News Updates This Month-Jan 2015

News Updates This Month-Jan 2015

Appointments

1.       Senior IAS officer Alok Kumar has been taken over as Secretary Of Central Vigilance Commission(CVC), country’s top anti-corruption body.

2.       Lt. General Rizwan Akhtar has taken over as the Head of the Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI)

3.       The Former Supreme Court Judge Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has been selected to be the next Chairman of the Press Council of India.

Deaths - 

1.       Veteran actor of Indian Cinema Sadashiv Amrapurkar, died in Mumbai on Nov 3, 2014. He was 65.

2.       Marxist Communist Party(CPM) founder leader M V Raghavan died on Nov 9, 2014 after prolonged illness.

3.       M S S Pandian, an eminent social scientist passed away in New Delhi on Nov 10, 2014. He was 53.

4.       Senior Congress Leader and Former Union Minister Murli Deora passed away on Nov 24, 2014 after prolonged illness. He was 77.

5.       Legendary Kathak Dancer Sitara Devi died in Mumbai on Nov 25, 2014. She was 94.

Resignation –

1.       Us Defence Secretary Chuck Hugel resigned in the last week of Nov 2014.

Defence –

1.       China has developed a highly accurate home made laser defence weapon system capable of shooting down small scade drones flying at low altitude.

Environment –

1.       Air pollution seems to have a direct negative impact on grain production in India, a study warned on Nov 3, 2014. Upto the 90% of the decrease in potential food production seems linked to smog, made of black carbon and other pollutants.

2.       The Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (DTRL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an early warning system through sensors to map the triggers which can lead to landslides and other natural calamities.

Archaeology –

1.       More than two decades after they were unearthed in South Delhi, a large hoard of 287 coins medieval coins has been acknowledged as holding the key to an unbroken numismatic narrative of the reigns of North Indian rulers spread over four centuries.

Crime –

1.       Research in eight urban cities across the world has found that Delhi has a very low crime rate compared to New York and Istanbul.

Space –

1.       China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation displayed the machine and the technological hardware set up at air show at Zhuai.

Misc News –

1.       A husband may have to pay monthly advance to his estranged wife from the day she applied for maintenance and not always from the date of court order, the Supreme Court has held.

2.       A nesting site of the extremely rare white-bellied heron has been discovered in  remote part of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.

3.       Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 7, 2014 launched his ambitious model village project in Uttar Pradesh’s Jayapur village in Varanasi.

You may like to read more - 

1. One Liner Current Affairs of Feb 2014 for IAS and RAS-Part 4

2. Objective Current Affairs of Mar 2014 for IAS and RAS-Part 1

3. General Objective Current Affairs April 2013- Part 1

4. Current Affairs-World This Month General Knowledge-Jan 2015

5. One Liner Current Affairs of Dec 2013 for IAS and RAS-Part 5

  

Books and Authors This Month-Jan 2015

Books and Authors This Month-Jan 2015

1. The Dramatic Decade : The Indira Gandhi Years – Pranab Mukherjee
2. Borders to Board Room : A Memoir – Habib Rahman
3. Chanakya Returns – Timeri N Murari 

   

   Book-Chanakya Returns

4. Playing It My Way – Sachin Tendulkar
5. Towards a Knowledge Society : New Identities in Emerging India – Debal K Singa Roy

You may Like to read more - 

1. Books and Authors – October 2014

2. Books and Authors Nov 2014

3. Books and Authors this Month- Mar 2015

4. One Liner Medieval Question Answer General Knowledge

5. Objective Indian History Solved Paper-Part 5

Current Affairs One liner General Knowledge Sep 2015

Competition Booster Sep 2015

Current Affairs One liner General Knowledge Sep 2015

·         Who won CEAT Indian Cricketer of the Year Award? – Ajinkya Rahane

·         Who has been appointed Indian Ambassador to Iran? – Saurabh Kumar

·         Who has become Poland’s new President?- Andrzej Duda

·         John Nash passed away. He was awarded Noble prize in which subject? – Mathematicians

·         Who has been appointed as India’s Defence Secretary? – G. Mohan Kumar

·         How many total medals were won by India at the AIBA Womens’s Junior World Championships? – Five

·         How many Gold medals were won by India at the Doha International boxing tournament? – Four

·         Which film won the Promising Future prize in the uncertain Regard section at the 68^th Cannes Film Festival? – Masaan

·         Who won the eighth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL)?- Mumbai Indians

·         Which film won the top most award the Palme’dOr at 68^th Cannes Film Festival? – Dheepan

·         With which country India signed a new strategically important 10-year defence framework pact? – USA

·         Which country’s player won under-15 category of World School Chess Championships? – India

