CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 96

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 96

1. Recently (October, 2013), Indira Ghandi International airport signed a MoU called Sister Airport Agreement with which airport? 

[A]Birmingham Airport                         [B]Glasgow Airport

[C]Tokyo Airport                                 [D]Durban Airport

2. “Fracking” is a method of extracting _____ ? 

[A]Oil from rock                                          [B]Gas from rock

[C]Oil from Bio mass                                   [D]Gas from soil

3. Which of the following organisations has won 2013 Nobel Peace Prize?

[A]Amnesty International                           [B]Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical weapons

[C]UNICEF                                             [D]Human Rights Organisation

4. As per the latest data, which country surpassed United States as the world’s biggest net oil importer?[A]Russia      [ B]China    

 [C]India          [D]Japan

5. Which of the following ASEN countries and their current Prime Ministers is not correctly matched? [A]Vietnam – Nguyen Tan Dung                                [B]Singapore – Lee Hsien Loong

[C]Malaysia – Yingluck Shinawatra                            [D]Laos – Thongsing Thammavong

6. The “Maitri Thermal Power” project is a joint venture of India and which country?

[A]Pakistan                             [B]Bhutan

[C]Bangladesh                        [D]Nepal

7. Which of the following is named as “Asia’s Best Strong Lager Beer” at the prestigious World Beer award 2013?

[A]Knock Out                         [B]Kingfisher

[C]Tiger Beer                          [D]Hanoi Beer

8. What is the permissible range of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) for drinking water?

[A]300 mg/l                             [B]400 mg/l    

[C]500 mg/l                             [D]600 mg/l

9. Which of the following are India's largest onion producing states?

[A]Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat                           [B]Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan

[C]Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh              [D]Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Gujarat

10. What is the name of the world’s oldest movie theatre that reopened recently?

[A]The Casio                         [B]The Eden Theatre

[C]Fun World                        [D]The Thespian Hall

             ANSWER

1	A	6	C
2	A	7	B
3	B	8	C
4	B	9	A
5	C	10	B

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 95

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 95

1. Who among the following is not the winner of 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry?

[A]Martin Karplus                                 [B]Michael Levitt

[C]Michael Thomson                             [D]Arieh Warshel

2. Who among the following has won European Union’s “Sakharov Human Rights” prize?

[A]Edward Snowden                          [B]Malala Yousafzai

[C]Ali Zeidan                                      [D]Vladamir Putin

3. Who among the following has secured two gold medals for India at Track Asia cycling championship?[A]Deborah                                         [B]Manorama Devi

[C]Sunita Devi                                     [D]Anjana

4. The Tolkappiar award is a lifetime achievement award given to Indian scholar for their contribution in the field of ___ studies.

[A]Kannada                                         [B]Tamil

[C]Sanskrit                                          [D]Konkani

5. Name the Canadian author who won 2013 Nobel Prize for Literature?

[A]Alice Munro                                  [B]Will Gompertz

[C]Jumpa Lahari                                 [D]Markel Hudson

6. Who among the following will be conferred the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the

year 2012?

[A]Swamy Agnivesh                           [B]M S Swaminathan

[C]Anna Hazare                                 [D]Ila Bhat

7. Which of the following banks has won the Golden Peacock Award for excellence in corporate governance 2013?

[A]SBI                                                 [B]Syndicate Bank

[C]Canara Bank                                   [D]Vijaya Bank

8. Which of the following mobile makers has unveiled world’s first curved display smartphone?

[A]Micromax                                     [B]Samsung

[C]Sony                                             [D]HTC

9. The “Minamata Convention” is a set of legally binding measures to curb which pollutant?

[A]Green house gases                       [B]Mercury

[C]Plastics                                        [D]Lead

10. Which of the following would be the first corridor to be explored for the Indian railways ambitious bullet train project?

[A]Delhi – Kolkata                             [B]Bangalore – Chennai

[C]Mumbai – Ahmadabad                 [D]Mumbai – Bangalore

             ANSWER

1	C	6	A
2	B	7	B
3	A	8	C
4	B	9	B
5	A	10	B

CURRENT UPDATE : WORLD'S FIRST BITCOIN ATM

VANCOUVER GETS WORLD'S FIRST BITCOIN ATM

The world's first publicly accessible ATM machine which can exchange digital currency - bitcoins - for any official currency has been launched in Canada by a group of young entrepreneurs.

