko khabar kya: Renowned poet and lyricist 73) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has barred telecom service providers from charging differential rates for data services. This is in promotion of which concept: Net neutrality 74) According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 85 estimated at ______per cent in the October- December 2015 quarter: 7.3 75) Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected one of the largest maritime events in the recent past – the International Fleet Review 2016 at which place: Off the Visakhapatnam coast 76) Sudhir Tailang, a well-known ______ , passed away in New Delhi: Cartoonist 77) Crown Prince of ________, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India on goodwill visit: Abu Dhabi 78) The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to discuss politico-security, economic and socio- cultural engagement between the ________ and India: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 79) Name the former UN Secretary General, the Egyptian diplomat who became the first Secretary General from Africa in 1992: Boutros Boutros- Ghali 80) Reserve Bank has decided to undertake which step to check handling of customer complaints and how banks have implemented Charter of Customer Rights: Incognito visits to bank branches 81) Govt issued what important guideline in Feb for short-term post office deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and other small saving schemes below five years of maturity: Rate cut by 25 basis points 82) 12th South Asian Games came to an end on Feb 16 at which place: Guwahati 83) Which country won the highest number of medals in the 12th South Asian Games: India 84) India emerged number one in the 12th South Asian Games by winning total _______ medals: 308 85) Name the ace Indian Shooter who won record six medals in the 12th South Asian Games: Chain Singh 86) 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in which year: 2019 87) As per Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the Quality Council of India to rank the Indian cities on the basis of cleanliness, _________ has been ranked no. one: Mysuru 88) Central Bank of which major economy has imposed, for the first time, a negative interest rate of minus 0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits placed with it: Japan 89) BAFTA awards 2016 were given away in London on Feb 14. What is the full form of BAFTA: British Academy of Film and Television Awards 90) Which film won the BAFTA award for the best film: The Revenant 91) The two opposing sect heads of Christians met nearly after 1000 years. What is the name of the minority sect: Russian Orthodox 92) Name the iconic football player from Brazil was in news as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze his assets worth almost $ 50 million: Neymar 93) Supreme court has directed RBI to submit a list of defaulter companies whose bank dues are more than Rs. ___________ crorers: 500 94) World’s longest train route, running for 10,400 kms, starts from and ends at which place: Yiwu (China) and Bander Abbas (Iran) 95) What is the formal name given to this 10,400 kms rail route: Belt and Road connectivity initiative 96) Name the Jnanpith award winning, very popular and most respected Malayalam poet from Kerala, who passed away at the age of 84: O N V Kurup 97) Prime Minister Mr. Modi inaugurated the Make in India Week on Feb 13 in which city: Mumbai 98) Mr. Modi has been highlighting the 4D blessings of Indian economy. What are these 4Ds: Democracy, Demography, Demand and Deregulation 99) World famous Grammy Awards are given for excellence in which field: Music 100) 58th Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 15th February at which place: Los Angeles, USA 101) Grammy for Record of the Year was won by Uptown Funk by which artist: Mark Ronson 102) Taylor Swift won the Grammy for the Album of the Year. What is the name of the Album: 1989 Taylor Swift 103) 36th National Chess team Championship was won by the _____________in Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Indian Railways 104) ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’ is one of the highest civilian award of which country: France 105) Name the Indian fashion designer who was conferred above award in February 2016: Manish Arora 106) What is the effective target range of the recently tested Prithvi-II missile: 350 kms 107) Lamitye 2016, the 7th joint military exercise was conducted by Indian army with which other country’s army: Seychelles 108) Which country hosted the ICC under–19 Cricket World Cup-2016 : Bangladesh 109) ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup-2016 was won by which country: West Indies 110) The three day annual World Government Summit was hosted by which city: Dubai 111) In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the protection of IPR, India ranked 37th. What is the full form of IPR: Intellectual Property Rights 112) In a recent survey of countries for assessing protection of IPRs, which country was placed at top: USA 113) Elephanta island, a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures depicting the cult of Shiva, is located where: Near Mumbai 114) Why Elephanta island was in news recently: Govt. has decided to provide electricity supply to this island
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 86 115) What is the title of the latest book written by Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist: Bullets and Bylines 116) Akbar Kakkattil, noted novelist and short story writer passed away at the age of 62. He hailed from which state: Kerala 117) Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based multinational company has selected which Indian corporate as their partner for manufacturing M777 howitzers in India: Mahindra’s 118) M777 howitzer guns will be used as major weapon by which proposed army formation: Mountain Strike Corps 119) Govt. proposes to assign the security of which border area to Mountain Strike Corps: Mountainous borders with China 120) Which Indian bank has launched an exclusive ‘Japan Desk’ as a single nodal point for Japanese corporates: State Bank of India 121) The 4-day National Arogya Fair organised by the central and state government in collaboration with CII was held in which place: Dehradun 122) National Arogya Fair was organized to showcase and promote the strengths, efficacy and affordability of the AYUSH. What is the full form of AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy 123) First phase of world’s largest solar power plant, with a capacity to produce 580 mw was started in which country on Feb 4: Morocco 124) Name the batsman from South Africa who became the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10 centuries in ODIs: Quinton De Kock 125) Which global organization has released a report called 'One Humanity: Shared Responsibility': UNO 126) India observed the first National Deworming Day on which date: Feb 10 127) What is the objective of the National Deworming Day: To combat parasitic worm infections among children 128) Which deworming tablet is provided free to school and pre-schools children who fight worm infections: Albendezole 129) The Reserve Bank of India has released the Report of the Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. P.G. Apte) on which topic: Introduction of Interest Rate Options in India 130) Name the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier which is destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016: INS Viraat 131) Which state has decided to convert INS Viraat into a luxury hotel for promotion of tourism in the State: Andhra Pradesh 132) What is the name of the 9th edition of India-Nepal Combined Military Exercise: Surya Kiran IX 133) Surya Kiran IX military exercise was held in which area: Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand 134) Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ for what purpose: For joint operation on humanitarian aid and disaster relief 135) Sino-India Cooperation 2016 - joint tactical exercise was held in which part of China border: Ladakh 136) Which ministry has launched the 24x7 Toll Free Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages to facilitate tourists: Union Ministry of Tourism 137) ______________ has become the first country in the world to legally ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks: France 138) As per the National Air Quality Indices for 24 cities by Central Pollution Control Board, __________ is the city with worst air quality: Varanasi 139) Directors Guild of America Award for best film director was won by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for which film: The Revenant 140) Government has launched ____________for prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North-Eastern states: Project Sunrise 141) Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery started production in Paradip in which state: Odisha 142) Government has decided to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute in which state: Sikkim 143) Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 2016’– the biggest multilateral military exercise. It was hosted by which country: Thailand 144) Golden Conch Award is given for excellence in which field: Documentary Films 145) Golden Conch Award is given at which film festival: Mumbai International Film Festival 146) World Cancer Day was observed across the world on which date: 4th February 147) What was this year’s theme for the World Cancer Day: We can, I can 148) In a global survey by Brand Finance for brand power, which Indian firm has been rated as the World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services: TCS – Tata Consultancy Services 149) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched the BGR-34, country's first ayurvedic drug for treatment of which major disease: Diabetes type - II 150) In the anti-diabetic drug, acronym BGR stands for what: Blood Glucose Regulator 151) Aruna Sethi has been appointed as the first women head of the which all India administrative service: Indian Cost Accounts Services 152) Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for 2015-2016 was conferred on Pandit Ram Narayan. He is a master player of which instrument: Sarangi 153) Haryana and the Province of Ontario in
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 87 ___________have signed a MoU for enhancing commercial and cultural ties between the two states: Canada 154) Parameshwaran Iyer, a World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist has been selected by the Indian govt. to head which major national mission: Swachh Bharat Mission 155) Which union ministry has launched its official YouTube channel with a view to disseminate information to the public on a real-time basis: Finance Ministry 156) The app myCAMS has been launched for what purpose in context of mutual fund business: To facilitate paperless eKYC 157) Edgar Mitchell, a NASA astronaut passed away in February in USA. What was his special achievement: He was the sixth man to walk on the Moon. 158) National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has raised a special squad of which animal to boost its rescue efforts in earthquake hit areas: Dogs 159) Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai has issued ‘Geographical Indication’ tag for which item to 7 states in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Basmati Rice 160) The 47th two-day Conference of Governors of all Indian states and Lt. Governors of UTs was hosted by which institution: The Rashtrapati Bhavan 161) The first ever Petrochemical project in entire North East India was started in February in Dibrugarh in which state: Assam 162) The Assam gas cracker project will produce HDPE, LLDPE and PP products for use of which industry: Plastic Processing Industry 163) The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be hosted by ________________ in June 2017: England 164) The Indian government has finally sanctioned Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala-Akhaura rail link with which country: Bangladesh 165) The 6th National Science Film Festival & Competition was held in which city: Mumbai 166) India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near Bagodara village in which state: Gujarat 167) What is the objective of setting up aviation park: To promote special units to manufacture spare parts for aircrafts 168) The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031 has been unveiled by which ministry: The environment ministry 169) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has signed an agreement with which group of countries to improve cooperation in cyber defense: European Union 170) __________________, India’s top golfer has been voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an online poll: Anirban Lahiri 130/-
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 88 171) _______________________founded by Freedom fighter Pt Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13th February 2016: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) 172) World Radio Day is observed globally on 13th February by which UN organization: UNESCO 173) What was the theme of this year’s World Radio Day: ’Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’ 174) Scientists have detected for the first time, signals of ________________waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away: Gravitational 175) Prediction about gravitational waves was made about 100 years ago by which great scientist: Albert Einstein 176) The gravitational waves have been discovered after decades of research by scientists at LIGO, USA. Expand LIGO: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory 177) CEO and MD of which corporate entity have been selected as the E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2015 from India: Lupin Ltd. 178) U K Sinha, the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) was in news for what reasons: He has been given extension for one year 179) Albert Pahimi Padacke, has been elected as the new Prime Minister of which Central African country: Chad 180) Name the India’s first indigenously developed lightest revolver weighing just 250 gms: Nidar 181) Light revolver Nidar has been developed by which public sector undertaking: Ishapore Rifle Factory in West Bengal 182) A two day summit between leaders from the ASEAN and The United States was held in California to dwell upon which global issue: Maritime security in the South China Sea 183) Nepal Prime Minister ________________arrived in New Delhi on Feb 19 on a six-day visit to India: K P Sharma Oli 184) Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan, the oldest performing ____________of Hindustani Music, died at the age of 107 years: Vocalist 185) Union Cabinet has approved Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO for what purpose: To ease customs procedures to boost commerce 186) Name the Bollywood’s popular lyricist who made into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing the most number–35-24 of songs for Bollywood films: Sameer Anjaan 187) The Reserve Bank has advised banks to follow ‘Ind AS’ norms for which function: Accounting 188) Government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore Electronic Development Fund for what purpose: To promote manufacturing in the electronics sector 189) Which country launched a massive military exercise – ‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20 nations: Saudi Arabia 190) The massive military exercise – ‘North Thunder’ was held at which place: King Khalid Military City in northeastern Saudi Arabia 191) What is the purpose of the recently conducted four day Great Backyard Bird Count exercise: To conduct a kind of census of birds in India 192) _____________ has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Kalikho Pul 193) Scientists have discovered five new planets having characteristics similar to which planet in our solar system: Jupiter 194) Name the America's celebrated novelist whose 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" was read by millions worldwide: Harper Lee 195) Harper Lee, noted novelist of USA was in news recently for what reasons: She died 196) Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund was in news recently for what reasons: She has been re-appointed for a second five-year term 197) Amit Mitra has been appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST. Who is he: West Bengal Finance Minister 198) Name the New Zealand cricketer who smashed the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls: Brendon McCullum 199) _____________, ace sprinter set a new national record in the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha: Dutee Chand 200) The 4th India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol was conducted jointly by ships of both navies in which area: Andaman Sea 201) _____________, has been appointed as the new Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai: K N Vyas 202) What is the title of the recent book by Jhumpa Lahiri: In Other Words 203) An Economist in the Real World is a book written by the Chief Economist of the World Bank. Name him: Kaushik Basu 204) Which country launched a new X ray astronomy satellite – Astro–H to study the origin of black holes: Japan 205) Who has been elected new President of Uganda, for the fifth time: Yoweri Museveni 206) Crystal Bear Award is given for excellence in which field: Children’s films 207) Crystal Bear Award is given in which international film festival: Berlin Film Festival 208) Name the Indian film that won the 2016 Crystal Bear Award: Ottaal (The trap)
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 89 209) Berlin Film Festivals top prize for the best feature film is named as ______________: Golden Bear Award 210) The Golden Bear Award for 2016 was won by an Italian film. What was its name: Fuocoammare (Fire at sea) 211) The term ‘Brexit’ is very much in news these days, particularly in Europe. What does this mean: Britain’s Exit from the European Union 212) Cyclone Winston, one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through which Pacific island nation: Fiji 213) Badminton Asia Team Championships were held at which city: Hyderabad 214) The women’s and men’s title in the Badminton Asia Team Championships were won by which country: China and Indonesia, respectively 215) The Mahamaham festival, celebrated once in 12 years, also known as Kumbh Mela of South is held at which place: Kumbakonam 216) Kumbakonam is located in which state: Tamil Nadu 217) The book ‘Playing It My Way’ has entered the Limca Book of Records in the category of best-selling books, with 1,50,289 copies sold. This is the autobiography of which person: Sachin Tendulkar 218) Faustin Archange Touadera has been elected as the new President of which African country: Central African Republic (CAR) 219) The ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural-urban) Mission was launched from Dongargarh in which state: Chhattisgarh 220) The Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous annual classical dance festival is held in which state: Madhya Pradesh 221) Government has launched a device developed by the CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named ‘Ksheer- Scanner’ for what purpose: To detect adulteration in milk 222) India and Armenia have signed an agreement for cooperation in the ____________sector for a period of five years: Agriculture 223) Hockey India League championship for 2016 was won by which team: Jaypee Punjab Warriors 224) The Road to Resilience, a survey of the entire Indian coastline for promoting six coastal disaster management projects is an initiative of which global organization: World Bank 225) The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life by the global consulting firm Mercer has placed _____________at the top: Austria’s capital Vienna 226) Top Indian city in the Mercer survey was _______ placed at 142nd rank: New Delhi 227) Name the former Chief Justice of India who has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission: Justice H L Dattu 228) Mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ has been launched by which ministry to promote cleanliness of prime tourist destinations: Ministry of Tourism 229) As per a global study, India is the top importer of arms. Which is at the 2nd rank: China 230) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved construction of India’s longest railway bridge on Katni – Bina route in which state: Madhya Pradesh 231) Which is the first state in the country to have aquifer mapping done for its groundwater resources by May 2016: Haryana 232) Parliament of ___________ has become the world’s first parliament to run fully on solar power: Pakistan 233) India has approved a $150 million credit line for the development of Chabahar port in which country: Iran 234) Amitava Bhattacharyya, IAS, Bimal Julka, IAS and D P Sinha, IPS, the three senior bureaucrats have been appointed to which important national office: Central Information Commission 235) RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap arrangement to __________nations till mid-November 2017 to enhance economic cooperation: SAARC 236) The fifth edition of 'Exercise IBSAMAR' was conducted between the navies of India and which two other countries: Brazil and South Africa 237) What is the full form of the term IBSAMAR: India, Brazil, South Africa Maritime 238) Government raised about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of its 5% stake in which Maharatna PSU: National Thermal Power Corporation-NTPC 239) A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed by M. Veerappa Moily, a senior Congress MP, highlighted which weak functional aspect of public sector banks: High Level of NPAs 240) India has extended one million dollars assistance to which cyclone-hit country: Fiji 241) Govt has decided to extend ___________visa facility to 37 more countries from Feb 26: E-Tourist 242) Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major rich and developing economies began a two-day meeting in __________on Feb 26: Shanghai 243) The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear submarine _____________is now ready for full fledged operations: INS Arihant 244) Who has been appointed as the new Director General of the Indian Coast Guard: Rajendra Singh 245) Aryabhata award 2013, the prestigious honour by Astronautical Society of India has been conferred upon which scientist: Dr. Avinash Chander, former chief of DRDO 246) Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences, has been honoured with the prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit by which
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 90 country: Germany 247) Which Indian bank has won the Green Bond Pioneer Award for promoting Green Infrastructure Bonds: Yes Bank 248) In which country, a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect at midnight of 26 Feb, supported by both – USA and Russia: Syria 249) 13th World Spice Congress was held in __________from Feb 27-29: Ahmedabad 250) _________ has been elected as the new President of world Football body –FIFA: Gianni Infantino 251) __________won the prestigious Ranji trophy cricket championship defeating Saurashtra: Mumbai 252) In which country a Twin Otter plane of Tara Air crashed on Feb 24, killing all 23 people aboard: Nepal 253) The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj won the three-match Twenty20 International series 3-0 against which team: Sri Lanka 254) Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross functional team called Special Unit for Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) for improvement in which area: Railway 255) The innovative team Sutra is proposed to be headed by which person: Ratan Tata 256) The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of AIM and SETU in which organization to encourage innovations and entrepreneurship in the country: NITI Aayog 257) The acronyms of AIM and SETU stands for: Atal Innovation Mission and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation JANUARY – 2016 258) Name the former Punjab Governor and ex-Chief of Army Staff who passed away in Gurgaon on December 29, 2015: General OP Malhotra 259) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in which field: Literature 260) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in literature in which language: All 22 Indian languages approved by the Constitution 261) Name the winner of the Jnanpith Award 2015: Raghuveer Chaudhary 262) Shri Raghuveer Chaudhary is a noted novelist of which language: Gujarati 263) Vijay Hazare Trophy is associated with which sports: Cricket 264) Name the team that won the Vijay Hazare Trophy for 2015: Gujarat 265) Government has announced that taxpayers with an annual income of more than Rs. ______ lakh will not get subsidised LPG cylinders from January, 2016: Ten 266) Dr. Harpal Singh Kumar was conferred with Knighthood Honour in UK for what achievement: For his influential work on prevention and treatment of cancer 267) Senior National Wrestling Championship was held at which place: New Delhi 268) Bajrang Punia, Ritu Phogat and Priyanka Phogat are the prominent players of which sports: Wrestling 269) Indian navy recently tested Barak missile from which of its warships: INS Kolkata 270) Which is the last country to be declared free of deadly Ebola disease by WHO: Liberia 271) Ramadi, a city in Iraq was in news for what reasons recently: Iraqi forces captured it back from ISIS 272) Who has been named as the 'Cricketer of the Year' - Men for 2015 by the BCCI: Virat Kohali 273) Who has been named as the 'Cricketer of the Year' - Women for 2015 by the BCCI: Mithali Raj 274) Scientists in which country have developed a human-like social robot named ‘Nadine’, with soft skin and flowing brunette hair: Singapore 275) _____________ has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant 276) Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organising “Make in India Week” in February 2016 in which Indian city: Mumbai 277) Haskell Wexler, an Oscar winning cinema celebrity from USA died recently. He was from which field of cinema: Photography 278) Which country recently launched Gaofen-4 Earth Observation Satellite: China 279) The government has approved the signing of the Raptor MoU for what purpose: To conserve and reverse the decline of birds of prey such as vultures, eagles etc 280) The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the trilateral highway in which country: Myanmar 281) Which are the three countries involved in the trilateral international highway starting from Imphal, Manipur: India, Myanmar and Thailand 282) Dr. Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan has been appointed as the Director General of which national organization: National Centre for Good Governance 283) Giorgi Kvirikashvili has been elected as the Prime Minister of which European country: Georgia 284) Rakhi Haldar and Kavita Devi won gold in their respective weight categories at the National level in which sports: Weight lifting 285) National Weightlifting Championships held in which city: Patiala 286) RBI has notified that from Feb 1, 2016 all govt cheques will be paid through ________________system: Cheque Truncation System 287) Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure that every village with a population over __________ should have
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 91 a bank branch by March 2017: 5,000 288) RBI has asked SLBCs to ensure that every village with a population over 5,000 should have a bank branch by March 2017. What is SLBCs: State Level Bankers Committees 289) The government has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker ____________ to look into revamp of Censor Board: Shyam Benegal 290) World Bank has agreed to provide a $ 50 million loan funding of ‘Nai Manzil' project for what purpose: Education and Skills Training for Minorities in BPL category 291) Name the India’s star off-spinner who was ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings for 2015: R. Ashwin 292) World champion Magnus Carlsen won the Qatar Masters Open Chess Tournament. He is from which country: Norway 293) Natalie Cole, Grammy-winning US singer was in news for what reasons: She passed away 294) Name the Mumbai boy who created cricket history by scoring 1009 runs not out: Pranav Dhanawade 295) Which north eastern state suffered a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake on January 04: Manipur 296) Reserve Bank has started the process of issuing composite instructions under the title _________ on various regulatory issues in its bid to simplify the communication process: Master Directions 297) South Asian Football Federation Cup was won by India by defeating which country: Afghanistan 298) South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup was hosted by which Indian city: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 299) Name the important document of Chemistry which now has its seventh row completed with the introduction of four new chemical elements: The periodic table of elements 300) Name the veteran Communist Party of India leader who passed away after a long illness at New Delhi: A. B. Bardhan 301) In which city in Afghanistan the Indian Consulate was attacked by heavily armed terrorist: Mazar-e- Sharif 302) Recently Saudi Arabia faced widespread violent protests against it for what issue: Execution of a prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr 303) Name the leading legal luminary and former Chief Justice of India who passed away recently: Sarosh Homi Kapadia 304) Which university won the overall trophy in the 76th All-India Inter-University Athletics Championship: Punjabi University 305) 'Anything But Khamosh' is an autobiography of which prominent celebrity politician: Shatrughan Sinha 306) A classy performance by which Indian cricketer in 2001 has been rated as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years: VVS Laxman's 307) Name the famous novel by Harper Lee that topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies: Go Set a Watchman 280/- -
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 92 308) Abidali Neemuchwala has been appointed new Chief Executive Officer of which IT corporate: Wipro 309) Which educational institute hosted the 103rd Indian Science Congress: University of Mysore, Karnataka 310) Apurvi Chandela broke the world record by earning highest ever score of 211.2 in which event: 10 meter air rifle shooting 311) Name the indigenous stealth Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette that was recently inducted in Indian Navy: INS Kadmatt 312) _________________became the fastest film to take one billion dollars at the global box office: Star Wars the Force Awakens 313) Name the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister who breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed 314) Govt has decided to implement norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020 for what purpose: To minimize the air pollution from vehicles 315) The counter-insurgency joint exercise ‘Shakti-2016’ was held at which place: Rajasthan Desert 316) Shakti 2016 - joint military exercise was held by which two countries: India and France 317) Name the Indian badminton player who was declared number one in junior men's singles category in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings: Siril Verma 318) Which country was in news for conducting a powerful Hydrogen bomb test in a defiant and surprising move as there is a UN ban on testing and development of nuclear weapons: North Korea 319) Which global company has launched its service in India allowing viewers to access unlimited TV and cinema content online: Netflix 320) For the first time, a military contingent of a foreign country will take part in the Republic Day Parade on January 26. Name this country: France 321) India’s first World Music Festival will be held in February 2016 in which city: Udaipur, Rajasthan 322) The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is planning to set up a modern Indian Waterways Hub at________, West Bengal: Haldia 323) Union Health Ministry has decided to use the expertise of Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) in which field: To improve the quality and coverage of vaccination in India 324) Urjit Patel, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, was in news for what reasons: He has been reappointed for a second three-year term 325) As per the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015, _____________ has been ranked as the most generous Indian of the year: Azim Premji 326) Govt has decided to close down three loss-making subsidiaries of HMT Ltd. What is the full form of HMT: Hindustan Machines Tools 327) Golden Globe Awards are given in which country: USA 328) Golden Globe Awards are given for excellence in which field: Cinema 329) The Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama) was won by which movie: The Revenant 330) With which country India has signed an agreement for enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other's country: Australia 331) International Kite Festival was held at which city in India: Ahmadabad, Gujarat 332) Chennai Open Tennis cup was lifted by which tennis star: Stanislaus Wawrinka 333) India will host a joint military exercise with 18 members countries of East Asian Summit in March, 2016 at which place: Pune, Maharashtra 334) Eight Indian states have agreed to implement direct benefit of transfer of subsidy in _________in 26 districts w.e.f. April 1, 2016: Kerosene 335) _____________has become the first state in the country to officially accept electronic motor insurance policies by the name ‘e-Vahan Bima’: Telangana 336) Justice (Retd) R M Lodha committee was appointed by the Supreme Court for what purpose : To look into the affairs of BCCI 337) Name the amputee Indian mountaineer who conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain outside Asia: Arunima Sinha 338) The novel 'A God in Ruins' which won the novel of the year prize in Britain is written by whom: Kate Atkinson 339) ______________won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament by beating Railways in New Delhi: ONGC 340) From which place in India, a bus service for Nepal was started after a gap of 27 years: Banbasa border in Uttarakhand 341) Stand Up India Scheme has been approved by the Union Cabinet for what purpose: To promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs by facilitating easy bank finance for them 342) Which country declined to take part in forthcoming Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh citing security reasons: Australia 343) National Waterway-1 has been developed on which river: Ganga 344) In which state an initiative ‘Wattan ko Jano’ has been launched to familiarize the local youth with the development of the country in other states: Jammu & Kashmir 345) Raghuram Rajan, RBI Governor was named ‘Global and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 93 2015’ by the prestigious magazine The Banker in which country: Britain 346) Name the senior IAS officer who has been appointed as the new Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India: Sailesh 347) _________________appointed as Chairman of fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI): Devender Kumar Sikri 348) 'Operation Green Hunt' refers to an all-out offensive by India’s paramilitary forces against which group: Naxalites 349) Govt has decided to merge the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with which bigger ministry: Ministry of External Affairs 350) Name the traditional bull-taming sports of Tamil Nadu that was recently allowed by Central govt. but stayed by the Supreme Court: Jallikattu 351) The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held on 9 January 2016 in which city: New Delhi 352) Govt has decided to change the frequency of hosting the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to what interval: Once in two years 353) The 11th World Hindi Day was celebrated on __________ January 2016 in all Indian embassies around the world to promote the usage of Hindi as official language: 10 354) The world's largest blue star sapphire that weighs 1404.49 carats was discovered recently in which country: Sri Lanka 355) Govt has launched Ganga Gram Yojana for what purpose involving 1600 villages of UP situated along the banks of river Ganga: To minimize / stop pollution of the river from these villages 356) 'Maru Bharat Saru Bharat' is a book written by a noted Saint of which religion: Jainism 357) RBI imposed a one crore penalty on a bank for non reporting of data to CRILC. Write the full form of CRILC: Central Repository of Information on Large Credits 358) 2015 Brisbane International Tennis Tournament was hosted by which city: Brisbane, Australia 359) Men's singles title at 2015 Brisbane International Tennis Tournament was won by which player: Milos Raonic 360) Tennis star Milos Raonic is from which country: Canada 361) Name the star football player who won the World Player of the Year Award - FIFA Ballon d'Or for the fifth time: Lionel Messi 362) Name the US mid fielder who won the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli Lloyd 363) A five day national youth festival was hosted by which city: Naya Raipur 364) Naya Raipur is the capital city of which state: Chhattisgarh 365) Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is celebrated in India as which day: National Youth Day 366) What was the theme of this year's National Youth Festival: India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony 367) In Himachal Pradesh, the ______folk dance of Kullu district has made a world record for the folk dance by largest number: Nati 368) The Ardh Kumbh mela formally started on January 12 at which place: Haridwar 369) Which global financial body has agreed to provide a $625 million loan for the Visakhapatnam - Chennai Industrial Corridor: Asian Development Bank 370) Name the new crop insurance scheme for farmers under which the premium will be paid by Central and state govt: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana 371) As per the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Farmers have to pay a token premium of ____ per cent for Kharif, ____per cent for Rabi and _____ per cent for commercial crops: 2, 1.5, 5 372) Lt Gen. J F R JACOB (retd), war hero of 1971 Bangladesh war, passed away in New Delhi. For which two states he held the charge of the Governor: Goa and Punjab 373) ___________ has become the first Indian state to achieve 100 percent primary education (up to class iv): Kerala 374) ____________ has become India's first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation: Sikkim 375) __________________has become the first public sector bank to launch wealth management service ‘SBI Exclusif’: State Bank of India 376) Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their 30th win in a row, creating a new world record. Which was their 30th title: WTA Apia International women’s doubles title 377) As per a recent report, India sends the largest number of engineers and scientists to which country: USA 378) As per a UN study, people from which country are the largest community living outside their country: India (16 million) 379) Tsai Ing-Wen has been elected as the new President of which country: Taiwan 380) The coveted The Hindu Prize, 2015 for best novel has been won by Easterine Kire for which novel: When the River Sleeps 381) Noted novelist Anuradha Roy won which prize for her novel 'Sleeping on Jupiter': DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 382) Flood of Fire is a book written by which author: Amitav Ghosh 383) Name the famous footballer from Britain who won
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 94 the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award recently: David Beckham 384) Naval exercise named 'Sahyog-Kaijin 2016' was held jointly by which two countries: India and Japan 385) Naval exercise named 'Sahyog-Kaijin 2016' was held in which area: Bay of Bengal 386) Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay a noted film and TV actor died recently. Which was his most popular film: Lagaan (Guran) 387) World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1071 crore funding for the Neeranchal National Watershed Project for what purpose: For augmentation of various irrigation projects across the country 388) The 2015 Filmfare Award for best actor was won by which artist: Ranveer Singh for Bajirao Mastani 389) Which film won the 2015 Filmfare award for the best film: Bajirao Mastani 390) Name the newly launched mobile based programme which aims to deliver 72 free weekly audio messages about pregnancy and child care to the beneficiary: Kilkari 391) Union Ministry of Health has launched mobile based programme M-Cessation to help which target group: Persons willing to quit tobacco use, through SMS support 392) Name the anti-tank missile recently successfully test fired by the DRDO: Nag 393) Why Army Day is observed on January 15: On this day in 1949, Lt. Gen. (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa became the first Indian Commander- in-Chief of the Indian Army 394) Name the rocket developed by the SpaceX company of USA which is capable of landing back on earth: Falcon 9 395) Govt has launched which programme to promote and encourage development of start-ups: Start-up Action Plan 396) RBI has contributed Rs. 1000 crores for the equity of which of its organization: National Housing Bank 397) Which is the first private sector bank to achieve the milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore in housing loan: ICICI 398) GDP growth rate of which major country slipped to 6.9% in 2015, its lowest in last 25 years: China 399) World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual meeting held at _____________ from January 20 to 23: Davos, Switzerland 400) What is the name of India's most famous and biggest literature festival held every year in Rajasthan: The Jaipur Literature Festival 401) Name the India's representative on the Board of Directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): Dinesh Sharma 402) V. Rama Rao, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who passed away recently was the former Governor of which state: Sikkim 403) Which team won the India's first Premier Badminton League: Delhi Acers 404) Union Ministry of Finance released the draft report of Justice R V Easwar (Retd) Committee for what purpose: To simplify the provisions of Income- tax Act, 1961 405) Ronnie O'Sullivan won his sixth World Snooker Masters title. He is from which country: Britain 406) In a global first, the World Bank has agreed to provide $ 20 million assistance to reconstruct the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park. Where is it located: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 407) ISRO successfully launched the IRNSS 1 - E, fifth satellite of the total seven satellites in the system. What is IRNSS: Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System 408) What is the main function of IRNSS: To provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continent 409) The Union Ministry of Shipping has started Project Green Ports for what purpose: To make Major Ports across India cleaner and greener 410) What is the rank of India in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index: 89th 411) The World Tourism Barometer report is released by which international organization: UN World Tourism Organization 412) Government has decided to institute which new award category under the National Film Awards: The Most Film Friendly State/UT 413) Name the Indian who won the New Zealand's most popular motor race the Lady Wigram Trophy: Jehan Daruvala 414) Which major European country recently declared a state of economic and social emergency: France 415) As per the annual global CEO survey done by PwC which country tops in terms of overall growth prospects: USA 416) As per the annual global CEO survey done by PwC for growth prospects in countries, India has been placed at which rank: 5th 417) As per recent data release by NASA, year _______ has been declared as the warmest year since 1880: 2015 418) In context of rising global warming, experts say the record temperatures are due to a combination of ______ and_______: El Niño, human-induced warming 419) RBI has asked banks not to issue notes of ___________ rupee denomination which are without the security thread: 1,000 420) Which is the last African country that has been declared free from Ebola virus by WHO: Liberia
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 95 421) A class of frogs that grows in tree holes has been discovered in which part of India: The north-east region 422) RBI has advised that the government will pay ______ commission to banks for attracting more gold in the Gold Monetisation Scheme: 2.5% 423) What is the name of the new luxury super fast express train started between Varanasi to Delhi: 'Mahamana Express' 424) Government has decided to extend the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to 61 more districts this year. On what basis these districts have been selected: Districts with poor sex ratio (of girl child) 425) The dreaded Zika virus is spread by which animal: Aedes mosquito 426) Countries in which part of the globe have recently suffered wide spread attack of Zika virus: Latin America 427) The RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate to which category of self help groups: Women Self-Help Group (SHG) 428) Name the public sector undertaking responsible for minting the India gold coins: Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India - MMTC 429) What is the recent relaxation given by RBI for wider sale of India gold coins: Banks have been allowed to sell these coins 430) Name the UN agency which says that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into India nearly doubled to $ 59 billion in 2015: UNCTAD 431) What is the full form of UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 432) Name the veteran dancer and Padma Bhushan and Padma Sri recipient who passed away in Ahmedabad: Mrinalini Sarabhai 433) ________ has been appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT): Atulesh Jindal 434) Name the two major components of Direct Taxes: Corporate Tax and Income Tax 435) The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time - an autobiography of which noted personality of Indian media: Subhash Chandra, founder of Zee TV group 436) India has supplied three Mi-25 gunship helicopters to the Air Force of which country recently: Afghanistan 437) A Nuclear Security Index compiled by the Nuclear Threat Initiative of USA for 176 countries ranks India at which place: 21st 438) In a recent global survey, which Indian hotel has been adjudged as the best hotel in the world: Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 439) A new Thrush bird found in northeast India has been named 'Zoothera Salimalii' scientifically after which great Indian ornithologist: Salim Ali 440) World Bank will provide $ 250 million loan to which Indian State for the Kosi Basin Development Project: Bihar 441) Pavel Filip has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Moldova. Where is Moldova: Located between Ukraine and Romania 442) Which global report has said that India will be the world's fastest growing large economy at 7.3 per cent in 2016: United Nations World Economy Report 443) ___________ has become the first ever railway station in India to have free high-speed Internet facility: Mumbai Central 444) Indian Railway’s telecom arm, RailTel is collaborating with which IT giant company to provide free wifi services in railway stations: Google 445) RBI plans to introduce new banknotes of which denominations with enhanced security features: Rs. 100 & Rs. 500 446) Which city hosted the National Conference on e- Governance: Nagpur, Maharashtra 447) As per a recent 'Best Country Report', _________ has been ranked as no. 1 country: Germany 448) As per a recent 'Best Country Report', India has ranked at which place: 22nd 449) France has signed MoU with India for the development of which three Indian cities as Smart City: Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry 450) Headquarters of global body International Solar Alliance are to be located at which place in India: Gurgaon, Haryana 451) International Solar Alliance is a group of 121 countries for what purpose: For increasing utilisation and promotion of solar energy 452) What is the criterion to include 121 countries in the International Solar Alliance: They are located between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn 453) National Voters Day is observed on which date: January 25 454) Why National Voters Day is observed on January 25: This is the foundation day of Election Commission (1950) 455) What is the theme for this year's national voter day: ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation' 456) Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been elected as the new President of which European country: Portugal 457) Name the Indian Badminton player who won the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Badminton title: P V Sindhu 458) India won the first T20 Asia Cup Cricket for Blind by beating which country: Pakistan 459) The first T20 Asia Cup Cricket for Blind was held at
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 96 which place: Kochi, Kerala 460) Name the major country which suffered a monster blizzard on January 24 affecting adversely over 85 million people: USA, East Coast 461) Who has been re-elected as the president of world's largest political party - BJP: Amit Shah 462) Name the indigenously designed and built advanced light helicopter that made its debut at the Republic Day parade: Rudra 463) In which state capital India's largest national flag was hoisted on the tallest pole: Ranchi, Jharkhand 464) Which Indian city hosted the 11Even Sports 2015 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals: Indore, Madhya Pradesh 465) A four day cultural festival 'Bharat Parv' was held at which place: Delhi 466) __________ hosted the 61st National School Athletic Meet: Kozhikode, Kerala 467) Name the brave heart decorated with the Nation's highest peacetime gallantry award- Ashok Chakra: Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami 468) Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami was decorated with Ashok Chakra for which act of gallantry: Eliminating 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down his life in the line of duty in Sep 2015 in Kupwara sector of Jammu & Kashmir 469) India’s Foreign Policy is a book written by Muchkund Dubey. Who is he: India's former Foreign Secretary 470) Which State has recently been put under President's rule: Arunachal Pradesh 471) Why President's rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh: There was a “constitutional breakdown” in the state as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly 472) Vijay Merchant (U-16) Trophy was won by ______________ by beating Mumbai: Punjab 473) Name the highest civilian honour of Australia that has been conferred on three Indians in January 2016: The Order of Australia 474) Name the scheme launched for online booking of LPG cylinders: Sahaj Scheme 475) Name the West Indies batsman who announced his retirement from international cricket: Shivnarine Chanderpaul 476) India has overtaken ____________ as the world's largest rice exporter in 2015: Thailand 477) In the Corruption Perceptions Index–2015 by the Transparency International, what is the rank of India: 76th 478) __________ has been declared as the least corrupt country in the world by the Transparency International: Denmark 479) Aparna Kumar has successfully climbed the Mount Vinson Massif, the highest peak in the Antarctic sub-continent. Who is she: An IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre 480) With which country India signed an amended Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty (DTAA) to share information on banking and financial transactions: Armenia 481) As per latest data of car sales, which company is the No. 1 in world selling 10.15 million vehicles in 2015: Toyota 482) PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award is given in which country: USA 483) The Harry Potter author J K Rowling won the PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award for which novel: None, it is for her support for free expression and charitable causes 484) ________________has become the country’s first blind friendly Braille-embedded train: Mysuru-Varanasi Express 485) IHF has declared ___________ as the player of the year (Male) for 2015: Robert Van der Horst, The Netherlands 486) IHF has declared ___________ as the player of the year (Female) for 2015: Lidewij Welten, The Netherlands 487) Name the Bollywood celebrity who won the Yash Chopra Memorial Award in January 2016: Rekha 488) Marvin Minsky, noted mathematician and the computer scientist, pioneer of artificial intelligence who passed away recently was from which country: USA 489) In which part of India the highly endangered species Snow Leopard has been captured for the first time on camera: Northern Sikkim 490) Govt has made E-tendering compulsory for all govt purchases exceeding Rs. ____________: 2 lacs 491) The government has approved the hybrid annuity model as one of the modes for implementing which type of projects: Highway development projects 492) The World Meteorological Organisation has nominated_________ as the Regional Climate Centre to provide information to other South Asian countries: India 493) Which state has decided to give 35 per cent reservation for women in all kind of state government job: Bihar 494) Asia's largest underground railway station, covering a total area of 147,000 square metres has been opened in Futian in which country: China 495) Veteran tennis star ___________ became the first Russian player to enter the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame, USA: Marat Safin 496) Why World Braille Day is observed on January 4: It is the B'day of Louis Braille, inventor of Braille language for blinds 497) The child sex ratio in India at present is at lowest
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 97 level since 1961. What is its value: 918 per 1000 male babies 498) RBI has granted operational freedom to banks to offer all their products and services through which new channel: ATM 499) The Union Cabinet has approved conversion of MUDRA Ltd, an NBFC, into which new outfit: MUDRA Bank 500) Name the Nobel Peace Prize winner author of the book 'Azad Bachpan Ki Aur': Kailash Satyarthi 501) India’s share in IMF has increased to 2.75% from 2.44%, making it the ___________largest shareholder in the Fund: Eighth 502) Name the book recently released by the Indian President narrating his memoires: The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996 DECEMBER – 2015 503) The international solar alliance was recently launched by Prime Minister Modi at which place: Paris 504) The international solar alliance aims at achieving the objective of keeping global warming below _____ degree Celsius between now and 2100: 2 505) At the Paris climate summit, India has committed to generate _____ giga watt solar power by 2022: 100 506) Developed nations are expected to keep their pledge to provide $______ billion a year by 2020 to support climate control by the developing nations: 100 507) Eldar Ryazanov, legendary film Director who died recently, was from which country: Russia 508) Eldar Ryazanov was famous for which kind of films: Comedies 509) Name the Indian player who has won the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament for the third consecutive time: P V Sindhu 510) Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament was hosted by which country: Japan 511) Davis Cup 2015 was won by ________ after a gap of 79 years: Great Britain 512) _______ was the ace tennis star credited with victory of Britain in Davis Cup: Andy Murray 513) Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a book written by ___________: Jeff Kinney 514) Who is the author of the book Rogue Lawyer: John Grisham 515) ___________ won the world heavy weight boxing championship by beating Wladimir Klitschko: Tyson Fury 516) Which international bank recently announced shutting down of its private banking business in India: HSBC (Hong Kong, Shanghai Banking Corporation) 517) Bharat Stage (BS) V and VI norms have been prescribed for what purpose: Emission standards for four-wheelers 518) Government has decided to enforce Bharat Stage (BS) V norms by which date: April 1, 2019 519) Government has decided to enforce Bharat Stage (BS) VI norms by which date: April 1, 2021 520) India successfully test-fired the indigenously built nuclear-capable _______ missile, capable of hitting a target at a distance of 700 km: Agni-I 521) Barak 8 is the name of which defence equipment: Advanced surface-to-air supersonic missile 522) India has developed the Barak 8 missile in collaboration with which country: Israel 523) Union govt. proposes to launch a $1-billion equity fund to support companies in which sector: Renewable Energy 524) RBI has approved which organization to function as the Central Unit for Bharat Bill Payment System: National Payments Corporation of India 525) _____________won the 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg 526) The govt. has launched IPV for what purpose: For immunity against polio 527) What is the full form of IPV: Inactivated Polio Vaccine 528) The Golden Peacock award for best feature film is associated with which international film festival: International Film Festival of India 529) The Golden Peacock for 2015 was won by which film: Embrace of the Serpent 530) Who is the director of the award winning film Embrace of the Serpent: Ciro Guerra 531) The Golden Peacock award carries a cash prize of Rs. ____________ lac: 40 532) By achieving a growth rate of 7.4% in July – Sept quarter, India overtook which major economy to become fastest growing economy: China 533) At the Paris climate meet, India has committed to reduce its emissions intensity by _____ percent of its GDP by 2030: 33 534) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to include which new currency in its Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket effective from October 1, 2016: Chinese currency, the Yuan 535) Apart from Yuan, how many currencies are there in the special drawing rights basket of IMF: Four 536) Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape is a new initiative launched by which organization to build climate resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries: UNO 537) The first media summit of BRICS nations was held at which place: Beijing 538) Which Indian telecom major plans to invest Rs.60,000 crore over the next three-years in ‘Project Leap’ to upgrade its networks: Bharti