·         Suchitra Bhattacharya Passed away. She was a .. ? – Novelist

·         What is the rank of India on the Global Human Capital Index? – 100^th

·         Who won the bronze medal in the 50m Rifle Prone Event of the ISSF World Cup? – Gagan Narang

·         Which ministry started ‘USTAD’ Yojana? – Ministry of Minority Affairs

·         Who has been sworn in as the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, US? – Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri

·         Which Indian Cricketer has been appointed as Brand Ambassador of UC Broswer? – Yuvraj Singh 

·         Which City will host the World Senior Badminton Championships in 2017? – Kochi

·         Franz Wright passed away. He was a .. ? – Poet

·         Which state’s health minister was conferred with the World No Tobacco Day Award 2015 by WHO? – Uttarakhand

·         Name the Indian-American who won Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award in the US? – Karan Singh

·         Who won Gold in 85 Kg category of the Free Style event in Asian Cadet Wrestling Championship? – Arun Kumar

·         Brad Haddin has announced his retirement. He is the batsman of which country? – Australia

·         In which country world’s first undewater tennis court will be built? – Dubai

·         Who has become Guyana’s new President? – David Granger

·         Who presided over the 68^th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA)? – Jagat Prakash Nadda 

You may like to read more - 

1. One Liner General Knowledge of Civilization in the World

2. One Liner Question Answer on Problems on Trains

3. One Liner Indian History Solved Paper- Part 1

4. One Liner GK-Modern India-Part 2

5. One Liner GK-Freedom Movement in India-Part 1

समसामयिक सामान्य ज्ञान जून 2014

समसामयिक सामान्य ज्ञान जून 2014 

१. अगला फुटबॉल विश्व कप कहाँ होना हैं-
अ. श्रीलंका
ब. ब्राज़ील
स. चीन
द. फ्रांस

उत्तर- ब-ब्राज़ील 

२. सीरिया की राजधानी का क्या नाम है -
अ. दमिश्क
ब. तेहरान
स. मनीला
द. काबुल

उत्तर- अ-दमिश्क

३. लन्दन में गिरफ्तार किये गए नेता अल्ताफ हुसैन किस देश के हैं-
अ. भारत
ब. पाकिस्तान
स. अफगानिस्तान
द. ईरान

उत्तर-ब. पाकिस्तान 

४. बदायूं किस राज्य में आता है - 
अ. आँध्रप्रदेश
ब. पंजाब
स. उत्तरप्रदेश
द. मध्य प्रदेश

उत्तर-स -उत्तरप्रदेश

५. कार दुर्घटना में मारे गए नेता गोपीनाथ मुंडे किस पार्टी के नेता थे-
अ. कांग्रेस
ब. भाजपा
स. राकांपा
द. शिवसेना

उत्तर- ब. भाजपा

६. भारत में २९ वें राज्य का नाम क्या हैं-
अ. उत्तराखंड
ब. छत्तीसगढ़
स. तेलंगाना
द. सीमांध्र

उत्तर- स-तेलंगाना 

७. तेलंगाना के पहले मुख्य मंत्री कौन बने-
अ. के. चंद्रशेखर राव
ब.  चन्द्र बाबू नायडू
स. जे. रेड्डी
द. नरसिम्हन

उत्तर-अ-के. चंद्रशेखर राव

८. संविधान के किस अनुच्छेद के जरिये जम्मू कश्मीर को विशेष दर्जा प्राप्त है-
अ. 370
ब. 371
स. 372
द. 374

उत्तर-अ. 370

९. आईपीएल-7 की विजेता कौनसी टीम रही -
अ. मुंबई इंडियंस
ब. किंग्स इलेवन पंजाब
स. कोलकाता नाईट राइडर्स
द. चेन्नई सुपरकिंग्स

उत्तर-स. कोलकाता नाईट राइडर्स 

Current Affairs of Feb 2014

Current Affairs of Feb 2014

1.Olympic torch was recently lit atop the highest peak of Europe and also Russia. The name of the highest peak is
a) Mount Elbrus
b) North Pole
c) Siberia’s Baikal Lake
d) None of the above
Answer: (a) Mount Elbrus

2. Which one of the following does not form the part of the 4 Special Route designated for the Olympic torch relay undertaken for 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi?
a) International Space Station, North Pole, Siberia’s Baikal Lake and Mount Elbrus
b) Centre of Pacific Ocean, North Pole, Siberia’s Baikal Lake and Black Sea
c) International Space Station, Black Sea, Siberia’s Baikal Lake and Mount Elbrus
d) International Space Station, North Pole, Centre of Pacific Ocean and Mount Elbrus
Answer: (a) International Space Station, North Pole, Siberia’s Baikal Lake and Mount Elbrus