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 98 Airtel 539) Which organisation has commissioned interceptor boat ‘ICGS C-422’ to further enhance its vigil along Pondicherry and South Tamil Nadu coast: Indian Coast Guard 540) 20 countries, including India, launched Mission Innovation in Paris for what purpose: For accelerating clean energy revolution across the world 541) In the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2 by RBI, which policy rate was increased: None 542) In the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2 by RBI, which policy rate was decreased : None 543) In the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2 by RBI, it retained its projection of GDP growth rate at ______ per cent for the current fiscal: 7.4 544) With which country the government is considering a 'medicines for oil' barter system: Venezuela 545) Why the govt. is considering a ‘medicines for oil’ barter system with Venezuela: Because Indian pharma exporters are facing problems to repatriate their sales proceeds 546) What is the name of the five-day festival of classical dances of India held in December every year: The Konark Festival 547) Which state hosts the Konark Festival: Odisha 548) Name the famous temple associated with the Konark Festival: Sun temple 549) Which Indian state hosted the International Sand Art Festival 2015: Odisha 550) Robert Lewandowski, who earned recently three Guinness World Record for fastest three, four and five goals is associated with which sports: Football 551) The World AIDS Day observed on which date: December 1 552) What is the international theme for this years World AIDS Day: Getting to zero, End AIDS by 2030 553) Ustaad Sabri Khan, a veteran musician died recently. He was master of which instrument: Sarangi 554) Ustaad Sabri Khan was decorated with which two national honours: Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan 555) Roch Marc Christian Kabore has been elected as the President of which West African country: Burkina Faso 556) This Unquiet Land is a book written by Barkha Dutt. She is a famous name in which field: TV Journalism 557) Thakur Anoop Singh who recently won a world title, is associated with which sports discipline: Body building 558) The World Bodybuilding and Physique Championship was held in which city: Bangkok, Thailand 559) Name the global IT giant who pledged to give away 99 per cent of his company shares in charity: Mark Zuckerberg 560) Govt has decided to setup 11 higher education institutes, 6 in technology sector and 5 in management sector. Name these institutes: 6 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and 5 Indian Institute of Management (IIM) 561) Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has launched GIAN scheme recently. What is full form of GIAN: Global Initiative of Academic Networks 562) Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has launched GIAN scheme for what purpose: To boost the quality of higher education in India through international collaboration 563) Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan is a Nobel laureate in which field: Chemistry 564) Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan assumed the presidency of which prestigious global science body: Royal Society, London 565) BRICS nations are known for their good growth rate. However, recently one of them slipped into recession. Name this country: Brazil 566) According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2015, forests and trees cover _________ % of the total geographical area: 24.16 567) The Lok Sabha passed the Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 to establish the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as which new organization: National Standards Body of India 568) Google’s YouTube has collaborated with which production house in India to open its first video production studio called YouTube Spaces in the country: Whistling Woods International 569) What is the name of the China’s first domestically developed electricity-powered aircraft: RX 1E 570) The recently released ICT (information, communication and technology) Development Index ranks which country at the top: South Korea 571) As per the ICT Development Index 2015, India ranks a lowly __________ in the list of 167 countries: 131st 572) MAM Ramaswamy, Industrialist, founder of Chettinad Group, former parliamentarian passed away recently. He was from which State: Tamil Nadu 573) Which Indian bank bagged the prestigious 'Bank of the Year' award conferred by Britain’s 'The Banker' magazine: Yes Bank
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 99 574) _________________has become the first state of India to launch Rotavirus vaccination: Himachal Pradesh 575) What is the purpose of Rotavirus Vaccination: Controlling the child mortality rate (under five years of age) due to diarrhea 576) The Atlas V rocket belongs to which country: USA 577) USA utilized services of the Atlas V rocket recently for what purpose: To carry supplies to the International Space Station 578) As per recent data, India attracted maximum FDI during April to September period from which country: Singapore 579) A survey in 33 countries for ‘Index of Ignorance’ has placed __________ as the country having highest percentage of ignorant population: Mexico 580) As per the index of ignorance, India is ranked at number ___________ in the survey of 33 countries: Two 581) RBI has hiked Priority Sector Lending norms for Regional Rural Banks from 60 per cent at present to _______ per cent of their total lending with effect from 1 January 2016: 75 582) As on March 2015, there were _____RRBs operating in the country with a network of 20059 branches: 56 583) From which country India received its first uranium consignment of about 2730 tonnes, after a gap of over four decades: Canada 584) Govt released two commemorative coins of Rs.125 and Rs.10 as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of which great Indian political figure: Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar 585) The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a bilateral maritime joint naval exercise between the Indian and _____________ navy was conducted recently: Russian 586) The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a bilateral maritime joint naval exercise was conducted in which area: Off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal 587) The first Goa to Mumbai double-decker Shatabdi train was flagged off from which city: Panjim, Goa 588) Which state launched International festival on Birds in National Chambal Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh 589) The Hockey World League Cup was lifted by which country: Australia 590) Finals of the Hockey World League Cup were held in which Indian city: Raipur, Madhya Pradesh 591) In which international event Indian shuttler K Srikanth lost the title with very narrow margin: Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament 592) International ratings agency Fitch Ratings has announced that India’s investment rating would remain _________, the lowest investment grade: BBB 593) What do we call a bond the funds are 'ear- marked' for use towards financing ‘green’ projects only: Green Bond 594) In which city China has issued its first red alert on pollution, the highest level in the system, ordering schools to close for four days due to hazardous air quality: Beijing 595) In which country the Storm Desmond wreaked havoc, flooding vast areas: Northern England 596) Name the who new teams that have become the new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a period of two years: Pune and Rajkot 597) Cochin Shipyard Ltd launched the Fast Patrol Vessel ‘ICGS Atulya’ for induction in which wing of Indian defence forces: Indian Coast Guard 598) Govt. has launched Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment Talent Utilisation (SETU) schemes for what purpose: For Entrepreneurship development 599) Which Indian State has recorded highest per capita income of Rs. 240,849 during 2014-15: Delhi 600) Which state legislature has become the first in the country to launch an online mechanism for its members to send questions and move different motions in the House: Maharashtra 601) The Supreme Court has directed all the State and UT Governments to consider ________victims under the disabled quota to enable them to get reservations in government jobs as well as education benefits: Acid-attack 602) Chen Long of _____ and Carolina Marin of _______were declared Male and Female Player of the Year, respectively, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF): China, Spain 603) The ______________________has become the first oil company from India to join the global initiative ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd 604) Name the iconic leader who has been named as the "Person of the Year" by the Times Magazine: Angela Markel 605) Name the Chinese city that posted the second World Internet Conference: Wuzhen 606) Name the global pop singer from USA who is on top of Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid musicians of 2015: Katy Perry 607) India has signed agreement with which international airport to take up operations and management of the Ahmadabad and Jaipur airports: Changi, Singapore 608) For which two items, the government has
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 100 approved mandatory use of jute packaging material: Foodgrains and sugar 609) World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2016 report has been brought out by which international body: UNO 610) Name the Japanese Prime Minister who arrived in New Delhi on Dec 11 for a three day visit to India: Shinzo Abe 611) The Japanese Prime Minister attended the Ganga Aarti at which ghat in Varanasi: Dasaswamedh Ghat 612) Which country has approved the use of the first- ever vaccine against dengue fever – Dengvaxia: Mexico 613) Name the politician whose autobiography’s title is “On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power”: Sharad Pawar 614) Mailer Prize for Literature is given in which country: USA 615) Name the India born author who has been selected for this year’s Mailer Prize for Literature: Salman Rushdie 616) Ballistic missile Shaheen-III belong to which country: Pakistan 617) South East Asia Writer Award is given annually to poets and writers from which group of countries: ASEAN – Association of South East Asian Nations 618) Which Indian celebrity has been ranked as the country’s top-earning celebrity with estimated earnings of Rs. 257.5 crore this year: Shah Rukh Khan 619) The 59th National Shooting Championships were held in which city: New Delhi 620) The first proposed bullet train in India will connect Mumbai with which other city: Ahmadabad 621) Nearly 200 nations adopted the first global pact to fight climate change on Dec 12 at COP 21 meet by UNFCCC. What is full form of COP and UNFCCC: Conference of the Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 622) The "Paris agreement" aims to keep global temperatures from rising by _______ degree Celsius between now and 2100: Two 623) Name the four Asian countries that have joined hands to construct 1800 kms long TAPI gas pipelines: Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India 624) What is the ratio of sharing between Pakistan, Afghanistan and India in gas carried by TAPI gas pipeline: 42% each by Pakistan and India and 16% by Afghanistan 625) As per the Human Development Index (HDI) compiled by the UNDP, India ranked a lowly _____ in the list of 188 nations: 130th 626) What are the three basic parameters on which the countries are ranked in the human development index: A long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living 627) 34 Islamic nations have agreed to form a new “Islamic military alliance” led by _________to fight terrorism: Saudi Arabia 628) Thousands of people suffered under the impact of severe typhoon Nona (Melor) in which country: Philippines 629) In which middle east county, women were allowed to cast votes and run for office in the local elections for the first time in the country's history: Saudi Arabia 630) Vijay Kumar, Chain Singh, Apurvi Chandela recently won gold medal in the National Championship of which event: Shooting 631) Sharad Joshi, a former Rajya Sabha member and founder of Shetakari Sangthana was associated with which field: Crusader for farmers’ rights 632) Which Indian city will host the 12th South Asian Games in February 2016: Guwahati and Shilong 633) Which animal has been selected as the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games: A rhinoceros calf 634) What is the name of the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games: Tikhor 635) Name the West African country that has decided to become an Islamic republic because Islam is the religion of the majority of its citizens: Gambia 636) Which is the first major bank in India to issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to its new customers: State Bank of India 637) Abbreviation of EMV stands for what: Euro- Maestro-Visa 638) The Federal Reserve of USA was in news recently for what reasons: It hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.50 on Dec 16, for the first time since 2006 639) As per the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) for 17 countries, which is the most polluted city in the world: Delhi 640) The Supreme Court has ruled that the RBI and commercial banks cannot hide routine information on which issue: Names of top defaulters, the losses suffered by banks 641) The PSLV-C29 rocket recently placed in space six satellites of which country: Singapore 642) The World Bank has approved a USD 1.5 billion loan for supporting which major Indian campaign: Clean India Campaign 643) The government has made it mandatory to quote PAN for all transactions in excess of Rs.___ lakh to curb black money: Two 644) What type of ship is INS Vikramaditya: Aircraft
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 101 Carrier 645) Who has been appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT): Arun Kumar Jain 646) Losar, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Festival is celebrated in which area: Ladakh, J & K 647) What is the significance of Losar festival: It is the beginning of New Year for Buddhists 648) For the first time, two Indian cities, ____________, have been selected in the Creative City Network of the UNESCO: Varanasi and Jaipur 649) Which Indian city has been selected as the city of Music by UNESCO: Varanasi 650) Which Indian city has been selected as the city of Crafts and Folk Art by UNESCO: Jaipur 651) _____________has become the first Indian female cyclist to be ranked fourth in the World Elite Women Ranking: Deborah Herold 652) Union Government has requested the states and Union Territories (UT) to start _________from 1 to 31 January 2016 to rescue/rehabilitate the missing children: Operation Smile-II 653) In which country public chose a new flag design featuring silver fern and red stars on a black and blue background: New Zealand 654) India has ranked a low _____out of 144 nations on Forbes' annual list of the best countries for doing business in 2015: 97th 655) The RBI has decided to lower the banks’ investment in government securities, also known as statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), to _____by January 2017: 20.5% 656) As per RBI decision, first cut of 25 basis points shall be made in SLR on which date: April 2, 2016 657) The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution to cut off revenue flows including ransom payments to which category of organizations: ISIS and other terrorists group 658) RBI has asked banks to follow a new and uniform methodology for calculation of which rate: Base Rate 659) Banks will have to follow new system of base rate calculation from which date: April 1, 2016 660) What is the formal name of the new proposed base rate for the banks: Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) 661) Banks will have to publish their MCLR in how many maturities: Five 662) What are the five prescribed maturities for which banks have to publish their MCLR: Overnight rates, one month, three months, six months and one year 663) Banks are required to publish their MCLR at what interval of time: Monthly 664) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated 35,950 cannon balls at the historic Fort St Angelo in Kannur. It is in which State: Kerala 665) Country's biggest Wildlife Rescue Centre has been established in which state: Maharashtra (Gorewada) 666) The 22nd National Cricket Tournament for the visually impaired was held in which place: New Delhi 667) The Bose Brothers and Indian Independence – An Insider’s Account is a book written about which noted freedom fighter: Subash Chandra Bose 668) Govt has approved the purchase of _______air defence missile systems from Russia: S-400 Triumf 669) The 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference was held in which city: Nairobi, Kenya 670) Who represented India in the 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference: Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Commerce and Industry Minister 671) Who is the present Director General of WTO: Roberto Azevedo 672) There are how many member countries in the WTO: 163 673) India lowered its GDP growth projection for the current year to between ______ % against the earlier forecast of 8.1 - 8.5%: 7 - 7.5 674) Name the former union defence secretary who has been appointed as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC): R K Mathur 675) Name the Greek Defence Minister who arrived in India on a three day visit in December: Panos Kammenos 676) World Bank has said that ______ is the largest recipient of inward remittances receiving over 72 billion US dollars in 2014: India 677) Which country has lifted a 40-year ban on its oil exports: USA 678) Dan Carterhas been named 2015 Sports Personality of the Year. He is from which field: Rugby 679) Which city hosted the 68th National Track Cycling Championship: Ludhiana, Punjab 680) The iconic boulevard Marine Drive, also popularly called the Queen’s Necklace completed 100 years on Dec 16. It is in which city: Mumbai 681) Which Indian statesman received Garwood Award for ‘Outstanding Global Leader in Open Innovation’ from UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business: Shri Pranab Mukherjee 682) 2nd World Internet Conference was held at Wuzen in which country: China 683) Which Indian company has become the first shipyard in India to get the nod to build LNG transporting ships: Coaching Shipyard
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 102 684) What is the full form of LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas 685) 2nd Indian Super League Football tournament was won by which team: Chennaiyin FC 686) Name the team that lifted the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup: Barcelona 687) Finals of the FIFA Club World Cup were played in which city of Japan: Yokohama 688) Name the Indian boy who has become world no. 1 won Junior Squash player: Abhay Singh 689) Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines has won which international beauty crown for 2015: Miss Universe 690) Mireia Lalaguna, the winner of Miss World 2015 title is from which country: Spain 691) Which city in India hosted the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship: Surat, Gujarat 692) Which country won 16 medals in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship to emerge as No. 1: India 693) Name the ex-President of FIFA, who was banned by Ethics Committee of FIFA for alleged financial irregularities: Sepp Blatter 694) Axis Bank has partnered with e-Mudhra to introduce an online electronic signature service. What its name: eSign 695) Which state Government has approved formation of five new districts, bringing the total districts to 25: West Bengal 696) Which UN organization has launched International Year of Pulses on 10 November: FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization) 697) What is the theme of the international year of pulses: Nutritious seeds for a sustainable future 698) Name the New Zealand cricketer who announced on Dec 22 his retirement from all forms of international cricket: Brendon McCullum 699) Who has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015: Andy Murray 700) Which organization has named midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh and striker Bala Devi as the Player-of-the-Year and woman Footballer-of-the- Year, respectively: All India Football Federation 701) Govt has decided to rename the posts of UDC (Upper Division Clerk) as what: Senior Secretariat Assistant 702) Govt has decided to rename the posts of LDC (Lower Division Clerk) as what: Junior Secretariat Assistant 703) Government has now made it mandatory for the auditors to report any suspected corporate fraud amounting to Rs ______or more to the Corporate Affairs Ministry: One Crore 704) The Reserve Bank has asked banks to make changes in ATM switches To help customers register for which service: Mobile Banking Services 705) What is the name of the mobile app launched for farmers to get the market prices of crops in the mandi within 50 km radius of the device: Agri Market Mobile 706) North India’s first cable-stayed bridge was inaugurated at ___________in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir: Basohali, on river Ravi 707) Indian-American tumour scientist Prof. Rakesh Jain has been selected for which top US science award: National Science Medal 708) Reserve Bank has extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations by another six months to _________: June 30, 2016 709) Name the Australian Batsman who has been named as “Cricketer of the Year 2015” and “Test Cricket of the Year” by the ICC: Steve Smith 710) ____________ has been selected as the “ODI Cricketer of the year 2015” by the ICC: AB de Villiers 711) The International Tennis Federation has named ________ and ________ as the Women’s Doubles World Champions: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis 712) Name the Indian players who won the doubles title in the Mexico Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament in Mexico City: Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy 713) Which port city in southwestern Saudi Arabia was in news as a fire in its general hospital killed 25 people and injured 107: Jazan 714) Which state government has banned 15-year-old diesel vehicles from its capital's roads in a bid to control air pollution: Bihar 715) Name the country's first indigenously designed and built warship that was decommissioned at Mumbai on Dec 24 after 32 years of service: INS Godavari 716) What is the highlight of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill passed by Rajya Sabha: Age of Juvenile for trial purposes has been lowered from 18 years to 16. 717) Which bank has tied up with railway’s e-ticketing platform IRCTC to sell rail tickets through its website: ICICI Bank 718) Gautam H Bambawale has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to which country: Pakistan 719) The ____________became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia: Philippines 720) Which state launched Anwesha scheme to provide free education to scheduled caste and
GENERAL AWARENESS – APRIL 2016 103 scheduled tribe students: Odisha 721) China launched the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite for what purpose: To study the mysterious dark matter 722) Name the global financial institution started recently with base in Beijing: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 723) What is the share of India in the capital of AIIB: 8.52% 724) AIIB has been started within authorized capital of $_________ billion and subscribed capital of $ ___________ billion: 100, 50 725) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has been promoted by 56 countries led by which country: China 726) Russia has agreed to manufacture which helicopter in India: Kamov 226 727) PM Modi inaugurated which building complex in Afghanistan: Parliament 728) Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award is given in which field: Cricket 729) Who has been honoured with the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015: Syed Kirmani 730) Syed Kirmani excelled in which aspect of Cricket: Wicket Keeping 731) Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out its latest mobile application named ________for providing e-learning material for students and teachers: E-CBSE 732) Name the weather phenomenon in South Atlantic Ocean which caused very heavy downpour in countries like Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil: El Nino 733) National Veda Convention and Vedic Conference was held in which city: Kozhikode, Kerala 734) Name the team that won the India's first pro wrestling league championship: Mumbai Garuda 735) Deepak Lather and Vikas Thakur created new national records recently in which field: Weight Lifting 736) Senior National Weightlifting Championships were held at which city of India: Patiala 737) Name the Indian sports person who won silver medal at the 18th Asian Luge Championship: Shiva Keshavan 738) Dr. Robert L. Spitzer, veteran psychiatrist who gave psychiatry its first set of rigorous measuring standards was in news for what reasons: He passed away Edited, Printed and Published by Varinder Mohan Singh Grover for Gyanm Education and Training Institute Pvt. Ltd., SCO 13-14-15, 2nd Floor, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh – 160022 and printed by him at All tech Print Pack, 182/4, Industrial Area – I, Chandigarh ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FORM SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD: ONLY 12 MONTHS FROM (MONTH) …………………..TO……………. (MONTH) AMOUNT: Name: Mr./Ms……………………………………………….……… Address:…………………………………………………………….… ……………………………………………………………………… City:……………………………District:………………………. State: ………………..…………………..PIN: Email: ………………………………………………………………….. Ph./Mob…………………………………………………..………… The subscription amount can be remitted to our following account: GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK Branch: Sector 34, Chandigarh ACCOUNT NO.: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989 …………………………………………………………………………………………… PARTICULARS OF REMITTANCE: Amount remitted: Rs………… Date:…./…./…… Bank………………………………..Branch…………… Transaction no………………………….. DATE:_________ Signature (Magazine will be sent by Ordinary Post) GYANM: SCO 13-15, 2nd FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH PH: 0172-4052124, 09257211740, OR SMS <MAGAZINE> TO 09646888377 Rs. 600/-
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April issue 2016

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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 1 GENERAL AWARENESS APRIL 2016 Vol. 4, Issue 10 A PUBLICATION OF GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD. SCO 13-14-15, 2ND FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH Contents CURRENT AFFAIRS DEC 2015 TO FEB 2016 01-39 BULLET NEWS SEPT. TO NOV. 2015 40-58 LATEST 100 GK MCQs 59-65 QUIZ & SSC CORNER 66-72 SPL. INSURANCE TERMS 81-82 THREE MONTHS GK BYTES 83-104 FIGURES TO REMEMBER REPO RATE (29.09.2015) 6.75% REVERSE REPO RATE 5.75% MARGINAL STANDING FACILITY RATE 7.75% STATUTORY LIQUIDITY RATIO 21.5% CASH RESERVE RATIO 4.00% BANK RATE 7.75% BASE RATE(s) (of various banks) 9.30 to 9.70% INDIA’s RANK IN Intellectual Property Index -2016 37th Overall Growth Prospectus 5th Global Talent Competitiveness Index 89th Nuclear Security Index 21st Ease of Doing Business (Forbes) 97th Human Development Index 130th ICT Development Index 131st Rank in Brand Value 7th Legatum Prosperity Index 99th Global Terrorism Index 06th Financial Secrecy Index 45th Ease of Doing Business (World Bank) 130th Number of Startups 03rd Global Competitiveness Index, WEF 55th Protection of Minority Investors 08th Global Innovation Index 81st Global Competitiveness 44th In terms of Peace 143rd Motherhood Index 140th BUDGET 2016-17: HIGHLIGHTS INTRODUCTION  India hailed as a ‘bright spot’ amidst a slowing global economy by IMF.  Growth accelerated to 7.6% in 2015-16.  Foreign exchange reserves touched highest ever level of about $350 billion.  7th Central Pay Commission recommendations and OROP implementation will put additional fiscal burden.  There is risk of further global slowdown and turbulence around the world. AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE  Allocation for Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare is Rs. 35,984 crore  Banking sector to provide farm loans for Rs. 9 lac crore.  ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ - 28.5 lakh hectares will be brought under irrigation.  5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells in rain fed areas and 10 lakh compost pits for production of organic manure will be taken up under MGNREGA  Soil Health Card scheme will cover all 14 crore farm holdings by March 2017.  2,000 model retail outlets of Fertilizer companies will be provided with soil and seed testing facilities during the next three years  All remaining 65,000 eligible villages to be connected under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana by 2019.  To reduce the burden of loan repayment on farmers, a provision of Rs.15,000 crore has been made in the BE 2016-17 towards interest Subvention RURAL SECTOR  Allocation for rural sector - Rs. 87,765 crore.  Every block under drought and rural distress will be taken up as an intensive Block under the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Mission  300 Rurban Clusters will be developed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission  100% village electrification by 1st May, 2018.  District Level Committees will be formed headed by senior most Lok Sabha MP from the district for monitoring and implementation of designated Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.  Priority allocation from Centrally Sponsored Schemes to be made to reward villages that have become free from open defecation. BUDGET 2016-17
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 2 SOCIAL SECTOR-HEALTH & EDUCATION  Allocation for social sector including education and health care –Rs.1,51,581 crore.  Rs. 2,000 crore allocated for initial cost of providing LPG connections to BPL families.  New health protection scheme will provide health cover up to Rs. One lakh per family.  For senior citizens an additional top-up package up to Rs. 30,000 will be provided.  3,000 Stores under Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Yojana will be opened during 2016-17. SKILL DEVELOPMENT  Allocation for skill development – Rs. 1804 crore.  1500 Multi Skill Training Institutes to be set-up.  Entrepreneurship Education and Training to be provided through Massive Open Online Courses JOB CREATION  GoI will pay contribution of 8.33% for of all new employees enrolling in EPFO for the first three years of their employment. Rs. 1000 crore provided for this. INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT  Total investment in the road sector, including PMGSY allocation, would be Rs. 97,000 crore.  100% FDI to be allowed through FIPB route in marketing of food products produced and manufactured in India. FINANCIAL SECTOR REFORMS  Allocation of Rs. 25,000 crore towards recapitalisation of Public Sector Banks.  Target of amount sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana increased to Rs. 1,80,000 crore.  General Insurance Companies owned by the Government to be listed in the stock exchanges. GOVERNANCE & EASE OF DOING BUSINESS  Introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on pilot basis for fertilizers.  Automation facilities will be provided in 3 lakh fair price shops by March 2017.  Special emphasis to sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, social sector including health, women and child development, welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, minorities, infrastructure.  Plan / Non-Plan classification to be done away with from 2017-18.  More than 1500 Central Plan Schemes to be rationalised and re-structured into about 300 Central Sector and 30 Centrally Sponsored Schemes. RELIEF TO SMALL TAX PAYERS  Ceiling of tax rebate under section 87A raised from Rs.2000 to Rs.5000 to lessen tax burden on individuals with income upto Rs.5 lacs.  Limit of deduction of rent paid under section 80GG raised from Rs.24000 per annum to Rs.60000, to provide relief to those who live in rented houses. CORPORATE TAX RATE PROPOSALS  New manufacturing companies incorporated on or after 1.3.2016 to be given an option to be taxed at 25% + surcharge and cess provided they do not claim profit linked or investment linked deductions and do not avail of investment allowance and accelerated depreciation.  Lower the corporate tax rate for the next financial year for companies with turnover not exceeding Rs. 5 crore (in the financial year ending March 2015), to 29% plus surcharge and cess.  Commitment to implement General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR) from 1.4.2017.  Exemption of service tax on services provided under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.  Exemption of Service tax on general insurance services provided under ‘Niramaya’ Health Insurance Scheme launched by National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING  100% deduction for profits to an undertaking in housing project for flats upto 30 sq. metres in four metro cities and 60 sq. metres in other cities, approved during June 2016 to March 2019 and completed in three years. MAT to apply.  Deduction for additional interest of Rs.50,000 per annum for loans up to Rs.35 lakh sanctioned in 2016- 17 for first time home buyers, where house cost does not exceed Rs. 50 lakh.  Exemption from service tax on construction of affordable houses up to 60 square metres under any government / semi government scheme. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION  Additional tax at the rate of 10% of gross amount of dividend will be payable by the recipients receiving dividend in excess of Rs. 10 lakh per annum.  Surcharge to be raised from 12% to 15% on persons, other than companies, firms and cooperative societies having income above Rs. 1 crore.  Tax to be deducted at source at the rate of 1 % on purchase of luxury cars exceeding value of Rs. ten lakh and purchase of goods and services in cash exceeding Rs. 2 lakh.  Securities Transaction tax in case of ‘Options’ is proposed to be increased from .017% to .05%.  Krishi Kalyan Cess, @ 0.5% on all taxable services (i.e. on service tax), w.e.f. 1 June 2016.  Infrastructure cess, of 1% on small petrol, LPG, CNG cars, 2.5% on diesel cars of certain capacity and 4% on other higher engine capacity vehicles and SUVs.  ‘Clean Energy Cess’ levied on coal, lignite and peat renamed to ‘Clean Environment Cess’ and rate increased from Rs.200 per tonne to Rs.400 per tonne.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 3 NEW SCHEMES AGRI & RURAL SECTOR  A dedicated Long Term Irrigation Fund will be created in NABARD with an corpus of about Rs. 20000 crore.  Promote organic farming through ‘Parmparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana’ and 'Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region'.  Unified Agricultural Marketing ePlatform to provide a common emarket platform for wholesale markets.  Rs. 800 crore for four dairying projects-Pashudhan Sanjivani’, ‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’, ‘E-Pashudhan Haat’ and National Genomic Centre for indigenous breeds  New scheme Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan proposed with allocation of Rs. 655 crore.  A new Digital Literacy Mission Scheme for rural India to cover around 6 crore additional household within the next 3 years. SOCIAL SECTOR – HEALTH & EDUCATION  ‘National Dialysis Services Programme’ to be started under National Health Mission through PPP mode  “Stand Up India Scheme” to facilitate at least two projects per bank branch. This will benefit at least 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs.  National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub to be set up in partnership with industry associations  Allocation of Rs. 100 crore each for celebrating the Birth Centenary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay and the 350th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.  Higher Education Financing Agency to be set-up with initial capital base of Rs. 1000 Crores  Digital Depository for School Leaving Certificates, College Degrees, Academic Awards and Mark sheets to be set-up.  National Board for Skill Development Certification to be setup in partnership with the industry and academia.  100 Model Career Centres to be operational by the end of 2016-17 under National Career Service. GOOD GOVERNANCE  Price Stabilisation Fund with a corpus of Rs. 900 crore to help maintain stable prices of Pulses.  “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” programme will be launched to link States and Districts in an annual programme that connects people through exchanges in areas of language, trade, culture, travel and tourism. GOVT HOUSE KEEPING (In %) Rupee Comes From Rupee Goes To Borrowings 21 Central Plan Outlay 12 Corporate Tax 19 Plan Asst. to State / UTs 09 Income Tax 14 Non Plan Asst. State/UTs 05 Custom Duty 09 Other-Plan Expenditure 12 Excise Duty 12 States Share of Taxes 23 Service Tax 09 Interest Payments 19 Non-Tax Revenue 13 Defence 10 Non Debt Capital Receipts 03 Subsidies 10 Total 100 Total 100 KEY BUDGET FIGURES – 2016-17 BUDGET HEAD Rs in Cr 1 Revenue Receipts (2+3) 1377022 2 Tax Revenue (net to centre) 1054101 3 Non-Tax Revenue 322921 4 Capital Receipts (5+6+7) 601038 5 Recoveries of Loans 10634 6 Other Receipts 56500 7 Borrowings and other liabilities 533904 8 Total Receipts (1+4) 1978060 9 Non-Plan Expenditure (10+12) 1428050 10 On Revenue Account - of which, 1327408 11 Interest Payments 492670 12 On Capital Account 100642 13 Plan Expenditure (14+15) 550010 14 On Revenue Account 403638 15 On Capital Account 146382 16 Total Expenditure (9+13)(Budget Size) 1978060 17 Revenue Expenditure (10+14) 1731037 18 Of Which, Grants for creation of Capital Assets 166840 19 Capital Expenditure (12+15) 247023 20 Revenue Deficit (17-1) 2.3% of GDP 354015 21 Effective Revenue Deficit (20-18) 1.2% of GDP 187175 22 Fiscal Deficit {16- (1+5+6)} 3.5% of GDP* 533904 23 Primary Deficit (22-11) 0.3% of GDP* 41234 *GDP for 2016-17 has been projected at Rs. 150.65 trillion.
  • 5.
    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 4 MAJOR BUDGET ALLOCATIONS Sr. No. Sector Allocation (Rs. in Cr) 1 Infrastructure 221246 2 MNREGA 38500 3 National Livelihood Mission (Rural & Urban) 3325 4 PM Kaushal Vikas Yojna 1700 5 Housing PM Awas Yojna 20075 6 PM Gram Sadak Yojna 19000 7 Rural Drinking water 5000 8 Swatch Bharat Abhiyan 9000 9 PM Fasal Bima Yojna 5500 10 National Health Mission 19000 11 White Revolution 1150 12 SSA 22500 13 ICDS 15860 14 Swatch Bharat Abhiyan 2300 15 Smart Cities & Atal Mission (AMRUT) 7205 16 Roads & Highways 55000 17 Deen Dayaal Gram Jyoti Yojna 3000 18 PM Mudra Yojna 1500 19 Recapitalisation- Banks 25000 20 Namami Ganga 2250 21 Solar Energy 4000 ECONOMIC SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS FISCAL DEFICIT  2015-16 fiscal deficit seen at 3.9 percent of GDP, seems achievable  India must adhere to the medium-term fiscal deficit target of 3 percent of GDP  India must move toward the golden rule of eliminating revenue deficits  Foreign portfolio flows have stabilized the rupee INFLATION  CPI inflation seen around 4.5 to 5% in 2016- 17, declining by over 6 percentage points since late 2013, will create space for easing of monetary conditions.  Expect RBI to meet 5 percent inflation target by March 2017 GDP PROSPECTS  7.6 per cent economic growth rate in 2015-16.  Estimated GDP growth rate for 2016–17 is 7–7.75 %.  Growth in industry is estimated to have accelerated in current fiscal.  Growth in the services sector moderated slightly, but still remains robust.  India's long run potential GDP growth projected between 8 per cent and 10 per cent.  Private investment must be the engine of long-run growth. SUBSIDIES AND TAXES  The direct fiscal cost of all the subsidies is roughly Rs. 378,000 crore or 4.2 percent of 2011-12 GDP.  The JAM Trinity – Jan DhanYojana, Aadhaar and Mobile – can eliminate leakages and distortion of subsidies.  Proposes widening tax net from 5.5% of earning individuals at present to more than 20% BANKING & CORPORATE SECTOR  Estimated capital requirement for banks likely around Rs 1.8 trillion by 2018-19  Govt proposes to infuse Rs. 70,000 crore rupees in bank capitals via budgetary allocations  Underlying stressed assets in corporate sector must be sold or rehabilitated RAIL BUDGET–2016 : HIGHLIGHTS Theme for this year: ‘Chalo, Milkar Kuch Naya Karen’ Three pillars of the strategy: Nav Arjan – New revenues, Nav Manak – New norms, Nav Sanrachna – New Structures. No hike in passenger fares. Gross Traffic Receipts kept at Rs 1,84,820 crore FACILITIES  Increased quota for senior citizens and women travellers  33 percent reservation to women in reserved quota in Railways will be introduced  Wifi at 100 stations this year and 400 stations next year.  Cleaning of toilets by requests through SMS.  Janani Sewa - Children's menu, baby foods, baby boards to be made available for travelling mothers.  e-catering to be extended to all rail stations  IRCTC will make available local cuisine of choice, hygienic food TICKETING  Enhanced capacity of e-ticketing system from 2,000 tickets/min to 7,200/min supporting 1.2 lakh concurrent users against 40,000 earlier.  Bar-coded tickets to be introduced on pilot basis to tackle menace of ticketless travel.  Will open ticket cancellation facility through 139 helpline number.
  • 6.
    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 5 NEW TRAINS  Uday Express - overnight double-decker train to be introduced on busiest routes, carrying capacity to be 40 percent more. Uday stands for Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-conditioned Yatri Express  Antyodaya Express superfast long distance fully unreserved trains for common man  Humsafar - fully air-conditioned third AC service with an optional service for meals  Tejas–futuristic trains with all the world class facilities will operate at speeds of 130 kilometre and above.  Deen Dayal coaches in regular long distance trains for unreserved passengers.  Aastha circuit trains to be introduced to connect 18 major pilgrimage centers INFRASTRUCTURE  All unmanned level crossings to be eliminated by 2020  Swacch Bharat: 17000 bio-toilets and additional toilets in 475 stations to be provided  India's first railway auto hub to be established in Chennai  Railways to shift to completely paperless contract system in 2016-17  All major stations to be brought under CCTV surveillance in a phased manner.  Porters (coolies) to be renamed as ‘Sahayak’ and to be given soft skills training and new uniform  GPS-based digital display in coaches for showing upcoming stations.  Rail university to come up at Vadodara, Gujarat BUDGET GLOSSARY APPROPRIATION BILL It is presented to Parliament for its approval, so that the government can withdraw from the Consolidated Fund the amounts required for meeting the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund till the Appropriation Bill is voted is enacted. CAPITAL BUDGET It consists of capital receipts and payments. It also incorporates transactions in the Public Account. It has two components: Capital Receipt and Capital Expenditure. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE It consists of payments for acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as also investments in shares etc, and loans and advances granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties. CAPITAL RECEIPTS The main items of capital receipts are loans raised by the government from public which are called market loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank of India and other parties through sale of Treasury Bills, loans received from foreign governments and bodies and recoveries of loans granted by the Central government to state and union territory governments and other parties. It also includes proceeds from disinvestment of government equity in public enterprises. CENTRAL PLAN It consists of the government’s budget support to the Plan and the internal and extra budgetary resources raised by public enterprises. CONSOLIDATED FUND It is made up of all revenues received by the government, loans raised by it, and also its receipts from recoveries of loans granted by it. All expenditure of the government is incurred from the Consolidated Fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without authorisation from Parliament. CONTINGENCY FUND It is an amount Rs 500 crore placed at the disposal of the President and is used by the government to incur all its urgent and unforeseen expenditure. Parliamentary approval for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an equivalent amount from the Consolidated Fund is subsequently obtained and the amount spent from the Contingency Fund is recouped to the Fund. EXPENDITURE BUDGET It contains expenditure estimates made for a scheme or programme under both revenue and capital heads. These estimates are brought together and shown on a net basis at one place by major heads. FINANCE BILL This contains the government’s proposals for levy of new taxes, modification of the existing tax structure or continuance of the existing tax structure beyond the period approved by Parliament. It is submitted to Parliament along with the Budget for its approval. FISCAL CONSOLIDATION A policy aimed at reducing government deficits and debt accumulation. FISCAL DEFICIT It is the difference between the revenue receipts plus certain non-debt capital receipts and the total expenditure including loans (net of repayments). This indicates the total borrowing requirements of the government from all sources.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 6 FISCAL POLICY The policy that decides the terms of government expenditure and revenue collection (taxation) to ensure best possible growth of the economy. It is the policy for deciding the shape of govt budget. FRBM ACT, 2003 The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act was enacted by Parliament in 2003 to bring in fiscal discipline in the govt expenditure. The FRBM Rules impose limits on fiscal and revenue deficit. In the long run, the fiscal deficit is required to be reduced to 3% of the GDP. GOVERNMENT BORROWING The money government borrows to fund public spending. It is the total amount of money that the country's Government has borrowed to fund its spending on public services and benefits. NON-PLAN EXPENDITURE It includes both revenue and capital expenditure on interest payments, the entire defence expenditure (both revenue and capital expenditure), subsidies, postal deficit, police, pensions, and economic services, loans to public enterprises and loans as well as grants to state governments, union territory governments and foreign governments. NON-TAX REVENUES Interest from loans to states, public bodies and PSUs is a key item under this head. So are dividends from PSUs. The government also earns income from the services it provides. Though the Railways is a separate ministry, all its money is routed through the consolidated fund. PLAN EXPENDITURE This is largely made up of the budget support to the central plan. It also comprises the amount the Centre sets aside for plans of states & Union territories. Like all budget heads, this is also split into revenue and capital components. PRIMARY DEFICIT If we deduct amount of interest payments from the amount of fiscal deficit, we get the amount of Primary Deficit. PUBLIC DEBT The government's borrowings are the burden of the people. The difference between borrowings and repayments is the net accretion to the public debt. Public debt can be split into two heads, internal debt and external debt. The internal debt comprises Treasury Bills, market stabilisation scheme, ways and means advances, and securities against small savings. PUBLIC ACCOUNT It is an account in which money received through transactions not relating to the Consolidated Fund is kept. For example, transactions relating to provident funds, small savings collections, other deposits etc. Public Account funds do not belong to the government and have to be paid back some time or the other to the persons and authorities who deposited them. Parliamentary authorisation for payments from the Public Account is not required. REVENUE BUDGET It consists of the revenue receipts of the government (which is tax revenues plus other revenues) and the expenditure met from these revenues. It has two components: Revenue Receipt and Revenue Expenditure. REVENUE EXPENDITURE It is meant for the normal running of government departments and various services, interest charges on debt incurred by the government and subsidies. Broadly speaking, expenditure which does not result in creation of assets is treated as revenue expenditure. All grants given to state governments and other parties are also treated as revenue expenditure even though some of the grants may be for creation of assets. REVENUE RECEIPTS It includes proceeds of taxes and other duties levied by the Centre, interest and dividend on investments made by the government, fees and other receipts for services rendered by the government. Excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts is called revenue deficit. VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) It is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its manufacture or distribution. The manufacturer remits to the government the difference between these two amounts, and retains the rest for themselves to offset the taxes they had previously paid on the inputs.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 7 NATIONAL NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 ANSARI VISITS BRUNEI, THAILAND Vice President Hamid Ansari paid a five day (Feb 1-5) visit to South East Asia covering Brunei and Thailand to boost the bilateral relations and trade prospects. Agreements were signed with Brunei in the fields of defence, health and sports. ABU DHABI PRINCE VISITS INDIA Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India. The two countries signed nine agreements covering cooperation in the fields of currency swap, culture, investments in the infrastructure sector, renewable energy, space research, insurance supervision, cyber security, skill development and commercial information sharing. MYSURU IS THE CLEANEST CITY Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the Quality Council of India to rank the Indian cities on the basis of cleanliness has ranked Mysuru at number one, followed by Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli. The least clean cities included Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Asansol (West Bengal). Among the cities in the Smart City Mission, Bhubaneswar has emerged as the top. NATIONAL AROGYA FAIR HELD IN DEHRADUN The 4-day National Arogya Fair organised by the central and state government in collaboration with CII was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand to showcase and promote the strengths, efficacy and affordability of the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems of medicines. Rs.580 CRORE FOR BANGLA RAIL LINK The Indian government has finally sanctioned Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link, a project that was finalized in January 2010. This project will reduce rail distance between Kolkata and Agartala from 1700 kms (via chicken neck) at present to 350 kms. NATIONAL DEWORMING DAY – FEB 10 India observed the first National Deworming Day on Feb 10 in schools and preschools (anganwadis) to combat parasitic worm infections among children. Free Albendezole deworming tablets were provided to children across the country. INDIA ASEAN HOLD DELHI DIALOGUE The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India. The theme for this year's dialogue is ASEAN-India Relations: A New Paradigm. ANTI-LEPROSY DAY – 30TH JANUARY Anti-Leprosy Day was observed on 30 January nationwide in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who attained martyrdom on 30 January 1948, to honour his selfless efforts to care for the people affected by this infectious disease. COINS IN MEMORY OF LAJPAT RAI Ministry of Culture released a commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a circulation coin of 10 rupees on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai. ROAD TO RESILIENCE PROGRAMME The Road to Resilience, an initiative of the World Bank to survey the entire Indian coastline was completed on 15 February 2016. It aims to implement support for six coastal disaster management and climate resilience projects covering all ten coastal states of India. GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT IN INDIA Birdwatchers from all over India took part in four day annual Great Backyard Bird Count and shared the information online. With more than 7,000 lists, totaling 735 species, India has second rank in world. House crow, common myna, Asian koel and black drongo were the most common species reported in India. 3 INDIANS IN TOP 50 RICHEST IN WORLD Three Indians — Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Group), Azim Premji (Wipro) and Dilip Shanghvi (Sun Pharma) —have made it to a global list of 50 wealthiest people at 27th, 43rd and 44th place, respectively. The list compiled by Wealth-X in collaboration with Business Insider is topped by Bill Gates.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 8 JNU STIRRED BY ANTI NATIONAL SLOGANS Nation’s prestigious university caught attention of intellectuals around the world, although for non academic reasons. A group of students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi staged a demonstration and raised anti national slogans leading to arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, President of JNU students union and two other student leaders on charges of sedition. The issue raised a storm in the country with different groups favouring and opposing the charge of sedition against the students. INDIA HAS 111 BILLIONAIRES The total number of billionaires from India has risen to 111, consolidating the country's third position after China and the US, according to Hurun Global Rich List 2016. The list is topped by Bill Gates while Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian at 21st rank. INDIA VERY POOR IN PROTECTING IPR In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), India ranked 37th on the 2016 Intellectual Property Index released by the Global Intellectual Property Centre, USA. The top rank was secured by USA, followed closely by UK, Germany and France while Venezuela was ranked last – 38th.  Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli arrived in New Delhi on Feb 19 on a six-day visit to India. The two countries signed 7 agreements for cooperation.  India and Afghanistan have agreed to allow visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of the two countries.  India has extended one million dollars assistance to cyclone-hit Fiji. The category five cyclone Winston had wind speed of upto 325 km per hour.  Global brand valuation firm Brand Finance has rated Tata Consultancy Services as the World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services.  The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) completed ten years in first week of February.  Banaras Hindu University (BHU) founded by Freedom fighter Pt Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13th February 2016.  The 42nd Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous annual classical dance festival, was held in the temple town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.  The biennial automotive show Auto Expo was held in Greater Noida in the National Capital Region.  The 47th two-day Conference of Governors of all Indian states and Lt. Governors of UTs was hosted by the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.  India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the rail communication agreement by mutual consent for three years from 19 January 2016.  The 6th National Science Film Festival & Competition was held at Nehru Science Center in Mumbai.  13th World Spice Congress was held in Ahmedabad from Feb 27-29 with the theme 'Target 2020: Clean, Safe and Sustainable Supply Chain'. JANUARY 2016 HOLLANDE PRESIDES OVER REPUBLIC DAY President of France, Francois Hollande arrived in Chandigarh on Jan 24 for a three–day visit to India. He was the honourable Chief Guest at the 67thRepublic Day Parade at New Delhi. An agreement was signed to provide technical and financial assistance for developing Puducherry, the erstwhile French protectorate, Chandigarh and Nagpur as a smart city. Besides, 16 other agreements, including one for purchase of 36 Rafale advanced fighter aircrafts, were also signed. He also inaugurated the interim secretariat of the International Solar Alliance - ISA and laid the foundation stone of its headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana. ISA is a specialized platform for cooperation among 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, for increasing utilisation and promotion of solar energy. FRENCH FORCES IN REPUBLIC DAY PARADE For the first time, a military contingent of a foreign country will take part in the Republic Day Parade on January 26. A contingent of the French army, which is already in India for a joint military exercise, will take part in the parade along with Indian armed forces. INDIA 5TH BEST COUNTRY FOR GROWTH According to the annual global CEO survey of consultancy giant PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) the top five markets considered as most important for overall growth prospects are USA, China, Germany, the UK and India. CEOs in India are showing much more confidence than their global counterparts when it comes to revenue growth for their companies.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 9 US HAS LARGEST NUMBER OF INDIANS India sends the largest number of engineers and scientists to the US with about 950,000 immigrant scientists and engineers coming from the country, according to a report. The number of scientists and engineers residing in the US rose from 21.6 million to 29 million from 2003 to 2013. INDIA IMPROVES ITS CORRUPTION STATUS In the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)-2015 by the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI), India has been ranked at 76th position in public sector corruption out of 168 countries, improving its slot from 85 in 2014 and 94 in 2013. The Index is topped by Denmark, followed by Finland, Sweden and New Zealand. NATIONAL VOTERS’ DAY 6th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across the country on Jan 25. The theme for this year was ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’. It was on this day in 1950 that the Election Commission came into existence. FIRST BLIND FRIENDLY TRAIN The Mysuru-Varanasi Express has become the country’s first blind friendly Braille-embedded train. It has been provided with metallic Braille signage indicating berth numbers, location of alarm chains, toilets, and emergency windows. INDIA HAS LARGEST DIASPORA India’s diaspora population is the largest in the world with 16 million people from India living outside their country in 2015, according to a latest survey conducted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. India is followed by Mexico, Russia and China. 20th NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL The 153rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was observed as National Youth Day across the country. Main event was the five day 20th National Youth Festival held in Naya Raipur, the new capital city of Chhattisgarh. The theme for the festival was "India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony". The mascot for the event was Wild Buffalo, the state animal of Chhattisgarh and named as 'Sangi', which means "friend". ‘JALLIKATTU’ – CENTRE ALLOWS, S C BANS The Union Government has allowed the conduct of the traditional bull-taming sports, ‘Jallikattu’, in Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated around Pongal in Tamil Nadu. However, on Jan 12, Supreme Court stayed the Central government notification allowing ‘Jallikattu’. MUMBAI 22ND, DELHI 24TH BEST CITY According to a study conducted by international real estate consultancy JLL, India’s financial capital Mumbai has been ranked 22nd, while the National Capital is placed at number 24 in the top-30 list of the world’s most powerful, productive and connected cities. The list is topped by Tokyo, followed by New York and London. N E INDIA STRUCK BY EARTHQUAKE A strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck northeast India on Jan 4. The epicentre of the earthquake was at Tamenglong, 33 kilometres away from Imphal in Manipur. Several persons were killed and many a buildings collapsed in Tamenglong. GOVT TO SIGN RAPTOR AGREEMENT The government has approved the signing of the Raptor MoU which aims at promoting internationally coordinated actions to conserve and reverse the decline of birds of prey such as eagles, kites, vultures, hawks and owls. India will become the 54th country to sign this agreement. INDIA TO MAKE BRIDGES IN MYANMAR The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the trilateral highway in Myanmar. This will facilitate all season movement of goods from Imphal to Mandlay in Myanmar and further entering Thailand. WORLD BANK LOAN FOR MINORITY YOUTH World Bank will provide a $ 50 million loan for ‘Nai Manzil'–Education and Skills Training for Minorities. Youth in BPL category in the age group of 17-35 years will be the main beneficiaries of the project.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 10 WORLD BANK LOAN FOR ZOO IN ANDHRA In a global first, the World Bank has agreed to provide $ 20 million assistance to reconstruct the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam (Andhra) which got devastated during cyclone Hudhud in October 2014. INDIA RANKS LOWLY 89TH IN TALENT HUNT The Global Talent Competitiveness Index compiled by the INSEAD Business School, France to rank the 103 countries on the basis of their ability to attract talent, has placed India at 89th rank, 11 steps below its rank last year. The index is topped by the Switzerland, followed by Singapore. INDIA RANKS LOW IN NUCLEAR SAFETY A Nuclear Security Index compiled by the Nuclear Threat Initiative of USA for 176 countries to assess global nuclear security conditions, for both – weapon grade nuclear material and possibility of sabotage, has placed India low at 21st rank among the 24 countries having one kg or more of the weapon grade nuclear material. Australia has been ranked as the safest country. ‘BHARAT PARV’ HELD IN DELHI A four day cultural festival 'Bharat Parv' was held at the Red Fort lawns in Delhi from Jan 26-29 to highlight the rich cultural and ethnic heritage of India, including cuisine and handicrafts from across the country. INDIA TO SHARE CLIMATE INFORMATION The World Meteorological Organisation has nominated India as the Regional Climate Centre to provide information to other South Asian countries on temperature and monsoon, including that about El Nino.  Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organising “Make in India Week” in Mumbai during February 13- 18, 2016 to hold investors meet for the manufacturing sector.  India’s share in IMF has increased to 2.75% from 2.44%, making it the eighth-largest shareholder in the Fund. Its voting rights now will rise to 2.6% from 2.34%.  The World Bank will give $ 250 million loan for Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project for reconstruction and recovery support in flood-affected areas.  India and Armenia signed an amended Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty (DTAA) to share information on banking and financial transactions.  The largest tricolour (66 x 99 feet) in the country was hoisted atop the Pahari Mandir in Ranchi, Jharkhand on the tallest pole – standing 293 foot.  Union Ministry of Finance released the draft report of Justice R V Easwar (Retd) Committee to simplify the provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961.  The child sex ratio in India now stands at 918 (per thousand male babies), dipping further from 927 in 2001, and reaching the lowest level since 1961.  Govt has decided to merge the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with the Ministry of External Affairs to avoid duplication of work and to improve efficiency.  India-Nepal Bus Service between Banbasa border in Uttarakhand and Kanchanpur in Nepal started on 4th January, after a gap of 27 years.  The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held on 9 January 2016 in New Delhi. It was a limited edition as now it will be organised once in two years.  India’s first World Music Festival will be held in Udaipur on Feb 12-13. Over 100 artistes from over 12 countries will take part in the festival.  103rd Indian Science Congress held at University of Mysore, Karnataka. Theme for this year was "Science & Technology for Indigenous Development in India".  International Kite Festival held at Sabarmati River front in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.  The Jaipur Literature Festival held at Hotel Diggi Palace, Jaipur (Rajasthan) from January 21 to 25.  National Conference on e-Governance held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. DECEMBER 2015 INDIA 97TH IN ‘DOING BUSINESS’ India has ranked a low 97th out of 144 nations on Forbes' annual list of the best countries for doing business in 2015, scoring poorly on issues like trade and monetary freedom and response to challenges like corruption and violence. Denmark topped the list. As per World Bank data, India ranks 130th. INDIA RANKS 130TH IN HDI As per the Human Development Index (HDI) compiled by the UNDP, India ranked a lowly 130th in the list of 188 nations. It is up by five ranks from last year's 135, thanks to higher life expectancy and gross national income. Stagnancy in education, women's empowerment and poverty continue to drag India down. Norway topped the ranking. HDI is a summary measure to assess long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development -a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 11 MODI VISITS RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN Prime Minister Modi visited Russia on Dec 23-24 to attend the 16th India-Russia annual summit. President Vladimir Putin gifted him an 18th century sword from Bengal and a page from Mahatma Gandhi's diary containing his handwritten notes. Russia and India signed 16 pacts. The agreements include joint manufacture of Kamov 226 multipurpose helicopters and construction of 12 atomic plants in India. PM Modi visited Afghanistan on Dec 25 to meet President Ashraf Ghani. He inaugurated the Parliament building which has been constructed by India. He made a surprise brief halt in Pakistan also to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif. MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT IN FOREST COVER According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2015, the total forest and tree cover is 79.42 million hectare, which is 24.16 percent of the total geographical area, up from 24.01 per cent in 2013. Of this, the forest cover is 7,01,673 sq km covering 21.34 per cent area. The total forest cover of the country has increased by 3, 775 Square kilometre and the tree cover has gone up by 1,306 Square kilometre. The maximum increase in forest cover has been observed in Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir. ACID VICTIMS TO BE UNDER DISABLED QUOTA The Supreme Court has directed all the State and UT Governments to consider acid-attack victims under the disabled quota to enable them to get reservations in government jobs as well as education benefits. WORLD BANK LOAN FOR SANITATION The World Bank has approved a USD 1.5 billion loan for the ambitious clean India campaign to support the government in its efforts to ensure all citizens in rural areas have access to improved sanitation and end the practice of open defecation by 2019. INDIANS HIGHLY IGNORANT - SURVEY A survey conducted by a London-based market research firm found people in Mexico and India were most inaccurate in perceptions on issues such as obesity, non- religious population, immigration, female employment, rural living and Internet access. Survey in 33 countries for ‘Index of Ignorance’ placed Mexico as most ignorant, followed by India.  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a 3 day visit to India. He attended Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi.  Panos Kammenos, Greek Defence Minister arrived in India on a three day visit. The two countries decided to enhance bilateral defence ties.  National Veda Convention and Vedic Conference held in Kozhikode, Kerala.  The Lok Sabha passed the Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 to establish the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as a National Standards Body.  India and South Korea have inked a new MoU on suspension of collection of taxes during pendency of mutual agreement procedure.  The ICT (information, communication & technology) Development Index places India a lowly 131st among 167 countries. South Korea tops the index. NEWS FROM STATES FEBRUARY 2016 HARYANA SINGED BY JAT AGITATION Prosperous state of Haryana suffered big loss due to widespread violent agitation by its Jat community demanding reservation for Jats in government jobs. The stir claimed around 30 lives, leaving over 300 as injured. The Supreme Court had rejected inclusion of Jats into the Central OBC list on ground that National Commission of Backward Castes does not consider them socially and economically backward in Haryana. LONGEST RAIL BRIDGE TO COME UP AT KATNI Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved construction of India’s longest railway bridge on Katni – Bina route in Madhya Pradesh. This 14 kms long bridge is three and half folds longer than the present longest Vembanad rail Bridge 4.6 Km in length, in Kerala. HARYANA TO CONDUCT AQUIFER MAPPING Haryana to soon become the first state in the country to have aquifer mapping done for its groundwater resources by May 2016. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock, from which groundwater can be extracted. VARANASI HAS WORST AIR QUALITY Central Pollution Control Board released its National Air Quality Indices (NAQI) for 24 cities. The index has a colour code and a numerical value to help in comparing pollution levels in different cities. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Muzzafarpur in Bihar topped the list for the worst air quality.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 12  30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela began at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana on Feb 1. Telangana is the Theme State this time.  The World Bank to give $ 35 million credit for the Citizen Access to Responsive Services Project of Madhya Pradesh.  Haryana and the Province of Ontario in Canada have signed a MoU for enhancing commercial and cultural ties between the two states. JANUARY 2016 ‘FREE’ WI-FI AT MUMBAI RLY STATION Mumbai Central has become the first ever railway station in India to have free high-speed Internet facility for thousands of its passengers. Railwayplans to extend this facility to 400 stations in near future. The service has been rolled out by Indian Railway’s telecom arm, RailTel in collaboration with Google. SIKKIM BECOMES FULLY ‘ORGANIC’ Sikkim has become India's first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation. Organic cultivation is free of chemical pesticides and chemical fertilisers as it tries to strike a harmonious balance with a complex series of ecosystems. KULLU NATI DANCE CREATES WORLD RECORD In Himachal Pradesh, the Nati folk dance of Kullu district has made a world record by entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the folk dance by largest number– 9,892 women. The dance was arranged last year on 26th October during International Dussehra festival. GANGA GRAM YOJANA TO START FROM U P Govt has launched Ganga Gram Yojana from Village Puth in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Under the scheme, 1600 villages of UP situated along the banks of river Ganga will be developed to minimize/stop pollution of the river from these villages. ARUNACHAL UNDER PRESIDENT RULE President Pranab Mukherjee gave assent under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution to the Union Cabinet’s recommendation for President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh, accepting the ground that there was a “constitutional breakdown” in the state as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.  For the first time, a study by the World Wide Fund- India has captured on camera evidence of the highly endangered species Snow Leopard inhabiting the high mountains of northern Sikkim.  The 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films was held in Mumbai from Jan 28 to Feb 03.  The Ardh Kumbh mela formally started at Haridwar on Jan 12. The first Snan of the Kumbh will take place on Makar Sankranti, Jan 14.  Kerala has become the first Indian state to achieve 100 per cent primary education (up to class iv) by implementing the programme ‘Athulyam’.  World Bank to provide $ 250 million loan for the Bihar’s Kosi Basin Development Project.  Bihar government has decided to give 35% reservation for women in all state government jobs.  Bihar govt has announced that no one can contest the panchayat elections scheduled in 2016 in the state, without having a toilet at their home.  Telangana has become the first state in the country to officially accept electronic motor insurance policies by the name ‘e-Vahan Bima’. DECEMBER 2015 PER CAPITA INCOME HIGHEST IN DELHI According to Delhi Government's Delhi Statistical Hand Book, the state recorded the highest per capita income among all the states in the country at Rs. 2,40,849 during financial year 2014-15. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Delhi, at current prices, in 2014-15 stood at Rs 4.51 lakh crore, up by 15.35 per cent over the previous year. DELHI IS MOST POLLUTED CITY IN WORLD Green Peace India released a report on National Air Quality Index (NAQI) for 17 countries, covering top 20 most polluted cities. As per the report, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world, while 13 Indian cities figured in the 20 most polluted cities in the world.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 13 NO TO DIESEL VEHICLES IN DELHI The National Green Tribunal has directed that no new or old diesel vehicle be registered in Delhi till Jan. 6, with a view to curb pollution in capital. It also directed all the govt departments to not to purchase any new diesel vehicle and make plans to phase out the existing ones.  The Konark Festival, the five-day festival of classical dances of India, was held in Konark, Odisha, in the back drop of the famous Sun Temple.  The International Sand Art Festival 2015 was held in Konark, Odisha.  For the first time, two Indian cities, Varanasi and Jaipur, have been selected in the Creative City Network of the UNESCO in the categories - City of Music and City of Crafts and Folk Art, respectively.  The Maharashtra legislature becomes the first legislature to launch an online mechanism for its members to send questions and move different motions in the House.  The Odisha state launched Anwesha scheme to provide free education to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students in the state.  The Bihar government has banned 15-year-old diesel vehicles from its capital's roads to control pollution.  India’s fourth and North India’s first cable-stayed bridge was inaugurated at Basohali in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, over river Ravi.  West Bengal has approved formation of five new districts in the state, bringing the total districts to 25.  Mumbai’s iconic boulevard Marine Drive also called the Queen’s Necklace completed 100 years on Dec 16.  Maharashtra has started the country's biggest Wildlife Rescue Centre at Gorewada near Nagpur to take care of sick, injured and rescued animals.  Losar, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Festival began on 12 December 2015 in Ladakh, J&K. The festival marks the beginning of New Year for Buddhists.  Uttar Pradesh has launched International festival on Birds in National Chambal Sanctuary to promote state as an international bird-watching destination.  Hornbill Festival held in Kohima, Nagaland from Dec 1 to 10 to highlight state’s rich cultural heritage.  Himachal Pradesh has become the first state to launch Rotavirus vaccination for controlling the child mortality rate (under 5 years of age) due to diarrhea. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FEBRUARY 2016 20 SMART CITIES ANNOUNCED Central government has announced the names of the first 20 urban areas that will be developed as smart cities. The selected cities will be equipped with basic infrastructure, efficient urban mobility and public transport, IT connectivity and e-governance mechanisms. The 20 selected cities are from 11 states and UT of Delhi. 1. Bhubaneswar 2. Pune 3. Jaipur 4. Surat 5. Kochi 6. Ahmedabad 7. Jabalpur 8. Vishakapatnam 9. Sholapur 10. Davangere 11. Indore 12. New Delhi 13. Coimbatore 14. Kakinada 15. Belagavi 16. Udaipur 17. Guwahati 18. Chennai 19. Ludhiana 20. Bhopal RURBAN MISSION LAUNCHED IN DONGARGARH The ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural- urban) Mission was launched from Chhattisgarh's Dongargarh block. It aims to draw an investment of over Rs 5,000 crore in three years to transform rural areas to economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces aimed at minimising rural migration to cities through skill development programmes. GOVT TO SET UP AIM AND SETU The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) in NITI Aayog to encourage innovations and entrepreneurship in the country. APP LAUNCHED FOR CLEAN TOURIST CENTERS Ministry of Tourism has launched a mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ to facilitate the public to communicate their complaints about any unclean area/garbage piles in and around 25 listed prime tourist destinations.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 14 E-TOURIST VISA FOR 37 MORE COUNTRIES Govt has decided to extend E-Tourist visa facility to 37 more countries from Feb 26, making the total count of countries under the scheme 150. The new countries include Austria, Brunei, Denmark, Greece, South Africa, Switzerland and Tajikistan. EPFO COVERAGE FOR 10 WORKER UNITS The Union Labour Ministry has decided to halve the threshold for coverage of firms under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from 20 at present to 10 workers. This will benefit over 50 lakh workers. YOU TUBE CHANNEL FOR FINANCE MINISTRY Finance Ministry has launched its official YouTube channel with a view to disseminate information to the public on a real-time basis. The channel showcases videos featuring schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Insurance schemes, among several others. PROJECT SUNRISE LAUNCHED TO FIGHT AIDS Government has launched Project Sunrise for prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North- Eastern states. The project seeks to improve interventions against human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among people who inject drugs (PWID). 24x7 TOLL FREE TOURIST INFOLINE Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the 24x7 Toll Free Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages including Hindi and English in New Delhi. It will assist the callers, particularly those who know little about India, with advice on action to be taken during times of distress while travelling in India to ensure a hassle free comfortable journey. TATA TO HEAD RAIL RESEARCH TEAM Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross functional team called Special Unit for Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) headed by veteran industrialist Ratan Tata for carrying out detailed analytics leading to optimised investment decisions and operations in railways. NDRF RAISES ‘DOG SQUAD’ In a maiden initiative, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has raised a squad of 162 dogs to aid its personnel in rescuing people trapped under debris in the aftermath of natural calamities like earthquake.  India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near Bagodara village in Ahmadabad to strengthen the aviation sector. The park will promote special units to manufacture spare parts for aircrafts.  National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016- 2030 released to define the strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030, in a phased manner.  The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031 unveiled by the environment ministry to focus on rehabilitation of threatened species of wildlife. JANUARY 2016 “START-UP INDIA, STAND-UP INDIA” Govt. has started a 19 point Start-up Action Plan with a Rs. 10,000 crore fund for funding of Start-ups. The new ventures will be exempted from paying income tax on their profit and visit of inspectors for 3 years. They will enjoy 80 per cent exemption in patent fee. An Atal Innovation Mission will be launched to give a boost to innovation. NEW CROP INSURANCE FOR FARMERS Government has launched the “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana", under which the premium will be paid by Central and state govt and the farmers will have to pay only a token premium of 2 per cent for kharif, 1.5 per cent for rabi and 5 per cent for commercial crops. 33% WOMEN IN PARA FORCES Govt has approved 33% reservation for women in Central Armed Police Forces such as CRPF and CISF at constable–level positions and 14-15% reservation at the constable level in border guarding forces such as BSF, SSB and ITBP. HYBRID ANNUITY MODEL FOR HIGHWAYS The government has approved the hybrid annuity model as one of the modes for implementing highway development projects. Under this model, 40% of the project cost is provided by the government during construction and the balance 60% is paid as annuity (installments) payments later on.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 15 E-TENDERS MUST FOR OVER 2 LAKH DEALS With a view to bring transparency in government purchases, it has been decided that all central ministries and public sector units will have to float e-tenders for procuring goods and services exceeding Rs 2 lakh. At present the limit is Rs 5 lakh. 61 MORE DISTRICTS UNDER ‘BETI BACHAO’ The Government has decided to extend the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to 61 more districts this year to improve skewed child sex ratio. The programme was launched in January 2015 in 100 districts with poor sex ratio across the country. SOCIAL SECURITY PACT WITH AUSTRALIA A new social security agreement signed between India and Australia has come into operation enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other's country, a pact likely to boost bilateral business linkages. GAVI TO PROMOTE VACCINATION IN INDIA To improve the quality and coverage of vaccination in India, Union Health Ministry has decided to use the expertise of Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), a global NGO working for promotion of vaccination in poor countries.  Operation Green Hunt refers to an all-out offensive by India’s paramilitary forces against the Naxalites in the Naxal affected five states.  River Information System - the first of its kind in India launched to facilitate safe and accurate navigation on National Waterway-1 (Ganga River).  Union Govt in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Govt has launched an initiative ‘Wattan ko Jano’ to familiarize the local youth with the development of the country in other states.  Sahaj Scheme launched for online booking of LPG cylinders through the unified web portal www.mylpg.in, available in 13 languages.  Government has decided to institute a new award category under the National Film Awards titled The Most Film–Friendly State/UT.  The Union Ministry of Shipping has started Project Green Ports to make Major Ports across India cleaner and greener.  Eight states have agreed to implement direct benefit of transfer of subsidy in kerosene in 26 districts w.e.f. April 1, 2016.  Finance Ministry to organise the India Investment Summit from Feb. 4 in New Delhi to attract global investors to promote Indian infrastructure sector.  The government has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to look into revamp of Censor Board.  A new luxury super fast express train 'Mahamana Express' named after Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya has been started between Varanasi to Delhi. DECEMBER 2015 APPS LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE HEALTHCARE Govt has launched 4 new Information Technology-based initiatives to provide citizen-centric health services. They include three applications:  Kilkari:An audio-based mobile service that delivers weekly audio messages to families about pregnancy, child birth and child care.  Mobile Academy: For providing training services to 9 million ASHA workers.  M-Cessation: Counselling helpline to help tobacco users to quit tobacco.  Toll free number 1800-11–6666 to provide round the clock counselling and treatment support services to TB patients NO LPG SUBSIDY FOR THE RICH Government has announced that taxpayers with an annual income of more than Rs 10 lakh will not get subsidised LPG cylinders from January, 2016. Over 20 lakh persons have reported annual income of over Rs. 10 lakh. At present, all households are entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rate of Rs 419.26, while the market price of each cylinder is Rs 608. MOBILE APPS LAUNCHED FOR FARMERS Govt. has launched two mobile apps for farmers. The app - Crop Insurance - will help farmers find out complete details about insurance cover available in their area. The other app called Agri Market Mobile can be used by farmers to get the market prices of crops in the mandi within 50 km radius of the device.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 16 6 NEW IITs & 5 NEW IISEs TO BE SET UP The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at an overall cost of over Rs 1,400 crore in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jammu, Kerala and Karnataka. Approval was also given for setting up of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. INJECTABLE POLIO VACCINE LAUNCHED The government has launched an injectable polio vaccine – Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) – which will be administered in addition to oral polio drops in the routine immunization programme. IPV injection will be given to children aged below one year along with the third dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), free of cost to double the immunity. LOK SABHA NOD FOR 101 WATERWAYS Lok Sabha passed a bill to develop 101 new waterways across the country aimed at providing a cheaper mode of transport and reducing traffic burden on roads. At present, there are only five National Waterways. NEW GUIDELINES ON FRAUDS Government has now made it mandatory for the auditors to report any suspected corporate fraud amounting to Rs 1 crore or more to the Corporate Affairs Ministry with a view to effectively curb the misdoings in corporate sector. NEW DESIGNATION FOR GOVT CLERKS Govt has decided to rename the posts of UDC (Upper Division Clerk) and LDC (Lower Division Clerk) under Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS) as Senior Secretariat Assistant and Junior Secretariat Assistant, respectively. NEW DATE FOR BS V-VI STANDARDS The government has advanced the date for implementation of the Bharat Stage (BS) V and VI norms for emission standards for four-wheelers by 3 years to April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2021, respectively. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, which provides for lowering the age for trial of juvenile from 18 years to 16 years, has been passed by Rajya Sabha. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha earlier.  Govt has asked the states and UTs to start Operation Smile-II from 1 to 31 January 2016 to rehabilitate / rescue the missing children.  Global Initiative of Academic Networks Scheme launched to boost the quality of higher education through international collaboration.  Central Board of Secondary Education has rolled out its latest mobile application E-CBSE for providing e- learning material for students and teachers.  With a view to provide relief to 3.7 lakh jute mill workers, the govt has approved mandatory use of jute packaging material for foodgrains and sugar.  Union govt. proposes to launch a $1-billion equity fund, with seed capital from public sector units, to support renewable energy companies. ECONOMIC INDICATORS FEBRUARY 2016 INDIA RECORDS 7.3% GROWTH IN OCT-DEC QR According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), growth of the Gross Domestic Product is estimated at 7.3% in the October-December 2015 quarter. The economy is projected to record a five-year high growth rate of 7.6% in 2015-16 with consumption supporting growth and manufacturing being a surprise performer. GDP GROWTH TUNED DOWN TO 7.2% The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has marginally revised downward the GDP growth for 2014-15 to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3% after factoring in the latest data on agriculture and industrial production. The real GDP or GDP at constant prices (2011-12) for the year 2014-15 stands at Rs 105.52 lakh crore. The per capita Net National Income at current prices is estimated as Rs 79,412 and Rs 86,879, respectively for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15. For 2015-16, the Net National Income at Current Prices is expected to be Rs. 93,231.00 MOODY’s PUTS INDIA’s GROWTH AT 7.5% Moody’s Investors Services has projected that Indian economy will grow at 7.5% in 2016 and 2017 as it is relatively less exposed to external headwinds like China’s slowdown and will benefit from lower commodity prices.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 17 EXPORTS CONTINUE TO SINK India’s exports contracted 13.6% in January — 14th month in a row — to $21.04 billion due to a steep fall in shipment of petroleum products and engineering goods amid tepid global demand. Imports, too, shrank 11% to $28.71 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $7.63 billion. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DOWN BY 1.3% According to data released by Central Statistics Office, country's industrial production declined for the second month in a row, shrinking 1.3 per cent in December 2015, mainly due to fall in manufacturing and capital goods output. Industrial output had grown 3.6 per cent in December 2014. CORE SECTOR GROWS BY MERE 0.9% Growth of eight core sectors slowed down to 0.9 per cent in December 2015 from 3.2 per cent in the same month of previous year as production of crude oil, natural gas and steel sectors declined. The eight core or infrastructure industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. JANUARY 2016 INDIA TO GROW BY 7.8% - WORLD BANK The Global Economic Prospect by the World Bank has projected a robust 7.8 per cent growth for the Indian economy in the current year based on strong investor sentiment in India and the positive effect of the recent fall in oil prices.  UNCTAD says that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into India nearly doubled to $ 59 billion in 2015 as against 36 per cent rise at the world level. DECEMBER 2015 INDIA TO GROW BY 7.9% - GOLDMAN SACHS Global financial analysts Goldman Sachs have said that India’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.9 per cent next fiscal driven by rising domestic demand and higher capital spending by the government, even though the global economy will remain anaemic. INDIA TO GROW BY 7.4% - S&P Standard & Poor's Ratings Services in its 'India Credit Spotlight' newsletter has noted that India's economy will grow at 7.4 per cent in the current fiscal, which will further improve to over 8 per cent in 2016-17 as significant reforms are required with Indian corporates and banks currently facing a weak operating environment. INDIA TO GROW BY 7.3% - UN REPORT The United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2016 report says that India would record a 7.3% growth in 2016 and 7.5% in 2017. It will continue to be the fastest growing economy in the world in 2016 and 2017 amid volatile global financial conditions that will see diminished trade flows and stagnant investment, the report said. FITCH KEEPS INDIA AT ‘BBB’ GRADE International ratings agency Fitch Ratings has announced that India’s investment rating would remain at ‘BBB-’ -- the lowest investment grade -- with a stable outlook, saying that strong medium-term growth outlook and favourable external finances will balance out weak structural features, including its business environment. ECONOMY & INDUSTRY FEBRUARY 2016 ‘MAKE IN INDIA WEEK’ INAUGURATED Prime Minister Mr. Modi inaugurated the Make in India Week on Feb 13 in Mumbai. He told representatives from 68 countries participating in the event that India was blessed with Democracy, Demography, and Demand, and his government has added 4th D – Deregulation, making it a four-dimensional India waiting for foreign investment and manufacturing companies. The week attracted investment commitments of over Rs.15 lakh crore. 10,000 Cr FUND FOR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY In a bid to kick start manufacturing in the electronics sector, government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore Electronic Development Fund. It will provide risk capital to companies developing new technologies in electronics, nano-electronics and information technology. 15.27 LAKH COMPANIES IN INDIA As per the latest data released by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the total number of companies registered in the country rose to more than 15.27 lakh in January 2016. However, only 10.76 lakh of them were active ones.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 18 G I TAG FOR BASMATI OF 7 STATES The Intellectual Property Appellate Board has directed Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai to issue ‘Geographical Indication’ tag for basmati rice to 7 states in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. These states are Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. This tag will help to preserve the unique identity of India’s aromatic basmati rice in the international market. TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT APPROVED Union Cabinet has approved (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), becoming 71st country to do so. The TFA seeks to ease customs procedures to boost commerce. FIRST PETROCHEMICAL PLANT IN NORTH EAST Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) started the Assam Gas Cracker project, the first ever Petrochemical project in entire North East India. The plant at Lepetkata near Dibrugarh, Assam will produce High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Linear Low Density polyethylene (LLDPE) totaling 2, 20,000 Tonnes per Annum (TPA) and 60,000 TPA of Polypropylene (PP) for downstream plastic processing industries. eKYC LAUNCHED FOR MUTUAL FUNDS India’s leading transfer agency for most of the mutual funds-CAMS (Computer Age Management Services) has launched Aadhaar-based eKYC app using OTP (one-time password) authentication to make mutual fund account opening and transactions a paperless and presence less process through the app myCAMS at www.camsonline.com . PARADIP REFINERY STARTS PRODUCTION Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery in Paradip, Odisha started production of petrol from the Rs. 34,555- crore facility that took over 14 years to complete. The Refinery, largest on the eastern coast, will primarily be producing BS-IV fuels for local consumption and for exports. With this refinery, IOC has now become country’s largest refiner, overtaking Reliance Industries Ltd. TRAI RULES IN FAVOUR OF ‘NET NEUTRALITY’ The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has barred telecom service providers from charging differential rates for data services, effectively prohibiting Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel’s Airtel Zero platform. TRAI said a fine of Rs. 50,000 would be levied per day, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakh, for any violation of these regulations by the service providers. INDIA TO GIVE $150 MN FOR CHABAHAR PORT India has approved a $150 million credit line for the development of Iran’s Chabahar port. The port in southeast Iran will allow direct trade with Iran, avoiding Pakistan and open up a new route to Afghanistan. INS VIKRANT REBORN AS ‘V’ MOTOR BIKE Bajaj Auto has launched a 150-cc motor bike named ‘V’ that contains metal sourced from India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. The ship was decommissioned in Jan 1997 and was sold as scrap in November 2014.  For the first time, 6 metro coaches, each 75 feet long, were shipped to Australia from Mumbai port as the first installment of 450 such coaches.  Govt has cut interest rates by 0.25% on short-term post office deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and other small saving schemes below five years of maturity.  Govt to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute in Sikkim as the state is country's first organic farming State.  Govt about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of its 5% stake in the Maharatna PSU National Thermal Power Corporation-NTPC, through OFS (offer for sale).  South Arabia emerged as the largest exporter of crude oil to India in Jan. 2016, exporting 9.4 lac barrels per day, followed by Iraq at 9.3 lac bpd.  Apprehensive of the name Zika, the virus, Tata Motors have decided to rename their latest hatchback model as Tiago instead of Zika.  Asian Development Bank will provide a $80 million loan for improving the infrastructure in the two North-Eastern cities of Agartala and Aizawl.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 19
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 20 JANUARY 2016 2.36 LAKH MILLIONAIRES IN INDIA India is home to the fourth largest population of millionaires in the Asia Pacific region, with 2.36 lakh such high net worth individuals, while Japan topped the list with 12.60 lakh people, according to the Asia Pacific 2016 Wealth Report. HNWIs (millionaires) were defined as those individuals with net assets of USD 1 million or more. HALDIA TO GET WATERWAYS HUB The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is planning to set up a modern Indian Waterways Hub at Haldia, West Bengal to attract more investment in the state. The Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) is the main gateway for import and export of cargo destined or originating from Eastern, North Eastern and Northern parts of the country as well as landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan. GOVT SAYS ‘GOODBYE’ TO HMT WATCHES Govt has decided to close down three loss-making subsidiaries of HMT Ltd, (Hindustan Machines Ltd) namely HMT Watches Ltd, HMT Chinar Watches Ltd, and HMT Bearings Ltd. BS VI NORMS FROM APRIL 1, 2020 With a view to minimize the air pollution from vehicles, Govt has decided to implement strict emission norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020, by skipping BS- V altogether. Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms, introduced in 2000, are standards that have been set up the Centre to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicle. WORLD BANK LOAN FOR ‘NEERANCHAL’ World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1071 crore funding for the Neeranchal National Watershed Project which will benefit all the states in India by supporting their various irrigation projects.  India has overtaken Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter in 2015, shipping 10.23 million tonnes as against 9.8 million tonnes by Thailand.  The Asian Development Bank to extend a $625 million loan for the proposed $840 million Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor. DECEMBER 2015 INDIA TO MAKE SHIPS FOR LNG Cochin Shipyard has become the first shipyard in India to get the nod to build LNG (liquefied natural gas) transporting ships, making India fourth such country in world, after South Korea, Japan and China. The most critical part of an LNG ship is its cryogenic containment and handling system as the LNG has to be carried at a temperature of -163 degrees. LNG occupies 1/600th space of gaseous form. MORE TRANSACTIONS UNDER PAN The government has made it mandatory to quote PAN (permanent account number) for all transactions in excess of Rs.2 lakh to curb black money. This includes all payments made through cash, cheques or debit or credit cards. The new rule, effective from January 1, will cover purchases of all goods or services, such as say gold jewellery or furniture. JAPAN TO SUPPORT BULLET TRAIN During recent visit of Japan’s Prime Minister, India and Japan signed a number of pacts in key areas of defence and nuclear energy as well as building of first bullet train network between Mumbai- Ahmadabad at a cost of about Rs 98,000 crore. IMPROVEMENT IN ‘EASE OF DOING BUSINESS’ The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has informed that as a result of many steps taken to improve the ‘ease of doing business’ in the country, the average number of days taken for incorporation of a company has come down significantly to 4.51 days in November 2015 from 9.57 days in December 2014. CHANGI TO GUIDE A’BAD & JAIPUR AIRPORTS Government has signed an agreement with Singapore for using the services and expertise of the Singapore airport developer Changi for taking up operations and management of the Ahmadabad and Jaipur airports. ONGC JOINS ‘ZERO ROUTINE FLARING’ The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd has become the first oil company from India to join the global initiative ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ by World Bank to curb routine gas flaring at oil production sites around the world by 2030.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 21 SEBI ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR ‘GREEN BONDS’ The SEBI has released concept paper for issuance of Green Bonds. A green bond is like any other bond where a debt instrument is issued by an entity for raising funds from investors but the funds are 'ear-marked' for use towards financing ‘green’ projects only. INDIA TOPS IN INWARD REMITTANCES World Bank has said that India is the largest recipient of inward remittances receiving over 72 billion US dollars in 2014, followed by China at 64 billion US dollars. Of this, largest amount came from USA, $56 billion. INDIA GOT MOST FDI FROM SINGAPORE Singapore has replaced Mauritius as the top source of foreign direct investment into India during the first half of the current fiscal. During April to September period, India attracted $6.69 billion FDI from Singapore while from Mauritius, it received $3.66 billion only. WORK BEGINS ON TAPI GAS PIPELINE Leaders of four Asian countries met in Mary, Turkmenistan to join hands for the beginning of construction of 1800 kms long Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project which will provide energy-hungry India gas for its power plants. The pipeline will carry 90 million standard cubic metres a day of natural gas from Turkmenistan of which India and Pakistan will get 42 per cent each, while Afghanistan will get the remaining 16 per cent. PHARMA-OIL BARTER WITH VENEZUELA The government is considering a 'medicines for oil' barter system with Venezuela where Indian pharma exporters are facing problems to repatriate their sales proceeds due to restrictions imposed in that country. Venezuela is the third largest country in terms of oil imports into India. RELIANCE LAUNCHES 4G SERVICES Reliance Jio launched 4G telecom service providing data services with a speed up to 1 gigabyte per second. It offers a unique combination of telecom, high speed data, digital commerce, media and payment services. ‘PROJECT LEAP’ FROM BHARTI AIRTEL Country’s largest telecom services provider, Bharti Airtel will invest Rs. 60,000 crore over the next three- years in ‘Project Leap’ to upgrade its networks to provide quality services to meet increasing competition. GOOGLE STARTS YOU TUBE SPACES IN INDIA Google’s YouTube has collaborated with Whistling Woods International, a production house owned by Subhash Ghai, to open its first video production studio called YouTube Spaces in the country.  India received its first uranium consignment for its nuclear power reactors from Canada, after a gap of over four decades.  The first Goa to Mumbai double-decker Shatabdi train was flagged off from Panjim, Goa on Dec 6. BANKING & FINANCE FEBRUARY 2016 NO RATE CHANGE BY RBI The Reserve Bank maintained a status quo in its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review for year 2015-16 announced on Feb 2 by not changing any of the policy rates. Stating that current momentum of growth is reasonable, RBI maintained the FY 16 growth at 7.4 per cent, with downward bias. BANKS TO FOLLOW ‘IND AS’ NORMS The Reserve Bank has advised that banks should follow accounting standard ‘Ind AS’ converged with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from April 1, 2018. Ind AS implementation is likely to significantly impact the financial reporting systems and processes such as profit planning and budgeting, taxation, capital planning, and impact on capital adequacy.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 22 P G APTE REPORT RELEASED ON IROs The Reserve Bank of India has released the Report of the Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. P.G. Apte) on Introduction of Interest Rate Options in India. The report recommends liberalization of the interest rate derivatives market by allowing simple call and put Options, caps, floors and collars. PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS HIGH ON NPAs Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed by M. Veerappa Moily, a senior Congress MP submitted the report on the Net Non performing Assets (NPAs) of Public Sector Banks (PSBs). As per the report, NPAs in the country’s PSBs were around 205,024 crore rupees till September 2015 and the Gross NPAs during the same period were around at 369,990 crore rupees. S C ASKS RBI TO DISCLOSE BIG DEFAULTERS The Supreme court has asked the Reserve Bank of India to submit within six weeks a list of the companies which are in default of loans by the banks and financial institutions in excess of Rs 500 crore or whose loans have been restructured under corporate debts restructuring scheme. The list is to be furnished in a sealed cover to maintain confidentiality about the identity of defaulters. INCOGNITO VISITS TO CHECK CUSTOMER CARE Reserve Bank has decided to undertake ‘incognito visits’ by its officials to bank branches to check culture towards customer complaints and how banks have implemented Charter of Customer Rights. FDI RULES RELAXED FOR START UPS The Reserve Bank has relaxed several rules including foreign direct investment norms to boost start-up activity in the country. Now the start-ups are allowed to receive foreign funds irrespective of the sector in which they operate. SBI LAUNCHES "FLEXIPAY HOME LOAN" State Bank of India launched a new home loan scheme "FlexiPay Home Loan", offering higher amount and up to five years of interest moratorium to young professionals in the age group of 21 to 45 years. Borrowers will have the option of paying only interest during the moratorium (pre-EMI) period and thereafter pay moderated EMIs.  Govt to infuse Rs 5,000 crore as capital in the public sector banks to strengthen their balance sheet for compliance of Basel III capital norms.  RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap arrangement to SAARC nations till mid-November 2017 to enhance economic cooperation.  State Bank of India has started an exclusive ‘Japan Desk’ as a single nodal point for attracting FDI worth $30 billion from Japan. JANUARY 2016 NEW 100 AND 500 RUPEE NOTES Continuing its efforts to deter counterfeiting activities, the Reserve Bank of India, RBI, will soon introduce new banknotes of 500 rupees and 100 rupees denominations with enhanced security features. These notes will have ascending size of numerals in the number panels, bleed lines and enlarged identification mark. MASTER DIRECTIONS FROM RBI Reserve Bank has started the process of issuing 'Master Directions' on various regulatory issues in its bid to simplify the communication process. To begin with, 17 such Master Directions were issued covering foreign exchange transactions. ALL BIG VILLAGES TO HAVE BANK BRANCHES Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure that every village with a population over 5,000 should have a bank branch by March 2017 and asked the State Level Bankers' Committees (SLBCs) to identify such villages in their state. BANKS TO SELL ‘INDIA GOLD COINS’ Reserve Bank has permitted banks to sell India Gold Coins (IGC) with Ashok Chakra minted by Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) through their branches. Coins are available in denominations of 5 and 10 grams while a 20 gram bar is also being manufactured by MMTC. INCENTIVE FOR GOLD MONETISATION SCHEME RBI has advised that the government will pay 2.5% commission to banks for attracting more gold in the Gold Monetisation Scheme, as it has received very poor response from banks and customers. Only a few kilograms gold could be mobilized by the banks from the massive 2,000 tons of gold stashed in Indian households. Under the current scheme, citizens are encouraged to deposit jewellery, bars or coins with banks so it can be refined to meet fresh demand and cut the need for imports. The consumer would earn interest and, at the end of the deposit term, get the gold back in the form of bars.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 23 LOANS FOR WOMEN SHGs The RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate to Women Self-Help Group (SHG) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) Aajeevika scheme during 2015-16. RBI IMPOSES FINE ON SBT RBI imposed monetary penalty of one crore rupees on State Bank of Travancore for violation of its instructions including non–reporting of data to Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC). GOVT CHEQUES TO BE PAID THROUGH CTS RBI has decided to dispense with the requirement of physically forwarding paid central government cheques to the departments for clearance. From Feb 1, 2016, cheques will be paid through Cheque Truncation System (CTS) facilitating the presentation and payment of cheques without their physical movement. DECKS CLEARED FOR MUDRA BANK The Union Cabinet has approved conversion of MUDRA Ltd, an NBFC, into MUDRA Bank. It was also decided to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund for MUDRA Units (CGFMU) for guaranteeing loans - sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Yojana.  RBI has granted operational freedom to banks to offer all their products and services through the ATM channels provided technology permits the same.  RBI has hiked its shareholding in National Housing Bank by contributing Rs 1,000 crore towards the paid capital, bringing the total capital to Rs 1450 crore.  RBI has asked banks not to issue such 1000 rupee notes which, by mistake, were printed without security thread.  State Bank of India has become the first public sector bank to launch wealth management service ‘SBI Exclusif’ to cater to fast-growing affluent segment of the country.  The country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank became the first private bank to achieve the milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore in housing loan. DECEMBER 2015 RBI TO CUT SLR TO 20.50% The RBI has decided to lower the banks’ investment in government securities, also known as statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), to 20.5% by January 2017 from 21.5% at present. As per the new time table, SLR would be reduced to by 25 basis points to 21.25% as on April 2, 2016; 21% by July 9, 2016, 20.75% by October 1, 2016 to 20.75% and 20.50 % by January 1, 2017. BANKS CAN’T DENY INFO ON BORROWERS-SC The Supreme Court has ruled that the RBI and commercial banks cannot hide routine information, such as the names of top defaulters, the losses suffered by banks and details of action taken against erring banks, sought by the public under the Right to Information Act. Till now, banks denied such information on the ground that it was information held in a fiduciary capacity and could not be revealed to the public at large. 280/-
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 24 PRIORITY LENDING NORMS HIKED FOR RRBs RBI has hiked Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) from 60 per cent at present to 75 per cent of their total lending with effect from 1 January 2016. As on March 2015, there were 56 RRBs operating in the country with a network of 20059 branches. BANKS TO HAVE UNIFORM BASE RATE RBI has said that from April 1 next year, all banks will have to follow a new and uniform methodology to calculate base rate as per the marginal cost of funds. All new loans and renewals will now be priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) which will be the internal benchmark for such purposes. Banks will have to publish MCLR of five maturities every month-overnight rates, one month, three months, six months and one year. Like base rate, banks will not be allowed to lend below MCLR, except for few categories, like loans against deposits, loans to bank’s own employees. SBI FIRST TO ISSUE EMV CARDS State Bank of India has become first major bank in India to issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to its new customers to ensure enhanced secure transactions. EMV stands for Euro–Maestro–Visa. YES BANK GETS BRITISH AWARD Yes Bank, India's fifth largest private sector bank has bagged the prestigious 'Bank of the Year' award conferred by Britain’s 'The Banker' magazine. The awards are widely regarded as the Oscars for the banking Industry. HSBC QUITS PRIVATE BANKING IN INDIA Global banking major Britain’s HSBC (Hong Kong, Shanghai Banking Corporation) announced shutting down of its private banking business in India that offers wealth management services, from first quarter of 2016. They may continue their retail banking operations. Tech Mahindra has launched ‘MoboMoney’, India’s first ‘Tap N Pay’ contactless digital payment solution in the form of a prepaid wallet based on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Axis Bank has partnered with e-Mudhra to introduce ‘eSign’ – an online electronic signature service which facilitates an Aadhaar holder to digitally sign a document at the click of a button.  Announcing the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2, RBI Governor did not change any of the key policy rates.  RBI has granted in principle approval to the National Payments Corporation of India to function as the Central Unit for Bharat Bill Payment System.  Banks opened a whopping 19.52 crore accounts under the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana till the first week of December, 2015.  RBI has extended the deadline for exchanging pre- 2005 currency notes by another six months to June 30, 2016. It was to expire on Dec 31, 2015.  RBI has asked banks to make changes in ATM switches by March 31, 2016 to help customers register for mobile banking services from the ATM.  Govt released two commemorative coins of Rs.125 and Rs.10 as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar.  ICICI Bank has tied up with railway’s e-ticketing platform IRCTC to sell rail tickets through its website. DEFENCE, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FEBRUARY 2016 FLEET REVIEW OF NAVY HELD IN VIZAG Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected one of the largest maritime events in the recent past – the International Fleet Review 2016 held on 4 Feb to 8 Feb at Visakhapatnam coast. The theme of event was United through Oceans and mascot concept was Dolphin. Close to 75 Indian warships and 52 from Navies across the globe took part in the grand event. INS ARIHANT BECOMES OPERATIONAL The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear submarine INS Arihant is now ready for full fledged operations after passing a number of deep sea diving drills as well as weapons launch tests. INS VIRAAT TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2016 After nearly 60 years of sailing across the oceans, the Indian Navy's warhorse aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat is destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016. It was inducted in Indian Navy in May 1987 as refitted British warship – HMS Hermes. Government of Andhra Pradesh has agreed to base the ship off Visakhapatnam coast, converting it into a luxury hotel for promotion of tourism in the State.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 25 INDIA LARGEST IMPORTER OF ARMS A study by the Stockholm-based think-tank SIPRI states that India continues to be the world’s largest importer of arms, accounting for 14% of global arms imports in the period 2011–15. China ranks second with 4.7%, followed by Australia (3.6%), Pakistan (3.3%). PRITHVI II TESTE SUCCESSFULY Indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile, capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads up to 350 kms, was tested successfully as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range near Chandipur, Odisha. INDIA HOLDS JOINT NAVAL FEAT - IBSAMAR The fifth edition of 'Exercise IBSAMAR' (India, Brazil, South Africa Maritime) between the navies of Brazil, India and South Africa was held off the Goa coast from Feb 19 t0 29. This is for the first time that India is hosting this exercise. LIGHT REVOLVER ‘NIDAR’ LAUNCHED India’s first indigenously developed lightest revolver Nidar, weighing just 250 grams, was launched under the "Make In India" initiative by the state-run Ishapore Rifle Factory in West Bengal. ‘COBRA GOLD 2016’ Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 2016’ – the biggest multilateral military exercise hosted by Thailand, along with its counterparts from 35 countries, including USA, China and Pakistan. “SINO-INDIA COOPERATION 2016’’ Focusing on humanitarian aid and disaster relief, the Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ in Chushul- Moldo area of Ladakh border with China. MAHINDRAS TO M 777 HOWITZERS IN INDIA Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based multinational company has announced selection of Mahindra as its Indian partner for the around $700- million deal for the supply of 145 M777 ultra light howitzers to the Indian Army—the first new artillery guns after the Bofors scandal. The gun, with a strike range of 25 km, will form the backbone of the Mountain Strike Corps, being raised by the government for the mountainous borders with China.  LAMITYE 2016, the 7th joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) was held in Seychelles.  The 9th edition of India-Nepal Combined Military Exercise ‘Surya Kiran IX’ was held in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.  The Ministry of Defence to locally produce 106 upgraded Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas Mark 1-A” jets to replace the ageing fleet of MiG fighter aircraft.  The 4th India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol was conducted jointly by both navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Andaman Sea.  Japan joined the US, Russia, and China as one of the only countries to produce its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’  Saudi Arabia launched a massive military exercise – ‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20 nations in King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia. ‘KSHEER-SCANNER’ TO DETECT MILK PURITY Government has launched a device developed by the CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named ‘Ksheer-Scanner’ that instantaneously detects the adulterants like urea, salt, detergent, soda etc in milk. YOUTUBE RED LAUNCHED YouTube has launched its YouTube Red service. The original movies and show are part of Google parent Alphabet Inc's efforts to offer more to customers on YouTube Red, the $10-a-month service that allows viewers to watch videos across YouTube without ad breaks.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 26 ELUSIVE GRAVITATIONAL WAVES DISCOVERED After decades of search for Scientists working with the gigantic optical instruments in the LIGO [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory], USA, have detected for the first time, signals of gravitational waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away. These ripples in space-time were predicted by Albert Einstein, some 100 years ago. NOD FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTOR Union Cabinet has given ‘in principle’ approval for a proposal to have a gravitational wave detector in India under LIGO-India Project. It would cost at least Rs. 1,200 crore and may take at least eight years to be operational. JAPANESE SATELLITE TO STUDY BLACK HOLES The Japanese space agency has successfully launched a new X ray astronomy satellite – Astro–H to study the origin of black holes. The satellite has four telescopes that will enable the space agency to peer into far off galaxy clusters, providing data on how they were formed. 5 NEW JUPITER LIKE PLANETS DISCOVERED Scientists have discovered five new Jupiter-like planets having similar characteristics to the biggest planet in our solar system and orbit very close to their host stars. Newly discovered planets have been named as WASP- 119 b, WASP-124 b, WASP-126 b, WASP 129 b and WASP-133 b.  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34 for Diabetes type 2 patients.  Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed the world’s first vaccine for Zika virus.  Mobile messaging app WhatsApp crossed the one billion user milestone globally on Feb 02. JANUARY 2016 ‘RUDRA’ SHOWS UP AT R. DAY PARADE Indigenously designed and built advanced light helicopter (ALH) — “Rudra” made its debut at the Republic Day parade. This multirole attack helicopter is produced by the Defence Ministry’s unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for Indian Army. BARAK MISSILE TESTED BY INS KOLKATA Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully test-fired long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) Barak NG against a remotely piloted flying target over the Arabian Sea. Developed in collaboration with Israel, it has a range of over 80 kms. THE 68TH ARMY DAY was observed on 15 January, all over India. On this day in 1949, Lt.–Gen. (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. ‘SAHAYOG-KAIJIN 2016’ The 15th edition of bilateral exercise by the Indian Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart began off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the Bay of Bengal.  The DRDO successfully test-fired Nag anti-tank missile at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. It is a third generation fire-and-forget anti-tank missile and can be fired during night as well.  India will host a joint military exercise at Pune in March, 2016. Ten member countries of the ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners will take part in the exercise.  INS Kadmatt, the second indigenous stealth Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, was inducted in Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.  India and France began their eight-day counter- terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise ‘Shakti-2016’ in Rajasthan.  India has supplied three Mi-25 gunship helicopters to Afghan Air Force. 5TH SATELLITE OF IRNSS LAUNCHED The ISRO successfully launched the 5th satellite IRNSS 1- E of the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) on January 20. It is a set up of total seven satellites which will provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continent.