3. Name the body that on 3 February 2014 announced that the tea production of India has gone up by 6.5 percent in the year 2013.
a) Indian Tea Research Association
b) Indian Tea Association 
c) Tea Board India
d) None of the above
Answer: (b) Indian Tea Association 

4.Who won the Australian Open men’s singles title on 26 January 2014?
a) Rafael Nadal 
b) Roger Federer
c) Andy Murray 
d) Stanislas Wawrinka  
Answer: (d) Stanislas Wawrinka  

5. Who won the Australian Open women’s singles title?
a) Dominika Cibulkova
b) Li Na
c) Serena Williams
d) Ana Ivanovic
Answer: (b) Li Na

6. Who won the Mixed doubles tennis titles at Australian Open 2014?
a) Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor
b) Sania Mirza and Horia Tecau
c) Ana Ivanovic and Rafael Nadal 
d) Li Na and Andy Murray 
Answer: (a) Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor

7.Domestic content requirement of India's solar mission on 10 February 2014 was challenged by which country by alleging it as discriminatory and against international norms including the laws of WTO?
a) United States
b) China
c) Britain
d) Japan
Answer: (a) United States

8. Foundation named YouWeCan joined its hand with an NGO Navbharat Sewa Samiti on 10 February 2014 to roll out a campaign named Cancer Mukt Purvi Dilli. Name the founder of the foundation YouWeCan?
a) Manisha Koirala
b) Yuvraj Singh 
c) Lisa Ray
d) Anurag Basu
Answer: (b) Yuvraj Singh

9. Name the country that on 13 February 2014 legalised death to terminally ill children of any age?
a) Belgium 
b) Netherlands
c) Luxembourg
d) Switzerland
Answer: (a) Belgium

10.The Indian flag was unfurled on 17 February 2014 at the Winter Olympics Village at Sochi, Russia at a special ceremony held at International Plaza of the Mountain Village. India was suspended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) from participation in the games for how long?    
a) 12-months long suspension 
b) 14-month long suspension 
c) 16-month long suspension 
d) 22-months long suspension 
Answer: (b) 14-month long suspension 

11. 80-million rupees has been sanctioned for restoration of Bhagat Singh’s ancestral house, school and village on 17 February 2014. At which place the ancestral house, school and village of Bhagat Singh is located?
a) Faisalabad, Punjab in Pakistan
b) Ludhiana, Punjab in India
c) Shadman in the Eastern City of Lahore Pakistan 
d) None of the above
Answer: (a) Faisalabad, Punjab in Pakistan

12. Name the Indian film that on 17 February 2014 won the Crystal Bear (Glasernen Bar) for the best film by the Children’s jury in Generation KPlus section at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.  
a) The Grand Budapest Hotel
b) Killa
c) Little House
d) Black Coal
Answer: (b) Killa

13. Name the batsman of Indian cricket team who was appointed as the brand ambassador of the Gujarat State Election Commission recently?
a) Virat Kohli 
b) MS Dhoni 
c) Shikhar Dhawan
d) Cheteshwar Pujara
Answer: (d) Cheteshwar Pujara

14. Who has been named as the interim President of Ukraine after the impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovych 
a) Volodymyr Vynnychenko 
b) Oleksandr Turchynov,
c) Symon Petliura
d) Mykhailo Hrushevskyi
Answer: (b) Oleksandr Turchynov

15. Name the team which emerged as the champions of the Hero Hockey India League 2014 after defeating Jaypee Punjab Warriors at Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi?
a) Delhi Waveriders
b) Ranchi Rhinos
c) Mumbai Magicians
d) Kalinga Lancers
Answer: (a) Delhi Waveriders

Current Affairs of Dec 2013

Current Affairs of Dec 2013

1. The scientists have decoded the oldest DNA from 400000 year old thigh bone of human family. This research has expanded the knowledge of the human genetics by how many years as it suggests the journey of man evolution. 
a) 150000 years
b) 200000 years
c) 250000 years
d) 300000 years
Answer: (d) 300000 years

2. The members of the opposition party of Thailand resigned en masse from the Parliament recently to protest against the Government claimed by them as illegitimate. Name the opposition party of Thailand that resigned en masse?
a) Pheu Thai Party
b) Democrat Party
c) Phalang Chon Party
d) Rak Thailand Party
Answer: (b) Democrat Party

3. Where is the headquarters of the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)?
a) Washington, USA
b) Beijing, China
c) Delhi, India
d) Canberra, Australia 
Answer: (b) Beijing, China 