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 27 NEW THRUSH BIRD FOUND IN NE INDIA Scientists have found a new variant of Thrush bird named as the Himalayan Forest Thrush in the northeastern India and parts of Tibet, Nepal and China. The scientific name of the bird is Zoothera Salimalii after the name of the great Indian ornithologist Salim Ali. NEW BREED OF TREE FROG DISCOVERED A class of frogs that grows in tree holes who as tadpoles feed on eggs laid by their mother, has been discovered in the north-east region. It has been named as Frankixalus Jerdonii. FIRST 3D PRINTED LIVER A Bengaluru-based technology startup has developed India’s first artificial liver tissue with the help of 3-D printing technology. This is a major step forward in the on-demand manufacturing of 3D printed human organs. NETFLIX STARTS SERVICES IN INDIA Global streaming pioneer Netflix (of USA) has launched its service in India, allowing viewers to access unlimited TV and cinema content online at prices starting Rs 500 a month. It has over 70 million members in over 190 countries watching over 125 million hours of content. FALCON 9 ROCKET FAILS AGAIN TO LAND BACK The NASA successfully launched Falcon 9 rocket made by SpaceX Company, from California to place ocean monitoring satellite Jason-3 in orbit. However, the rocket that was supposed to land back on a floating platform failed in its attempt and ended up in a blast due to crash landing. MOST ENERGETIC LIGHT EVER DETECTED Scientists have discovered the most energetic light ever detected in the universe from the centre of a supernova known as ‘Crab pulsar’ which is situated 6,500 light years away from Earth. It is surrounded by a region of intense magnetic field 10 thousand billion times stronger than that of the Sun. LARGEST SOLAR SYSTEM FOUND Astronomers have discovered the largest known solar system, consisting of a large planet that takes nearly a million years to orbit its star. The gas giant is one trillion kilometres away, making its orbit 140 times wider than Pluto's path around our Sun. CHEMISTRY GETS FOUR NEW ELEMENTS The periodic table of elements in Chemistry now has its seventh row completed with the introduction of four new chemical elements - 113, 115, 117 and 118, discovered by scientists in Japan, Russia and US. The new additions were formally verified by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on December 30, 2015. New elements can be named after a mythological concept, a mineral, a place or country, a property or a scientist. The first true iteration of the table was done by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. HUMAN LIKE ROBOT CREATED Scientists in Singapore have developed a human-like social robot named ‘Nadine’, with soft skin and flowing brunette hair, which is capable of autonomously expressing emotions and gestures like shaking hands and conversing.  China successfully launched Gaofen-4 Earth Observation Satellite toward a geostationary orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan, China. DECEMBER 2015 DEF. SERVICES MEET ON INS VIKRAMADITYA An annual Defence Services event called Unified Commanders Conference, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held on board Navy’s aircraft carrier - INS Vikramaditya, about 50 kms off Kochi coast. This is for the first time when the conference was held outside New Delhi. NEW ‘ISLAMIC MILITARY ALLIANCE’ FORMED 34 Islamic nations have agreed to form a new “Islamic military alliance” led by Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism with a joint operations center based in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Alliance includes a number of African countries but does not include Iran, Iraq and Syria.  INS Godavari, the country's first indigenously designed and built warship was decommissioned at Mumbai on Dec 24 after 32 years of service.  The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a joint naval exercise between Indian and Russian navies, started off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal.  Israeli military has successfully tested from a ship an advanced surface-to-air supersonic missile – Barak 8, co-developed with India. It has a range of 100 kms.  Govt has approved the purchase of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems from Russia.  Cochin Shipyard Ltd launched the Fast Patrol Vessel ‘ICGS Atulya’ for induction in Indian Coast Guard.  Indian Coast Guard has commissioned interceptor boat ‘ICGS C-422’ to further enhance its vigil along Pondicherry and South Tamil Nadu coast.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 28  India test-fired the indigenously built nuclear- capable Agni-I missile having a hitting range of 700 km, from a test range off the Odisha coast.  Pakistan successfully test-fired nuclear capable ballistic missile Shaheen 1A with a range of 900 kilometres & Shaheen-III which can carry nuclear warheads up to 2,750 kms PSLV – C29 LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY The ISRO successfully demonstrated its ability to launch multiple payloads in vastly different altitudes using a single flight of the rocket when it launched PSLV-C29 rocket carrying six satellites of Singapore. They included main satellite TeLEOS-1 and five mini satellites that were placed at an altitude of 550 kms. FALCON 9 LANDS ON EARTH US space company SpaceX created history on Dec 21 when its powerful Falcon 9 rocket landed back on earth within 10 minutes of its launch from the Cape Canaveral in Florida, after placing 11 satellites in orbit. This means that now it is possible to make rockets as reusable as airplanes, leading to huge savings in costs of sending satellites in space. ATLAS V CARRIES SUPPLIES TO ISS The Atlas V rocket of NASA, carrying much needed US supplies blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA, toward the International Space Station. The Cygnus capsule carried by the rocket contained more than 3,500kg of food, clothing, computer gear, spacewalk equipment and other supplies.  Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of eel named Bengal moray eel along the Digha coast in West Bengal.  China launched its first space telescope- the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite to study the mysterious dark matter.  China has approved commercial production of its first domestically developed electricity-powered aircraft known as RX 1E. INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 2016 DAWN OF DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR Myanmar embarked upon a new democratic era on Feb 1 as the MPs of National League for Democracy party lead by the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, took their seats in the parliament, marking end to the military rule since 1962. A RAY OF HOPE IN SYRIA A landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect in Syria at midnight of 26 Feb, supported by both – USA and Russia. This is the first major truce in five years of civil war that has claimed more than 2.7 lakh lives. BRITAIN TO HOLD REFERENDUM ON ‘BREXIT’ Britain is facing a big debate these days on the issue of ‘Brexit’–Britain’s exit from the European Union. Opinions are widely divided. Leaving EU has its own pros and cons. To decide the issue, it has been decided to conduct a referendum on June 23, 2016. WHO DECLARES ZICA EMERGENCY World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the explosive spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is linked to birth defects in the Latin American countries like Brazil, Mexico and even USA. ONE HUMANITY: SHARED RESPONSIBILITY United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has released a report called 'One Humanity: Shared Responsibility' which has called for a global campaign to prevent the destruction of humanitarian laws and to protect civilians in conflict. The report is a part of the World Humanitarian Summit to be held in May, 2016. FRANCE BANS WASTING OF FOOD France has become the first country in the world to legally ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks. Non compliance will attract fines and jail up to two years. WORLD GOVERNMENT SUMMIT IN DUBAI The three day annual World Government Summit was held in Dubai. 4500 participants from more than 130 countries participated to discuss challenges and opportunities before present and future governments worldwide.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 29 WORLD’s LARGEST SOLAR POWER PLANT The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, world’s largest solar power plant’s first phase started operations on February 4 in the Souss-Massa-Drâa area in Morocco. The plant holds the capacity to produce 580 MW to power over one million homes by 2018 and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 760000 tons per year. WORLD’s LONGEST TRAIN ROUTE OPENS The first cargo train under Beijing led-Belt and Road connectivity initiative along the New Silk Road from China to Iran completed its first journey from Yiwu near Shanghai on China’s eastern coast to Bander Abbas port in Iran. The 10,400 kms trip took just 14 days, a full 30 days shorter than the maritime voyage from Shanghai’s port to the Iranian port. HISTORICAL MEET OF TWO CHRISTIAN HEADS Nearly 1,000 years after the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity split apart, a first ever meeting between a Roman Catholic Pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch took place on Feb 12 in Havana, Cuba. Pope Francis, head of Roman Catholics and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill embraced and kissed each other and issued a global appeal for the protection of Christians under assault in the Middle East. USA LEADS HISTORICAL TRADE DEAL The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, lead by USA, one of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New Zealand on Feb 4. The deal aims to eliminate nearly all tariffs among the 12-member nations, accounting for about 40 per cent of the global economy. BANK OF JAPAN IMPOSES -IVE INTEREST RATE In a historic measure intended to boost the growth of the world's third largest economy, Bank of Japan has imposed, for the first time, a negative interest rate of minus 0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits placed with it. The decision, which penalises financial institutions for storing excess funds, aims to stimulate investment and credit and is meant to force a reduction of interest rates applied by banks. ALPHABET IS MOST VALUABLE COMPANY Alphabet, the company that owns Google, has overtaken rival Apple Inc in terms of value of market capitalisation on Feb 1 to emerge as the most valuable company of the world, having a market cap of $ 547.1 billion, higher than Apple's $529.3 billion. MERCER PLACES VIENNA AT THE TOP The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life by the global consulting firm Mercer has placed Austria’s capital Vienna at the top, followed by Zurich, Switzerland and Auckland in New Zealand. The worst life quality was in Baghdad, Iraq. New Delhi was placed at 142nd rank.  Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major rich and developing economies began a two-day meeting in Shanghai on Feb 26.  A two day summit between leaders from the ASEAN and The United States was held in California to dwell upon maritime security in the South China Sea.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement to improve cooperation in cyber defense. 130/-
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 30  Apple notched a record $18.4 billion in profit for the quarter ending 31st Dec 2015, the largest ever profit recorded by a single company in world's history.  A Twin Otter plane of Tara Air crashed on Feb 24 in Dana of Myagdi district of Nepal, killing all 23 people aboard.  On Feb 23, Pakistan’s parliament became the world’s first parliament to run fully on solar power.  World Radio Day was observed globally by UNESCO on 13 February 2016 with the theme ’Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’.  The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice observed on February 20 to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.  World Cancer Day was observed across the world on 4th February. This year’s theme was – We can, I can. JANUARY 2016 EASTERN USA BURIED UNDER 3 FEET SNOW A monster blizzard named ‘Snowzilla’ paralysed the entire US East Coast on Jan 24 with hurricane-force winds and record snow, killing over 25 persons and hitting some 85 million others, prompting up to 10 states to declare a state of emergency. The storm left as much as three feet of snow, paralysing transport links in New York and Washington DC. Several other parts of world in South Korea, Eastern China and Hon Kong also reeled under record breaking severe cold. FIRST ‘BEST COUNTRY REPORT’ RELEASED A joint team of U.S. News & World Report, BAV Consulting and Wharton School of Business has compiled a ‘Best Country Report’ to rank countries on 75 factors such as sustainability, adventure, cultural influence, entrepreneurship and economic influence. A survey of more than 16,200 business leaders, highfliers and other members of the public was carried out in 60 countries to select the best country in various categories. Germany was ranked as the best country, followed closely by Canada, U K, USA and Sweden. India was placed at the 22nd place. Some other winners are: Most modern country – Sweden Best Country to Raise Kids – Sweden Best Nation for Green Living - Sweden Best Country for Women - Denmark Most powerful country - USA No. 1 upcoming economy - India No. 1 nation to visit - Brazil CHINA’s GROWTH SLIPS TO 25 YEARS LOW The data released by China's the National Bureau of Statistics shows that China's economy grew 6.9 per cent in 2015, the slowest pace in last 25 years. GDP in 2015 reached about $10.3 trillion. ZIKA ATTACK IN SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES Countries like Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador are facing the threat of the Zika virus spread by mosquito bite. It is highly infectious and may also cause death. It is particularly harmful for pregnant ladies as it affects the foetus growth adversely. The Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, which also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. But in pregnant women, the virus can spread to the foetus and cause microcephaly, a condition involving brain shrinkage that severely limits a child's intellectual and physical development or death. HYDROGEN BOMB TESTED BY N KOREA North Korea conducted a powerful Hydrogen bomb test in a defiant and surprising move as there is a UN ban on testing and development of nuclear weapons. The test has drawn grave criticism from all major countries of the world, terming it as a ‘serious threat to the international peace and security’. A Hydrogen bomb is much smaller and easy to make than an Atom bomb but is far more destructive. CRUDE PRICES FALL TO 12 YEARS LOW Global crude oil prices plunged to 12 year low at $ 29.93 a barrel, plagued by abundant oversupply and the ongoing row between key producers Iran and Saudi Arabia dimming prospects for production cuts. Also, falling prices have prompted some producers to maximize output to prevent income falling too rapidly and to keep market share. EURO 2 BILLION TO SAVE FRENCH ECONOMY French President has announced what he called "a state of economic and social emergency" involving a Euro 2 billion plan to revive job creation and catch up with the world’s economy. The plan includes training half a million jobless workers, greater use of apprenticeships, and 2,000 Euro aid for small businesses that hire young workers. CHINA DEVALUES YUAN AGAIN China weakened the value of its Yuan currency by 0.51 percent to 6.5646 against the US dollar on January 7, its lowest value since 2011. It triggered a selloff in global markets, bringing alive the fears of competitive devaluation among emerging economies.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 31 THE WORLD'S LARGEST BLUE STAR SAPPHIRE The stone that weighs 1404.49 carats was discovered in a mine in Sri Lanka. Named as ‘The Star of Adams, its estimated cost is $100 million but could fetch much more when auctioned. WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2016: Digital Dividends, a report by the World Bank explores the impact of the internet, mobile phones, and related technologies on economic development in the world. THE WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER released by the U N World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) states that the international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 per cent in 2015 to reach a total of 1184 million in 2015. THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS — persons living in a country other than where they were born — reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole, a 41 per cent increase compared to 2000.  World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual meeting held at Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 23.  The World Health Organization has declared Liberia free of Ebola virus. Now there is no other country officially reporting Ebola cases.  Asia's largest underground railway station, covering a total area of 147,000 square metres, opened in Futian in Shenzhen city in south China.  Toyota continues to be the world’s biggest automaker selling 10.15 million vehicles in 2015, closely followed by Volkswagen and General Motors.  World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual meeting held at Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 23.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens became the world's fastest film to make one billion dollars at the global box office. DECEMBER 2015 THE 10th WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE The 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya from Dec 15 to 19. The meet adopted the Nairobi Package containing six issues aimed at benefitting organization’s poorest members. India was represented by the Union Commerce & Industry Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman. Director-General: Roberto Azevêdo , HQ: Geneva, Switzerland US LIFTS OIL EXPORT BAN United States has lifted a 40-year ban on oil exports, marking a historic shift for the booming US oil industry. The ban was first imposed in 1975 as the United States was reeling from the 1973-1974 Arab oil embargo. ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in which India holds 8.52 % share, along with other 56 countries, was formally established in Beijing on Dec 25. With an authorised capital of $100 billion and subscribed capital of $50 billion, the bank will invest in sectors like energy, transportation, urban construction, education and healthcare. ZIMBABWE TO ADOPT YUAN AS ITS CURRENCY Zimbabwe plans to adopt the Chinese Yuan as its currency with a view to cancel the debt worth 40 million dollars from China. Zimbabwe dumped its own currency in 2009 due to deep recession. China has become the largest investor in Zimbabwe, which has been shunned by the West over its human rights record UNSC RESOLVES AGAINST ISIS The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution to increase sanctions against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) group and other terrorist groups. The resolution seeks to cut off revenue flows including ransom payments to these groups, by all means. WOMEN ALLOWED VOTING IN SAUDI ARABIA In Saudi Arabia, at least 20 women won municipal council seats (roughly 1%) in the historic local elections in which females were allowed to cast votes and run for office for the first time in the country's history.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 32 PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT 200 NATIONS SIGN ‘PARIS AGREEMENT’ Nearly 200 nations adopted the first global pact to fight climate change on Dec 12 at COP 21 meet by UNFCCC at Le Bourget, France, calling on the world to collectively cut and then eliminate greenhouse gas pollution but imposing no sanctions on countries that don't. COP - Conference of the Parties UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  The nations agreed on following issues: A long- term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels;  Aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change.  To undertake rapid reductions in emission levels in accordance with the best available scientific methods.  Developed countries to continue their existing collective goal to mobilise USD 100 billion per year until 2025 when a new collective goal will be set. NEW CLIMATE INITIATIVE BY UNO The United Nations has launched a new initiative titled Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape to build climate resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries. It will strengthen the ability of countries to anticipate hazards, absorb shocks, and reshape development to reduce climate risks. INDIA COMMITS LOWER EMISSIONS Outlining India's initiatives and stand on climate issues at Paris climate meet, Prime Minister Modi said that India will reduce its emissions intensity by 33 percent of its GDP by 2030, on the basis of 2005 levels and 40 percent of country’s installed power capacity would be by non fossil fuels by 2022. INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE LAUNCHED At the Climate Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Modi initiated the idea of the international solar alliance to harness solar power as a major step to mitigate carbon gas emissions. This also aims at achieving the objective of keeping global warming below 2 degree Celsius between now and 2100. India has already submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) in which India has committed to generate 100 giga watt solar power by 2022. PARIS PACT ON WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE A wide geographic coalition of national and cross- border river basin organisations, governments, funding agencies, local governments, companies and civil society have adopted the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Paris. It encompasses individual commitments to implement adaptation plans, strengthening water monitoring and measurement systems in river basins and promoting financial sustainability and new investment in water systems management. 'MISSION INNOVATION' FOR CLEAN ENERGY World leaders from 20 countries, including India and global investors lead by Bill Gates, launched Mission Innovation at the COP21 in Paris for accelerating clean energy revolution across the world and to promote the use of renewable energy resources. SOME CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED NEWS SOUTH AMERICA REELS UNDER EL NINO The El Nino weather phenomenon in South Atlantic Ocean caused very heavy downpour in countries like Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, leading to massive flooding their major rivers, forcing lakhs of persons to flee from their homes.  In the Chinese Capital, Beijing, the government has issued its first red alert on pollution, the highest level in the system, ordering schools to close for four days due to hazardous air quality.  Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in northern England hit by “unprecedented” flooding. Army was called in to support local authorities.  A string of powerful tornado storms wreaked havoc across southern United States, killing scores of persons and causing extensive damage to houses and vehicles. ----
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 33 BRAZIL SLIPS INTO DEEP RECESSION Brazil's economy shrank by 1.7% in the third quarter of the year compared with the second quarter, deepening the country's worst recession in 25 years. Compared with a year ago, the economy is 4.5% smaller. The drop in economic activity was largely due to a drop in investment, which fell by 15% compared with a year ago, leading to massive unemployment. US FED HIKES RATES AFTER A DECADE The Federal Reserve of USA hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.50 on Dec 16, for the first time since 2006, reflecting its confidence in the stable growth of U.S. economy. The Fed strongly believes that the US economy had largely overcome the wounds of the 2007- 2009 financial crisis. It also raised its projection for its economic growth next year slightly, from 2.3 percent to 2.4 percent. Rates in the US have been at near-zero since 2008. Shortly after the Fed's announcement, major banks began announcing that they were raising their prime lending rate from 3.25 percent to 3.50 percent. FACEBOOK CEO DONATES 99% SHARES Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg while announcing the birth of his first child pledged to give away 99 per cent of his company shares, currently worth a whopping $45 billion, to make the world a “better place” for daughter Maxima and other children. YUAN APPROVED AS SDR CURRENCY The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to include the Chinese currency, the Yuan, in its Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket effective from October 1, 2016, besides the US dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. WORLD TSUNAMI AWARENESS DAY – NOV 5 The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe November 5 every year as World Tsunami Awareness Day for raising awareness about the dangers of tsunami and the importance of early warning systems for minimising damage.  The World AIDS Day was observed on 1 December 2015 across the world with the theme “Getting to zero, End AIDS by 2030”.  2nd World Internet Conference was held at Wuzen in Eastern China from Dec 16 to 18.  Mexico has approved the use of the first-ever vaccine against dengue fever - Dengvaxia, manufactured by French pharma major Sanofi Pasteur.  The Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.  Gambia, a tiny West African country has decided to become an Islamic republic because Islam is the religion of the majority of its citizens.  The first media summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping held at Beijing on Dec 1.  Food and Agriculture Organization of UNO launched International Year of Pulses on 10 November with the theme ‘nutritious seeds for a sustainable future’.  New Zealanders chose a new flag design featuring silver fern and red stars on a black and blue background. The new design will be confirmed by vote in March. PERSONS IN NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 U K SINHA: The government has extended Sinha's term as the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) till March 01, 2017. He took over as Sebi chairman in 2011. SAMEER ANJAAN: Bollywood’s popular lyricist has made into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing the most number of songs for Bollywood films. He wrote 3,524 songs for 650 Bollywood movies, as verified on December 15, 2015. NEYMAR: Iconic football player from Brazil was in news as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze his assets worth almost $ 50 million, including a yacht, a jet and several properties, on charges of tax evasion of around $ 16 million. GEN. RAJENDRA CHETTRI: Nepalese Army Chief was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by the President Pranab Mukherjee. JANUARY 2016 RAGHURAM RAJAN: RBI Governor was named ‘Global and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year 2015’ by the prestigious UK magazine The Banker for stabilising the Indian rupee, initiating key reforms to attract much needed foreign capital in the country and reining in a runaway price appreciation.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 34 AZIM PREMJI: Chairman of Wipro has been ranked as the most generous Indian of the year for the third time in a row with donations worth Rs. 27,514 crore, mainly in the education sector, as per the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015. APARNA KUMAR: An IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has successfully climbed the Mount Vinson Massif, the highest peak in the Antarctic sub-continent. She is the first woman officer of any All-India Services to have done so SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR: A prominent Shia cleric, highly critical of the ruling Al Saud dynasty, was executed by the Saudi Arabian govt for his alleged involvement in shooting policemen. His execution sparked widespread angry protests in eastern Saudi Arabia and in neighbouring Shia dominated Iraq and several other Shia territories. DECEMBER 2015 SHAH RUKH KHAN: Bollywood megastar has been ranked as the country’s top-earning celebrity with estimated earnings of Rs. 257.5 crore this year, pushing Salman Khan to the second position (202.75 crore) in the latest Forbes India Celebrity List for 2015. KATY PERRY: Global pop singer from USA is on top of Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid musicians of 2015, with $135 million in earnings. ANGELA MERKEL: German Chancellor has been named as the "Person of the Year" by the Times Magazine for her role in Europe's crises over migration and Greek debt. LAIMDOTA STRAUJUMA: Latvia’s first female Prime Minister announced her resignation after political squabbles within her center-right ruling coalition and dissatisfaction about her leadership. APPOINTMENTS FEBRUARY 2016 JUSTICE H L DATTU: Former Chief Justice of India has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. RAJENDRA SINGH: Appointed as the new Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. KALYAN SINGH: Governor of Rajasthan given the additional charge of Governor of Himachal Pradesh. K N VYAS: Appointed new Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai AMIT MITRA: West Bengal Finance Minister has been appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST). KALIKHO PUL: New CM of Arunachal Pradesh. PARAMESHWARAN IYER: Appointed as the new Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department to steer the Swachh Bharat Mission. He is the World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist. ARUNA SETHI: Appointed as the first women head of the Indian Cost Accounts Services D J PANDIAN: Former chief secretary of Gujarat has been appointed vice-president and chief investment officer of the newly formed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). JAI KUMAR GARG: appointed MD and CEO of Corporation Bank ARCHANA RAMASUNDRAM, IPS: Appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal, SSB. She is the first woman to head a paramilitary force. SSB guards Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. K DURGA PRASAD, IPS: Appointed Director General of Central Reserve Police Force. K K SHARMA, IPS: Appointed Director General of the Border Security Force. GURDEEP SINGH: Appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC Ltd. For the first time a Maharatna company chief has been selected through a search committee route. Amitava Bhattacharyya, IAS, Bimal Julka, IAS and D P Sinha, IPS have been appointed as the Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission GIANNI INFANTINO: Elected as the new President of world Football body –FIFA. He is a Football administrator from Switzerland and is Chief of European Football body UEFA. FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA: Elected as the new President of Central African Republic (CAR) YOWERI MUSEVENI: Elected new President of Uganda, for the fifth time. ALBERT PAHIMI PADACKE: New Prime Minister of the Central African country Chad. CHRISTINE LAGARDE: Re-appointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund for a second five-year term.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 35 JANUARY 2016 SAILESH: A senior IAS officer, appointed as the new Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. AMIT SHAH: Re-elected unopposed as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party - world’s largest political party, for a three-year term. ATULESH JINDAL: Appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) DINESH SHARMA: Elected to the 12-member board of directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). DEVENDER KUMAR SIKRI: Appointed as Chairman of fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India AMITABH KANT: Given additional charge of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog. He is Industry Secretary at present. URJIT PATEL: Reappointed as Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, for a second three-year term. Dr. GYANENDRA D BANDGAIYAN: Appointed as the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance. MARCELO REBELO de SOUSA: Elected as the new President of Portugal PAVEL FILIP: Appointed as the Prime Minister of Moldova, small poorest European country TSAI ING-WEN: Elected as the new President of Taiwan GIORGI KVIRIKASHVILI: Elected as the Prime Minister of Georgia, Europe. DECEMBER 2015 R.K. MATHUR: Appointed the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), breaking away from the convention of appointing the head from among the serving information commissioners. He is former union defence secretary. GAUTAM H BAMBAWALE: Appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Pakistan ARUN KUMAR JAIN: Appointed Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). SIR VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN: Nobel laureate in Chemistry, assumed Presidency of the Royal Society in London for a period of five years. It is one of most prestigious body of scientists. AWARDS & HONOURS FEBRUARY 2016 ARYABHATA AWARD 2013: The prestigious honour by Astronautical Society of India given to Dr Avinash Chander, former Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and ex-DRDO chief. Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for 2015-2016: (by Maharashtra government) won by Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan, a Padma Vibhushan awardee. Khuswant Singh memorial prize for poetry: awarded to Arundhathi Subramaniam for her poetry book 'When God is Traveller'. E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2015: Won by Vinita Gupta, CEO and Nilesh Gupta, MD of Lupin Ltd, a leading Pharma company of India. GOLDEN CONCH AWARD: (for the best documentary film) won by Manipuri documentary film Phum-Shang about the environmental problems of Loktak Lake, at the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival V SHANTARAM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Conferred upon veteran wildlife filmmaker Naresh Bedi BEST FIRST FOREIGN FILM AWARD: won by Titli, a feature film by Kanu Behl. Award is given by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. GREEN BOND PIONEER AWARD: won by Yes Bank for being the ‘Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India’. Yes Bank had issued India’s first ever ‘Green Infrastructure Bonds’ for Rs. 1000 crore in 2015
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 36 CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT: Germany’s prestigious honour conferred upon Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD: (by Amnesty International) won by Indian lawyer and human rights defender Henri Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch. Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur: (Knight of the Legion of Honour), one of the France's highest civilian honour was given to Fashion designer Manish Arora from New Delhi. ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP: Russia's top civilian awards given to Ramayah Shanmuga Sundar, Director of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant. CRYSTAL BEAR AWARD: Best film award in children category at the Berlin film festival won by Malayalam film Ottaal (The Trap) directed by Jayaraj Rajasekharan. GOLDEN BEAR AWARD: Berlin film festival’s top prize won by the Italian film Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea), a harrowing documentary about Europe’s refugee crisis. DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARD: (for best feature film) won by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for the film The Revenant 58th GRAMMY AWARDS, Los Angeles, USA, Feb 15 These are the highest awards given in the field of music. Category Album Artist Record of the year Uptown fund Mark Ronson Album of the year 1989 Taylor Swift Song of the year Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge Best Rock Performance Don't Wanna Fight Alabama Shakes Best World Music Album Sings Angelique Kidjo Best Music Video Bad Blood Taylor Swift 69th BAFTA AWARDS, London, Feb 14 British Academy of Film and Television Awards are the top film awards for Films screened in Europe. Best Film: The Revenant Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Mexico) - The Revenant Outstanding British film: Brooklyn JANUARY 2016 PADMA AWARDS ANNOUNCED India's highest civil awards after Bharat Ratna for the year 2016 were announced on the eve of Republic Day (25th January). These awards carry no cash component. Total 112 awards were announced which included 10 Padma Vibhushans, 19 Padma Bushans and 83 Padma Sris. Some of the famous winners are given below:- PADMA VIBHUSHAN - 10 Sr. No. Person Field From 1 Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth, Art-Cinema Tamil Nadu 2 Founder of the Reliance empire late Dhirubhai Ambani, — Trade & Industry — Maharashtra 3 Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Others- Spiritualism — Karnataka 4 Cinema baron Ramoji Rao Literature & Education- Journalism — Andhra Pradesh 5 Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan, Public Affairs — Delhi 6 Former DRDO chief VK Aatre, Science & Engineering — Karnataka 7 Cancer specialist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta Medicine- Oncology — Tamil Nadu 8 Eminent Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Krishnamurthi Art-Classical dance — Delhi 9 Classical vocalist Girija Devi Art-Classical Vocal — West Bengal 10 Indian-American economist Avinash Dixit Literature & Education — USA PADMA BHUSHAN - TOTAL 19 Sr. No. Person Field From 1 Anupam Kher Art-Cinema Maharashtra 2 Udit Narayan Jha Art-Playback Singing Maharashtra 3 Ram V Sutar Art-Sculpture UP 4 Vinod Rai Civil Service Kerala 5 Dr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard Literature & Education - Journalism Punjab 6 Hafeez Contractor Others- Architecture Maharashtra 7 R C Bhargava Public Affairs UP 8 Ms Saina Nehwal Sports-Badminton Telangana
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 37 9 Ms Sania Mirza Sports-Tennis Telangana 10 Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry (NRI/PIO) Trade & Industry Ireland PADHMA SRI – TOTAL 83 Sr. No. Person Field From 1 Ajay Devgn Art-Cinema Maharashtra 2 Ms Priyanka Chopra Art-Cinema Maharashtra 3 S S Rajamouli Art-Film Direction and Production Karnataka 4 Madhur Bhandarkar Art-Film Direction and Production Maharashtra 5 Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah Literature & Education Assam 6 Prof Pushpesh Pant Literature & Education- Journalism Delhi 7 Piyush Pandey Others-Advertising & Communication Maharashtra 8 Ujjwal Nikam Public Affairs Maharashtra 9 Ms Deepika Kumari Sports-Archery Jharkhand 10 Dilip Sanghvi Trade & Industry Maharashtra ASHOKA CHAKRA: Nation's highest peacetime gallantry award, , has been awarded posthumously to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces) for his acts of most conspicuous gallantry ineliminating 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down his life in the line of duty in Sep 2015 in Kupwara sector of Jammu & Kashmir. JNANPITH AWARD FOR 2015: Noted Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhari became the 56th writer to be conferred with India's highest literary honour. His most noted works include novels 'Amruta' and 'Uparvas’. 61ST FILMFARE AWARDS DECLARED Best Actor: Ranveer Singh for Bajirao Mastani Best Actress: Deepika Padukone for Piku Best Film: Bajirao Mastani Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao Mastani Lifetime Achievement: Moushumi Chatterjee THE HINDU PRIZE, 2015: (for best novel) won by Easterine Kire, poet, novelist and children’s writer from Nagaland, for her novel When the River Sleeps. DSC Prize for South Asian Literature: Anuradha Roy for her novel Sleeping on Jupiter. YASH CHOPRA MEMORIAL AWARD: Given to veteran actress Rekha for her contribution to the film industry. KNIGHTHOOD HONOUR IN UK: conferred upon Dr Harpal Singh Kumar, an Indian-origin cancer research expert for his influential work on prevention and treatment of cancer. Lorenzo Natali Media Prize for 2015 (Asia-Pacific): Ankita Anand journalist for sensitive portrayal of life for young women facing the threat of the diktat of khap panchayats in Haryana. WINNERS OF 73RD GOLDEN GLOBES 2016 Held on Jan 10 at Los Angeles, California, USA Best Motion Picture (Drama): ‘The Revenant’ Best Actor (Drama): Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘The Revenant’ Best Actress (Drama): Brie Larson for Room Best Director: Alejandro Inarritu - The Revenant. THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA: The highest civilian honour of Australia conferred upon three Indians -- Sajeev Koshy, a Keralaite dentist settled in Melbourne for his service to dentistry in Victoria, C Jagadish, an eminent professor at Australian National University, Canberra and Jay Chandra, an eye doctor in New South Wales. Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award: David Beckham, famous footballer from Britain, for his tireless work to save and improve the lives of children around the world. PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award (USA): Won by the Harry Potter author J K Rowling for her support for free expression and charitable causes. DECEMBER 2015 THE GOLDEN PEACOCK: Award for best feature film at the 46th International Film Festival of India won by the Colombia film ‘Embrace of The Serpent’ directed by the Ciro Guerra. The award carries cash prize of Rs 40 lakh. GARWOOD AWARD for ‘Outstanding Global Leader in Open Innovation’: The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee was conferred this award by the UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business, California, USA. NATIONAL SCIENCE MEDAL (USA): Indian-American tumour scientist Prof. Rakesh Jain has been selected for this top US science award. SOUTH EAST ASIA WRITE AWARD: Won by Singapore based Indian origin writer J M Mali for his contribution to Tamil literature. Started in 1979, these awards are presented annually to poets and writers from ASEAN countries. MAILER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE, USA: India-born author Salman Rushdie has been selected for this prestigious award that honours writers who fully exercise their freedom of creativity and thrive on dialogue and debate. QUEEN's YOUNG LEADERS AWARD – 2016: Two Indians, Kartik Sawhney and Neha Swain, have won this prestigious award in the United Kingdom for their work in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 38 Miss Universe 2015: Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines Miss International 2015: Edymar Martínez of Venezuela Miss Earth 2015: Angelia Ong from Philippines Miss Intercontinental 2015: Valentina Rasulova from Russia Miss World 2015: Mireia Lalaguna from Spain BOOKS & AUTHORS FEBRUARY 2016 ‘Playing It My Way’ - Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography, has entered the Limca Book of Records in the category of best-selling books, with 1,50,289 copies sold. An Economist In The Real World by Kaushik Basu Bullets and Bylines by Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist Lal Bahadur Shastri: Netritva ke Sutra by Anil Shastri and Pawan Chowdhary Dial D for Don — Inside Stories of CBI Case Missions by Neeraj Kumar, former Police Commissioner of Delhi Ancestral Affairs by Keki Daruwalla. Why We Love the Way We Do by Preeti Shenoy The Bestseller She Wrote by Ravi Subramanian In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin by Anup Sardesai Transendence – a book by Former President APJ Abdul Kalam based on his spiritual experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj. JANUARY 2016 ‘Azad Bachpan ki Aur’ by Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace prize winner The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996 by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India India’s Foreign Policy by Muchkund Dubey, a former Indian Foreign Secretary The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time – an autobiography of Subhash Chandra, media moughal, founder of Zee TV. Maru Bharat Saru Bharat (My India Noble India) written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj. This is the 300th book written by Maharaj ji. A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson - The book won the novel-of-the-year prize at Britain's Costa Book Awards 2015. Go Set a Watchman, the second novel by Harper Lee, topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies. 'Anything But Khamosh' – biography of Shatrughan Sinha written by Bharathi S Pradhan. DECEMBER 2015 The Bose Brothers and Indian Independence – An Insider’s Account by Madhuri Bose, the grand-niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power, an autobiography of Sharad Pawar This Unquiet Land by Barkha Dutt Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. See Me by Nicholas Sparks. Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham. OBITUARY FEBRUARY 2016 USTAD ABDUL RASHID KHAN: The oldest performing vocalist of Hindustani Music, Padma Bhushan awardee, a descendant of Tansen, passed away in Kolkata at the age of 107 years. GEN. K V KRISHNA RAO: Former Army Chief who played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, died of a cardiac arrest in New Delhi. He was 92. ...............continued on page no. 73
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 39
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 40 NATIONAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2015  The ‘Constitution Day’ of India was observed on 26th November to spread awareness of Indian Constitution and its architect Dr. B R Ambedkar.  P M visited England on November 12 for a three day trip. He became the first serving Prime Minister of India to address the UK's Parliament.  India and Australia have announced the completion of procedures for bringing the two-nation nuclear deal into force.  Li Yuanchao, the Vice-President of China visited India to review cooperation on better river water management and cultural exchanges.  As per the annual report on world's most valuable nation brands compiled by Brand Finance, India is world's 7th most valued nation brand.  The US remains on the top with a valuation of 19.7 billion dollars, followed by China and Germany  P M Modi has been ranked as the world's ninth most powerful person by Forbes magazine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is at no one.  According to a report, the number of internet users in India is expected to touch 402 million by December 2015, a 49 per cent jump over last year.  India has been ranked 99th in Legatum Prosperity Index 2015 out of 142 countries.  7th Central Pay Commission headed by Justice AK Mathur submitted its report to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Nov 19.  It recommended 23.55 percent hike in pay and allowances of government employees.  The pay will go up by 16 percent, allowances by 63 percent and pension by 24 percent.  The pay revision will come into effect from January 2016.  The Global Gender Gap Report 2015 has ranked Iceland at top, followed by Norway and Finland. India ranked low at 108th rank.  As per the Global Terrorism Index 2015, India ranks 6th in list of 162 nations worst hit by terrorism in 2014. Iraq tops the list, followed by Afghanistan.  First India International Science Festival was held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi  46th International Film Festival of India, IFFI began in Panaji, Goa with the screening of ‘The Man Who Knew the Infinity’.  PM Modi visited Singapore for two days, Nov 23-24 and signed 10 agreements on mutual co-operation.  Prime Minister Mr. Modi visted Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to attend Asean-India meet, Asean summit and the East Asian Summit.  Hamid Ansari, Vice President visited Indonesia on Nov 2. Agreements in the field of cultural exchange and renewable energy were signed with Indonesia.  Bhutan's PM Tshering Tobgay visited India to preside over the 'India Ideas Conclave' in Goa.  The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, ranked 99th in a list of top 100 institutions by the ‘Times Higher Education Rankings for Engg. & Technology’.  A report by global consultancy firm KPMG says that India has emerged as the top country when it comes to corporate responsibility reporting.  India re-elected on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for a period of six years.  Seven Indian celebrities including Asha Bhosle, Sania Mirza and veteran actress Kamini Kaushal have made it to BBC's list of 100 most aspirational women.  Telephone subscriber base in India reached 102.26 crore at the end of September while fixed line base continued to fall, as per data compiled by TRAI. Bullet News (SEPT. – NOV. 2015)
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 41  As per the global Financial Secrecy Index released by Tax Justice Network of UK, India ranked 45th among 92 countries in terms of financial transparency.  11th National Tribal Crafts Mela ‘Aadishilp’ held in New Delhi.  First international film festival for the persons with disabilities (IFFPD) will be held in Delhi from 1 to 3 December 2015.  Second World Congress on Disaster Management was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from 19 to 22 November.  Global Cancer Summit held at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru from Nov 18 to 20.  The 17th Asia Pacific Youth Forum meet was held in Kozhikode, Kerala to share ideas for the empowerment of youth to protect the Earth.  9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (RPBD) was held at Los Angeles, California, USA on the 14th and 15th November 2015.  According to a global survey of 26 countries, India is the fourth most vacation-deprived nation with 65% saying they feel vacation-deprived.  Militant outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), declared as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.  The National Milk Day observed on 26 November to mark 94th birth anniversary of the Father of the White Revolution-Dr Verghese Kurien.  The British Govt has selected Pune and Amravati from Maharashtra and Indore from Madhya Pradesh for developing them as 'Smart City'. OCTOBER 2015  India has emerged as the country with the best representation on the 2015 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.  The 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi from Oct 26 to 29.  Doordarshan has emerged as the most watched Hindi channel in terms of time spent per viewer  India has improved its position to 130 from 142 in 2015 in the World Bank's 2016 rankings in terms of ease of doing business.  India has emerged as the youngest startup nation in the world where over 72 per cent of founders are less than 35 years old.  President Pranab Mukherjee made a six-day visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel from Oct 10 to15.  G-20 summit 2018 will be hosted by India in New Delhi. The 2016 summit will be hosted by China and the 2017 summit will be hosted by Germany.  Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, came to New Delhi on an official visit to take part in the third Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC)  India has moved up 16 positions, from 71st in 2014 to 55th place on the Global Competitiveness Index 2015-16 compiled by the World Economic Forum  In terms of protection of small investors, India ranks 8th, ahead of the USA, Germany and Japan, as per a study conducted by the World Bank.  The Supreme Court has allowed the use of Aadhaar cards for all central and state schemes, including MNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana  The Supreme Court has rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment  India and France signed a MoU to conserve, develop and publicize written heritage at the National Library in Kolkata.  The Environment Ministry has approved annual plans for Kerala, Mizoram, Manipur and Jharkhand under the National Mission for a Green India (GIM).  Portugal became the first European and 17th overall country to sign the MoU on the establishment of Nalanda University in Bihar.  The Union Cabinet has approved Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Israel and Vietnam. SEPTEMBER 2015  The “World Wealth Report 2015” showed that there were 1.98 lakh High Net worth Individuals in India in 2014, earning 11th rank in the world.  The IISC Bangalore and the IIT Delhi have been placed 147 and 179 respectively in the Quacquarelli Symonds’ list of top 200 universities for 2015-16.  India's ranking has slipped further down to 81 in the list of Global Innovation Index, compared to 76 in 2014  India-Belarus Inter-govt Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation meet held in Minsk, Belarus.  The first ever count of India's leopards, has put the spotted cat population at 7,910 in and around tiger habitats across the country.  A two day Disaster Mitigation conference of SAARC nations was held in New Delhi  Maharashtra govt has acquired the house in London where Dr B R Ambedkar lived in 1921-22 when he was studying at London School of Economics.  Government has decided to shift the administrative control of the Unique Identification Authority of India the Ministry of Communication & IT.  A two day Hindu-Buddhist Conference was held at Bodhgaya, Bihar on Sep 5-6.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 42  Prime Minister Modi addressed the Sustainable Development Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York on Sep 25.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Dublin, capital of Ireland on Sep 23 to have bilateral talks with his Irish P M Endy Kenny.  Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari had a four-day visit to the South East Asian countries of Cambodia and Laos.  Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi on Sep 14 to have delegation level talks on various important bilateral issues.  All India Radio released the digital version of the grand epic Ramcharitmanas as a set of digital CDs produced by its old recordings.  India and Indonesia have signed a treaty for repatriation of wanted prisoners and cooperate in all criminal matters.  The three-day Vishwa Hindi Sammelan (World Hindi Conference) was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Sept. 10-12. NEWS FROM STATES NOVEMBER 2015  In Tamil Nadu, heavy rains by north east monsoon claimed over 102 lives. The rains threw normal life out of gear in almost all parts of the state  Mysuru Railway Station in Karnataka has become the first blind-friendly Railway Station in India.  South Australia state has signed a historic 'sister- state agreement' with Rajasthan to pave new ways to boost export and investment opportunities  Chhath festival was celebrated in different parts of the country on Nov 17-18 with great religious fervour and gaiety.  Migratory birds mostly from Northern Eurasia, Siberia, Kazakh and remote areas of Russia and Southeast Asia have arrived in Chilka Lake, Odisha.  Annual Hundred Drums Wangala Festival held near Tura, Meghalaya. It is the thanksgiving post-harvest festival of the Garo tribes of North East India.  APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojna launched in Maharashtra to provide at least one cooked meal for pregnant and lactating women in the tribal areas.  The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has been adjudged the best-maintained international airport in the country  Northeast’s first exclusive hospital for elephants has been established at the Kaziranga National Park, Assam.  Norway reopened its Consulate General office in Mumbai after four decades of closure in 1973.  Karnataka launched the ‘Tourist Mitra’, a 175- member friendly force, to reinforce smooth and secure experiences for tourists. OCTOBER 2015  In Odisha, all the 531 police stations in the state have been computerized to allow online filing of FIR from anywhere in the state  Mission ‘Abaas’ launched in Odisha to provide (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG) and slum dwellers.  Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been appointed Maharashtra’s brand ambassador for Tigers  District Court in Khunti, Jharkhand became county's first solar powered district court. SEPTEMBER 2015  Andhra govt has successfully linked two of its major rivers - Godavari and Krishna towards making the state "drought-proof".  A World Bank's report on ease of doing business in states ranks Gujarat at number one, followed by Andhra Pradesh GOVT INITIATIVES NOVEMBER 2015  The government launched Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojna (UDAY) to improve the ability of power distribution companies (DISCOMs)  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched 10 schemes for the benefit of disabled persons.  Govt has launched the Technology Acquisition and Development Fund (TADF) to facilitate acquisition of clean and energy efficient technologies.  To revamp criminal justice system in the country, the govt has approved implementation of two systems –  CCTNS - Crime and Criminals Tracking Network and Systems and ICJS - Integrated Criminal Justice System  Accessible India campaign launched at 27 international airports and 75 railway stations to make them disabled-friendly.  Govt has approved State Annual Action Plans (SAAP) of 81 mission cities in 5 states under AMRUT for 2015-16.  National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) and Swadesh Darshan schemes launched to achieve 1% share of international tourist arrivals by 2016-17 from the present 0.68 %.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 43  Govt has made it mandatory to use waste plastic in bituminous mixes for road construction to overcome the problem of disposal of plastic waste  Monetary limit to approve foreign investment proposals of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board – FIPB hiked to Rs 5,000 cr, from Rs. 3,000 cr at present.  Govt launched 3 web portals/apps in education field: –e-Pathshala: for educational resources, –Saaransh: for educational improvements, and –Shala Siddhi: National Programme on School Standards and Evaluation Framework for online evaluations.  The deadline for completion of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity through all- weather roads, reduced from 2022 to 2019.  Agriculture Ministry to launch ‘Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries’ for growth and development of fisheries.  Govt has allowed German language to be taught as additional foreign language in Kendriya Vidyalayas as per the National Education Policy, 1986.  From Nov. 12, a railway ticket could be booked online up to 30 minutes prior to the departure of a train as Railways has modified their booking system.  Govt to continue 90% central funding for the core Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the 8 northeastern states, while 10% will be borne by the states. OCTOBER 2015  The IIT Council has decided to waive full fee (Rs. 90,000/-) for the physically challenged students from the current academic session in all the 15 IITs  Govt has launched an e-Sahyog pilot project of Income-Tax Department aimed at reducing compliance cost, especially for small taxpayers.  Government has launched Central Victim Compensation Fund to support the victims of various attacks, such as rape, acid attacks, human trafficking etc.  Govt has launched the 'Science Express Climate Action Special' exhibition train from Delhi, aimed at spreading awareness about the effects of climate change  The Union Health Ministry has permitted transfer of blood from one blood bank to another to help out needy hospitals.  Govt has decided to raise the wage ceiling for calculating bonus to Rs 7,000 and workers drawing a monthly salary up to Rs 21,000 will be eligible for bonus.  Doordarshan will telecast a programme on Apprenticeship Training Scheme - Hunarbaaz, from Oct 18.  Govt has approved the World Bank assisted National Watershed Management Project Neeranchal for promoting effective irrigation in nine states.  Govt has launched a pilot programme - Kisan, which will use satellite imaging to get accurate data on crop yields and collection of data of hailstorm.  Govt has notified ‘Mid Day Meal Rules, 2015’ under the National Food Security Act, 2013 for improved administration and efficiency of the scheme.  Govt has signed a MoU with the New India Assurance Company to provide Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme, for the Persons with Disabilities  In the age group of 18 to 65 years with family annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000.  Health insurance cover up to Rs. 2,00,000 per annum as family floater.  The Central Board of Direct Taxes, CBDT has simplified the format and procedure for self declaration by individuals in 15G and 15H forms.  Government has launched Green Highways policy to promote greening of Highway corridors with participation of farmers and public sector.  One per cent of the total project cost of all highways projects will be kept aside for the highway plantation and its maintenance.  Government has unveiled ‘National Institutional Ranking Framework’ for annual ranking of engineering and management institutes in the country.  