Current Affairs of Sept 2013

CURRENT AFFAIRS of SEPT 2013

1.When is the National Day of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Celebrated?
a) 25 September
b) 24 September
c) 23 September
d) 26 September
Answer: (c) 23 September

2. Which cricketer was appointed as the brand ambassador of the Border Security Force (BSF) on 22 September 2013?
a) Sachin Tendulkar
b) Rahul Dravid
c) Ravindra Jadeja
d) Virat Kohli
Answer: (d) Virat Kohli

3. Apollo Hospitals and health science firm Saarum Innovations formed a joint venture for establishment of Sapien Biosciences. What is Sapien Biosciences?
a) India’s first personalised medicine company
b) India’s first Commercial Bio-Bank
c) India’s first bio-tech company
d) India’s first personalised research centre
Answer: (b) India’s first Commercial Bio-Bank 

4. When is the National Day of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Celebrated?
a) 25 September
b) 24 September
c) 23 September
d) 26 September
Answer: (c) 23 September

5. Which cricketer was appointed as the brand ambassador of the Border Security Force (BSF) on 22 September 2013?
a) Sachin Tendulkar
b) Rahul Dravid
c) Ravindra Jadeja
d) Virat Kohli
Answer: (d) Virat Kohli

6. Apollo Hospitals and health science firm Saarum Innovations formed a joint venture for establishment of Sapien Biosciences. What is Sapien Biosciences?
a) India’s first personalised medicine company
b) India’s first Commercial Bio-Bank
c) India’s first bio-tech company
d) India’s first personalised research centre
Answer: (b) India’s first Commercial Bio-Bank 

7.Chandresh Kumari Katoch on 16 September 2013 unveiled the Brass Plate World Heritage Plaque at the Chittaurgarh Fort, Rajasthan. What is the primary purpose of World Heritage Plaque?
a) To identify the World Heritage Site
b) To ensure safety of the World Heritage Site
c) To inform the general public about the World Heritage Site
d) To introduce the World Heritage Site to the international community
Answer: (c) To inform the general public about the World Heritage Site

8. Which company presented a dividend cheque of 40 crore Rupees to the Union Minister of Shipping GK Vasan for the financial year 2012-13? 
a) The Ennore Port 
b) The Chabah Port 
c) The Karachi Port 
d) The Paradip Port
Answer: (a) The Ennore Port

9. On which date is Hindi Diwas observed?
a) 15 September
b) 16 September
c) 13 September
d) 14 September
Answer: (d) 14 September 

Current Affairs of Jul 2013

Current Affairs of Jul 2013

1.Name the golfer, who won the Scottish Open title in a sudden-death play-off on 14 July 2013 played at Castle Stuart in Inverness in Northern Scotland?
a. J.B. Hansen
b. Tiger Woods
c. Jyoti Randhawa 
d. Phil Mickelson
Answer: (d)

2. The measurements by Curiosity rover of NASA re-instated the fact that Mars was mostly composed of which gas?
a. Nitrogen
b. Hydrogen
c. Methane
d. Carbon Dioxide 
Answer: (d)

3. The World's first mission to South Pole of the Moon for installation of _________ was announced in July 2013. Fill in the blank with an appropriate option. 
a. Permanent Satellite
b. Permanent Telescope
c. Permanent Observatory
d. Permanent Radar 
Answer: (b) 

4.Afcons Infrastructure signed a memorandum of understanding with which state government of India for setting up 250-crore Rupees fabrication yard for the oil as well as gas platforms?
a) Maharashtra Government
b) Gujarat Government
c) Tamil Nadu Government
d) Karnataka Government
Answer: (b) Gujarat Government

5. The Supreme Court of India on 24 July 2013 slapped contempt notices on two Sahara firms for not complying with its order of refunding around 19000 crore rupees to investors. Which body filed the contempt petition against Sahara firms?
a) The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)
b) Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Aulthority (PFRDA)
c) Forward Markets Commission (FMC)
d) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Answer: (d) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

6. According to the recent satellite images, deforestation has dropped down by around one-third since 2000 in which rainforests of Africa?
a) Zaïre basin
b) Congo Basin
c) Amazon Rainforest
d) None of these
Answer: (b) Congo Basin

7. INSAT-3D was launched successfully by the European rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana on 26 July 2013. What is the purpose of INSAT-3D?
a) To provide technological experience in building and operating a satellite system
b) To provide experience in building and operating a payload experiment three-axis stabilised communication satellite
c) For multipurpose communication: business communication, developmental communication, and mobile communication
d) Meteorological Satellite with advanced weather monitoring payloads
Answer: (d) Meteorological Satellite with advanced weather monitoring payloads

8. Which automobile company became first automaker to participate in Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programme in India on 23 July 2013?
a) Ford Motor Company
b) General Motors
c) Maruti Suzuki
d) Mahindra and Mahindra Limited
Answer: (a) Ford Motor Company 

Current Affairs of Jun 2013-Part 4 of 4

61.India and Thailand signed a treaty after two decades of negotiations. Name the treaty?
a) Free Trade Agreement
b) Extradition Treaty 
c) Economic Support Treaty 
d) None of the above
Answer: (a) Extradition Treaty 

62. Name the organization that has offered help to Pakistan for Polio Vaccination? 
a) Red Cross Society of India
b) AIIMS
c) Apollo India 
d) Rotary International's India National Polio Plus Committee
Answer: (d) Rotary International's India National Polio plus Committee

63. The UN Security Council on 31 May 2013 imposed sanctions on the Syrian rebel group, ___________ on account of its links with Al-Qaeda?
a) Syrian Revolution General Commission 
b) Al-Nusra Front
c) National Salvation Front in Syria
d) Syrian Islamic Front
Answer: (b) Al-Nusra Front 

64. Parliament of which country that passed a bill that criminalized gay marriage, and made it punishable with a 14-year prison term.
a) Nigeria
b) South Korea
c) Germany 
d) Russia 
Answer: (a) Nigeria

65. China and the US agreed mutually to hold high level, regular negotiations on setting standards for ________________.
a) Commercial spying only
b) Cyber security only 
c) Commercial spying as well as cyber security
d) None of the above 
Answer: (c) Commercial spying as well as cyber security

66. India and Thailand signed a treaty after two decades of negotiations. Name the treaty?
a) Free Trade Agreement
b) Extradition Treaty 
c) Economic Support Treaty 
d) None of the above
Answer: (a) Extradition Treaty 

67. Name the organization that has offered help to Pakistan for Polio Vaccination? 
a) Red Cross Society of India
b) AIIMS
c) Apollo India 
d) Rotary International's India National Polio Plus Committee
Answer: (d) Rotary International's India National Polio plus Committee

68. The UN Security Council on 31 May 2013 imposed sanctions on the Syrian rebel group, ___________ on account of its links with Al-Qaeda?
a) Syrian Revolution General Commission 
b) Al-Nusra Front
c) National Salvation Front in Syria
d) Syrian Islamic Front
Answer: (b) Al-Nusra Front 

69. Parliament of which country that passed a bill that criminalized gay marriage, and made it punishable with a 14-year prison term.
a) Nigeria
b) South Korea
c) Germany 
d) Russia 
Answer: (a) Nigeria

70. China and the US agreed mutually to hold high level, regular negotiations on setting standards for ________________.
a) Commercial spying only
b) Cyber security only 
c) Commercial spying as well as cyber security
d) None of the above 
Answer: (c) Commercial spying as well as cyber security 

71.What is the growth percentage of India's food grain production in last nine years as it went up to 259 million tonnes in 2012-13 from 198.36 million tonnes in 2004-05 which is a result of government initiatives like National Food Security Mission, NFSM, and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana?
a) 30 Percent
b) 45 Percent
c) 33 Percent
d) 36 Percent
Answer: (a) 30 Percent

72. As per the World Bank report titled Capital for the Future: Saving and Investment in an Interdependent World released on 3 June 2013 which two countries was forecasted to become the largest investors among various developing nations of the world in the year 2030?
a) India and China
b) India and Brazil
c) China and Brazil
d) India and Japan
Answer: (a) India and China

73. The Union Cabinet of India on 4 June 2013 approved the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill 2013. What is the major objective behind the approval?
a) To set up a regulator for the real estate sector in the country
b) To protecting home buyers from dishonest builders
c) To hear appeals from orders, decisions or directions of regulator and adjudicating officer by Real Estate Appellate Tribunal.
d) To make all relevant clearances for real estate projects which have to be submitted to the regulator and also displayed on a website before starting construction work.
e) All of these
Answer: (e)

74. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 4 June 2013 approved the revival of the Nagaland Pulp and Paper Company Limited (NPPC) with the infusion of Huge fund. What was the amount? 
a) 309.38 crore Rupees
b) 369.32 Crore Rupees
c) 321.56 Crore Rupees
d) 256. 56 Crore Rupees
Answer: (a) 309.38 crore Rupees

75. The Union Government of India on 5 June 2013 hiked the import duty on gold to what percent from the present 6 percent?
a) 7 Percent
b) 9.5 Percent
c) 8 Percent
d) 7.5 Percent
Answer: (c) 8 Percent