Government has eased the penal provisions for undeclared or mis-declared baggage that will attract arrest or prosecution, from Rs 5 lac to Rs 20 lac.  To enable Indians living abroad to access old age income security, RBI has allowed NRIs to subscribe to the National Pension System (NPS) of PFRDA  India's first community reserve to protect the endangered Gangetic River Dolphins will come up on River Hooghly in West Bengal.  Govt has approved setting up of three new AIIMS at Nagpur in Maharashtra, Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh and at Kalyani in West Bengal  Govt has launched Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy-2015 to promote greening of Highways.  The Union cabinet has approved construction of a National War Memorial and Museum near the famed India Gate in the national capital.  Govt plans to spend around 70,000crore rupees in 12 major ports in the next 5 years under Sagarmala Project for port-led development in coastal areas.  Govt has formed a Committee headed by Justice R V Easwar, former Judge of Delhi High Court to suggest simplifications in the Income Tax Act, 1961.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 44 SEPTEMBER 2015  Govt has approved the Sovereign Gold Bond and the Gold Monetisation Scheme.  The govt announced to roll out the welfare measure under One Rank One Pension-OROP for Armed Forces personnel from July 1, 2014.  The govt has identified 305 cities/towns across nine states for implementation of 'Housing for All' scheme, named 'Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana.  Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana launched for the welfare of people and areas affected by mining related operations.  Govt has approved Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission to transform rural areas into economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces.  Govt to provide additional 50 work days in 2015-16 in drought-hit areas under MGNREGA to provide relief to farmers  EPFO has increased the maximum amount assured under its Employees' Deposit inked Insurance Scheme to Rs 6 lakh, from current Rs 3.6 lakh.  The Deptt of Industrial Policy and Promotion has implemented an electronic payment system to become the first govt department to have 100 per cent cashless transactions.  Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) at New Delhi.  Life Insurance Corporation of India has created a platform where policyholders may avail of electronic KYC norms linked to the Aadhar card.  Railways has launched a paperless unreserved ticketing mobile application for the passengers travelling from New Delhi to Palwal Section. ECONOMIC INDICATORS NOVEMBER 2015  Moody's Investors Service has said that the Indian economy would grow at 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal and improve marginally in the following year.  Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has said that the Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.2 per cent this fiscal. OCTOBER 2015  World Bank says that India is expected to overcome the global slowdown and its GDP may grow by 7.5 per cent despite a weak export recovery.  The World Economic Outlook Update from the IMF says that India's growth is expected to strengthen from 7.3 per cent this year to 7.5 per cent next year. SEPTEMBER 2015  As per CSO data, GDP for April to June this year rose by 7 percent compared to a growth rate of 7.1 percent for the same period in last fiscal.  The ADB has cut India’s growth forecast to 7.4% on concerns of delay in reforms, weak demand, external slowdown and weak monsoon. ECONOMY NOVEMBER 2015 MSP OF RABI CROPS HIKED Rs./Qtl CROP MSP CROP MSP Wheat 1525 Rapeseed / Mustard 3350 Barley 1225 Masoor 3325 Safflower 3300 Grams 3425  The Confederation of All India Traders has launched an e-commerce portal, ‘e-lala’ to promote interests of 5.77 crore small businesses  As per a recent IMF study, India's GDP can expand by 27 per cent if the number of women workers increases to the same level as that of men.  Government has announced the levy of a Swachh Bharat cess of 0.5% on all services liable for service tax (14%) from November 15.  With Cotton production estimated at around 400 lakh bales, India is expected to emerge as the largest cotton producer in the world in 2015-16.  35th India International Trade Fair,IITF was held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The theme of the fair this year is Make in India  CCEA has approved 10% stake sale in Coal India Ltd to mop up around Rs 20,000 crore. Govt has targeted Rs 69,500 crore disinvestment in this fiscal.  France has committed to invest over 2 billion Euros for Smart City projects in India with special focus on Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry.  India and Brazil have signed a MoU to cooperate for raising productivity of cattle and buffaloes  World Bank granted $75 million loan to the Andhra Pradesh for its Rural Inclusive Growth project aimed at enhancing agricultural incomes of small farmers.  Asian Development Bank to give $ 273 loan for improving rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 45 OCTOBER 2015  The S C has imposed 'Environment Compensation Charge' of Rs 700 and Rs 1300 on commercial vehicles entering Delhi from Nov 1 for 4 months.  A study by the Savills World Research shows that Mumbai is world's cheapest city to live and work among 12 top metropolitan cities of the world.  Govt plans to include Sin Tax in the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) law.  Sin tax is an excise tax levied on products and services like alcohol, tobacco and gambling considered bad for health or society.  India and Germany have signed two loan agreements worth 125 million Euros for financing Green Energy Corridor project in H P and Andhra.  Anil Baijal committee submitted its report for developing suitable methodologies for monitoring CSR provisions  TRAI has made it mandatory for telecom operators to compensate consumers by Rs.1 for call drops with effect from 1 January, 2016.  The Ministry of Environment has granted environment clearance for the greenfield international airport at Mopa in Goa.  Railway plans to launch Vikalp scheme from 1st of November to give passengers the option of journey by another train if they decide to do so.  National Green Tribunal has directed all trucks etc, entering Delhi, to pay an environmental compensation charge in addition to the toll tax.  The Export Import Bank of India has extended a Line of Credit of $87 million to Zimbabwe for renovation and up-gradation of Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant.  The World Bank has promised $30 billion financial assistance to the Railways for its forthcoming infrastructure projects.  ADB has agreed to give a $123.51 million loan to upgrade tourism infrastructure and services in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.  Bajaj Auto has launched ‘Qute’, the quadricycle RE60 for export to 16 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia at price of around $2000.  Future Group has entered into a partnership with Baba Ramdev promoted Patanjali Ayurved to sell the latter's FMCG products through its Big Bazaar stores.  Real estate developer Tata Housing has tied-up with social networking firm Facebook to sell its affordable homes online. SEPTEMBER 2015  Govt has announced that the minimum alternate tax (MAT) will not be applicable on capital gains made by FIIs prior to April 1, 2015.  The Food Ministry has notified mandatory export of four million tonne of sugar for the 2015-16 sugar season starting October 1.  From 28 September 2015, the commodities market regulator Forward Markets Commission (FMC) has become part of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).  NTPC achieved record highest single-day electricity generation of 733.12 million units on August 27 from its 33 power plants  Govt has banned the sale of Diclofenac drug in multidose vial. Henceforth, it will be sold only in single-dose vial packaging for human use.  The real estate major Dalian Wanda Group of China plans to invest around Rs. 66,000 crore in Haryana to develop an industrial zone and township.  The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry launched SAHAJ scheme for online booking of LPG connections  The West-Central Railway zone, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh has become the first Railway Zone to eliminate all unmanned level crossings.  The World Federation of Exchanges has confirmed that the Bombay Stock Exchange has the highest number of listed companies in the world - 5689.  Asian Development Bank to provide $ 500 million loan for better management of essential urban services and financing of water supply in Rajasthan.  ADB to extend a loan of $ 200 million to Jharkhand for upgrading roads in next four years. BANKING NOVEMBER 2015  3% interest subvention scheme launched to allow exporters to avail loans from banks at a lower rate.  RuPay card usage condition of at least one transaction in 45 days hiked to 90 days for filing a claim under accident insurance cover in PMJDY accounts  State Bank launched the country's first low-income state infrastructure equity partnership (or the Neev fund) in London.  Indian corporates plan to raise fund by issuing rupee-denominated ‘masala bonds’ in foreign capital markets.  Masala bonds are Indian rupee denominated bonds issued in overseas capital markets by Indian corporates.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 46  Sovereign gold bonds were opened for public subscription from Nov 5-30 for min 2 grams of gold, up to a maximum of 500 grams.  RBI has allowed state and district central co- operative banks to offer ‘view only’ internet banking to its customers.  ‘View only’ means that customers can use online services such as balance enquiry, a/c statement and request for supply of cheque books.  RBI has granted an "in-principle" approval to three companies to set up and operate a new Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).  HDFC Bank has become the first Indian bank to launch Sonic branding (Musical Logo) to be used across ATMs, phone banking, mobile banking  RBI has decided to stop the barter system - trading of goods without exchange of money at the Indo- Myanmar border, from December 1.  The RBI has allowed foreign investors to buy default non-convertible debentures and bonds provided their maturity is for three years or more.  RBI has decided that a foreign bank in India can deploy a max of 4 expatriates for each branch and not more than 6 for their H O functions. OCTOBER 2015  The RBI has decided to create a new Financial Inclusion Fund- FIF with a corpus of 2,000 crore rupees by merger of two different funds.  The 2 fund are - Financial Inclusion Fund and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund  Govt has decided to allow foreign investment up to 100 per cent in White Label ATM operations under the automatic route to promote financial inclusion.  ICICI Bank has become the first bank in the world to launch mVisa - a card-less and device-less payment solution.  Recent RBI data shows that among public sector banks, the UCO Bank had highest ratio of NPAs at 8.5 per cent of its loans in 2014-15  SBI receives RBI nod to set up a subsidiary to frame and implement a uniform policy for all the real estate properties owned or rented by the bank.  RBI has said that the banks will be free to set interest rate on Gold Deposit Schemes and principal and interest of the deposit will be denominated in gold.  Reserve Bank of India has opened its sub-office in Imphal in Manipur.  The RBI has granted permission to the Indian corporate to issue rupee bonds outside India. These bonds would be exempted from capital gains tax.  The Reserve Bank has signed a MoU with Bangladesh Bank for exchange of supervisory information.  The government plans to bring down its stake in the IDBI Bank to 49 per cent, from 76.5 per cent at present with a view to make it more efficient.  HDFC Bank has automated its personal loan approvals through their ATMs that would track the customer's history and authorize a loan accordingly.  HDFC Bank has been rated 27th safest bank in the world, according to the Bank Safety Ranking done by the international financial magazine 'The Banker’. SEPTEMBER 2015  In its 4th bi-monthly monetary policy review announced on Sep 29, RBI cut the benchmark repo rate by 50 basis points, from 7.25 to 6.75 per cent.  Consequently, the reverse repo becomes 5.75% and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate becomes 7.75%.  RBI has allowed banks to change the ownership of an errant corporate even before the loan account turns 'bad' or non performing asset – NPA.  RBI plans to put into circulation high security banknotes in the denominations of 500 and 1000 rupees incorporating three new/revised features:  Ascending size of numerals in the number panels, introduction of bleed lines and enlarged identification mark.  Banks to conduct Mega Credit Campaigns to generate easy availability of credit to Micro Enterprises under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).  Mudra has been established as a subsidiary of SIDBI to provide refinance to all banks seeking refinancing of small business loans under PMMY.  The Reserve Bank has declared State Bank of India and ICICI Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).  Systemically Important means anything or feature which is important for entire system.  Seeking to promote financial inclusion, the RBI has granted in principal approval to 10 entities to set up small finance banks.  These banks will focus on unbanked sections such as small farmers, micro business enterprises, micro and small industries etc.  The RBI has permitted banks to offer loans below base rate to their whole time directors and CEOs.  RBI has asked concurrent auditors of commercial banks to submit their review of non-performing loans directly to the banks  They will discontinue the practice of submitting it to the statutory auditors who conduct quarterly and half yearly review of bank accounts.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 47  India is joining the UN-based 'Better Than Cash Alliance', which promotes transition from cash to digital payments.  RBI has inked a MoU with the Nepal Rastra Bank for Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information.  Two commemorative coins of Rs 125 and Rs 10 were released on the eve of Teachers' Day in the memory of former President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.  The Reserve Bank of India will shortly put into circulation Rs 5 coins to commemorate golden jubilee of Indo-Pak War 1965.  The RBI has liberalised external commercial borrowing norms for NBFCs, allowing them to use the foreign funds to finance domestic equipments.  RBI plans to permit domestic companies to borrow money from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and insurance funds as part of the ECBs.  Axis Bank has rolled out a full-fledged mobile app ‘Lime’ that enables shopping, making payments and banking, all under one window.  Indian Bank has launched IndPay mobile app service to enables its customers to operate bank accounts anytime from anywhere. DEFENCE, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER 2015  The Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM), jointly developed by the Israel and DRDO successfully flight tested from the Israel Naval Platform  The nuclear-capable ballistic missile Dhanush was successfully test fired from warship INS Subhadra, off the Puri coast of Odisha  Indian Army successfully test-fired the land attack variant of the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan.  Agni-IV, the nuclear-capable ballistic missile, tested for a range of 4,000 kms from Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island), off the Odisha coast.  India test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile, which has a strike range of 350 kms from the test range off the Odisha coast.  The DRDO test-fired an Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile from Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha’s Balasore district.  DRDO has developed Advanced Torpedo Defence System “Maareech” and “Vaarunaastra” for use by the Indian Navy  INS Vishwakarma, a premier training establishment of the Indian Navy for the shipwrights commissioned in Vishakhapatnam.  ICGS Arinjay, a Fast Patrol Vessel was commissioned in Indian Navy at Kochi. ICGS – Indian Coast Guard Ship  ‘Indra-2015’, the seventh edition India-Russia Joint Military Exercise held in Bikaner district of Rajasthan.  China has displayed its strongest combat and reconnaissance drone CH – 5 that can fly with a weight of 3,000 kg and carry 900 kg of equipment and weapons.  India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-15 was successfully launched by the European Ariane rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.  Under its ‘Project Loon’, Google is using big balloons floating at a height of 20 kms for transmission of Internet services in India  Russia launched its first early warning system satellite named EKS or Integrated Space System. Its official name is Kosmos 2510 (Tundra 11L).  China’s Tianhe-2 supercomputer has emerged as the world’s most powerful supercomputer system for the sixth consecutive time.  UK Scientists have developed the world's first 'porous' liquid that can be used to capture and dissolve large amounts of harmful carbon gas emissions  Facebook has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) to create 100 Wi-Fi hotspots in rural areas of western and southern India.  A new species of the Dracula ant, likely to be of Stigmatomma group of predaceous ants, was discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala.  China's first lunar rover, Yutu, set a record for the longest stay on the Moon by completing almost two years stay, landing on moon on Dec 14, 2013.  China launched a civil communication satellite ChinaSat-2C from the Xichang space center in Sichuan province. OCTOBER 2015  Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders released the first Scorpene category submarine INS 'Kalvari' for sea trails at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai.  The navies of India, United States and Japan began a five-day joint operation-'Malabar exercise' on October 14 on the eastern coast in Bay of Bengal  4th Sri Lanka-India Exercise (SLINEX) of two navies was held in Bay of Bengal, off the Trincomalee coast in Sri Lanka, from October 27 to November 1.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 48  A 14-day joint training exercise 'Mitra Shakti 2015', involving military contingents from India and Sri Lanka, was held in Pune from Sep 29 to Oct 12  India has signed a deal with Slovenia for supply of 194 Pipistrel micro-light aircraft to be used by Indian Air Force, the Navy and the.  Indigenously built naval warship INS Kochi, the stealth guided missile destroyer, was inducted in the Indian Navy on Sep 30.  The Defence Ministry has approved the induction of women officers into the combat stream of IAF, allowing them for first time, to fly fighter aircrafts.  Fast patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Anmol was inducted in the Coast Guard Region (North East) in Kolkata.  The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, for the first time, has decided to deploy women in combat duties at its high-altitude posts along the Indo-China border.  India’s first indigenously built torpedo launch and recovery vessel - INS Astradharini, inducted in Indian Navy on Oct 6 at Vishakhaptnam.  5th Indo-China Joint Military Training Exercise- HAND-IN-HAND conducted at Kunming Military Academy, Yunnan, China from 12 to 23 October.  A joint maritime exercise of naval patrol vessels - Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) between India and Indonesia began on 3 Oct in the Andaman Sea.  India’s first dedicated astronomy research satellite Astrosat was successfully launched on Sep 28 by the PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota.  Microsoft Corp and Google Inc have agreed to bury all patent infringement litigation against each other, settling 18 cases in USA and Germany.  NASA scientists claimed to have found the strongest ever evidence of liquid water on Planet Mars that could help sustain future manned missions. SEPTEMBER 2015  Govt to purchase 15 Chinook helicopters that will lift heavy loads and 22 AH-64D Apache advanced attack helicopters from USA.  India and the US have created a "joint challenge coin" to symbolise their unique partnership in creating a next-generation aircraft carrier for Indian Navy.  One side of the coin reads "Chale Chalen Saath Saath" and the other reads “Forward Together We Go".  Indian Navy has established its largest missile storage and replenishment facility named INS Vajrakosh at Karwar base in Karnataka  Indian Coast Guard has commissioned two new ships named Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Apoorva and Interceptor Boat C-421.  India to buy 10 Heron TP armed drones capable of firing missiles, from Israel to enhance our cross- border military strike capability.  The first bilateral maritime exercise between Australia and India ‘Ausindex-2015’ began on Sep 12 off the shores of Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.  On 16 September, International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed across the world.  The theme and the slogan for the year 2015 are 30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together and Ozone: All there is between you and UV, respectively.  China has successfully launched a newly-developed satellite launch rocket Long March-6(Chang Zheng-6).  Hinduja business group has launched Hits (Headend-in-the-Sky) digital broadcasting platform - NXT Digital to provide over 500 TV channels to cable operators  Google and Indian Railways are planning to work jointly on Project Nilgiri to set up free Wi-Fi hotspots across 400 select railway stations.  Facebook has decided to rebrand its Internet.org programme to 'Free Basics' for providing more services and stronger security measures.  Study by researchers at the Yale University, USA shows that there are over 3 trillion trees on Earth, based on ground survey data and satellite pictures. INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 2015  In one of the worst gruesome terrorist attacks, over 129 people were killed and more than 300 were wounded in multiple ISIS terrorists’ shootings in Paris  Several persons, including policemen were killed in Terai region of Nepal due to Madhesi agitation leading to acute shortage of fuels and medicines  Madhesis, the Indian-origin inhabitants of the Terai region, have been protesting against division of their ancestral homeland in the new Constitution.  A two day summit of Heads of G-20 nations was held in Antalaya, Turkey to dwell on inclusive economic growth and climate change.  Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held in Manila.  Leaders of the ASEAN group of nations have declared the establishment of an EU-style regional economic bloc, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)  For the first time, Oxford Dictionary has chosen an emoji pictograph, commonly referred to as an emoticon, as its 2015 Word of the Year  Russia suspended all its flights to Egypt after one of its civil aircraft was blown up in mid air by militants soon after take-off from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 49  The International Day for Tolerance observed globally on 16 November with an aim to educate people about the need for tolerance  27th ASEAN summit (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was held in Kuala Lumpur on November 21.  The 10th East Asia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov 22, under the theme Our People, Our Community, Our Vision.  UNESCO rejected Kosovo's bid for membership as it failed to receive the support of two-thirds of the UNESCO’s member nations.  Islamist militants laid siege to the Radisson Blue Hotel in Bamako, capital of Mali killing at least 27 persons from different nations.  The World Health Organisation on 16 November 2015 launched the World Antibiotic Awareness Week with the theme Antibiotics: handle with care.  Operation Inherent Resolve is the name of US military operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.  The World Meteorological Organisation has said that global average temperatures this year are likely to be the warmest on record.  Young supporters of Hong Kong's democracy movement, known as 'Umbrella Soldiers', won few seats in the elections dominated by pro-Beijing forces.  Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola-free by the WHO, prompting nationwide celebrations tinged with sadness over the loss of 4,000 victims to the disease.  Global pharma major Pfizer and Botox maker Allergan have entered into a $ 160 billion merger agreement, the biggest ever deal in pharma sector.  China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba created a new record in online sales netting $14.33 billion on the annual Singles Day on Nov 13. OCTOBER 2015  A World Bank report says that the number of people living in extreme poverty is likely to fall for the first time below 10% of the world’s population in 2015.  Around 702 million, 9.6% of the world’s population will be living in extreme poverty in 2015, down from 902 million or 12.8% in 2012.  India had largest number of poor in 2012, but its poverty rate at 21.2 per cent is one of the lowest among developing countries.  The World Bank has revised its benchmark poverty from living on or below $1.25 a day to $1.90 a day.  The European Union has started a new operation termed Operation Sophia to actively intercept boats smuggling refugees.  Finance Ministers of 20 nations vulnerable to climate change launched the V-20 Group on 8 October 2015 in Lima, Peru.  To commemorate the 70th anniversary of UNO on Oct 24, more than 200 monuments in 60 countries will be lit up in blue- the official colour of UNO.  NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) forces conducted their massive field exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 from Oct 3 to Nov 6  UNCTAD says that the growth rate for world in 2015 is expected to remain more or less unchanged from last year, at 2.5 per cent.  11 Pacific Rim nations, including Canada and Chile to Japan and Australia have agreed to sign with USA, the largest regional trade accord in history.  China has operationalised the world’s highest mega hydropower station at Zam in Tibet, built on Brahmaputra River  China has announced the end of its hugely controversial 45 years old one-child policy. Now, all couples would be allowed to have two children.  China's GDP decelerated to 6.9 per cent in the third quarter of this year, posting its worst growth since the 2009 global financial crisis  China successfully launched the Tianhui-1C mapping satellite into its designated orbit from Jiuquan satellite launch centre  Senior executives of IMF and World Bank Group held their annual three-day meeting in Lima, Peru to address current challenges facing the world economy.  The WTO, has lowered 2015 global trade forecast to 2.8 percent in the face of a slowdown in the economies of emerging countries.  China has launched the first phase of “China International Payment System (CIPS)” to promote Yuan’s global usage SEPTEMBER 2015  U N General Assembly formally adopted on Sep 25 the new global 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs)  They aim to end poverty, hunger, assure gender equality, and build a life of dignity for all, over the next 15 years.  These goals cover three important aspects - economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.  Indians in USA have launched "Mission 2022" in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries to promote business between two countries.  Nepal's parliament has approved new constitution, which will come into effect from Sep 20
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 50  Nepal’s Constituent Assembly rejected the demand for converting the country in to a Hindu state, sparking violent protests across the nation.  The US Defence headquarters Pentagon has established a first-ever country special cell-India Rapid Reaction Cell to strengthen its defence ties with India  The G-20 meet of Finance Ministers in Ankara, Turkey, launched a new grouping – W20 (women 20) aimed at boosting the role of women in economic growth.  Canada, world's 11th-biggest economy has fallen into a recession, dragged down by falling energy prices and economic troubles in China.  In recently concluded 2015 Singapore General Elections, People’s Action Party (PAP) led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has emerged victorious.  Two-day Conference of G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors held in Ankara, Turkey on September 4 and 5.  As per the new secular constitution of Nepal, Cow has been declared as the National Animal of Nepal. PERSONS IN NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 PAWAN MUNJAL: Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp, was the highest paid director with a remuneration of Rs.43.91 crore during the 2014-15 financial year. ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA: Chairperson of SBI remains the most powerful woman in the Indian business sector, according to Fortune India’s latest rankings of Indian business women. LIONEL MESSI: International iconic Football star has been picked up by the Tata Motors as their global brand ambassador for their passenger vehicles. VICTOR PONTA: Romanian Prime Minister was in news as he announced his resignation bearing moral responsibility for a nightclub blaze that killed 32 people. OCTOBER 2015 NAINA LAL KIDWAI: Chairperson of HSBC India since 2009 will retire by the end of this year, having completed 58 years of age. JERRY SEINFELD: He has been named as the world’s highest paid comedian by Forbes. The 61-year-old comedian earned $ 36 million between June 1, 2014 and June 1, 2015. SEPTEMBER 2015 ARVIND PANAGARIYA: Vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, has been appointed as the sherpa for G20 negotiations. ANUPAM KHER: Bollywood actor was in news as he was conferred with the Honoured Guest of Texas award in Houston, USA for his contribution to the cinema and the world of art. CHANDA KOCHHAR and Arundhati Bhattacharya have been ranked as top two in a list of most powerful business women in Asia-Pacific, prepared by the global magazine Fortune. They head ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, respectively. INDRA NOOYI: PepsiCo CEO is the sole Indian-origin executive in Fortune's list of 50 most powerful women in business (placed 2ND), which has been topped by General Motors CEO Mary Barra. JHUMPA LAHIRI: Noted Indo American novelist was honoured with the prestigious National Humanities Medal by the American President in recognition of her works highlighting human relation-ships. QUEEN ELIZABETH II: The 89 year old Queen of Great Britain reached a major milestone on Sep 8 by becoming the longest-reigning monarch (since Feb 02, 1952) in Britain’s history GENNADY PADALKA: Russian astronaut was in news as he created the record for having spent the most time in space. His latest mission lasted 168 days, bringing his total to 879 days in space over five trips. APPOINTMENTS NOVEMBER 2015 JUSTICE T S THAKUR: New Chief Justice of India (43rd), succeeding Justice H L Dattu. NITISH KUMAR: Elected as the new Bihar Chief Minister SYED AKBARUDDIN: Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York. NAVTEJ SINGH SARNA: Veteran diplomat, an IFS officer of 1980 batch, has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. VIJAY KESHAV GOKHALE: Senior diplomat has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to China. RAGHURAM RAJAN: Governor RBI has been elected Vice-Chairman of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) at Basel, Switzerland.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 51 SUBIR GOKARAN: Former RBI Deputy Governor has been appointed as an Executive Director on the board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). MAHESH KUMAR JAIN: MD and CEO of Indian Bank. R K TAKKAR: MD and CEO UCO Bank SURESH N PATEL: Appointed as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Bank. T.S.R. SUBRAMANIAN: Former Cabinet secretary has been appointed chairperson of a committee set up by the HRD Ministry to draft the new education policy. HARSHAVARDHAN NEOTIA: Elected as the President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for the year 2016. SUNIL KANORIA: Appointed as the President of The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Ms. ZARIN DARUWALA: Appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bank, India. JUSTICE AJIT PRAKASH SHAH: Appointed as the ethics officer (ombudsman) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). MAURICIO MACRI: elected as the new President of Argentina. JOHN POMBE MAGUFULI: Elected as the new President of Tanzania OCTOBER 2015 ARUN JAITLEY: chosen as Finance Minister of the Year, Asia by London-based publication Emerging Markets. SHEKHAR BASU: Renowned scientist has been appointed as the Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission. SHASHANK MANOHAR: New President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India NAJIB SHAH: Appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) VIDYA DEVI BHANDARI: Noted Nepali Communist leader elected as Nepal’s first woman President by the Parliament. K P SHARMA OLI: Veteran Communist party leader elected as Nepal's new Prime Minister JIMMY MORALES: elected as the President of Guatemala ALPHA CONDE: Re elected as the President of Guinea JUSTIN TRUDEAU: Newly elected Prime Minister of Canada from Liberal Party. ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO: re elected as the President of Belarus PEDRO PASSOS COELHO: Newly elected Prime Minister of Portugal JIOJI KONROTE: elected as new President of the Pacific island mini country Fiji. SEPTEMBER 2015 RATAN P WATAL: New Union Finance Secretary RAJIV MEHRISHI: Appointed as the new Union Home secretary. DEEPAK GUPTA: Appointed as Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). J MANJULA: Director General, Electronics & Communication Systems cluster of the DRDO. She is the first woman DG of a DRDO cluster. Ms. STUTI NARAIN KACKER: Appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). ALEXIS TSIPRAS: Re-elected as the Prime Minister of Greece. He had resigned last month. SHERIF ISMAIL: Elected as the new Prime Minister of Egypt MALCOLM TURNBULL: New Prime Minister of Australia. AWARDS & HONOURS NOVEMBER 2015 THE INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE, DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT-2015: Awarded to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its “immense contributions” in assisting millions of refugees KIREN RIJIJU: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, was designated as the Disaster Risk Reduction Champion for the Asia Region by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). RAMNATH GOENKA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Kuldip Nayar, a veteran journalist, columnist and author for his contribution to journalism. KALA SHIKHAR AWARD: Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma for lifetime achievement. NEW YORK GLOBAL LEADERS DIALOGUE HUMANITARIAN AWARD: Bindeshwar Pathak, Social Activist and founder of Sulabh International
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 52 INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S PEACE PRIZE: awarded to Abraham Keita (17) of Liberia for his “tireless campaigning” to end violence against minors. OCTOBER 2015 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize 2015: Jacob Tsimerman of the University of Toronto, Canada. The age limit for the prize has been set at 32 because Ramanujan achieved so much in his brief life of 32 years. MAN BOOKER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2015: won by Jamaican author Marlon James for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings. Best Short Film Award at the 2015 London Film Festival won by an Indian short film of 11 minutes, An Old Dog’s Diary. CONFUCIUS PEACE PRIZE (China): Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean President, for “injecting fresh energy” into the global quest for harmony. HARVARD HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has been selected for the prestigious award given by the Harvard University. European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose flogging sentence for causing insult to Islam invited global criticism. SEPTEMBER 2015 SKOCH AWARD (India) FOR SMART GOVERNANCE: Won by Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for its initiatives on Universal Account Number (UAN) Programme. VYAAS SAMMAN FOR 2014: Noted Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka for his work 'Premchand ki Kahaniyon ka Kaal Kramanusaar Adhyayan' GANDHI PEACE PRIZE-2014: Awarded to ISRO for its contribution in nation’s development through satellite based education, health care facilities. UNESCO ‘Award of Excellence’ 2015: Won by India for the remarkable conservation efforts of the majestic Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala Indian film Angry Indian Goddesses, a story about a group of Indian girls in Goa gone wild, was voted as the first runner-up at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. OBITUARY NOVEMBER 2015 RAM KRISHNA TRIVEDI: Former Gujarat governor, Chief Election Commissioner of India and Central Vigilance Commissioner, passed away at 94. K. SANKARAN NAIR: Former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) died in Bengaluru at 94. ASHOK SINGHAL: Veteran patron of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) passed away in Gurgaon due to a prolonged illness. He was 89. BRIJMOHAN LALL MUNJAL (92): Hero Motocorp Ltd founder died in Delhi after prolonged illness. SAEED JAFFREY: Veteran Bollywood actor died in London. He was 86. He was known for his roles in movies Gandhi, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Henna and Masoom. T R GOVINDARAJAN: Senior football administrator and veteran referee from Tamil Nadu, died after a brief illness. He was 90. MAHIP SINGH: Noted writer and journalist passed away in Gurgaon, after a brief illness. He was 85. HELMUT SCHMIDT: Former West German Chancellor, who led the country for eight years (1974-82) at the height of the Cold War, died at the age of 96. OCTOBER 2015 RAVINDRA JAIN: Veteran music director-singer-lyricist passed away in Mumbai. He was 71. Though blind, he gave music for hit films like Chor Machaye Shor, Geet Gaata Chal, Chitchor and Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se, in the 70s and was associated with epic TV serials like Ramayana and Mahabharata. SYED ZAHOOR QASIM: Renowned marine biologist considered as the founder of Polar Biology in India, passed away in New Delhi. He was 88. K S L SWAMY: Renowned Kannada filmmaker, producer, actor and playback singer passed away in Bengaluru. He was 77. Dr. SYED AHMED: Governor of Manipur passed away at Mumbai. He was 73. He was a senior Congress leader. ASHWANI KUMAR: Ex DGP of Border security Force and ex President of the Indian Hockey Federation, passed away at 95. LABH JANJUA: Noted Punjabi singer, famous for chartbusters like “London Thumakda” and “Jee karda bi jee karda”, died untimely in Mumbai
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 53 MANORAMA (Achhi): Legendary Tamil comedian and actress, who had starred in over 1,000 southern films, died at 78 in Chennai. GAJANAN PENDHARKAR: Chairman of world famous ayurvedic cosmetics company – Vicco Laboratories, died in Mumbai. He was 81. HENNING MANKELL: Best-selling Swedish crime writer, whose detective character Kurt Wallander became a worldwide phenomenon, died at 67 after a battle with cancer. SEPTEMBER 2015 JAGMOHAN DALMIYA: President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), hailed as the architect of India's rise as the game's financial superpower, passed away in Kolkata. AADESH SHRIVASTAVA: Noted Bollywood music composer passed away at a young age of 51 as he was suffering from cancer. M M KALBURGI: 77 year old Kannada scholar and ex Vice Chancellor of Kannada University was shot dead by two men at his Dharwad home in Karnataka. JACKIE COLLINS: Popular British-American romance novelist passed away in California, United States. She wrote 32 novels, all of which appeared on The New York Times bestsellers list. YOGI BERRA: Legendary Baseball player from USA, whose humorous quotes made him one of America's most beloved sports icons, died at the age of 90 CHANDRA BAHADUR DANGI: verified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's shortest man - at 21.5 inches (54.6cm) - died of an undisclosed illness in American Samoa. He was 75 and was ill for long. PLACES IN NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 MOUNT RINJA: In Indonesia, hundreds of tourists were stranded for a third day as volcanic ash from eruptions from Mount Rinja forced the closure of airports in three Indonesian islands. OCTOBER 2015 DADRI: Small town in Uttar Pradesh was in news due to mob lynching of 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi in village Bisara on Sep 28 on rumors that he killed a cow for consuming beef. The incident led to strong reactions all over India as a strong example of surging ideological intolerance, particularly in context of religion, leading to return of government honours by several eminent intellectuals. KOTKAPURA: Town in district Faridkot, Punjab witnessed widespread violent protests by Sikhs against the alleged desecration of a 'bir' of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari village. Later, the protests spread to several other towns, even in certain places in UK and Canada. CHANG LA: Situated about 80 km east of Leh (J&K), the place was in news as the world’s highest research station, established by the DRDO at an altitude of 17,500 ft became functional there. BIR BILLING: Place in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh was in news as the first Paragliding World Cup of South East Asia started there from October 16. HURRICANE PATRICIA struck Mexico's Pacific coast on 23 October, forcing thousands to flee homes and beach front resorts. TYPHOON KOPPU attacked the north eastern Philippines on October 18 with fierce winds, displacing 16,000 villagers and knocking out power in entire provinces. SANTA CATARINA PINULA: A small town in Guatemala, a mini country south of Mexico, was in news s at least 171 persons were killed there in sudden mudslides that smashed into a nearby village. BAGHDAD: The heavily fortified Green Zone in the capital of Iraq has been opened to the public for the first time in 12 years as a part of a reform drive. ARCH OF TRIUMPH: A historical monument built about 2,000 years ago in Palmyra, Syria was in news as it was blown up by the ISIS terrorists. SEPTEMBER 2015 PETALWAD, JHABUA: Small town in Madhya Pradesh was in news as around 100 people were killed and many more injured after a massive blast caused by mining explosives stored in a building ripped through a crowded market area. MINA: Holy place for Muslims, near Mecca was in news as over 720 people were killed and over 860 others injured there in a stampede as Haj pilgrims jostled their way to perform symbolic stoning of the devil, marking the culmination of the annual Haj pilgrimage. MECCA: Muslims’ holiest place in Saudi Arabia was in news as at least 107 persons were killed and over 200 injured in an accident caused by crane collapsed on Sep 11 during the annual hajj pilgrimage. COQUIMBO, CHILE: Area in Northern Chile was in news as more than 9,000 people were left homeless after it was struck by a 8.3-magnitude quake on September 16.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 54 MOUNT ASO: One of the largest volcanoes on Japan's main southern island of Kyushu, erupted on Sep 14, sending a plume of black smoke 2 km high, but there were no reports of damage or injuries. SPORTS WORLD NOVEMBER 2015 Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis lifted their ninth trophy of the season, winning BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore Pankaj Advani, India's most successful cueist won the record 15th world title by winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Egypt, defeating Zhua Xintong of China. Heena Sidhu has won Gold in 10 metre Air Pistol event at 13th Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. Jitu Rai won silver medal Shiva Thapa, top Indian boxer was ranked number 2 in the latest international rankings in the 56 kg category. Siril Verma, 16 year old shuttler from India won the silver medal at the BWF World Junior Championships held in Lima, Peru. 8th Men’s Junior Asia Hockey Cup: India’s junior men’s team won the cup at Kuantan, Malaysia by defeating Pakistan. 69th senior National Aquatic Championships 2015: Mana Patel (women) and Virdhawal Khade (men) were declared the best swimmers, at Rajkot, Gujarat. Surjit Hockey Tournament: Railways defeated Indian Oil in the finals played in Jalandhar. Wasim Jaffer became the first player in Ranji Trophy history to notch up 10,000 runs. He reached the milestone playing against Bengal in Kolkata. Anju Bobby George, former long jump world champion has been appointed as the chairperson of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Shashank Manohar, BCCI President was authorised to represent BCCI in ICC (International Cricket Council) as its Chairman. China Open Superseries Premier Badminton tournament: Xuerui Li of China beats Saina Nehwal to win the Women's Singles title at Fuzhou, China. World number one Novak Djokovic has become the first player to win the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals for the fourth consecutive time by beating Roger Federer in the finals played in London. Swiss Indoors Basel Tennis title: Won by Roger Federer by defeating Rafael Nadal Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, won the BNP Paribas WTA Finals title at Singapore, beating Petra Kvitova Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Mexican Grand Prix F1 championship in Mexico City and the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Czech Republic won the prestigious women’s team tennis trophy - Fed Cup after beating Russia in final played in Prague, capital of Czech Republic. FIFA Under 17 Football World Cup: Nigeria defeated Mali to win the championship held in Chile. The Rugby World Cup: New Zealand lifted the cup beating Australia in the Final played in London Mitchell Johnson, Australia’s most devastating fast bowler of his era, retired from all international cricket on Nov 17. The first ever day-night Test match in the history of cricket started as the third Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in Australia. Belgium moved to the top of the FIFA world ranking list in football for the first time, leaving behind giants like Argentina and world champions Germany. India ranks pretty low at 172nd place. OCTOBER 2015 HIGHER DIET MONEY FOR SPORTSPERSONS Ministry of Sports has decided to enhance the diet allowance for national level sports persons. The athletes competing in the power games under Category ‘A’ (boxing, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting and throw events in athletics) will receive Rs. 700 per day against Rs. 320 at present. Athletes under Category ‘B’ (sprint and team events) will get Rs400 per day, while sportspersons under Category ‘C’ (golf, shooting and archery) will be entitled for Rs. 300 per day. Indian archer Abhishek Verma created history by winning a silver medal in the Archery World Cup Final held in Mexico City, becoming the first ever Indian to bag Archery World Cup Final medal. Anirban Lahiri won the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month award at Singapore Deborah Herold, 20 year old Indian cyclist became the first ever Indian to win a gold medal, three silver and one bronze medal in women's elite section in the in Taiwan Cup Track International Classic in Taiwan. Yuki Bhambri achieved a career-best rank of 99, becoming the first Indian tennis player to come under 100 since 2010 in the ATP world rankings.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 55 Shweta Rathore became the first Indian female bodybuilder to win a silver medal in the 49th Asian championship held in Uzbekistan Urvashi Rautela won the Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva 2015 title to become India’s representative for the Miss Universe pageant. Saketh Myneni, India’s tennis player won the Vietnam Open trophy in the finals played at Ho Chi Minh City. Amit Kumar, Indian para-athlete bagged silver in men's club throw F51 event in the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha Zaheer Khan, one of India's greatest fast bowlers, bid adieu to international cricket, admitting that he could no longer handle the rigours of the game. Ajay Jayaram won the men’s Badminton title at the Dutch Open Grand Prix at Almere (The Netherlands). Pankaj Advani won the IBSF World Billiards Championship in Adelaide, Australia. Abhinav Bindra clinched gold in the men's 10 metre Air Rifle event of the Asian Air Gun Championships in New Delhi. Heena Sidhu clinched a Gold medal in the 10-metre air pistol event of the Asian Air Gun Championships in New Delhi. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their seventh title together on Oct 3 by winning the Wuhan Open women’s doubles title at Wuhan, China. The Indian teams won five out of six team events in the Commonwealth Youth, Junior & Senior weightlifting championships held in Pune, Maharashtra. Virender Sehwag, one of the world’s most destructive batsmen to have played the game, announced his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League, bringing an end to an illustrious career spanning 14 years. Vijender Singh, India’s Olympian boxer made a smashing professional debut by knocking out Britain's Sonny Whiting in the middleweight category at Manchester, UK. The 12th SAF (South Asian Games) games will be held from February 6 to 16 in 2016 in Guwahati and Shillong. VIJAY KUMAR MALHOTRA: Govt of India has appointed veteran sports administrator as the President of the All India Council of Sports. The 16th National Women Boxing Championship was held at Bongaigaon in Assam REFUGEES ALLOWED IN OLYMPICS The International Olympic Committee has announced that refugee athletes will be allowed, for the first time, to take part in next year's Olympics. Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal to win men’s title in the China Open at Beijing, China. Spain’s Garbine Muguruza won the women's singles title Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their eighth title of the season by lifting the women’s doubles title. Cristiano Ronaldo of The Real Madrid won the record fourth Golden Boot for scoring highest – 48 goals in the season. China’s Xuerui Li won the Denmark Open Badminton Title in the women’s single category, defeating P V Sindhu of India at Odense, Denmark. Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia clinched the French International Badminton title in Paris. Sultan of Johor Cup (Hockey): Great Britain defeated Indian junior men's team to lift the cup in Malaysia. Sergey Karjakin of Russia won the World Cup Chess Championship, defeating compatriot Peter Svidler in Baku, Azerbaijan. Lewis Hamilton of Britain won the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi, Russia, Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan and U S Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Luis Leao Pinto of Portugal won the Asia’s premier mountain biking race to get the crown of ‘King of the Himalaya’. Women’s European Volleyball Championship was won by Russia at Rotterdam, Russia. China won the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Championship by defeating the Philippines at Changsha, China. Some 2,000 athletes from many indigenous ethnic groups from 30 countries took part in the first World Indigenous Games held in Palmas, Brazil. SEPTEMBER 2015 YOGA GIVEN SPORTS STATUS The Sports Ministry has decided to recognize Yoga as a sports discipline and place it in the Priority category. Fencing has also been upgraded from others to General category, based on the past performance in major international events.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 56 Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award NAME SPORTS 1. Jot Singh (ITBP) Mountaineering 2. Arunima Sinha Mountaineering 3. Wg. Cdr. Paramveer Singh Aqua sport 4. Col. Satish Chander Sharma Mountaineering 5. Lt. Col Satyendra Verma Sky diving The Indian wushu team fetched a rich haul of 1 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze medals at the 5th International Pars Wushu Cup in Tehran, Iran. Deepak Lather won a gold in the 62 kg category in weight lifting in the fifth Youth Commonwealth Games in Apia, Samoa. India stood fifth in the final medal tally in the Commonwealth Youth Games. Anil won the gold medal in the 50 kg freestyle category at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships at Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. OP Jaisha and Sudha Singh finished 18th and 19th respectively in the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing. Jaisha, however, set a new national record by registering a time of two hours, 34 minutes and 43 seconds. Manpreet Kaur of Railways created a new national record in shot-put throwing, claiming a distance of 17.96 meters at the 55th National Open Athletics Championship at Kolkata. Apurvi Chandela clinched the silver medal in women’s 10m air rifle event of the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup Finals in Munich, Germany. Ravi Shastri to continue as the Team Director of the Indian cricket team till the 2016 T20 World Cup to be held in India. 55th National Open Athletics Championship started at SAI Complex in Kolkata on Sep16. The 42nd World Bridge Teams Championships opened in Chennai on Sep 26. U.S. OPEN TENNIS ENDS AT NEW YORK Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic won the title beating Roger Federer Women’s Singles: Flavia Pennetta won the title by beating Roberta Vinci, both from Italy. Flavia announced her retirement after winning the title. Men’s mixed doubles: won by Leander Paes and Martina Hingis. Paes becomes the player to have won highest number, of mixed doubles grand slams (Nine). Women’s doubles: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won the title. Sebastian Vettel from Germany won 2015 Singapore Grand Prix of Formula One car race Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix F1 championship at Monza, Italy. Shane Watson: Australia's veteran all-rounder announced his retirement from Test cricket on September 6, playing his last match in Cardiff, UK. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in Durban, South Africa, for the first time. Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang Province in East China, has been chosen by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to host the 2022 Asian Games. BOOKS & AUTHORS NOVEMBER 2015 BOOK AUTHOR Combating Hunger and Achieving Food Security M.S. Swaminathan Chronicles of Time and Chance Raymond Francis Isar Because We Say So Noam Chomsky Why India Is Not A Great Power (Yet) Bharat Karnad My Gita Devidutt Pattnaik The Mare's Trap Wendy Doniger. What Happened to Netaji Anuj Dhar Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations Nandan Nilekani and Viral Shah India-Myanmar Relations Rajiv Bhatia The Clintons' War on Women Roger Stone and Robert Morrow Mrs Funnybones Twinkle Khanna To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story Jairam Ramesh. A Children’s History of India Subhadra Sen Gupta. The Country of First Boys Amartya Sen Baat Niklegi toh Phir Sathya Saran Dreaming Big: My Journey to Connect India – an autobiography of Sam Pitroda, noted technocrat who brought telecom revolution in India. The Chinar Leaves veteran Congress leader and close aide of the Gandhi family M L Fotedar Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri,
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 57 An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy ex Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The Courage to Act - A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath by Ben S. Bernanke. The author is the ex governor of the Federal Reserve of USA and the book is about the lessons learnt from the recessions like 2008 Financial Crisis. The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue an autobiography of Frederick Forsyth, noted thriller novelist. Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Days Salman Rushdie. The Monsoon War: Young Officers Reminisce 1965 India-Pakistan' Capt Amarinder Singh and Lt. Gen. Tajindar Shergill The Curse of Surya Dev Prasad. Hubris: Why Economists Failed to Predict the Crisis and How to Avoid the Next One Meghnad Desai. The Power of Meow David Michie Muslim Cosmopolitanism in the Age of Empire Seema Alavi Portrait of a Serial Killer Khushwant Singh (edited by Mala Dayal) Making India Awesome Chetan Bhagat Combating Hunger and Achieving Food Security Prof. M. S. Swaminathan The Country of First Boys Amartya Sen The Devil take Love Sudhir Kakar R. D. Burman: The Prince of Music Khagesh Dev Burman Locale, Everyday Islam and Modernity M. Raisur Rahman Ghosts of Calcutta Sebastian Ortiz India Former Union Environment and Forest Minister, Jairam Ramesh. Green Signals: Ecology, Growth, and Democracy in India Central Asia Relations: The Economic Dimension Amiya Chandra ‘Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years’ A S Dulat. He was the Chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Special Advisor on Kashmir in Vajpayee's PMO after his retirement. The Making of Miracles in Indian States Arvind Panagariya and M Govinda Rao Who Will Cry When You Die Robin S Sharma Conflict Resolution in Multicultural Societies — The Indian Experience Jhumpa Mukherjee Chaos of the Senses Ahlem Mosteghanemi Flood of Fire Amitav Ghosh Men Explain Things to Me Rebecca Solnit The Crown Prince, the Gladiator and the Hope: Battle for Change Ashutosh Super Economies: America, India, China and the Future of the World Raghav Bahl
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 58
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 59 Latest MCQs ON CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY GK TEST – 01 1. Which railway station in India is the first one to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet facility? a) Chennai Central station b) Mumbai Central station c) New Delhi station d) Kolkata station e) Church Gate, Mumbai 2. Which of the following is/are NOT true in the context of Savings Bank Accounts and Current Accounts in India? 1. The use of cheque book is allowed in both the types of accounts 2. Both the accounts can be run as long as the customer wants to 3. The KYC requirement can be waived off for certain categories of savings accounts. a) 1 only b) 1 and 3 c) 2, 3 d) 2 only e) 3 only 3. Which of the following is NOT a popular stock market index? a) Kospi b) NASDAQ c) MSCI d) CAC 40 e) Mid Dax 4. The acronym FCCB is related to a) Money raised domestically through bonds b) Money raised abroad through rupee bonds c) Money raised abroad through bonds d) Money raised using the equity route e) Full convertibility of rupee 5. Which Person of Indian Origin has won the 2016 Oscar award for technical excellence? a) Nitin Gupta b) Rahul Thakkar c) Puneet Jain d) Nischal kumar e. None of these 6. The University of Hyderabad was in news recently due to a) Its winning the top rank among all Indian universities in a global survey b) Certain incidents of rioting on the campus c) The tragic death of a scholar, which led to widespread trouble on the campus d) Its being made the nodal centre for online linking of the library resources in all Indian universities e) None of these 7. Which of the following words/expressions denotes paperless trading in shares? a) CDSL b) ASBA c) T + 2 d) Trading ring e) Demat 8. Who has authored the book “The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time”? a) Puneet Jain b) Uday Kotak c) Ratan Tata d) Subhash Chandra e) Rahul Bajaj 9. An unhealthy bank loan can be sold to another party using a process called a) Asset reconstruction b) Bill discounting c) Arnortisation d) Hedging e. Evergreening 10. Arunima Sinha, an Indian sportsperson, who dominated the headlines last month, belongs to which sport? a) Ice skating b) Wushu c) Athletics d) Mountaineering e) Badminton 11. Mrinalini Sarabhai, who passed away recently, was related to which field? a) Classical dance b) Science c) Journalism d) Sports e) Literature 12. The World Health Organization has declared a medical emergency on account of which disease? a) Ebola b) AIDS c) Dengue d) Zika virus e) Malnutrition 13. The 10th anniversary of which flagship government welfare programme was celebrated recently? a) Mid-Day Meal Scheme b) Sukanay Yojana c) Swavlambon Yojna d) Right to Education Act e) MNREGS 14. Who has become the first Russian to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame?
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 60 a) Marat Safin b) Justine Henin c) Sergei Bubka d) Amelie Mauresmo e) None of these 15. Pick the odd one out: a) Fleet Street b) Mint Street c) Dalal Street d) Wall Street e) All the above have a certain commonality 16. Which European country had declared an economic emergency recently? a) Germany b) France c) United kingdom d) Denmark e) Greece 17. In terms of environmental pollution, which one does not cause any harm to the atmosphere around us? a) Sulphur Dioxide b) Suspended Particulate Matter c) Carbon Dioxide d) Nitric Oxide e) Carbon Monoxide 18. Find the expression which does NOT gel with the rest of the group? a) Virtual banking b) Internet banking c) Branchless banking d) Brick and mortar banking e) Mouse and Click banking 19. Which company has become the most valuable publicly-traded company in the world? a) Alphabet b) Apple c) Facebook d) Microsoft e) Yahoo! 20. Which state has become India’s first fully organic state? a) Tripura b) Sikkim c) Himachal Pradesh d) Haryana e) Goa 21. Which organization has won the National Award one-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN)? a) EXIM Bank b) SIDBI c) EPFO d) NABARD e) PFRDA 22. Match the following departed personalities and the fields which they belonged to. P. Haxell Wexller 1. Banking Q. Helmut Schmit 2. Politics R. SS Tarapore 3. Army S. JFR Jacob 4. Cinematography T. Balram Jakhar 5. Loksabha Speaker P Q R S T A. 4 2 1 3 5 B. 1 4 2 1 5 C. 3 4 3 1 5 D. 2 3 1 5 4 E. None of these combinations is correct 23. With reference to the above map of India, the area suffering from the worst male-to-female sex ratio is located in/on a) The extreme right side b) The top side of the map c) The region slightly below the top d) The bottom side of the map e) A scattered manner 24. Which of the following is NOT related to the climate change phenomenon? a) Emission trading b) CoP21 c) Carbon ratio d) International Solar Alliance (ISA) e) Kyoto Protocol 25. Cross-selling, in the context of banking, refers to a) Selling different banking products to an existing bank customer b) Selling a banking product to different members of the same household c) Selling a banking product to an altogether new customer d) Cold calling a customer in order to sell a new banking product e) Selling banking products to a group of customers jointly 26. Which state was the themes state for the 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela? a) Rajasthan b) Telangana c) Haryana d) West Bengal e) None of these
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 61 27. Currently, what is the base year for calculating the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India? a) 2008-09 b) 2010-11 c) 2011-12 d) 2012-13 e) 2004-05 28. A mutual fund in India is constituted as a ………….. and its assets are managed by a/an ………….. a) trust, asset management company b) bank, company c) trust, fund management committee d) society, company e) trust, bank 29. Who has been selected for the 2016 Amnesty International Human Rights Award? a) Pradeep Hedau b) Monira Rahman c) Henri Tiphagne d) Abel Barrera e) Kailash Satyarthi 30. Justice Sanjay Mishra’s appointment as the Lokayukta of ………… remained controversial and was finally cleared by the Supreme Court. a) Madhya Pradesh b) Uttar Pradesh c) Haryana d) India e) Uttrakhand 31. The loan to which of the following is/are part of priority sector lending in India? 1. Farmers 2. Minorities 3. Exporters 4. Big industries a) 1, 2 b) 1, 3 c) 1, 2, 3 d) 1, 4 e) All of these 32. In which north-eastern state of India was the President’s rule imposed recently, which led to a court case too? a) Manipur b) Assam c) Arunachal Pradesh d) Nagaland e) Mizoram 33. India ranks ……….on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2015. a) 55th b) 76th c) 87th d) 95th e) 130th 34. On which day is the National Girl Child Day celebrated in India? a) April 21 b) January 24 c) March 23 d) February 11 e) January 12 35. Which of the following vectors in responsible for the transmission of Zika virus to humans? a) Mosquitoes b) Birds c) Pigs d) Rats e) Infected food 36. Which of the following is NOT related to exports in India? a) DICGC b) EOU c) EPZ d) EXIM e) ECGC 37. Ang San Su Kyi, who assumed the presidency of Mynamer recently, belongs to the a) Military junta b) Freedom Party c) National League for Democracy d) Greenpeace Party e) State Democratic Council 38. Out of the following, the correctly matched pair is a) G8: Developed countries b) W20: World 20 c) UNCTAD: Human development d) UNFCCC: Climate change e) UNCITRL: Children’s rights 39. The prestigious International Naval Fleet Review took place recently in a) Chennai b) Mumbai c) Vishakhapatnam d) Kozhkode e) Dharwad 40. The newspapers in the past few months had splashed headlines like Fed hikes key policy rates in 7 years In the above context, the words Fed and policy rates refer to the a) Chinese central bank and the devaluation of Yuan against the US Dollar b) American central bank and the exchange value of dollar w.r.t. other currencies c) American central bank and the overnight lending rate respectively d) French central bank and the bank rate respectively e) American central bank and the Fed rate respectively 41. Find the odd out. a) Sovereign debt b) Gilt-edged bonds c) Debentures d) Dated securities e) Government securities 42. This country saw a democratically elected government for the first time in many decades after a prolonged pro-democracy movement launched by a lady. This lady had been under house arrest for most of the past 25 years and despite winning a thumping majority in the recent elections, faced uncertainly regarding her chances of forming a government due to a constitutional ban. The above lines refer to a lady named a) Kim Campbell b) Aang San Su kyi c) Angela Markel d) Khaleda Zia e) Janet Yellen 43. Harper Lee, who passed away recently, was a/an A. Scientist B. Sportswoman C. Comedian D. Musician E. Authoress 44. A GI tag refers to A. Film certification
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 62 B. Indigenous medicines C. Patents D. ISI mark E. agricultural items for exports 45. Last month, all newspapers across the world had front-page headlines similar to LIGO’s Find Creates Ripples The word find above most likely refers to A. Gravitational waves in space-time first predicted by Albert Einstein, which were detected by LIGO scientists B. The existence of black holes in the universe C. Experimental proof for the relativity theory D. The gene responsible for aging in humans E. Both A and B 46. From which country will India get ultra-light Howitzer guns? A. The USA B. France C. Russia D. Sweden E. Israel 47. Which of the following has become the biggest refinery in India with an annual refining capacity of 1.5 cr ton of crude oil? A. Indian Oil, Bombay High B. Reliance Petro, Surat C. Indian Oil, Vishakhapatnam D. Reliance Petro, Jamnagar E. Indian Oil, Paradip 48. The new chief of SEBI will be A. Urjit Patel B. UK Sinha C. SS Tarapore D. Arundhati Bhattacharya E. D Swaroop 49. Pick the odd one out. A. Space-time B. Li-Fi C. Hotspot D. 3D Printing E. Bandwidth 50. The abbreviation InvIT refers to A. Investment in India Trust B. Investment for Income Tax Savings C. Invitation for Investment in IT D. Investment in IT E. Infrastructure Investment Trust ANSWER KEY TEST – 01 Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. 1 B 2 E 3 C 4 C 5 B 6 C 7 E 8 D 9 A 10 D 11 A 12 D 13 E 14 A 15 A 16 B 17 C 18 D 19 A 20 B 21 C 22 A 23 C 24 C 25 A 26 B 27 C 28 A 29 C 30 B 31 C 32 C 33 B 34 B 35 A 36 A 37 C 38 D 39 C 40 E 41 C 42 B 43 E 44 C 45 E 46 A 47 E 48 B 49 A 50 E FEBRUARY GK TEST – 02 1. The investment made in ………… does NOT lead to any tax rebate under Indian tax laws. A. Repayment of principal component on an education loan B. Repayment towards a home loan C. New Pension Scheme D. Equity Linked Savings Scheme E. Medical insurance policies 2. Which team has won the 2016 Premier Badminton League (PBL)? A. Hyderabad Hunters B. Delhi Acers C. Mumbai Rockets D. Awadh Warriors E. Punjab Powers 3. Pick the odd one out. A. Dial D for Don: Inside Stories of CBI: Neeraj Kumar B. Why We Like the Way We Do: Preeti Shenoy C. Life Mantras: Subroto Roy Sahara D. Making India Awesome: Chetan Bhagat E. Transcendence: Shobhaa De 4. The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to come up in A. Chandigarh B. Gurgaon C. Mysore D. Surat E. Udaipur 5. The Interim Test Range (ITR) of the Defence Research and Development Organization for missile testing, is located in A. Karnataka B. Andhra Pradesh C. Kerala D. Odisha E. West Bengal 6. The latest public sector bank in India, set up by the central government, is A. Bhartiya Mahila Bank B. Dena Bank C. Bank of India D. Axis Bank E. IDBI Bank 7. A kind of inflation, which is beyond any reasonable levels, and which cannot be brought under control, is known as A. Walking Inflation B. Hyperflation C. Creeping inflation D. Running inflation E. None of these 8. Which pair has won 2016 Australian Open women’s double title? A. Julia Gorges and Anna-Lena Gronefeld B. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis C. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka D. Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova E. Sania Mirza and Lucie Safarova 9. The acronym FEMA is related to A. Financial management of companies B. Fiscal consolidation policies C. Distribution of finances between the centre and the states
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 63 D. Violations of foreign exchange norms E. The rules regarding inflation targeting fixed by the RBI 10. Which Indian film has bagged the Best First Foreign Film Award by the 2016 French Syndicate of Cinema Critics (FSCC)? A. Court B. Shahid C. Titli D. Masaan E. Annhe Ghode Daa Daan 11. The Employee Provident Fund provisions will now be applicable to all those organizations, which employ a minimum of A. 5 workers B. 20 workers C. 50 workers D. 10 workers E. 100 workers 12. Pick out the choice which does NOT mention an economic bloc. A. OPEC B. EU C. OECD D. AEC E. BRICS 13. Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who passed away recently, hailed from A. The United Kingdom B. The United States of America C. France D. Canada E. Russia 14. Which of the following is NOT a government- sponsored welfare programme? A. Kushal B. Sambhav C. Prerna D. Gyanprabha E. Sugamya Bharat 15. The Red Data Book of the World Wildlife Fund contains A. The locations of ecologically sensitive zones in the world B. The names of extinct species C. The names of endangered species D. The names of newly-discovered species E. None of these 16. Who was NOT one of the Padma awardees on the Republic Day this year? A. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar B. Anupam Kher C. Udit Narayan D. Rajnikanth E. Raj Kumar Hirani 17. The Start Up India project is designed to encourage A. Farmers B. New entrepreneurs C. SC/ST entrepreneurs D. Enterprises in the IT sector E. Agro-based industries 18. The President’s rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh under Article 356 due to A. The state government’s failure to hold an Assembly session for more than 6 months B. The unwillingness of any party to form a government C. A hung assembly D. Scarcity of funds to run the state government E. The state government’s non-compliance with the Central Government’s directives 19. Which of the following is the first public sector bank to launch wealth management services? A. State Bank of India B. Allahabad Bank C. UCO Bank D. Canara Bank E. Punjab National Bank 20. Which private sector bank has become the first private sector bank in India to cross the Rs. 1 lakh crore mark in home loans? A. HDFC Bank B. Indus-Ind Bank C. ICICI Bank D. Axis Bank E. Yes Bank 21. Marvin Minsky, the pioneer of _____________, died recently due to cerebral hemorrhage. A. Mouse B. Artificial Intelligence C. Printer D. Integrated circuits (ICs) E. Supercomputers 22. Which Bollywood veteran was honoured with the third Yash Chopra Memorial Award 2016? A. Priyanka Chopra B. Sridevi C. Rekha D. Lata Mangeshkar E. None of these 23. The book “Go Set a Watchman” written by ____________ was in news for topping the 2015 US bestseller list. A. J.K. Rowling B. R K Rowling C. Harper Knee D. Harper Lee E. None of these 24. The acronym CERT-In stands for A. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team B. Certificate of Emergency Readiness Technology C. Certificate of Emergency Threat Readiness D. Council for Emergency Response in Threat Situations E. Council for Emergency Threat Response 25. Pick the odd one out. A. Sudheer Tailang: Cartooning B. Jack Maa: Business C. Nida Fazli: Poetry D. John Nash: Mathematics E. Sitara Devi: Classical music 26. Which of the following is the highest battlefield in the world? A. Aksai Chin B. Tulbul Peak C. Siachen glacier D. Karakoram range E. Point 84 27. Which of the following is TRUE of the TRAI order on differential internet data pricing? A. It has held such pricing to be in violation of the TRAI norms B. It has allowed such pricing subject to certain riders
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 64 C. It has stayed it for the moment, pending a final decision to be taken after consultations D. It has taken the issue to the Supreme Court E. None of these 28. What is the rank of India in Ease of Doing Business (World Bank)? A. 141st B. 150th C. 125th D. 130th E. 122th 29. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in India has developed a new drug to treat A. Cancer B. Dengue C. Goitre D. Diabetes E. Malaria 30. The minimum number of days for which a Fixed Deposit can be made in India, is A. 7 B. 30 C. 364 D. 180 E. 90 31. Hawala, FEMA, Money Laundering --- all these terms/ acronyms are related to A. Banking operations B. Black money in India C. Forward markets D. Illegal transactions in foreign exchange E. Stock markets 32. Which of the following is a correct combination? A. Sariska: Elephant reserve B. Dachigam: Rhinoceros sanctuary C. Bharatpur: Bird sanctuary D. Manas: One-horned deer sanctuary E. Periyar: Asiatic lion sanctuary 33. The Basic Savings and Deposit Account is actually a the new name of the savings accounts opened earlier by the name A. Non-KYC accounts B. Passbook accounts C. Basic accounts D. No Frill accounts E. Simple accounts 34. Geeta Phogat is related to which of the following sports? A. Archery B. Wrestling C. Badminton D. Boxing E. Marathon 35. In which account is the nomination facility NOT available? A. Recurring Deposit Account B. Home loan account C. Current Account D. Savings Bank Account E. Fixed Deposit Account 36. The letter C in the acronym ECS implies A. Collateral B. Cash C. Copy D. Credit E. Clearing 37. A new National Organic Farming Institute will come up in A. Punjab B. Goa C. Haryana D. Sikkim E. Mizoram 38. Which of these countries has launched a long- range rocket defying international warnings? A. Iran B. South Korea C. North Korea D. Israel E. Iraq 39. E-tendering has been made compulsory for all government purchase orders beyond A. Rs. 2 lakh B. Rs. 10 lakh C. Rs. 5 lakh D. Rs. 20 lakh E. Rs. 1 lakh 40. India has often been labeled the world capital of this lifestyle disease due to the fact that Indians are genetically predisposed to it, apart from having a sedentary lifestyle. Doctors often recommend regular exercise, weight loss and diet control to avoid it. Which commonly found disease is being talked about in the preceding lines? A. Obesity B. Diabetes C. Cardiac attack D. Hypertension E. Cancer 41. Currently, the child sex ratio in India as per 2011 census stands at A. 924 B. 927 C. 956 D. 918 E. 1036 42. The newly started Mahamana Express running between Varanasi and New Delhi commemorates the memory of A. C Rajgopalachari B. CF Andrews C. Dr. BR Ambedkar D. Mahatma Gandhi E. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya 43. The maximum credit balance permissible at a time, in a savings account operated by a major on behalf of a minor under guardianship (U/G), can be A. Rs. 50, 000/- B. Rs. 50, 000/- C. Rs. 5, 00, 000/- D. Rs. 1, 00, 000/- E. Any amount 44. Refer to the following front-page news item published recently in a popular newspaper. The US-led coalition is hitting __________ "harder than ever," President Barack Obama said, sharpening his rhetoric as he came under criticism for his strategy. Obama sought to convey forward momentum even as Americans' fears grew and said. "In many places, it has lost its freedom of movement because they know we will wipe them out." Based on a reading of the above paragraph, which of the following choices should fill up the above blank most appropriately?
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 65 A. Syria B. ISIS C. Russia D. LeT E. Global terrorism 45. Which of the following players won the Australian Open Men’s Single trophy 2016? A. Sebastian Vettel B. Roger Federer C. Novak Jokovich D. Andy Murray E. None of these 46. All major economic indicators like those on inflation, income and industrial output in India are released by the A. Central Statistical Office B. Finance Ministry C. NITI Aayog D. Reserve Bank of India E. National Sample Survey Organization 47. Who was/ is the first Indian Prime Minister to address the British Parliament? A. PV Narsimha Rao B. Narendra Modi C. Indira Gandhi D. Atal Bihari Vajpayee E. None of these 48. Select the WRONG statement. A. There is no limit on the no. of withdrawals using cheques one can do in a current account B. There is no limit on the no. of withdrawals using cheques in a savings bank account C. The interest payable on a fixed deposit and a recurring deposit is typically the same in a given bank. D. Under the interest rate subvention schemes, the interest rate cut is offered by the government and not the lending bank E. All these statements are correct 49. The acronym DTAA refers to A. Indirect taxes B. Tax evasion C. Technology D. Tax avoidance E. Banking 50. Arrange the following debt instruments in the increasing sequence of their maturity period. 1. Treasury bills 2. G-Secs 3. LAF borrowings A. 1, 3, 2 B. 1, 2, 3 C. 3, 2, 1 D. 3, 1, 2 E. All of these have the same maturity period ANSWER KEY TEST – 02 Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. 1 A 2 B 3 E 4 B 5 D 6 A 7 B 8 B 9 D 10 C 11 D 12 A 13 B 14 A 15 C 16 E 17 B 18 A 19 A 20 C 21 B 22 C 23 D 24 A 25 E 26 C 27 A 28 D 29 D 30 A 31 D 32 C 33 D 34 B 35 B 36 E 37 D 38 C 39 A 40 B 41 D 42 E 43 E 44 B 45 C 46 A 47 B 48 B 49 D 50 D ..... GYANM ONLINE TESTS MORE THAN 200 TESTS FOR Rs. 300 ONLY  TEST SERIES FOR IBPS PO / CLERK FOR PRELIMS  50+ SHORT TESTS OF QUANTS, REASONING & ENGLISH  PASSWORD WITH ONE YEAR VALIDITY ACCOUNT DETAILS NAME: GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK BRANCH: Sector 34, Chandigarh A/C NO: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989 OR CALL @ 09257211740 09646888377
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 66 GYANM QUIZ - 11 How much do you know about the world around you? Take the quiz below to find out for yourself and WIN some exciting prizes as rewards. 1. Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon in A. Sarnath B. Kusinara B. Bodh Gaya C. Lumbini 2. Which of these gases is produced in bio-gas plants? A. Methane B. Propane C. Nitrous Oxide D. Carbon Dioxide 3. The Kangaroo is the national bird of A. England B. Australia C. Canada D. Switzerland 4. Who created the first-ever English dictionary? A. Dr. Samuel Johnson B. William Shakespeare C. John Keats D. Alexander Pope 5. Which one is the oldest mountain range in India? A. The Shivaliks B. The Aravalis C. The Himalayas D. The Satpuras 6. One can vote in Lok Sabha elections if one is at least ………. old. A. 18 years B. 21 years C. 30 years D. 25 years 7. Which of the following is a city state? A. Singapore B. Taiwan C. Hong Kong D. Macau 8. The child sex ratio in India has touched its lowest point (2011 census) at A. 992 B. 918 C. 948 D. 927 9. Which of the following is called a “necessary evil”? A. Friction B. Elasticity C. Viscosity D. Gravitation 10. The second round of bank nationalization in India was completed in A. 1949 B. 1969 C. 1980 D. 1991 Heartiest congratulations to the winners of Gyanm Quiz-10! 1. Rishab – Bengaluru 2. Aruna– Solan The winners are being informed by post. Name: ______________________________________ Address: ____________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ PIN: _____________________ Mobile: ___________________________________ _ My answers to Gyanm Quiz - 11 are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Signature _______________ TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Please send your responses to the quiz, along with your COMPLETE ADDRESS and PIN CODE, by 25th March, 2016. The responses can be sent By e-mail to [email protected] OR On Whatsapp mobile number 09646888377 OR By post to Gyanm College of Competitions, SCO 13-15, 2nd Floor, Above Domino’s, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh-160034 2. ONLY the residents of India are eligible to participate. 3. In case of multiple correct entries, a draw will be held to decide the winner/s. 4. The Prize/s CANNOT be exchanged for cash. 5. The decision of the jury shall be FINAL and BINDING on all the participants. 6. The winners’ names shall be announced in the May, 2016 issue.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 67 Profit And Pleasure ON MONUMENTS Profit and Pleasure not only tickles your nerve cells but also makes you learn interesting facts about the world. This time around, we are focusing on some famous monuments. Here we go! 1. These ancient temples, built by the Chandellas, stand testimony to the architectural and sculptural excellence of Indian artists. Besides, the statues and the carvings reveal the depth of knowledge the ancient Indians had achieved in matters concerning sex. Which world-famous temples are we talking about? 2. This iron pillar, erected in the memory of a great Indian warrior some 1400 years ago, has withstood the vagaries of extreme weather like rains, sunlight and winds without any rust or even a scratch on its face. Until recently, the scientists could not understand the technology behind it and were unable to replicate it successfully. Which technological marvel is being discussed above? 3. These four observatories in four cities, built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur in the 18th century, reveal his scientific and progressive bent of mind. They were designed for astronomical observations and calculations. The scientific precision with which they have been built would surprise a student of modern science. What is the popular name given to these observatories? 4. The Taj Mahal, though touted as a marvel of architecture, is actually based on another lesser- known medieval monument in Delhi. The design and the architectural features of both these buildings show great similarity. Can you recall this monument, situated in today’s Delhi? 5. The jaw-dropping beauty of these ruins is a reminder of the old grandeur of the Vijayanagar Empire and its urban centres. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique historical importance. Which famous tourist city is being referred to above? 6. This is the holiest of all the Sikh shrines, the foundation stone of which was laid by a Muslim saint Mian Mir. Its four gates, implying liberal entry and equality, are open to all irrespective of their faith or creed. These gates lead to the sanctum sanctorum or the actual place of worship, which is decorated with the yellow metal. Which world-famous Sikh shrine is being discussed above? 7. This building in Shimla was the summer retreat of the British Viceroys in India, who could not put up with the oppressive summer heat of north India. Post-independence, it was converted into a national- level research centre and right now, it serves as an academic campus for researchers. Which British-era building are we talking about? 8. This building in modern Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) served as the headquarters of the East India Company in India those days. The historic building used to house the clerks working for the company, which used to run its base from there. Currently, it houses the Secretariat of the West Bengal government. Which historic monument has been referred to above? 9. This building in New Delhi commemorates the unsung, unknown soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while serving the motherland. Which modern monument are we discussing here? 10. Lakhs pay their homage and seek blessings at this famous sufi shrine in Ajmer, which commemorates the memory of a legendry sufi saint. The annual urs is a major tourist draw here. Can you recall the name of the sufi saint in question? SOLUTIONS 1. Khajuraho temples (Madhya Pradesh) 2. Iron Pillar in Mehrauli (Delhi), located within the Qutub Minar complex 3. Jantar Mantar 4. Humayun’s tomb 5. Hampi (Karnataka) 6. The Golden Temple, Amritsar 7. The Viceregal Lodge 8. The Writers Building 9. India Gate 10. Khwaza Moinuddin Chishti
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 68 SSC CORNER INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS GENETICS Genetics is the study of heredity, which is the biological process of a parent passing certain traits onto his/her children. Every child inherits genes from both the biological parents and these genes, in turn, express specific traits. Some traits may be physical, for example, hair and eye color and skin colour etc. On the other hand, some genes may also carry the risk of certain diseases that may pass on from parents to their offspring. It is generally considered a part of biology, but it intersects frequently with many life sciences. Gregor Mendel, a late 19th-century scientist, is the considered the father of genetics. Mendel studied trait inheritance i.e. patterns in the way traits are handed down from parents to offspring. He observed that pea plants inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". Modern genetics has expanded beyond inheritance to studying the function and behavior of genes. ORIGINS OF HEREDITY After the rediscovery of Mendel's work, the scientists tried to determine which molecules in the cell were responsible for inheritance. In 1911, Thomas Hunt Morgan argued that genes are located on chromosomes, based on the observations on Drosophila, the fruit fly. Morgan's observation of sex-linked inheritance in Drosophila led him to the hypothesis that the genes are located on chromosomes. DNA STRUCTURE James Watson and Francis Crick determined the double helix-like structure of DNA in 1953, using X-ray crystallography. Their double-helix model had two strands of DNA with the nucleotides pointing inward, each matching a complementary nucleotide on the other strand to form a twisted ladder with rungs. This structure showed that genetic information exists in nucleotides on each DNA strand. If the strands are separated, new partner strands can be reconstructed for each based on the old strand. This property gives DNA its nature where one strand of new DNA is from an original parent strand. The genetic information lies within the cell nucleus of each cell in the body. The information can be considered to be retained in a book. Part of this book with the genetic information comes from the father while the other part comes from the mother. GENES AND GENETICS Each gene is a piece of genetic information. All DNA in the cell makes up for human genome. There are about 20,000 genes on one of the 23 chromosome pairs found in the nucleus. About 12,800 genes have been mapped to specific locations (loci) on each chromosome. This database was begun as part of the Human Genome Project. Genetic processes work in combination with an organism's environment and experiences to influence development and behavior, referred to as nature versus nurture. The intra- or extra-cellular environment of a cell or organism may switch gene transcription on or off. A classic example is two seeds of genetically identical corn, one placed in a temperate climate and one in an
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 69 arid climate. While the average height of the two corn stalks may be genetically determined to be equal, the one in the arid climate only grows to half the height of the one in the temperate climate, due to lack of water and nutrients in its environment. THE GENE A gene is a portion of DNA that codes for a known cellular function or process (e.g. to "make melanin molecules"). The nucleotides (molecules) that make up genes can be seen as 'letters' in the English language. Nucleotides are named according to the four nitrogenous bases they contain - cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine. A single gene may have a small or a large number of nucleotides. A single gene often interacts with neighboring genes to produce a cellular function. CHROMOSOMES The genes lie within the chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of these small thread-like structures in the nucleus of their cells. 23 or half of the total 46 comes from the mother while the other 23 comes from the father. The chromosomes contain genes just like the pages of a book. Some chromosomes may carry thousands of important genes while some may carry only a few. The chromosomes, and therefore the genes, are made up of the chemical substance called DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). The chromosomes are very long thin strands of DNA, coiled up tightly. Chromosomes are numbered from 1 to 22 and these are common for both sexes and are called autosomes. There are two other chromosomes given the names X and Y and are also termed sex chromosomes. The X chromosome is much larger than the Y chromosome. The genes are further made up of unique codes of chemical bases comprising A, T, C and G (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine). These chemical bases make up combinations and permutations, similar to the words on a page. These chemical bases are part of DNA. The words, when stringed together, act as the blueprints that tells the body cells when and how to grow, mature and perform various functions. With age, the genes may be affected and may develop faults and damages due to environmental and internal toxins. MALES AND FEMALES Women have 46 chromosomes (44 autosomes plus two copies of the X chromosome) in their body cells. They have half of this or 22 autosomes plus an X chromosome in their egg cells. Men have 46 chromosomes (44 autosomes plus an X and a Y chromosome) in their body cells and have half of these 22 autosomes plus an X or Y chromosome in their sperm cells. When the egg joins with the sperm, the resultant baby has 46 chromosomes (with either an XX in a female baby or XY in a male baby). MULTIPLE GENE INTERACTIONS Organisms have thousands of genes, and in sexually- reproducing organisms, these genes generally assort independently of each other. This phenomenon is known as "Mendel's second law" or the "Law of independent assortment". It means that the alleles of different genes are shuffled between the parents to form offspring with different combinations. SELF-QUIZ 1. How were the laws of heredity discovered? 2. How do you define genes? 3. What is the role of DNA in body functioning? 4. How does the process of sex determination work in humans? 5. What do you mean by the Human Genome Project?
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 70 How much well-equipped are you with vocabulary to express yourself in different situations? Take the quiz below to find out for yourself and also learn some new words as a BONUS! Directions: Given below are certain words printed in BOLD letters, followed by four choices in each case. Find out the choice which best conveys the meaning of the word in question. You will find the detailed solution to this exercise in this issue only. 1. APROPOS A. Smooth B. Relevant C. Handsome D. From Germany 2. SHRILL A. Through voice B. Critical C. In disagreement D. Jarring 3. TACIT A. Stay at a place B. Silent C. Closed D. Change dramatically 4. VOLUBLE A. Aged B. Abusive C. Excessive talker D. Fond of writing 5. INCOMMUNICADO A. Speaking little B. Decent C. Connected D. Related to eyes 6. AGGRESSIVE A. Hostile B. Roundabout way C. Peace-loving D. Pungent 7. COMMENDABLE A. Horrible B. Common C. Enjoyable D. Highly commendable 8. PLETHORA A. Going deep into a river B. A bunch of some objects C. Flexibility D. Flood 9. PACIFIST A. Broker B. Full of love C. Peace-loving D. Related to oceans 10. LEGEND A. Having no legs B. Historical C. Of heights D. Unproven 11. URBANE A. Sophisticated B. Having holes C. Well-educated D. Practical 12. TENACIOUS A. Hardworking B. Lazy C. Sensible D. Urgent 13. BUBBLY A. Swaying B. Confused C. Likely D. Lively 14. PENSIVE A. Shining B. Praiseworthy C. Thoughtful D. Reckless 15. SEDULOUS A. Persistent B. Dirty C. Interesting D. Worthy of hatred MY SCORE RATING 0-3 Get going! 4-7 Work hard! 8-11 Great, you’re almost there! 12-15 Wow! SOLUTION 1. Apropos: related, relevant, to the point Popular synonyms: pertinent, germane Examples: A. Your ideas were not apropos the discussions going on. B. All the matters apropos better relations will be taken up at the talks. 2. Shrill: adjective: jarring, piercing, searing (sound) Popular synonym: strident Examples: A. The MLAs made a shrill demand for the CM’s resignation. B. There is shrill opposition to the proposal for mandatory use of passport as an ID card.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 71 3. Tacit: adjective: silent, unspoken Popular synonyms: taciturn Examples: A. It was her tacit support to her husband’s unlawful activities, which encouraged him to go all the way into the world of crime. B. By not raising your voice against this plan, you would be tacitly supporting this atrocious idea. 4. Voluble: adjective: expressive, talkative Popular synonym: vocal Examples: A. A good salesman has to be, by definition, a voluble speaker. B. Her voluble speech gave us headache many a time. 5. Incommunicado: adjective: silent, speaking very little Popular synonym: taciturn Example: Many people are incommunicado at social events but they are quite vocal with their friends. 6. Aggressive: adjective: fighting, contentious Popular synonyms: belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious Derivation: Aggression Examples: A. Aggressive nations like North Korea always keep global tensions alive with their nuclear tests. B. The aggressive attitude she carries does not let reach a compromise with others. 7. Commendable: adjective: praiseworthy Popular synonyms: superlative, first-rate Examples: A. Shabana’s commendable portrayal made the drama a super hit. B. The phone specifications look commendable on paper but the final test lies in its use. 8. Plethora: noun: great excess, abundance Popular synonyms: cornucopia Examples: A. The reputed college library has a plethora of books on all topics. B. The plethora of hundreds of TV channels offers an unlimited choice to suit all tastes and preferences. 9. Pacifist: adjective: related to peace, peace-loving Popular synonyms: pacific Derivation: Pacifism Examples: A. The pacifist leader made all efforts to end the long-standing enmity. B. He was known to have a pacifist nature and often made peace between the warring parties in her college. 10. Legend: noun: a story/ incident of doubtful origin, un-historical Popular synonym: apocryphal, unsubstantiated Examples: A. Several legends about the freedom struggle are quite popular but most historians do not accept them. B. The storyteller often narrates many legends, often taken to be true by lay people. 11. Urbane: adjective: sophisticated, well-bred Popular synonym: debonair Examples: A. A diplomat has to be urbane- mannered while dealing with his foreign counterparts. B. The girl’s urbane disposition helped her bag the airhostess job. 12. Tenacious: adjective: persevering, hardworking Popular synonyms: industrious, sedulous Derivation: Tenacity Examples: A. My tenacious managerial work was finally recognized with a promotion. B. You may be intelligent, but without a tenacious application of mind, you can achieve nothing. 13. Bubbly: adjective: cheerful, lively Popular synonyms: vivacious, animated Example: Her bubbly face lit up every party and made it a super hit event. 14. Pensive: adjective: serious, in a thinking mood Popular synonyms: thoughtful, pondering, cogitative Examples: A. Newton sat under a tree in a pensive mood as an apple fell from above. B. As opposed to her usually pensive husband, she is an outgoing, friendly person. 15. Sedulous: adjective: hardworking, persistent Popular synonym: persevering Examples: A. A new business requires sedulous planning and thorough execution. B. The mantra of success in life is overcoming every failure and doing sedulous hard work to overcome one’s weaknesses.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 72
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 73 ...............continued from page no. 38 JASWANT SINGH RAJPUT: Two time Olympic gold winner in Hockey, passed away at the age of 90 years. O N V KURUP: Jnanpith award winning, very popular and most respected Malayalam poet from Kerala passed away at the age of 84. He was honoured with Padma Sri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011. SUDHIR TAILANG: Well-known cartoonist, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 55. He was suffering from brain cancer. He worked for leading national news papers and was awarded Padma Sri in 2004. NIDA FAZLI: Renowned poet and lyricist, who enthralled several generations with his soul-stirring compositions like Kabhi kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta and Hosh waalon ko khabar kya, died in Mumbai due to heart failure. He was 78. S.S. TARAPORE: Former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, died at Mumbai at the age of 80. BALRAM JAKHAR: Veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker, four times M P, passed away in New Delhi. He was 92. AKBAR KAKKATTIL: Noted Malayalam novelist and short story writer passed away at the age of 62. HARPER LEE: One of America's most celebrated novelists whose 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" was read by millions worldwide, died at the age of 89. Equally popular was his second novel – Go Set a Watchman, published in 2015. In fact, it was the original manuscript of her first novel. BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: Former UN Secretary General, the Egyptian diplomat who became the first Secretary General from Africa in 1992, died in Cairo. He was 93. SUSHIL KOIRALA: Former Prime Minister of Nepal and President of Nepali Congress passed away in Kathmandu after prolonged illness. He was 78. EDGAR MITCHELL: NASA astronaut, who was the sixth man to walk on the Moon from Apollo 14 mission in Feb 1971, died in West Palm Beach, Florida at age of 85. JANUARY 2016 MRINALINI SARABHAI: Veteran dancer and Padma Bhushan recipient passed away in Ahmedabad. She was 97. One of the most celebrated Indian classical dancers; she was proficient in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Lt–Gen. J F R JACOB (retd): Ex Governor of Goa and Punjab and war hero of 1971 Bangladesh war, passed away in New Delhi after a brief illness. He was 92. He wrote his memoirs by the title “An Odyssey in War and Peace.” GENERAL O P MALHOTRA: Former Punjab Governor and ex-Chief of Army Staff passed away in Gurgaon due to old-age complications on Dec 29. He was 93. V. RAMA RAO: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Sikkim Governor passed away in Hyderabad after prolonged illness. He was 80. RAJESH VIVEK UPADHYAY: Noted film/ TV artist died in Hyderabad. He was 66. Rajesh was mainly known for his roles in films like Lagaan (Guran) and Swades. MUFTI MOHAMMAD SAYEED: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister breathed his last at the All–India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He was 79. He founded the Peoples Democratic Party in J&K in 1998. SAROSH HOMI KAPADIA: Former Chief Justice of India, 68, passed away in Mumbai. A.B. BARDHAN: Veteran Communist Party of India leader, 92, passed away after a long illness at New Delhi. DAVID BOWIE: One of the most influential recording artists of all time in UK, passed away due to throat cancer. He was 69. MARVIN MINSKY: Noted mathematician and the computer scientist, pioneer of artificial intelligence, died at the age of 88 in Boston, USA. NATALIE COLE: Grammy-winning US singer passed away in Los Angeles. She was 65. She gave super hits like Our Love and This Will Be.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 74 HASKELL WEXLER: Oscar – winning US cinematographer died in California. He was 93. He was one of the America’s most influential cinematographers. YASUTARO KOIDE: The world’s oldest man died in Nagoya, Japan at the age of 112 DECEMBER 2015 SADHANA (Shivdasani/Nayer): Veteran actress, who mesmerised audience with her beauty and powerful performances in timeless hits like “Hum Dono”, “Love in Simla” and “Waqt”, died in Mumbai after a brief illness. She was 74. She will always be remembered for her iconic fringe hair on forehead, famous as ‘Sadhna cut’. SHARAD JOSHI: Renowned agro-economist, founder of Shetakari Sangthana, crusader for farmers’ rights and a former Rajya Sabha member, died at Pune at 81. MAM RAMASWAMY: Industrialist, founder of Chettinad Group, former parliamentarian passed away in Chennai at the age of 84 after prolonged illness. USTAAD SABRI KHAN: Renowned sarangi player died at age of 88 due to breathing problems. He was decorated with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. DR. ROBERT L. SPITZER: Veteran psychiatrist who gave psychiatry its first set of rigorous measuring standards to describe mental disorders, died in New York. He was 83. ELDAR RYAZANOV: Russian legendary film Director died in Moscow at the age of 88. He directed some of the most popular and beloved comedies such as Irony of Fate, The Garage and Office Romance. PLACES IN NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 KUMBAKONAM: Temple town of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu was the venue for the famous Mahamaham festival on Feb 22. The event occurs once in 12 years and is also referred to as the Kumbh Mela of the South. ELEPHANTA ISLAND: Located near Mumbai, a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures depicting the cult of Shiva, was in news because the island, which was dependent upon diesel- powered generators for electricity until now, will be completely electrified by August, 2016. MURUD-JANJIRA BEACH: A picnic along the Arabian Sea went horribly wrong for a group of collegians from Pune when 13 of them drowned off the Murud-Janjira beach in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. CYCLONE WINSTON: One of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation Fiji, killing over 44 persons, flattening remote villages and cutting off communications. JANUARY 2016 PATHANKOT: A group of 6 suspected Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab in the wee hours of January 2, engaging security forces in a fierce gunbattle lasting two days. All the attackers were killed but not before 7 defence personnel attained martyrdom. KALIACHAK: A small town 25 kms southwest of Malda in West Bengal was in news as more than a dozen policemen were injured and police station was set on fire in mob fury in an incident of communal violence. UMAID BHAWAN PALACE: in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has been adjudged the best hotel in the world based on reviews and opinions collected by travel site Trip Advisor for its ‘Travellers’ Choice awards for Hotels'. CHARSADDA: At least 25 persons were killed and several other were seriously wounded when Taliban suicide attackers stormed the prestigious Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, near Peshawar in Pakistan. MAZAR-e-SHARIF: City in Afghanistan was in news as the Indian Consulate there was attacked by the heavily armed terrorists. An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists ended in the killing of all attackers. RAMADI: City in Iraq was declared liberated from the Islamic State group after clinching a landmark victory against the jihadists. The city was lost to IS in May, 2015. DECEMBER 2015 KANNUR: Town in Kerala was in news as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated 35,950 cannon balls at the historic Fort St Angelo in the town. The cannon balls made of iron, weighing 800 gms to 10 kg., were unearthed when workers were digging the earth to lay a cable channel for a light and sound show. JAZAN: Port city in southwestern Saudi Arabia was in news as a fire in its general hospital killed 31 people and injured 107. SHENZHEN: In China, more than 90 persons were killed due to a landslide caused by the collapse of a huge mound of waste construction mud in Shenzhen industrial area in south China.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 75 SAN BERNARDINO: A city in California, USA was in news as gunmen opened fire on a holiday party at a social services agency, killing 14 people and wounding 17 others. Two gunmen were killed later on. TYPHOON NONA (Melor): Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from the central Philippines as a typhoon with winds of up to 150 kph made landfall, causing heavy rains leading to massive flooding and landslides. SPORTS WORLD FEBRUARY 2016 Dutee Chand, ace sprinter set a new national record in the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha. Kidambi Srikanth won the Men's Singles title of the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships held in Lucknow, U P. Anirban Lahiri, India’s top golfer has been voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an online poll. Rishabh Pant, Wicketkeeper-batsman in India U-19 team created world record for fastest 50 playing against Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Mirpur, Bangladesh. Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis won the St. Petersburg Ladies Doubles Trophy. 12th South Asian Games came to an end on Feb 16 at Guwahati. India finished at the top with a record 308 medals - 188 Gold, 90 Silver and 30 Bronze. Shooter Chain Singh won record 6 Gold medals. Hosted city was Shillong and Guwahati. 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in 2019. Ranji Trophy: Mumbai won the prestigious cricket championship defeating Saurashtra in Pune, Maharashtra. The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj won the three-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka 3-0 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Hockey India League: Jaypee Punjab Warriors won the championship by beating Kalinga Lancers in Ranchi, Jharkhand. 36th National Chess team Championship was won by the Indian Railways in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Punjab defeated Mizoram to lift the Dr BC Roy Trophy for the National Junior Football Championship at Hoshiarpur, Punjab. 83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Aditya Mehta won the title by defeating Manan Chandra in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 34th Senior National Rowing Championship held at Hussainsagar Lake, Hyderabad. Kerala won the 61st National School Athletics championship held in Kozhikode, Kerala India achieved a rare 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 International against Australia in Sydney to emerge on the top of the ICC T20 rankings. The Indian women’s cricket team made history on Jan 29 by clinching its maiden T20 series win over three- time world champions Australia in Melbourne. Fittipaldi of Brazil won the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 race in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. AUSTRALIAN OPEN concludes in Melbourne, Australia. First of the four grand slams of tennis Men’s Singles: World Number One Novak Djokovic of Serbia beats Andy Murray of Britain Women’s Singles: Germany's Angelique Kerber got her maiden grand slam title by beating defending champion world no 1, Serena Williams of USA Men’s Doubles: Jamie Murray of UK and Brazil’s Bruno Soares won the title Women’s Doubles: Sania Mirza of India Martina Hingis of Switzerlandwon the title Quinton De Kock, batsman from South Africa became the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10 centuries in ODIs. He notched it up in just 55 innings, beating the record of Hashim Amla who had notched up 10 tons in 57 innings. He scored his 10th century in Centurion, SA, playing against England. Brendon McCullum, New Zealand Skipper has smashed the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls, playing against Australia at Christchurch. Previous record was held by Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq, in 56 deliveries. Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: won by Sean Abbott, the bowler from Australia. ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup: The West Indies won the cup for the first time, beating three time champions India in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 76 Badminton Asia Team Championships: China and Indonesia won the women’s and men’s categories, respectively, in Hyderabad. 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted by Fukuoka city of Japan and by Doha, Qatar in 2023. The first ever Asia Cup in its T-20 format started from February 24th in Bangladesh. The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be hosted by England in June 2017. Helmet for Umpires: Concerned about the safety of its on-field officials, the ICC has decided to provide specially designed helmets to umpires in the upcoming World T20 in India to ensure their safety. JANUARY 2016 DHANWADE SCORES RECORD 1009 RUNS Mumbai teenager Pranav Dhanawade scripted history by becoming the first batsman ever to notch up a four- figure score by smashing an unbeaten knock of 1009 including 59 sixes and 129 fours in 6 hours 35 minutes. The 15-year-old, playing for KC Gandhi Higher Secondary School, reached the gigantic score in just 323 deliveries with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 312.38 in the game against Arya Gurukul in the Bhandari Cup inter-school tournament organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s off-spinner was ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings for 2015. PV Sindhu won the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Badminton title beating Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour in the final at Penang, Malaysia. Jehan Daruvala of India won the New Zealand's most popular motor race the Lady Wigram Trophy. Siril Verma, young Indian badminton player was declared number one in junior men's singles category in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings. APURVI CHANDELA broke the world record on 5 January 2016 to grab a gold medal in the women's 10 metre air rifle event with a score of 211.2 at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix in Savsjo, Sweden. Later, she won her second gold in 10 metre tri series event, thereby also winning the title of ‘Shooter of the Tournament’ V V S Laxman's classy innings of 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001 has been rated as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years in an online survey by the ‘Cricket Magazine’. ONGC won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament by beating Railways in New Delhi. Rakhi Haldar and Kavita Devi won gold in their respective weight categories in the Senior National Weightlifting Championships held in Patiala, Punjab. Arunima Sinha, the amputee mountaineer who set a record by climbing the Mount Everest, conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain outside Asia, at 6960.8 metres. India won the first T20 Asia cup Cricket for Blind beating Pakistan by 44 runs in the finals held at Kochi, Kerala. Delhi International Chess Tournament started in Delhi on Jan. 9 BCCI ANNUAL HONOURS 'Cricketer of the Year' - Men: Virat Kohli, Indian Test captain 'Cricketer of the Year' - Women: Mithali Raj, 1st Indian woman and 2nd in world to complete 5,000 runs in ODI India beat defending champions Afghanistan 2-1 in the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Chennai Open Tennis: Stanislaus Wawrinka (Swiss) won the cup for the third time in row, beating Borna Coric of Croatia. The 76th All-India Inter-University Athletics Championship was held in Patiala and the Punjabi University emerged as the overall champions for the sixth year in a row. Senior National Wrestling Championship, New Delhi Gold won by Bajrang Punia in Men's 65kg and Ritu Phogat in women's 48kg Freestyle categories. Priyanka Phogat won the gold in the women’s 55kg category. Overall championship was won by Railways in men’s category and by Haryana in women’s category. Vijay Merchant (U-16) Trophy: Punjab won the cricket trophy after beating Mumbai in Bengaluru. Premier Badminton League: Delhi Acers won the title by beating Mumbai Rockets in New Delhi. Indian women boxers won 4 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals at the 5th Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) Nations Cup in Ruma, Serbia. The 61st National School Athletic Meet held at Kozhikode, Kerala from Jan 29. Justice (Retd) R M Lodha committee appointed by the S C to look into the affairs of BCCI has recommended sweeping reforms that include a bar on ministers from occupying positions, putting a cap on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalising betting.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 77 Japan's Izumo Takuto and Hong Kong's Zhu Chengzhu won the boys' and girls' table tennis titles, respectively, in the 11Even Sports 2015 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. FIFA Ballon d'Or award: Lionel Messi of Argentina won the World Player of the Year Award for the fifth time. FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli Lloyd, US midfielder claimed her first award. INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION ANNUAL AWARDS 2015 Player of the Year (men): Robert Van der Horst, The Netherlands Player of the Year (women): Lidewij Welten, The Netherlands World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the Qatar Masters Open Chess Tournament. Ronnie O'Sullivan of Britain won his sixth World Snooker Masters title after defeating Barry Hawkins in London. Shivnarine Chanderpaul: The West Indies batsman announced his retirement from international cricket Veteran tennis star Marat Safin became the first Russian player to enter the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame, USA. 2015 BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL Tennis Tournament at Brisbane, Australia. Men’s Singles: Milos Raonic of Canada defeated Roger Federer Women’s Singles: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beats A Kerber Men’s Doubles: Henri Kontinen & John Peers Women’s doubles: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis Australia has declined to take part in forthcoming Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh citing security reasons. DECEMBER 2015 NATIONAL P V Sindhu has won the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament for the third consecutive time, beating Minatsu Mitani of Japan. Thakur Anoop Singh won the Mr. World title in the World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. Deborah Herold has become the first Indian female cyclist to be ranked fourth in the World Elite Women Ranking for the 500m time trial event. Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy won the doubles title in the Mexico Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament in Mexico City. Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Syed Kirmani, India's former wicket-keeper batsman who played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs between 1976 and 1986. The award is given by the BCCI in the honour of India’s first test cricket captain, Col C K Naidu. Gujarat won their maiden Vijay Hazare Cricket Trophy by beating Delhi in the finals played in Bengaluru. 18th Asian Luge Championship: Shiva Keshavan of Manali, HP won a silver medal at Nagano, Japan. Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament: India’s K Srikanth suffered a very narrow defeat from Tommy Sugiarto who won the finals in Malang, Indonesia. 59th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi. Vijay Kumar, Olympic medalist won gold in the men's 25-metre centre fire pistol Apurvi Chandela won Gold medal in the 10-metre Air Rifle event Chain Singh won the Gold in the 50-metre Rifle event Elizabeth Susan Koshy won Women's 50m Rifle Gold The 68th National Track Cycling Championship held at Ludhiana, Punjab. The 22nd National Cricket Tournament for the visually impaired was held in New Delhi. 2nd Indian Super League Football tournament: Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa in the finals played in Goa. Commonwealth Table-Tennis Championships were held in Surat, Gujarat. India topped the medal tally with 16 medals. All India Football Federation has named midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh and striker Bala Devi as the Player- of-the-Year and woman Footballer - of - the - Year, respectively.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 78 Senior National Weightlifting Championships, Patiala: Haryana's Deepak Lather won gold medal in the men's 62kg category and set a new national record. Vikas Thakur of Services created a new national record as he won the gold medal in the 85kg category. 12th National Ice-Skating Championship held in Gulmarg, J&K from Dec 30 to Jan 03, 2016. Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) awarded Player of the Year title for the PGTI Order of Merit to Bengaluru’s S Chikkarangappa as he won the McLeod Russel Tour Championship at Kolkata. India won four-match Test series against South Africa, 3-0, played in India. Pro Wrestling League: Mumbai Garuda outclassed Haryana Hammers to clinch the inaugural title in New Delhi. Two new teams, Pune and Rajkot have become the new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a period of two years, replacing the suspended teams of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Hockey World League: Australia defeated Belgium to lift the title at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium, Raipur, Madhya Pradesh. THE 12TH SOUTH ASIAN GAMES will be held in Guwahati and Shillong from February 6 to 16, 2016. A replica of a rhinoceros calf, named Tikhor has been selected as the mascot of the games. The highly endangered one-horned rhinoceros is the state animal of Assam. INTERNATIONAL Robert Lewandowski, Polish professional footballer’s nine-minute, five-goal haul for German Football Club Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg earned him Guinness World Record for fastest three, four and five goals. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Underdog Tyson Fury shocked the boxing world by giving a stunning defeat to the reigning world heavy weight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine on Nov 28, becoming the first Briton to hold a world heavyweight crown since 2011. BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 award won by tennis star Andy Murray of UK Dan Carter, winner of Rugby World Cup from New Zealand, has been named 2015 Sports Personality of the Year. Chen Long of China and Carolina Marin of England were declared Male and Female Player of the Year, respectively, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in Dubai. CRICKETER OF THE YEAR - 2015: Australian batsman Steve Smith has been selected for this prestigious award by the ICC. He was also named ‘Test Cricketer of the Year. ODI Cricketer of the Year 2015: South Africa's ODI captain batsman AB de Villiers FIFA Club World Cup: Barcelona (Spain) won the cup by beating River Plate (USA) in finals played in Yokohama, Japan. The International Tennis Federation announced following rankings for 2015: Men’s World Champion - Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Women’s World Champion - Serena Williams (the USA) Men’s Doubles World Champions - Jean-Julien Rojer & Horia Tecau Women’s Doubles World Champions: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis Great Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 after the British Andy Murray beat Belgium's David Goffin in Ghent, Belgium. Brendon McCullum, New Zealand cricket captain announced on Dec 22 his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Ethics Committee of football's global governing body FIFA has banned its President Sepp Blatter and European football Chief Michel Platini from all football- related activities for eight years on corruption charges. ALL THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN SOURCED FROM VARIOUS NEWS PAPERS AND GOVT. PRESS RELEASES
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 79 DAYS AND DATES FEBRUARY World Cancer Day 04th Feb World Radio Day 13th Feb Valentine’s Day 14th Feb Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day 20th Feb Central Excise Day 24th Feb National Science Day 28th Feb MARCH World Wildlife Day 03rd March International Women’s Day 08th March No Smoking Day 13th March World Disabled Day 15th March St. Patricks Day 17th March World Sparrow Day 20th March World Poetry Day 21st March World Water Day 22nd March World Meteorological Day 23rd March World Stage Artists Day 27th March World Earth Hour (8:30 pm to 9:30 pm) 29th March Financial Year Ending 31st March APRIL April Fool’s Day 1st April National Maritime Day 05th April World Health Day 07th April World Heritage Day 18th April Civil Service Day 21st April World Earth Day 22nd April World Books Day 23rd April World Maleria Day 25th April World Intellectual Property Day 26th April .... GYANM ONLINE TESTS MORE THAN 200 TESTS FOR Rs. 300 ONLY  TEST SERIES FOR IBPS PO / CLERK FOR PRELIMS  50+ SHORT TESTS OF QUANTS, REASONING & ENGLISH  PASSWORD WITH ONE YEAR VALIDITY ACCOUNT DETAILS NAME: GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK BRANCH: Sector 34, Chandigarh A/C NO: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989 OR CALL @ 09257211740 09646888377
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 80 Some Insurance Terms ACT OF GOD: Event caused by nature that is so unpredictable as to be unavoidable, for example, the timing and location of earthquakes or floods. Acts of God are normally insured against as a matter of course. ACTUARY: A person professionally trained in the technical aspects of insurance and related fields. The actuary estimates how much money must be contributed to an insurance pension fund in order to provide future funds. ANNUITY PLANS: These plans provide for a "pension" (or a mix of a lumpsum amount and a pension) to be paid to the policy holder or his spouse. In the event of death of both of them during the policy period, a lumpsum amount is provided for the next of kin. ASSIGNMENT: A method by which the policy holder can transfer his interest in the policy to another person, usually to a creditor (bank). An assignment can be made by an endorsement on the policy document or as a separate deed. Assignment can be of two types: Conditional and Absolute ASSURED (INSURED): The person whose life is covered by a policy of insurance. AVERAGE CLAUSE (CONDITION OF AVERAGE): In marine and commercial insurance and some fire insurance policies, a clause in the policy that stipulates certain items shall be subject to average if there is underinsurance. CAVEAT EMPTOR: Latin for “let the buyer beware”. In legal terms, it means that a buyer should use his or her common sense, and that the law is not prepared to aid someone who buys anything foolishly. CO-INSURANCE: When several insurance companies form a group and come together to issue one single policy. COMPENSATION: In case of life insurance, the amount to be paid by the insurance company to the policy holder or his nominees in case of death. In case of general insurance, the amount paid to the policy holder to compensate for his loss. The amount is paid on the basis of the prior agreement which clearly states the amount to be paid in case ‘contingency’. CONTINGENCY: The occurrence of the eventuality for which the policy is taken is called ‘contingency’. In case of life insurance, the death is the contingency, in case of fire insurance, the incident of fire in the factory are the contingencies for which the compensation is paid to the insured or his nominees. COVER NOTE: A document issued by an insurance company giving cover for a short time, often one month, while a complete policy (and, possibly, an insurance certificate) is drawn up and issued. ENDOWMENT POLICY: The policies taken up for a specific period are known as ‘endowment policies’. The insurer has to pay the premium for a specific period for which the policy is taken or till death, ‘whichever is earlier’. The insured amount is payable either at the end of specified number of years or upon the death of the insured person, whichever is earlier. EX-GRATIA PAYMENT: In insurance, a payment made to settle an issue (such as an insurance claim) but without admitting liability. FREE LOOK PERIOD: It refers to the short period available immediately after buying a policy within which the policyholder can return the policy, if he is not satisfied with its terms and conditions. The premium paid by the policyholder is also returned after deducting expenses. GRACE PERIOD: It refers to the period available after the due date for paying the premium during which it can be deposited, along with a penalty, if stipulated. INDEMNITY: Legal principle that specifies the insured should be restored to approximately the same financial position as existed before the loss. It is security against responsibility for one's actions. INSURABLE INTEREST: The reasonable concern of a person to obtain insurance for any individual or property against unforeseen events such as death, losses, etc. is known as Insurable interest. A person is expected to have reasonable interest in a longer life for himself, his family, business and hence is in need of acquiring insurance for these. Therefore, insurable interest is often related to ownership, relationship by law or blood and possession. However, it is not an important element of life insurance contracts under modern law. Entities not subject to financial loss from an event do not have an insurable interest and cannot purchase an insurance policy to cover that event. INSURANCE POLICY: The document issued by the insurance company which states the names of the persons insured and the terms of the policy is known as Insurance Policy.
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 81 INSURANCE: A contract of indemnity under which the insurer agrees to provide compensation to the insured in the event of a specified occurrence, e.g. a loss of life or damage to property and in return, the insured pays the insurer a premium, usually at fixed intervals. INSURED: The person on whose life the policy is taken. The insurer has shifted the burden of risk to his life to the insurance company on payment of a particular amount as mutually decided called premium. INSURED AMOUNT: The maximum amount that the insurer has to pay in case of the contingent event happening, is called ‘insured amount’. In case of life insurance, the insured amount is paid either at the time of death of the insurer. INSURER : The organisation which has undertaken to make compensatory payment to the insured or to his nominees in case of contingency, is the insurer. LAPSED POLICY: A policy which has terminated due to non-payment of the premium due and is no longer in force. MATURITY CLAIM: The payment to the policy holder at the end of the stipulated policy term is called a maturity claim. MATURITY: The date upon which the face amount of a life insurance policy, if not previously invoked due to the contingency covered (death), is paid to the policyholder. MONEY BACK POLICY: Unlike endowment plans, in money back policies, the policy holder gets periodic "survivance payments" during the term of the policy and a lumpsum amount on surviving its term. NOMINATION: A provision by which a policyholder can designate any person to receive the policy money in the event of his death. The insured person chooses or nominates his/her nominee at the time of buying the life insurance policy. Nominee is usually the spouse, children or parents. The insured person can nominate one or more person as his/her nominee. OVER INSURANCE: when the insured takes insurance for value more than the value of the expected loss. A car is valued at rupees five lacs and the owner gets it insured for ten lacs. It is a moral hazard for the insurer because the insured may be tempted to make a false claim. PREMIUM: The amount that is needed to be paid to the insurance company to keep the policy going (alive) is known as premium. It is the price of the insurance cover. RE INSURANCE: To take precaution against a larger risk perceived, the insurance companies cover their risk by taking insurance from the reinsurer; e.g. an insurance company having insured an aircraft may further take insurance from another company as it may not be able to bear the risk of paying the compensation in case of contingency. RISK: It is the obligation assumed by the insurer while issuing a policy. The spreading of risk across a broad base of the population, adjusted for statistical probability, and the protection against catastrophic loss, forms the basis of insurance business. SURRENDER VALUE: The amount payable to the policy holder in the event of his deciding to terminate the policy before the maturity of the policy. SURVIVAL BENEFIT: The payment of sum assured to the insured person which has become due by installments under a money back policy. THIRD PARTY INSURANCE: The insurance policy purchased by the insured from the insurer for protection against the claim against the claims of the third party. The first party is responsible for its own loses whether caused by itself or the third party. UNDER INSURANCE: Inadequate insurance cover taken by the insured or the holder of a policy. In the event of a claim, underinsurance will result in loss to the insured. In such a case the amount of claim to be paid by the company will be less than the actual loss that suffered by the insured. UNDERWRITER: Person or institution that agrees to take up a proportion of the risk of something, in return for a commission, for example, an underwriter may take up the shares of an issue that are not bought by the public. VESTING AGE: The age at which the receipt of pension starts in an insurance-cum-pension plan. VOID CONTRACT: A contract drawn up on the basis of misunderstanding on both sides. Such a contract is deemed never to have existed. WHOLE LIFE POLICY: A policy in which premiums are paid throughout the life time of life assured. The claim will be paid only in the event of the death of the insured. This policy has lowest premium. WITHOUT-PROFIT POLICY: These policies are not entitled to participate in bonuses. WITH-PROFIT POLICY: Policies entitled to bonus, which is paid at the time of claim-death or maturity one with-profit policies. TYPES OF GENERAL INSURANCE
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 82
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 83 Latest G.K. Bytes FEBRUARY – 2016 1) Name the two South East Asian countries recently visited by our Vice President: Brunei and Thailand 2) First Grand Slam of Tennis 2016 was held at which place: Melbourne, Australia 3) _____________ won the Men’s Singles title of Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 4) _____________ won the Women’s Singles title of Australian Open: Angelique Kerber 5) Angelique Kerber, winner of Women’s title in Australian Open, is from which country: Germany 6) Which Union Ministry has decided to reduce the threshold for coverage of firms under the EPFO: Labour Ministry 7) What is the full form of EPFO: Employees’ Provident Fund Organization 8) The threshold for coverage of firms under the EPFO has been reduced to _________ workers from 20 at present: 10 9) General K V Krishna Rao, former Army Chief was in news for what reasons: He passed away 10) General K V Krishna Rao played key role in which major Indian war: 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War 11) ICC has decided upon what new measures for the safety of the umpires: They will be provided by specially designed helmets 12) The Indian women’s cricket team made history by clinching its maiden T20 series against which country: Australia 13) Name the author of the book Why we love the way we do: Preeti Shenoy 14) Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin is a book written by which author: Anup Sardesai 15) What is the name of the book by Former President APJ Abdul Kalam based on his spiritual experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj: Transendence 16) What is the name of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft which is about to replace the MiG fighters: Tejas Mark 1-A 17) The GDP growth for 2014-15 has been scaled down to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3%, by which Government organization: Central Statistics Office (CSO) 18) As per latest CSO data, per capita income during 2015-16 is likely to be above ________ thousand rupees: 77 19) As per a list compiled by Wealth-X in collaboration with Business Insider, _______ is the 2nd richest person in India: Ajim Premji 20) Central government has selected how many cities in the first phase for development as smart cities: 20 21) ADB will provide a $80 million loan for improving the infrastructure in which two North-Eastern cities: Agartala and Aizawl 22) Henri Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch was recently awarded which international honour: Human Rights Award 23) Human Rights Award is given by which global organization: Amnesty International, Germany 24) A commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a circulation coin of 10 rupees was released on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of which great freedom fighter: Lala Lajpat Rai 25) 34th Senior National Rowing Championship was held at Hussainsagar Lake in which city: Hyderabad 26) Anti-Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January in the honour of which national leader: Mahatma Gandhi 27) Name the player who won the 83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Aditya Mehta 28) Which city hosted the 83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Indore, MP 29) Gurdeep Singh has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of which Maharatna company: NTPC Ltd. 30) What is the full form of NTPC Ltd: National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. 31) Indian railways, for the first time, has exported six metro coaches to which country: Australia 32) Which country has produced the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’: Japan 33) Growth of core sector was mere 0.9% December, 2015. How many industries are there in core sector: Eight 34) In its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review for year 2015-16 announced on Feb 2, RBI changed which of its policy rates: None 35) Which paramilitary force of India has appointed, for the first time a woman as its Director General: Sahastra Seema Bal 36) Sahastra Seema Bal looks after the security of which part of border of India: Nepal and Bhutan 37) K Durga Prasad, a senior IPS officer has been
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 84 appointed Director General of which paramilitary force: CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) 38) __________ has been appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force: K K Sharma 39) UN initiative for peace talks to resolve the civil war issue in Syria was held in which place: Geneva 40) Which global social networking application recently crossed the one billion user milestone: WhatsApp 41) The first ever Asia Cup in its T-20 format started from February 24th in which country: Bangladesh 42) Murud Janjira Beach was in news as 13 members of a group of students drowned there during a picnic. Where is this beach: District Raigad, Maharashtra 43) Which of India’s neighbour country has agreed to allow visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of India: Afghanistan 44) MPs led by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, took their seats in the parliament, marking end to the military rule since 1962 in which country: Myanmar 45) India achieved a rare 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 International against which country to emerge on the top of the ICC T20 rankings: Australia 46) Name the veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker, who passed away recently: Balram Jakhar 47) President of India recently conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army to Chief of Army of which country: Nepal 48) 61st National School Athletics championship were hosted by which city: Kozhikode, Kerala 49) Which state won the 61st National School Athletics championship: Kerala 50) Dial D for Don is a book written by former Police Commissioner of Delhi. Name him: Neeraj Kumar 51) Ancestral Affairs is a book written by which author: Keki Daruwalla 52) World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the explosive spread of which disease: Zika Virus 53) As per recent market reports, which is the largest company of the world in terms of market capitalization: Alphabet 54) Which bank has launched a new home loan scheme "FlexiPay Home Loan", offering higher amount and up to five years of interest moratorium to young professionals: State Bank of India 55) Name the former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India who passed away in February: S.S. Tarapore 56) The World Bank has agreed to give $ 35 million credit for the Citizen Access to Responsive Services Project of which state: Madhya Pradesh 57) Jai Kumar Garg has been appointed MD and CEO of which public sector bank: Corporation Bank 58) 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted by _______city of Japan: Fukuoka 59) Which company has launched a 150-cc bike named ‘V’ that contains metal sourced from India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant: Bajaj Auto 60) Men’s Singles Title in the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships was won by which player: Kidambi Srikanth 61) Name the veteran wildlife filmmaker who won the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award: Naresh Bedi 62) 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela was held at which place: Faridabad, Haryana 63) Name the Indian film that won the Best First Foreign Film Award given by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics: Titli 64) D J Pandian, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat has been appointed vice-president and chief investment officer of which newly formed global financial institution: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 65) Which govt organization has launched the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34 for Diabetes type 2 patients: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 66) For what purpose the Government has decided to infuse about 5,000 crore rupees capital in the public sector banks: To strengthen their balance sheet for compliance of Basel III capital norms 67) Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed the world’s first vaccine against which major disease: Zika Virus 68) Name the major employment scheme run by govt. that completed 10 years in February: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 69) Name the state that won the Dr BC Roy Trophy for the National Junior Football Championship: Punjab 70) The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, led by ______, one of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New Zealand on Feb 4: USA 71) Name the former Prime Minister of Nepal and President of Nepali Congress who passed away in Kathmandu: Sushil Koirala 72) Who was Nida Fazli who enthralled several generations with his soul-stirring compositions like Kabhi kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta and Hosh waalon ko khabar kya: Renowned poet and lyricist 73) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has barred telecom service providers from charging differential rates for data services. This is in promotion of which concept: Net neutrality 74) According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 85 estimated at ______per cent in the October- December 2015 quarter: 7.3 75) Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected one of the largest maritime events in the recent past – the International Fleet Review 2016 at which place: Off the Visakhapatnam coast 76) Sudhir Tailang, a well-known ______ , passed away in New Delhi: Cartoonist 77) Crown Prince of ________, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India on goodwill visit: Abu Dhabi 78) The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to discuss politico-security, economic and socio- cultural engagement between the ________ and India: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 79) Name the former UN Secretary General, the Egyptian diplomat who became the first Secretary General from Africa in 1992: Boutros Boutros- Ghali 80) Reserve Bank has decided to undertake which step to check handling of customer complaints and how banks have implemented Charter of Customer Rights: Incognito visits to bank branches 81) Govt issued what important guideline in Feb for short-term post office deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and other small saving schemes below five years of maturity: Rate cut by 25 basis points 82) 12th South Asian Games came to an end on Feb 16 at which place: Guwahati 83) Which country won the highest number of medals in the 12th South Asian Games: India 84) India emerged number one in the 12th South Asian Games by winning total _______ medals: 308 85) Name the ace Indian Shooter who won record six medals in the 12th South Asian Games: Chain Singh 86) 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in which year: 2019 87) As per Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the Quality Council of India to rank the Indian cities on the basis of cleanliness, _________ has been ranked no. one: Mysuru 88) Central Bank of which major economy has imposed, for the first time, a negative interest rate of minus 0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits placed with it: Japan 89) BAFTA awards 2016 were given away in London on Feb 14. What is the full form of BAFTA: British Academy of Film and Television Awards 90) Which film won the BAFTA award for the best film: The Revenant 91) The two opposing sect heads of Christians met nearly after 1000 years. What is the name of the minority sect: Russian Orthodox 92) Name the iconic football player from Brazil was in news as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze his assets worth almost $ 50 million: Neymar 93) Supreme court has directed RBI to submit a list of defaulter companies whose bank dues are more than Rs. ___________ crorers: 500 94) World’s longest train route, running for 10,400 kms, starts from and ends at which place: Yiwu (China) and Bander Abbas (Iran) 95) What is the formal name given to this 10,400 kms rail route: Belt and Road connectivity initiative 96) Name the Jnanpith award winning, very popular and most respected Malayalam poet from Kerala, who passed away at the age of 84: O N V Kurup 97) Prime Minister Mr. Modi inaugurated the Make in India Week on Feb 13 in which city: Mumbai 98) Mr. Modi has been highlighting the 4D blessings of Indian economy. What are these 4Ds: Democracy, Demography, Demand and Deregulation 99) World famous Grammy Awards are given for excellence in which field: Music 100) 58th Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 15th February at which place: Los Angeles, USA 101) Grammy for Record of the Year was won by Uptown Funk by which artist: Mark Ronson 102) Taylor Swift won the Grammy for the Album of the Year. What is the name of the Album: 1989 Taylor Swift 103) 36th National Chess team Championship was won by the _____________in Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Indian Railways 104) ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’ is one of the highest civilian award of which country: France 105) Name the Indian fashion designer who was conferred above award in February 2016: Manish Arora 106) What is the effective target range of the recently tested Prithvi-II missile: 350 kms 107) Lamitye 2016, the 7th joint military exercise was conducted by Indian army with which other country’s army: Seychelles 108) Which country hosted the ICC under–19 Cricket World Cup-2016 : Bangladesh 109) ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup-2016 was won by which country: West Indies 110) The three day annual World Government Summit was hosted by which city: Dubai 111) In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the protection of IPR, India ranked 37th. What is the full form of IPR: Intellectual Property Rights 112) In a recent survey of countries for assessing protection of IPRs, which country was placed at top: USA 113) Elephanta island, a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures depicting the cult of Shiva, is located where: Near Mumbai 114) Why Elephanta island was in news recently: Govt. has decided to provide electricity supply to this island
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 86 115) What is the title of the latest book written by Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist: Bullets and Bylines 116) Akbar Kakkattil, noted novelist and short story writer passed away at the age of 62. He hailed from which state: Kerala 117) Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based multinational company has selected which Indian corporate as their partner for manufacturing M777 howitzers in India: Mahindra’s 118) M777 howitzer guns will be used as major weapon by which proposed army formation: Mountain Strike Corps 119) Govt. proposes to assign the security of which border area to Mountain Strike Corps: Mountainous borders with China 120) Which Indian bank has launched an exclusive ‘Japan Desk’ as a single nodal point for Japanese corporates: State Bank of India 121) The 4-day National Arogya Fair organised by the central and state government in collaboration with CII was held in which place: Dehradun 122) National Arogya Fair was organized to showcase and promote the strengths, efficacy and affordability of the AYUSH. What is the full form of AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy 123) First phase of world’s largest solar power plant, with a capacity to produce 580 mw was started in which country on Feb 4: Morocco 124) Name the batsman from South Africa who became the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10 centuries in ODIs: Quinton De Kock 125) Which global organization has released a report called 'One Humanity: Shared Responsibility': UNO 126) India observed the first National Deworming Day on which date: Feb 10 127) What is the objective of the National Deworming Day: To combat parasitic worm infections among children 128) Which deworming tablet is provided free to school and pre-schools children who fight worm infections: Albendezole 129) The Reserve Bank of India has released the Report of the Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. P.G. Apte) on which topic: Introduction of Interest Rate Options in India 130) Name the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier which is destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016: INS Viraat 131) Which state has decided to convert INS Viraat into a luxury hotel for promotion of tourism in the State: Andhra Pradesh 132) What is the name of the 9th edition of India-Nepal Combined Military Exercise: Surya Kiran IX 133) Surya Kiran IX military exercise was held in which area: Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand 134) Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ for what purpose: For joint operation on humanitarian aid and disaster relief 135) Sino-India Cooperation 2016 - joint tactical exercise was held in which part of China border: Ladakh 136) Which ministry has launched the 24x7 Toll Free Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages to facilitate tourists: Union Ministry of Tourism 137) ______________ has become the first country in the world to legally ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks: France 138) As per the National Air Quality Indices for 24 cities by Central Pollution Control Board, __________ is the city with worst air quality: Varanasi 139) Directors Guild of America Award for best film director was won by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for which film: The Revenant 140) Government has launched ____________for prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North-Eastern states: Project Sunrise 141) Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery started production in Paradip in which state: Odisha 142) Government has decided to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute in which state: Sikkim 143) Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 2016’– the biggest multilateral military exercise. It was hosted by which country: Thailand 144) Golden Conch Award is given for excellence in which field: Documentary Films 145) Golden Conch Award is given at which film festival: Mumbai International Film Festival 146) World Cancer Day was observed across the world on which date: 4th February 147) What was this year’s theme for the World Cancer Day: We can, I can 148) In a global survey by Brand Finance for brand power, which Indian firm has been rated as the World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services: TCS – Tata Consultancy Services 149) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched the BGR-34, country's first ayurvedic drug for treatment of which major disease: Diabetes type - II 150) In the anti-diabetic drug, acronym BGR stands for what: Blood Glucose Regulator 151) Aruna Sethi has been appointed as the first women head of the which all India administrative service: Indian Cost Accounts Services 152) Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for 2015-2016 was conferred on Pandit Ram Narayan. He is a master player of which instrument: Sarangi 153) Haryana and the Province of Ontario in
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 87 ___________have signed a MoU for enhancing commercial and cultural ties between the two states: Canada 154) Parameshwaran Iyer, a World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist has been selected by the Indian govt. to head which major national mission: Swachh Bharat Mission 155) Which union ministry has launched its official YouTube channel with a view to disseminate information to the public on a real-time basis: Finance Ministry 156) The app myCAMS has been launched for what purpose in context of mutual fund business: To facilitate paperless eKYC 157) Edgar Mitchell, a NASA astronaut passed away in February in USA. What was his special achievement: He was the sixth man to walk on the Moon. 158) National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has raised a special squad of which animal to boost its rescue efforts in earthquake hit areas: Dogs 159) Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai has issued ‘Geographical Indication’ tag for which item to 7 states in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Basmati Rice 160) The 47th two-day Conference of Governors of all Indian states and Lt. Governors of UTs was hosted by which institution: The Rashtrapati Bhavan 161) The first ever Petrochemical project in entire North East India was started in February in Dibrugarh in which state: Assam 162) The Assam gas cracker project will produce HDPE, LLDPE and PP products for use of which industry: Plastic Processing Industry 163) The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be hosted by ________________ in June 2017: England 164) The Indian government has finally sanctioned Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala-Akhaura rail link with which country: Bangladesh 165) The 6th National Science Film Festival & Competition was held in which city: Mumbai 166) India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near Bagodara village in which state: Gujarat 167) What is the objective of setting up aviation park: To promote special units to manufacture spare parts for aircrafts 168) The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031 has been unveiled by which ministry: The environment ministry 169) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has signed an agreement with which group of countries to improve cooperation in cyber defense: European Union 170) __________________, India’s top golfer has been voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an online poll: Anirban Lahiri 130/-
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 88 171) _______________________founded by Freedom fighter Pt Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13th February 2016: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) 172) World Radio Day is observed globally on 13th February by which UN organization: UNESCO 173) What was the theme of this year’s World Radio Day: ’Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’ 174) Scientists have detected for the first time, signals of ________________waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away: Gravitational 175) Prediction about gravitational waves was made about 100 years ago by which great scientist: Albert Einstein 176) The gravitational waves have been discovered after decades of research by scientists at LIGO, USA. Expand LIGO: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory 177) CEO and MD of which corporate entity have been selected as the E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2015 from India: Lupin Ltd. 178) U K Sinha, the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) was in news for what reasons: He has been given extension for one year 179) Albert Pahimi Padacke, has been elected as the new Prime Minister of which Central African country: Chad 180) Name the India’s first indigenously developed lightest revolver weighing just 250 gms: Nidar 181) Light revolver Nidar has been developed by which public sector undertaking: Ishapore Rifle Factory in West Bengal 182) A two day summit between leaders from the ASEAN and The United States was held in California to dwell upon which global issue: Maritime security in the South China Sea 183) Nepal Prime Minister ________________arrived in New Delhi on Feb 19 on a six-day visit to India: K P Sharma Oli 184) Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan, the oldest performing ____________of Hindustani Music, died at the age of 107 years: Vocalist 185) Union Cabinet has approved Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO for what purpose: To ease customs procedures to boost commerce 186) Name the Bollywood’s popular lyricist who made into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing the most number–35-24 of songs for Bollywood films: Sameer Anjaan 187) The Reserve Bank has advised banks to follow ‘Ind AS’ norms for which function: Accounting 188) Government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore Electronic Development Fund for what purpose: To promote manufacturing in the electronics sector 189) Which country launched a massive military exercise – ‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20 nations: Saudi Arabia 190) The massive military exercise – ‘North Thunder’ was held at which place: King Khalid Military City in northeastern Saudi Arabia 191) What is the purpose of the recently conducted four day Great Backyard Bird Count exercise: To conduct a kind of census of birds in India 192) _____________ has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Kalikho Pul 193) Scientists have discovered five new planets having characteristics similar to which planet in our solar system: Jupiter 194) Name the America's celebrated novelist whose 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" was read by millions worldwide: Harper Lee 195) Harper Lee, noted novelist of USA was in news recently for what reasons: She died 196) Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund was in news recently for what reasons: She has been re-appointed for a second five-year term 197) Amit Mitra has been appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST. Who is he: West Bengal Finance Minister 198) Name the New Zealand cricketer who smashed the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls: Brendon McCullum 199) _____________, ace sprinter set a new national record in the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha: Dutee Chand 200) The 4th India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol was conducted jointly by ships of both navies in which area: Andaman Sea 201) _____________, has been appointed as the new Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai: K N Vyas 202) What is the title of the recent book by Jhumpa Lahiri: In Other Words 203) An Economist in the Real World is a book written by the Chief Economist of the World Bank. Name him: Kaushik Basu 204) Which country launched a new X ray astronomy satellite – Astro–H to study the origin of black holes: Japan 205) Who has been elected new President of Uganda, for the fifth time: Yoweri Museveni 206) Crystal Bear Award is given for excellence in which field: Children’s films 207) Crystal Bear Award is given in which international film festival: Berlin Film Festival 208) Name the Indian film that won the 2016 Crystal Bear Award: Ottaal (The trap)
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 89 209) Berlin Film Festivals top prize for the best feature film is named as ______________: Golden Bear Award 210) The Golden Bear Award for 2016 was won by an Italian film. What was its name: Fuocoammare (Fire at sea) 211) The term ‘Brexit’ is very much in news these days, particularly in Europe. What does this mean: Britain’s Exit from the European Union 212) Cyclone Winston, one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through which Pacific island nation: Fiji 213) Badminton Asia Team Championships were held at which city: Hyderabad 214) The women’s and men’s title in the Badminton Asia Team Championships were won by which country: China and Indonesia, respectively 215) The Mahamaham festival, celebrated once in 12 years, also known as Kumbh Mela of South is held at which place: Kumbakonam 216) Kumbakonam is located in which state: Tamil Nadu 217) The book ‘Playing It My Way’ has entered the Limca Book of Records in the category of best-selling books, with 1,50,289 copies sold. This is the autobiography of which person: Sachin Tendulkar 218) Faustin Archange Touadera has been elected as the new President of which African country: Central African Republic (CAR) 219) The ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural-urban) Mission was launched from Dongargarh in which state: Chhattisgarh 220) The Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous annual classical dance festival is held in which state: Madhya Pradesh 221) Government has launched a device developed by the CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named ‘Ksheer- Scanner’ for what purpose: To detect adulteration in milk 222) India and Armenia have signed an agreement for cooperation in the ____________sector for a period of five years: Agriculture 223) Hockey India League championship for 2016 was won by which team: Jaypee Punjab Warriors 224) The Road to Resilience, a survey of the entire Indian coastline for promoting six coastal disaster management projects is an initiative of which global organization: World Bank 225) The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life by the global consulting firm Mercer has placed _____________at the top: Austria’s capital Vienna 226) Top Indian city in the Mercer survey was _______ placed at 142nd rank: New Delhi 227) Name the former Chief Justice of India who has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission: Justice H L Dattu 228) Mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ has been launched by which ministry to promote cleanliness of prime tourist destinations: Ministry of Tourism 229) As per a global study, India is the top importer of arms. Which is at the 2nd rank: China 230) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved construction of India’s longest railway bridge on Katni – Bina route in which state: Madhya Pradesh 231) Which is the first state in the country to have aquifer mapping done for its groundwater resources by May 2016: Haryana 232) Parliament of ___________ has become the world’s first parliament to run fully on solar power: Pakistan 233) India has approved a $150 million credit line for the development of Chabahar port in which country: Iran 234) Amitava Bhattacharyya, IAS, Bimal Julka, IAS and D P Sinha, IPS, the three senior bureaucrats have been appointed to which important national office: Central Information Commission 235) RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap arrangement to __________nations till mid-November 2017 to enhance economic cooperation: SAARC 236) The fifth edition of 'Exercise IBSAMAR' was conducted between the navies of India and which two other countries: Brazil and South Africa 237) What is the full form of the term IBSAMAR: India, Brazil, South Africa Maritime 238) Government raised about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of its 5% stake in which Maharatna PSU: National Thermal Power Corporation-NTPC 239) A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed by M. Veerappa Moily, a senior Congress MP, highlighted which weak functional aspect of public sector banks: High Level of NPAs 240) India has extended one million dollars assistance to which cyclone-hit country: Fiji 241) Govt has decided to extend ___________visa facility to 37 more countries from Feb 26: E-Tourist 242) Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major rich and developing economies began a two-day meeting in __________on Feb 26: Shanghai 243) The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear submarine _____________is now ready for full fledged operations: INS Arihant 244) Who has been appointed as the new Director General of the Indian Coast Guard: Rajendra Singh 245) Aryabhata award 2013, the prestigious honour by Astronautical Society of India has been conferred upon which scientist: Dr. Avinash Chander, former chief of DRDO 246) Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences, has been honoured with the prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit by which
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 90 country: Germany 247) Which Indian bank has won the Green Bond Pioneer Award for promoting Green Infrastructure Bonds: Yes Bank 248) In which country, a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect at midnight of 26 Feb, supported by both – USA and Russia: Syria 249) 13th World Spice Congress was held in __________from Feb 27-29: Ahmedabad 250) _________ has been elected as the new President of world Football body –FIFA: Gianni Infantino 251) __________won the prestigious Ranji trophy cricket championship defeating Saurashtra: Mumbai 252) In which country a Twin Otter plane of Tara Air crashed on Feb 24, killing all 23 people aboard: Nepal 253) The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj won the three-match Twenty20 International series 3-0 against which team: Sri Lanka 254) Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross functional team called Special Unit for Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) for improvement in which area: Railway 255) The innovative team Sutra is proposed to be headed by which person: Ratan Tata 256) The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of AIM and SETU in which organization to encourage innovations and entrepreneurship in the country: NITI Aayog 257) The acronyms of AIM and SETU stands for: Atal Innovation Mission and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation JANUARY – 2016 258) Name the former Punjab Governor and ex-Chief of Army Staff who passed away in Gurgaon on December 29, 2015: General OP Malhotra 259) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in which field: Literature 260) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in literature in which language: All 22 Indian languages approved by the Constitution 261) Name the winner of the Jnanpith Award 2015: Raghuveer Chaudhary 262) Shri Raghuveer Chaudhary is a noted novelist of which language: Gujarati 263) Vijay Hazare Trophy is associated with which sports: Cricket 264) Name the team that won the Vijay Hazare Trophy for 2015: Gujarat 265) Government has announced that taxpayers with an annual income of more than Rs. ______ lakh will not get subsidised LPG cylinders from January, 2016: Ten 266) Dr. Harpal Singh Kumar was conferred with Knighthood Honour in UK for what achievement: For his influential work on prevention and treatment of cancer 267) Senior National Wrestling Championship was held at which place: New Delhi 268) Bajrang Punia, Ritu Phogat and Priyanka Phogat are the prominent players of which sports: Wrestling 269) Indian navy recently tested Barak missile from which of its warships: INS Kolkata 270) Which is the last country to be declared free of deadly Ebola disease by WHO: Liberia 271) Ramadi, a city in Iraq was in news for what reasons recently: Iraqi forces captured it back from ISIS 272) Who has been named as the 'Cricketer of the Year' - Men for 2015 by the BCCI: Virat Kohali 273) Who has been named as the 'Cricketer of the Year' - Women for 2015 by the BCCI: Mithali Raj 274) Scientists in which country have developed a human-like social robot named ‘Nadine’, with soft skin and flowing brunette hair: Singapore 275) _____________ has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant 276) Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organising “Make in India Week” in February 2016 in which Indian city: Mumbai 277) Haskell Wexler, an Oscar winning cinema celebrity from USA died recently. He was from which field of cinema: Photography 278) Which country recently launched Gaofen-4 Earth Observation Satellite: China 279) The government has approved the signing of the Raptor MoU for what purpose: To conserve and reverse the decline of birds of prey such as vultures, eagles etc 280) The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the trilateral highway in which country: Myanmar 281) Which are the three countries involved in the trilateral international highway starting from Imphal, Manipur: India, Myanmar and Thailand 282) Dr. Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan has been appointed as the Director General of which national organization: National Centre for Good Governance 283) Giorgi Kvirikashvili has been elected as the Prime Minister of which European country: Georgia 284) Rakhi Haldar and Kavita Devi won gold in their respective weight categories at the National level in which sports: Weight lifting 285) National Weightlifting Championships held in which city: Patiala 286) RBI has notified that from Feb 1, 2016 all govt cheques will be paid through ________________system: Cheque Truncation System 287) Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure that every village with a population over __________ should have
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 91 a bank branch by March 2017: 5,000 288) RBI has asked SLBCs to ensure that every village with a population over 5,000 should have a bank branch by March 2017. What is SLBCs: State Level Bankers Committees 289) The government has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker ____________ to look into revamp of Censor Board: Shyam Benegal 290) World Bank has agreed to provide a $ 50 million loan funding of ‘Nai Manzil' project for what purpose: Education and Skills Training for Minorities in BPL category 291) Name the India’s star off-spinner who was ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings for 2015: R. Ashwin 292) World champion Magnus Carlsen won the Qatar Masters Open Chess Tournament. He is from which country: Norway 293) Natalie Cole, Grammy-winning US singer was in news for what reasons: She passed away 294) Name the Mumbai boy who created cricket history by scoring 1009 runs not out: Pranav Dhanawade 295) Which north eastern state suffered a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake on January 04: Manipur 296) Reserve Bank has started the process of issuing composite instructions under the title _________ on various regulatory issues in its bid to simplify the communication process: Master Directions 297) South Asian Football Federation Cup was won by India by defeating which country: Afghanistan 298) South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup was hosted by which Indian city: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 299) Name the important document of Chemistry which now has its seventh row completed with the introduction of four new chemical elements: The periodic table of elements 300) Name the veteran Communist Party of India leader who passed away after a long illness at New Delhi: A. B. Bardhan 301) In which city in Afghanistan the Indian Consulate was attacked by heavily armed terrorist: Mazar-e- Sharif 302) Recently Saudi Arabia faced widespread violent protests against it for what issue: Execution of a prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr 303) Name the leading legal luminary and former Chief Justice of India who passed away recently: Sarosh Homi Kapadia 304) Which university won the overall trophy in the 76th All-India Inter-University Athletics Championship: Punjabi University 305) 'Anything But Khamosh' is an autobiography of which prominent celebrity politician: Shatrughan Sinha 306) A classy performance by which Indian cricketer in 2001 has been rated as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years: VVS Laxman's 307) Name the famous novel by Harper Lee that topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies: Go Set a Watchman 280/- -
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 92 308) Abidali Neemuchwala has been appointed new Chief Executive Officer of which IT corporate: Wipro 309) Which educational institute hosted the 103rd Indian Science Congress: University of Mysore, Karnataka 310) Apurvi Chandela broke the world record by earning highest ever score of 211.2 in which event: 10 meter air rifle shooting 311) Name the indigenous stealth Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette that was recently inducted in Indian Navy: INS Kadmatt 312) _________________became the fastest film to take one billion dollars at the global box office: Star Wars the Force Awakens 313) Name the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister who breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed 314) Govt has decided to implement norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020 for what purpose: To minimize the air pollution from vehicles 315) The counter-insurgency joint exercise ‘Shakti-2016’ was held at which place: Rajasthan Desert 316) Shakti 2016 - joint military exercise was held by which two countries: India and France 317) Name the Indian badminton player who was declared number one in junior men's singles category in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings: Siril Verma 318) Which country was in news for conducting a powerful Hydrogen bomb test in a defiant and surprising move as there is a UN ban on testing and development of nuclear weapons: North Korea 319) Which global company has launched its service in India allowing viewers to access unlimited TV and cinema content online: Netflix 320) For the first time, a military contingent of a foreign country will take part in the Republic Day Parade on January 26. Name this country: France 321) India’s first World Music Festival will be held in February 2016 in which city: Udaipur, Rajasthan 322) The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is planning to set up a modern Indian Waterways Hub at________, West Bengal: Haldia 323) Union Health Ministry has decided to use the expertise of Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) in which field: To improve the quality and coverage of vaccination in India 324) Urjit Patel, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, was in news for what reasons: He has been reappointed for a second three-year term 325) As per the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015, _____________ has been ranked as the most generous Indian of the year: Azim Premji 326) Govt has decided to close down three loss-making subsidiaries of HMT Ltd. What is the full form of HMT: Hindustan Machines Tools 327) Golden Globe Awards are given in which country: USA 328) Golden Globe Awards are given for excellence in which field: Cinema 329) The Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama) was won by which movie: The Revenant 330) With which country India has signed an agreement for enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other's country: Australia 331) International Kite Festival was held at which city in India: Ahmadabad, Gujarat 332) Chennai Open Tennis cup was lifted by which tennis star: Stanislaus Wawrinka 333) India will host a joint military exercise with 18 members countries of East Asian Summit in March, 2016 at which place: Pune, Maharashtra 334) Eight Indian states have agreed to implement direct benefit of transfer of subsidy in _________in 26 districts w.e.f. April 1, 2016: Kerosene 335) _____________has become the first state in the country to officially accept electronic motor insurance policies by the name ‘e-Vahan Bima’: Telangana 336) Justice (Retd) R M Lodha committee was appointed by the Supreme Court for what purpose : To look into the affairs of BCCI 337) Name the amputee Indian mountaineer who conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain outside Asia: Arunima Sinha 338) The novel 'A God in Ruins' which won the novel of the year prize in Britain is written by whom: Kate Atkinson 339) ______________won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament by beating Railways in New Delhi: ONGC 340) From which place in India, a bus service for Nepal was started after a gap of 27 years: Banbasa border in Uttarakhand 341) Stand Up India Scheme has been approved by the Union Cabinet for what purpose: To promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs by facilitating easy bank finance for them 342) Which country declined to take part in forthcoming Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh citing security reasons: Australia 343) National Waterway-1 has been developed on which river: Ganga 344) In which state an initiative ‘Wattan ko Jano’ has been launched to familiarize the local youth with the development of the country in other states: Jammu & Kashmir 345) Raghuram Rajan, RBI Governor was named ‘Global and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 93 2015’ by the prestigious magazine The Banker in which country: Britain 346) Name the senior IAS officer who has been appointed as the new Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India: Sailesh 347) _________________appointed as Chairman of fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI): Devender Kumar Sikri 348) 'Operation Green Hunt' refers to an all-out offensive by India’s paramilitary forces against which group: Naxalites 349) Govt has decided to merge the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with which bigger ministry: Ministry of External Affairs 350) Name the traditional bull-taming sports of Tamil Nadu that was recently allowed by Central govt. but stayed by the Supreme Court: Jallikattu 351) The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held on 9 January 2016 in which city: New Delhi 352) Govt has decided to change the frequency of hosting the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to what interval: Once in two years 353) The 11th World Hindi Day was celebrated on __________ January 2016 in all Indian embassies around the world to promote the usage of Hindi as official language: 10 354) The world's largest blue star sapphire that weighs 1404.49 carats was discovered recently in which country: Sri Lanka 355) Govt has launched Ganga Gram Yojana for what purpose involving 1600 villages of UP situated along the banks of river Ganga: To minimize / stop pollution of the river from these villages 356) 'Maru Bharat Saru Bharat' is a book written by a noted Saint of which religion: Jainism 357) RBI imposed a one crore penalty on a bank for non reporting of data to CRILC. Write the full form of CRILC: Central Repository of Information on Large Credits 358) 2015 Brisbane International Tennis Tournament was hosted by which city: Brisbane, Australia 359) Men's singles title at 2015 Brisbane International Tennis Tournament was won by which player: Milos Raonic 360) Tennis star Milos Raonic is from which country: Canada 361) Name the star football player who won the World Player of the Year Award - FIFA Ballon d'Or for the fifth time: Lionel Messi 362) Name the US mid fielder who won the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli Lloyd 363) A five day national youth festival was hosted by which city: Naya Raipur 364) Naya Raipur is the capital city of which state: Chhattisgarh 365) Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is celebrated in India as which day: National Youth Day 366) What was the theme of this year's National Youth Festival: India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony 367) In Himachal Pradesh, the ______folk dance of Kullu district has made a world record for the folk dance by largest number: Nati 368) The Ardh Kumbh mela formally started on January 12 at which place: Haridwar 369) Which global financial body has agreed to provide a $625 million loan for the Visakhapatnam - Chennai Industrial Corridor: Asian Development Bank 370) Name the new crop insurance scheme for farmers under which the premium will be paid by Central and state govt: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana 371) As per the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Farmers have to pay a token premium of ____ per cent for Kharif, ____per cent for Rabi and _____ per cent for commercial crops: 2, 1.5, 5 372) Lt Gen. J F R JACOB (retd), war hero of 1971 Bangladesh war, passed away in New Delhi. For which two states he held the charge of the Governor: Goa and Punjab 373) ___________ has become the first Indian state to achieve 100 percent primary education (up to class iv): Kerala 374) ____________ has become India's first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation: Sikkim 375) __________________has become the first public sector bank to launch wealth management service ‘SBI Exclusif’: State Bank of India 376) Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their 30th win in a row, creating a new world record. Which was their 30th title: WTA Apia International women’s doubles title 377) As per a recent report, India sends the largest number of engineers and scientists to which country: USA 378) As per a UN study, people from which country are the largest community living outside their country: India (16 million) 379) Tsai Ing-Wen has been elected as the new President of which country: Taiwan 380) The coveted The Hindu Prize, 2015 for best novel has been won by Easterine Kire for which novel: When the River Sleeps 381) Noted novelist Anuradha Roy won which prize for her novel 'Sleeping on Jupiter': DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 382) Flood of Fire is a book written by which author: Amitav Ghosh 383) Name the famous footballer from Britain who won
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 94 the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award recently: David Beckham 384) Naval exercise named 'Sahyog-Kaijin 2016' was held jointly by which two countries: India and Japan 385) Naval exercise named 'Sahyog-Kaijin 2016' was held in which area: Bay of Bengal 386) Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay a noted film and TV actor died recently. Which was his most popular film: Lagaan (Guran) 387) World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1071 crore funding for the Neeranchal National Watershed Project for what purpose: For augmentation of various irrigation projects across the country 388) The 2015 Filmfare Award for best actor was won by which artist: Ranveer Singh for Bajirao Mastani 389) Which film won the 2015 Filmfare award for the best film: Bajirao Mastani 390) Name the newly launched mobile based programme which aims to deliver 72 free weekly audio messages about pregnancy and child care to the beneficiary: Kilkari 391) Union Ministry of Health has launched mobile based programme M-Cessation to help which target group: Persons willing to quit tobacco use, through SMS support 392) Name the anti-tank missile recently successfully test fired by the DRDO: Nag 393) Why Army Day is observed on January 15: On this day in 1949, Lt. Gen. (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa became the first Indian Commander- in-Chief of the Indian Army 394) Name the rocket developed by the SpaceX company of USA which is capable of landing back on earth: Falcon 9 395) Govt has launched which programme to promote and encourage development of start-ups: Start-up Action Plan 396) RBI has contributed Rs. 1000 crores for the equity of which of its organization: National Housing Bank 397) Which is the first private sector bank to achieve the milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore in housing loan: ICICI 398) GDP growth rate of which major country slipped to 6.9% in 2015, its lowest in last 25 years: China 399) World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual meeting held at _____________ from January 20 to 23: Davos, Switzerland 400) What is the name of India's most famous and biggest literature festival held every year in Rajasthan: The Jaipur Literature Festival 401) Name the India's representative on the Board of Directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): Dinesh Sharma 402) V. Rama Rao, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who passed away recently was the former Governor of which state: Sikkim 403) Which team won the India's first Premier Badminton League: Delhi Acers 404) Union Ministry of Finance released the draft report of Justice R V Easwar (Retd) Committee for what purpose: To simplify the provisions of Income- tax Act, 1961 405) Ronnie O'Sullivan won his sixth World Snooker Masters title. He is from which country: Britain 406) In a global first, the World Bank has agreed to provide $ 20 million assistance to reconstruct the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park. Where is it located: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 407) ISRO successfully launched the IRNSS 1 - E, fifth satellite of the total seven satellites in the system. What is IRNSS: Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System 408) What is the main function of IRNSS: To provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continent 409) The Union Ministry of Shipping has started Project Green Ports for what purpose: To make Major Ports across India cleaner and greener 410) What is the rank of India in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index: 89th 411) The World Tourism Barometer report is released by which international organization: UN World Tourism Organization 412) Government has decided to institute which new award category under the National Film Awards: The Most Film Friendly State/UT 413) Name the Indian who won the New Zealand's most popular motor race the Lady Wigram Trophy: Jehan Daruvala 414) Which major European country recently declared a state of economic and social emergency: France 415) As per the annual global CEO survey done by PwC which country tops in terms of overall growth prospects: USA 416) As per the annual global CEO survey done by PwC for growth prospects in countries, India has been placed at which rank: 5th 417) As per recent data release by NASA, year _______ has been declared as the warmest year since 1880: 2015 418) In context of rising global warming, experts say the record temperatures are due to a combination of ______ and_______: El Niño, human-induced warming 419) RBI has asked banks not to issue notes of ___________ rupee denomination which are without the security thread: 1,000 420) Which is the last African country that has been declared free from Ebola virus by WHO: Liberia
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 95 421) A class of frogs that grows in tree holes has been discovered in which part of India: The north-east region 422) RBI has advised that the government will pay ______ commission to banks for attracting more gold in the Gold Monetisation Scheme: 2.5% 423) What is the name of the new luxury super fast express train started between Varanasi to Delhi: 'Mahamana Express' 424) Government has decided to extend the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to 61 more districts this year. On what basis these districts have been selected: Districts with poor sex ratio (of girl child) 425) The dreaded Zika virus is spread by which animal: Aedes mosquito 426) Countries in which part of the globe have recently suffered wide spread attack of Zika virus: Latin America 427) The RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate to which category of self help groups: Women Self-Help Group (SHG) 428) Name the public sector undertaking responsible for minting the India gold coins: Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India - MMTC 429) What is the recent relaxation given by RBI for wider sale of India gold coins: Banks have been allowed to sell these coins 430) Name the UN agency which says that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into India nearly doubled to $ 59 billion in 2015: UNCTAD 431) What is the full form of UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 432) Name the veteran dancer and Padma Bhushan and Padma Sri recipient who passed away in Ahmedabad: Mrinalini Sarabhai 433) ________ has been appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT): Atulesh Jindal 434) Name the two major components of Direct Taxes: Corporate Tax and Income Tax 435) The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time - an autobiography of which noted personality of Indian media: Subhash Chandra, founder of Zee TV group 436) India has supplied three Mi-25 gunship helicopters to the Air Force of which country recently: Afghanistan 437) A Nuclear Security Index compiled by the Nuclear Threat Initiative of USA for 176 countries ranks India at which place: 21st 438) In a recent global survey, which Indian hotel has been adjudged as the best hotel in the world: Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 439) A new Thrush bird found in northeast India has been named 'Zoothera Salimalii' scientifically after which great Indian ornithologist: Salim Ali 440) World Bank will provide $ 250 million loan to which Indian State for the Kosi Basin Development Project: Bihar 441) Pavel Filip has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Moldova. Where is Moldova: Located between Ukraine and Romania 442) Which global report has said that India will be the world's fastest growing large economy at 7.3 per cent in 2016: United Nations World Economy Report 443) ___________ has become the first ever railway station in India to have free high-speed Internet facility: Mumbai Central 444) Indian Railway’s telecom arm, RailTel is collaborating with which IT giant company to provide free wifi services in railway stations: Google 445) RBI plans to introduce new banknotes of which denominations with enhanced security features: Rs. 100 & Rs. 500 446) Which city hosted the National Conference on e- Governance: Nagpur, Maharashtra 447) As per a recent 'Best Country Report', _________ has been ranked as no. 1 country: Germany 448) As per a recent 'Best Country Report', India has ranked at which place: 22nd 449) France has signed MoU with India for the development of which three Indian cities as Smart City: Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry 450) Headquarters of global body International Solar Alliance are to be located at which place in India: Gurgaon, Haryana 451) International Solar Alliance is a group of 121 countries for what purpose: For increasing utilisation and promotion of solar energy 452) What is the criterion to include 121 countries in the International Solar Alliance: They are located between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn 453) National Voters Day is observed on which date: January 25 454) Why National Voters Day is observed on January 25: This is the foundation day of Election Commission (1950) 455) What is the theme for this year's national voter day: ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation' 456) Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been elected as the new President of which European country: Portugal 457) Name the Indian Badminton player who won the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Badminton title: P V Sindhu 458) India won the first T20 Asia Cup Cricket for Blind by beating which country: Pakistan 459) The first T20 Asia Cup Cricket for Blind was held at
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 96 which place: Kochi, Kerala 460) Name the major country which suffered a monster blizzard on January 24 affecting adversely over 85 million people: USA, East Coast 461) Who has been re-elected as the president of world's largest political party - BJP: Amit Shah 462) Name the indigenously designed and built advanced light helicopter that made its debut at the Republic Day parade: Rudra 463) In which state capital India's largest national flag was hoisted on the tallest pole: Ranchi, Jharkhand 464) Which Indian city hosted the 11Even Sports 2015 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals: Indore, Madhya Pradesh 465) A four day cultural festival 'Bharat Parv' was held at which place: Delhi 466) __________ hosted the 61st National School Athletic Meet: Kozhikode, Kerala 467) Name the brave heart decorated with the Nation's highest peacetime gallantry award- Ashok Chakra: Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami 468) Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami was decorated with Ashok Chakra for which act of gallantry: Eliminating 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down his life in the line of duty in Sep 2015 in Kupwara sector of Jammu & Kashmir 469) India’s Foreign Policy is a book written by Muchkund Dubey. Who is he: India's former Foreign Secretary 470) Which State has recently been put under President's rule: Arunachal Pradesh 471) Why President's rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh: There was a “constitutional breakdown” in the state as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly 472) Vijay Merchant (U-16) Trophy was won by ______________ by beating Mumbai: Punjab 473) Name the highest civilian honour of Australia that has been conferred on three Indians in January 2016: The Order of Australia 474) Name the scheme launched for online booking of LPG cylinders: Sahaj Scheme 475) Name the West Indies batsman who announced his retirement from international cricket: Shivnarine Chanderpaul 476) India has overtaken ____________ as the world's largest rice exporter in 2015: Thailand 477) In the Corruption Perceptions Index–2015 by the Transparency International, what is the rank of India: 76th 478) __________ has been declared as the least corrupt country in the world by the Transparency International: Denmark 479) Aparna Kumar has successfully climbed the Mount Vinson Massif, the highest peak in the Antarctic sub-continent. Who is she: An IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre 480) With which country India signed an amended Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty (DTAA) to share information on banking and financial transactions: Armenia 481) As per latest data of car sales, which company is the No. 1 in world selling 10.15 million vehicles in 2015: Toyota 482) PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award is given in which country: USA 483) The Harry Potter author J K Rowling won the PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award for which novel: None, it is for her support for free expression and charitable causes 484) ________________has become the country’s first blind friendly Braille-embedded train: Mysuru-Varanasi Express 485) IHF has declared ___________ as the player of the year (Male) for 2015: Robert Van der Horst, The Netherlands 486) IHF has declared ___________ as the player of the year (Female) for 2015: Lidewij Welten, The Netherlands 487) Name the Bollywood celebrity who won the Yash Chopra Memorial Award in January 2016: Rekha 488) Marvin Minsky, noted mathematician and the computer scientist, pioneer of artificial intelligence who passed away recently was from which country: USA 489) In which part of India the highly endangered species Snow Leopard has been captured for the first time on camera: Northern Sikkim 490) Govt has made E-tendering compulsory for all govt purchases exceeding Rs. ____________: 2 lacs 491) The government has approved the hybrid annuity model as one of the modes for implementing which type of projects: Highway development projects 492) The World Meteorological Organisation has nominated_________ as the Regional Climate Centre to provide information to other South Asian countries: India 493) Which state has decided to give 35 per cent reservation for women in all kind of state government job: Bihar 494) Asia's largest underground railway station, covering a total area of 147,000 square metres has been opened in Futian in which country: China 495) Veteran tennis star ___________ became the first Russian player to enter the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame, USA: Marat Safin 496) Why World Braille Day is observed on January 4: It is the B'day of Louis Braille, inventor of Braille language for blinds 497) The child sex ratio in India at present is at lowest
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 97 level since 1961. What is its value: 918 per 1000 male babies 498) RBI has granted operational freedom to banks to offer all their products and services through which new channel: ATM 499) The Union Cabinet has approved conversion of MUDRA Ltd, an NBFC, into which new outfit: MUDRA Bank 500) Name the Nobel Peace Prize winner author of the book 'Azad Bachpan Ki Aur': Kailash Satyarthi 501) India’s share in IMF has increased to 2.75% from 2.44%, making it the ___________largest shareholder in the Fund: Eighth 502) Name the book recently released by the Indian President narrating his memoires: The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996 DECEMBER – 2015 503) The international solar alliance was recently launched by Prime Minister Modi at which place: Paris 504) The international solar alliance aims at achieving the objective of keeping global warming below _____ degree Celsius between now and 2100: 2 505) At the Paris climate summit, India has committed to generate _____ giga watt solar power by 2022: 100 506) Developed nations are expected to keep their pledge to provide $______ billion a year by 2020 to support climate control by the developing nations: 100 507) Eldar Ryazanov, legendary film Director who died recently, was from which country: Russia 508) Eldar Ryazanov was famous for which kind of films: Comedies 509) Name the Indian player who has won the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament for the third consecutive time: P V Sindhu 510) Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament was hosted by which country: Japan 511) Davis Cup 2015 was won by ________ after a gap of 79 years: Great Britain 512) _______ was the ace tennis star credited with victory of Britain in Davis Cup: Andy Murray 513) Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a book written by ___________: Jeff Kinney 514) Who is the author of the book Rogue Lawyer: John Grisham 515) ___________ won the world heavy weight boxing championship by beating Wladimir Klitschko: Tyson Fury 516) Which international bank recently announced shutting down of its private banking business in India: HSBC (Hong Kong, Shanghai Banking Corporation) 517) Bharat Stage (BS) V and VI norms have been prescribed for what purpose: Emission standards for four-wheelers 518) Government has decided to enforce Bharat Stage (BS) V norms by which date: April 1, 2019 519) Government has decided to enforce Bharat Stage (BS) VI norms by which date: April 1, 2021 520) India successfully test-fired the indigenously built nuclear-capable _______ missile, capable of hitting a target at a distance of 700 km: Agni-I 521) Barak 8 is the name of which defence equipment: Advanced surface-to-air supersonic missile 522) India has developed the Barak 8 missile in collaboration with which country: Israel 523) Union govt. proposes to launch a $1-billion equity fund to support companies in which sector: Renewable Energy 524) RBI has approved which organization to function as the Central Unit for Bharat Bill Payment System: National Payments Corporation of India 525) _____________won the 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg 526) The govt. has launched IPV for what purpose: For immunity against polio 527) What is the full form of IPV: Inactivated Polio Vaccine 528) The Golden Peacock award for best feature film is associated with which international film festival: International Film Festival of India 529) The Golden Peacock for 2015 was won by which film: Embrace of the Serpent 530) Who is the director of the award winning film Embrace of the Serpent: Ciro Guerra 531) The Golden Peacock award carries a cash prize of Rs. ____________ lac: 40 532) By achieving a growth rate of 7.4% in July – Sept quarter, India overtook which major economy to become fastest growing economy: China 533) At the Paris climate meet, India has committed to reduce its emissions intensity by _____ percent of its GDP by 2030: 33 534) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to include which new currency in its Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket effective from October 1, 2016: Chinese currency, the Yuan 535) Apart from Yuan, how many currencies are there in the special drawing rights basket of IMF: Four 536) Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape is a new initiative launched by which organization to build climate resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries: UNO 537) The first media summit of BRICS nations was held at which place: Beijing 538) Which Indian telecom major plans to invest Rs.60,000 crore over the next three-years in ‘Project Leap’ to upgrade its networks: Bharti
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 98 Airtel 539) Which organisation has commissioned interceptor boat ‘ICGS C-422’ to further enhance its vigil along Pondicherry and South Tamil Nadu coast: Indian Coast Guard 540) 20 countries, including India, launched Mission Innovation in Paris for what purpose: For accelerating clean energy revolution across the world 541) In the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2 by RBI, which policy rate was increased: None 542) In the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2 by RBI, which policy rate was decreased : None 543) In the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy review on Dec 2 by RBI, it retained its projection of GDP growth rate at ______ per cent for the current fiscal: 7.4 544) With which country the government is considering a 'medicines for oil' barter system: Venezuela 545) Why the govt. is considering a ‘medicines for oil’ barter system with Venezuela: Because Indian pharma exporters are facing problems to repatriate their sales proceeds 546) What is the name of the five-day festival of classical dances of India held in December every year: The Konark Festival 547) Which state hosts the Konark Festival: Odisha 548) Name the famous temple associated with the Konark Festival: Sun temple 549) Which Indian state hosted the International Sand Art Festival 2015: Odisha 550) Robert Lewandowski, who earned recently three Guinness World Record for fastest three, four and five goals is associated with which sports: Football 551) The World AIDS Day observed on which date: December 1 552) What is the international theme for this years World AIDS Day: Getting to zero, End AIDS by 2030 553) Ustaad Sabri Khan, a veteran musician died recently. He was master of which instrument: Sarangi 554) Ustaad Sabri Khan was decorated with which two national honours: Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan 555) Roch Marc Christian Kabore has been elected as the President of which West African country: Burkina Faso 556) This Unquiet Land is a book written by Barkha Dutt. She is a famous name in which field: TV Journalism 557) Thakur Anoop Singh who recently won a world title, is associated with which sports discipline: Body building 558) The World Bodybuilding and Physique Championship was held in which city: Bangkok, Thailand 559) Name the global IT giant who pledged to give away 99 per cent of his company shares in charity: Mark Zuckerberg 560) Govt has decided to setup 11 higher education institutes, 6 in technology sector and 5 in management sector. Name these institutes: 6 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and 5 Indian Institute of Management (IIM) 561) Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has launched GIAN scheme recently. What is full form of GIAN: Global Initiative of Academic Networks 562) Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has launched GIAN scheme for what purpose: To boost the quality of higher education in India through international collaboration 563) Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan is a Nobel laureate in which field: Chemistry 564) Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan assumed the presidency of which prestigious global science body: Royal Society, London 565) BRICS nations are known for their good growth rate. However, recently one of them slipped into recession. Name this country: Brazil 566) According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2015, forests and trees cover _________ % of the total geographical area: 24.16 567) The Lok Sabha passed the Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 to establish the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as which new organization: National Standards Body of India 568) Google’s YouTube has collaborated with which production house in India to open its first video production studio called YouTube Spaces in the country: Whistling Woods International 569) What is the name of the China’s first domestically developed electricity-powered aircraft: RX 1E 570) The recently released ICT (information, communication and technology) Development Index ranks which country at the top: South Korea 571) As per the ICT Development Index 2015, India ranks a lowly __________ in the list of 167 countries: 131st 572) MAM Ramaswamy, Industrialist, founder of Chettinad Group, former parliamentarian passed away recently. He was from which State: Tamil Nadu 573) Which Indian bank bagged the prestigious 'Bank of the Year' award conferred by Britain’s 'The Banker' magazine: Yes Bank
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 99 574) _________________has become the first state of India to launch Rotavirus vaccination: Himachal Pradesh 575) What is the purpose of Rotavirus Vaccination: Controlling the child mortality rate (under five years of age) due to diarrhea 576) The Atlas V rocket belongs to which country: USA 577) USA utilized services of the Atlas V rocket recently for what purpose: To carry supplies to the International Space Station 578) As per recent data, India attracted maximum FDI during April to September period from which country: Singapore 579) A survey in 33 countries for ‘Index of Ignorance’ has placed __________ as the country having highest percentage of ignorant population: Mexico 580) As per the index of ignorance, India is ranked at number ___________ in the survey of 33 countries: Two 581) RBI has hiked Priority Sector Lending norms for Regional Rural Banks from 60 per cent at present to _______ per cent of their total lending with effect from 1 January 2016: 75 582) As on March 2015, there were _____RRBs operating in the country with a network of 20059 branches: 56 583) From which country India received its first uranium consignment of about 2730 tonnes, after a gap of over four decades: Canada 584) Govt released two commemorative coins of Rs.125 and Rs.10 as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of which great Indian political figure: Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar 585) The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a bilateral maritime joint naval exercise between the Indian and _____________ navy was conducted recently: Russian 586) The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a bilateral maritime joint naval exercise was conducted in which area: Off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal 587) The first Goa to Mumbai double-decker Shatabdi train was flagged off from which city: Panjim, Goa 588) Which state launched International festival on Birds in National Chambal Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh 589) The Hockey World League Cup was lifted by which country: Australia 590) Finals of the Hockey World League Cup were held in which Indian city: Raipur, Madhya Pradesh 591) In which international event Indian shuttler K Srikanth lost the title with very narrow margin: Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament 592) International ratings agency Fitch Ratings has announced that India’s investment rating would remain _________, the lowest investment grade: BBB 593) What do we call a bond the funds are 'ear- marked' for use towards financing ‘green’ projects only: Green Bond 594) In which city China has issued its first red alert on pollution, the highest level in the system, ordering schools to close for four days due to hazardous air quality: Beijing 595) In which country the Storm Desmond wreaked havoc, flooding vast areas: Northern England 596) Name the who new teams that have become the new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a period of two years: Pune and Rajkot 597) Cochin Shipyard Ltd launched the Fast Patrol Vessel ‘ICGS Atulya’ for induction in which wing of Indian defence forces: Indian Coast Guard 598) Govt. has launched Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment Talent Utilisation (SETU) schemes for what purpose: For Entrepreneurship development 599) Which Indian State has recorded highest per capita income of Rs. 240,849 during 2014-15: Delhi 600) Which state legislature has become the first in the country to launch an online mechanism for its members to send questions and move different motions in the House: Maharashtra 601) The Supreme Court has directed all the State and UT Governments to consider ________victims under the disabled quota to enable them to get reservations in government jobs as well as education benefits: Acid-attack 602) Chen Long of _____ and Carolina Marin of _______were declared Male and Female Player of the Year, respectively, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF): China, Spain 603) The ______________________has become the first oil company from India to join the global initiative ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd 604) Name the iconic leader who has been named as the "Person of the Year" by the Times Magazine: Angela Markel 605) Name the Chinese city that posted the second World Internet Conference: Wuzhen 606) Name the global pop singer from USA who is on top of Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid musicians of 2015: Katy Perry 607) India has signed agreement with which international airport to take up operations and management of the Ahmadabad and Jaipur airports: Changi, Singapore 608) For which two items, the government has
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 100 approved mandatory use of jute packaging material: Foodgrains and sugar 609) World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2016 report has been brought out by which international body: UNO 610) Name the Japanese Prime Minister who arrived in New Delhi on Dec 11 for a three day visit to India: Shinzo Abe 611) The Japanese Prime Minister attended the Ganga Aarti at which ghat in Varanasi: Dasaswamedh Ghat 612) Which country has approved the use of the first- ever vaccine against dengue fever – Dengvaxia: Mexico 613) Name the politician whose autobiography’s title is “On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power”: Sharad Pawar 614) Mailer Prize for Literature is given in which country: USA 615) Name the India born author who has been selected for this year’s Mailer Prize for Literature: Salman Rushdie 616) Ballistic missile Shaheen-III belong to which country: Pakistan 617) South East Asia Writer Award is given annually to poets and writers from which group of countries: ASEAN – Association of South East Asian Nations 618) Which Indian celebrity has been ranked as the country’s top-earning celebrity with estimated earnings of Rs. 257.5 crore this year: Shah Rukh Khan 619) The 59th National Shooting Championships were held in which city: New Delhi 620) The first proposed bullet train in India will connect Mumbai with which other city: Ahmadabad 621) Nearly 200 nations adopted the first global pact to fight climate change on Dec 12 at COP 21 meet by UNFCCC. What is full form of COP and UNFCCC: Conference of the Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 622) The "Paris agreement" aims to keep global temperatures from rising by _______ degree Celsius between now and 2100: Two 623) Name the four Asian countries that have joined hands to construct 1800 kms long TAPI gas pipelines: Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India 624) What is the ratio of sharing between Pakistan, Afghanistan and India in gas carried by TAPI gas pipeline: 42% each by Pakistan and India and 16% by Afghanistan 625) As per the Human Development Index (HDI) compiled by the UNDP, India ranked a lowly _____ in the list of 188 nations: 130th 626) What are the three basic parameters on which the countries are ranked in the human development index: A long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living 627) 34 Islamic nations have agreed to form a new “Islamic military alliance” led by _________to fight terrorism: Saudi Arabia 628) Thousands of people suffered under the impact of severe typhoon Nona (Melor) in which country: Philippines 629) In which middle east county, women were allowed to cast votes and run for office in the local elections for the first time in the country's history: Saudi Arabia 630) Vijay Kumar, Chain Singh, Apurvi Chandela recently won gold medal in the National Championship of which event: Shooting 631) Sharad Joshi, a former Rajya Sabha member and founder of Shetakari Sangthana was associated with which field: Crusader for farmers’ rights 632) Which Indian city will host the 12th South Asian Games in February 2016: Guwahati and Shilong 633) Which animal has been selected as the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games: A rhinoceros calf 634) What is the name of the mascot of the 12th South Asian Games: Tikhor 635) Name the West African country that has decided to become an Islamic republic because Islam is the religion of the majority of its citizens: Gambia 636) Which is the first major bank in India to issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to its new customers: State Bank of India 637) Abbreviation of EMV stands for what: Euro- Maestro-Visa 638) The Federal Reserve of USA was in news recently for what reasons: It hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.50 on Dec 16, for the first time since 2006 639) As per the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) for 17 countries, which is the most polluted city in the world: Delhi 640) The Supreme Court has ruled that the RBI and commercial banks cannot hide routine information on which issue: Names of top defaulters, the losses suffered by banks 641) The PSLV-C29 rocket recently placed in space six satellites of which country: Singapore 642) The World Bank has approved a USD 1.5 billion loan for supporting which major Indian campaign: Clean India Campaign 643) The government has made it mandatory to quote PAN for all transactions in excess of Rs.___ lakh to curb black money: Two 644) What type of ship is INS Vikramaditya: Aircraft
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 101 Carrier 645) Who has been appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT): Arun Kumar Jain 646) Losar, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Festival is celebrated in which area: Ladakh, J & K 647) What is the significance of Losar festival: It is the beginning of New Year for Buddhists 648) For the first time, two Indian cities, ____________, have been selected in the Creative City Network of the UNESCO: Varanasi and Jaipur 649) Which Indian city has been selected as the city of Music by UNESCO: Varanasi 650) Which Indian city has been selected as the city of Crafts and Folk Art by UNESCO: Jaipur 651) _____________has become the first Indian female cyclist to be ranked fourth in the World Elite Women Ranking: Deborah Herold 652) Union Government has requested the states and Union Territories (UT) to start _________from 1 to 31 January 2016 to rescue/rehabilitate the missing children: Operation Smile-II 653) In which country public chose a new flag design featuring silver fern and red stars on a black and blue background: New Zealand 654) India has ranked a low _____out of 144 nations on Forbes' annual list of the best countries for doing business in 2015: 97th 655) The RBI has decided to lower the banks’ investment in government securities, also known as statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), to _____by January 2017: 20.5% 656) As per RBI decision, first cut of 25 basis points shall be made in SLR on which date: April 2, 2016 657) The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution to cut off revenue flows including ransom payments to which category of organizations: ISIS and other terrorists group 658) RBI has asked banks to follow a new and uniform methodology for calculation of which rate: Base Rate 659) Banks will have to follow new system of base rate calculation from which date: April 1, 2016 660) What is the formal name of the new proposed base rate for the banks: Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) 661) Banks will have to publish their MCLR in how many maturities: Five 662) What are the five prescribed maturities for which banks have to publish their MCLR: Overnight rates, one month, three months, six months and one year 663) Banks are required to publish their MCLR at what interval of time: Monthly 664) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated 35,950 cannon balls at the historic Fort St Angelo in Kannur. It is in which State: Kerala 665) Country's biggest Wildlife Rescue Centre has been established in which state: Maharashtra (Gorewada) 666) The 22nd National Cricket Tournament for the visually impaired was held in which place: New Delhi 667) The Bose Brothers and Indian Independence – An Insider’s Account is a book written about which noted freedom fighter: Subash Chandra Bose 668) Govt has approved the purchase of _______air defence missile systems from Russia: S-400 Triumf 669) The 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference was held in which city: Nairobi, Kenya 670) Who represented India in the 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference: Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Commerce and Industry Minister 671) Who is the present Director General of WTO: Roberto Azevedo 672) There are how many member countries in the WTO: 163 673) India lowered its GDP growth projection for the current year to between ______ % against the earlier forecast of 8.1 - 8.5%: 7 - 7.5 674) Name the former union defence secretary who has been appointed as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC): R K Mathur 675) Name the Greek Defence Minister who arrived in India on a three day visit in December: Panos Kammenos 676) World Bank has said that ______ is the largest recipient of inward remittances receiving over 72 billion US dollars in 2014: India 677) Which country has lifted a 40-year ban on its oil exports: USA 678) Dan Carterhas been named 2015 Sports Personality of the Year. He is from which field: Rugby 679) Which city hosted the 68th National Track Cycling Championship: Ludhiana, Punjab 680) The iconic boulevard Marine Drive, also popularly called the Queen’s Necklace completed 100 years on Dec 16. It is in which city: Mumbai 681) Which Indian statesman received Garwood Award for ‘Outstanding Global Leader in Open Innovation’ from UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business: Shri Pranab Mukherjee 682) 2nd World Internet Conference was held at Wuzen in which country: China 683) Which Indian company has become the first shipyard in India to get the nod to build LNG transporting ships: Coaching Shipyard
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 102 684) What is the full form of LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas 685) 2nd Indian Super League Football tournament was won by which team: Chennaiyin FC 686) Name the team that lifted the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup: Barcelona 687) Finals of the FIFA Club World Cup were played in which city of Japan: Yokohama 688) Name the Indian boy who has become world no. 1 won Junior Squash player: Abhay Singh 689) Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines has won which international beauty crown for 2015: Miss Universe 690) Mireia Lalaguna, the winner of Miss World 2015 title is from which country: Spain 691) Which city in India hosted the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship: Surat, Gujarat 692) Which country won 16 medals in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship to emerge as No. 1: India 693) Name the ex-President of FIFA, who was banned by Ethics Committee of FIFA for alleged financial irregularities: Sepp Blatter 694) Axis Bank has partnered with e-Mudhra to introduce an online electronic signature service. What its name: eSign 695) Which state Government has approved formation of five new districts, bringing the total districts to 25: West Bengal 696) Which UN organization has launched International Year of Pulses on 10 November: FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization) 697) What is the theme of the international year of pulses: Nutritious seeds for a sustainable future 698) Name the New Zealand cricketer who announced on Dec 22 his retirement from all forms of international cricket: Brendon McCullum 699) Who has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015: Andy Murray 700) Which organization has named midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh and striker Bala Devi as the Player-of-the-Year and woman Footballer-of-the- Year, respectively: All India Football Federation 701) Govt has decided to rename the posts of UDC (Upper Division Clerk) as what: Senior Secretariat Assistant 702) Govt has decided to rename the posts of LDC (Lower Division Clerk) as what: Junior Secretariat Assistant 703) Government has now made it mandatory for the auditors to report any suspected corporate fraud amounting to Rs ______or more to the Corporate Affairs Ministry: One Crore 704) The Reserve Bank has asked banks to make changes in ATM switches To help customers register for which service: Mobile Banking Services 705) What is the name of the mobile app launched for farmers to get the market prices of crops in the mandi within 50 km radius of the device: Agri Market Mobile 706) North India’s first cable-stayed bridge was inaugurated at ___________in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir: Basohali, on river Ravi 707) Indian-American tumour scientist Prof. Rakesh Jain has been selected for which top US science award: National Science Medal 708) Reserve Bank has extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations by another six months to _________: June 30, 2016 709) Name the Australian Batsman who has been named as “Cricketer of the Year 2015” and “Test Cricket of the Year” by the ICC: Steve Smith 710) ____________ has been selected as the “ODI Cricketer of the year 2015” by the ICC: AB de Villiers 711) The International Tennis Federation has named ________ and ________ as the Women’s Doubles World Champions: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis 712) Name the Indian players who won the doubles title in the Mexico Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament in Mexico City: Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy 713) Which port city in southwestern Saudi Arabia was in news as a fire in its general hospital killed 25 people and injured 107: Jazan 714) Which state government has banned 15-year-old diesel vehicles from its capital's roads in a bid to control air pollution: Bihar 715) Name the country's first indigenously designed and built warship that was decommissioned at Mumbai on Dec 24 after 32 years of service: INS Godavari 716) What is the highlight of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill passed by Rajya Sabha: Age of Juvenile for trial purposes has been lowered from 18 years to 16. 717) Which bank has tied up with railway’s e-ticketing platform IRCTC to sell rail tickets through its website: ICICI Bank 718) Gautam H Bambawale has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to which country: Pakistan 719) The ____________became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia: Philippines 720) Which state launched Anwesha scheme to provide free education to scheduled caste and
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 103 scheduled tribe students: Odisha 721) China launched the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite for what purpose: To study the mysterious dark matter 722) Name the global financial institution started recently with base in Beijing: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 723) What is the share of India in the capital of AIIB: 8.52% 724) AIIB has been started within authorized capital of $_________ billion and subscribed capital of $ ___________ billion: 100, 50 725) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has been promoted by 56 countries led by which country: China 726) Russia has agreed to manufacture which helicopter in India: Kamov 226 727) PM Modi inaugurated which building complex in Afghanistan: Parliament 728) Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award is given in which field: Cricket 729) Who has been honoured with the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015: Syed Kirmani 730) Syed Kirmani excelled in which aspect of Cricket: Wicket Keeping 731) Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out its latest mobile application named ________for providing e-learning material for students and teachers: E-CBSE 732) Name the weather phenomenon in South Atlantic Ocean which caused very heavy downpour in countries like Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil: El Nino 733) National Veda Convention and Vedic Conference was held in which city: Kozhikode, Kerala 734) Name the team that won the India's first pro wrestling league championship: Mumbai Garuda 735) Deepak Lather and Vikas Thakur created new national records recently in which field: Weight Lifting 736) Senior National Weightlifting Championships were held at which city of India: Patiala 737) Name the Indian sports person who won silver medal at the 18th Asian Luge Championship: Shiva Keshavan 738) Dr. Robert L. Spitzer, veteran psychiatrist who gave psychiatry its first set of rigorous measuring standards was in news for what reasons: He passed away Edited, Printed and Published by Varinder Mohan Singh Grover for Gyanm Education and Training Institute Pvt. Ltd., SCO 13-14-15, 2nd Floor, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh – 160022 and printed by him at All tech Print Pack, 182/4, Industrial Area – I, Chandigarh ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FORM SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD: ONLY 12 MONTHS FROM (MONTH) …………………..TO……………. (MONTH) AMOUNT: Name: Mr./Ms……………………………………………….……… Address:…………………………………………………………….… ……………………………………………………………………… City:……………………………District:………………………. State: ………………..…………………..PIN: Email: ………………………………………………………………….. Ph./Mob…………………………………………………..………… The subscription amount can be remitted to our following account: GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK Branch: Sector 34, Chandigarh ACCOUNT NO.: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989 …………………………………………………………………………………………… PARTICULARS OF REMITTANCE: Amount remitted: Rs………… Date:…./…./…… Bank………………………………..Branch…………… Transaction no………………………….. DATE:_________ Signature (Magazine will be sent by Ordinary Post) GYANM: SCO 13-15, 2nd FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH PH: 0172-4052124, 09257211740, OR SMS <MAGAZINE> TO 09646888377 Rs. 600/-
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    GENERAL AWARENESS –APRIL 2016 104