The ATM machine, operated by Vancouver-based Bitcoiniacs and Nevada-based Robocoin, converts bitcoins to Canadian dollars and vice versa. It opened for business in a Vancouver coffee shop, on Tuesday.

The automated teller machine has already attracted its first customers, along with dozens of people who wanted to see how it worked, shortly after it went live. 

The coffee house is one of at least 20 businesses here that currently accept bitcoins.

The operators plan to open such automated teller machine at four more locations across Canada. 

Customers will need to have their palms scanned in order to exchange up to USD 3,000 worth of bitcoins per day.

The bitcoins will then be transferred to and from the customer's on-line bitcoin wallet.

Users will have the option to receive a paper voucher representing the transaction, the report said. 

Bitcoin, which came into existence in 2009, is not controlled by any authority such as a central bank.

The concept was introduced in 2008 by a pseudonymous developer known only as "Satoshi Nakamoto."

The currency has reportedly gained notoriety for its use to buy illicit goods such as drugs on websites.

However, bitcoins are increasingly being accepted by legitimate businesses around the world. 

CURRENT UPDATE : INDIA DEVELOPS NEW TACTICAL MISSILE 'PRAGATI'

 'PRAGATI'

India has developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile 'Pragati' with a range between 60-170 km and will offer it to friendly countries.

The new missile, now on display at a defence exhibition in South Korea, is based on the Prahaar missile developed by the DRDO for the Army and can be termed as its export variant with minor differences, a DRDO official said today.

The government has approved that it may be offered to friendly countries if anyone shows interest in it, he said.

The missile is the main exhibit of the DRDO which is showcasing an array of indigenous weapons at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2013). This is the first time ever that an array of latest defence equipment developed by the DRDO, will be unveiled internationally at such a scale. DRDO chief Avinash Chander is leading the Indian delegation at the show.

"DRDO is showcasing 'Pragati' tactical missile, 'Akash' missile system and 'Tejas' LCA and its variants. Explosive Detection Kit developed by the DRDO and recently launched in the US will be yet another key exhibit," a release by the Indian embassy in South Korea said.

The LCA is a long-delayed project of the DRDO which is yet to be completed and the aircraft not been inducted by the IAF so far.

ADEX 2013 is expected to host more than 300 companies from 33 countries. DRDO's participation also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Korea.

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 94

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 94

1. Francois Englert and Peter Higgs, who have won 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics, belong to which of the following countries respectively?

[A]Belgium, Britain                                   [B]Switzerland, USA

[C]Belgium, USA                                     [D]Britain, Switzerland

2. Who among the following has won International Press Institute Award for excellence in Journalism?[A]Tilak Kumar                                      [B]Karan Thapar

[C]Vyasa Rao                                        [D]N Ravi

3. Currently, India is not a member state to which one of the following organisations?

            1.SAARC                       2.ASEAN                         3.APEC                          4.WTO

Chose the correct answer from the codes given below:

[A]Only 2                                  [B]Only 2 & 3

[C]Only 3                                   [D]Only 3 & 4

4. The first mega food park in Uttar Pradesh would be set up in Jagdishpur of Amethi district. This mega food park would be developed by__?

[A]Reliance                                                      [B]Wipro

[C]Aditya Birla Group                                      [D]Parle

5. On which of the following days “World Habitat Day” was observed?

[A]October 3                                                  [B]October 5

[C]October 7                                                  [D]October 6

6. GlaxoSmithKline is making news for developing world’s first malaria vaccine called ___?

[A]RTS, S                                                    [B]MTS, S

[C]RMS, S                                                   [D]MRS, S

7. Which of the following is the venue for the 9th World Trade Organisation Ministerial conference which will be held in December 2013?

[A]Moscow                                              [B]Bali

[C]Tokyo                                                 [D]Sydney

8. Which of the following statement is true about SpiNNaker project? 

[A]It is a project to develop human brained robots

[B]A novel computer architecture, inspired by fundamental structure & function of human brain.

[C]It is a project to develop world’s fastest super computer

[D]A project to send some animals on other terrestrial planets

9. Who among the following has won China Open Men’s single tennis title 2013?

[A]Rafael Nadal                                      [B]Novak Djokovic

[C]Roger Federar                                    [D]Andrew Murray

10. Who among the following has become first elected Tamil Chief Minister of Sri Lanka?

[A]Palani Muttu                                   [B]C V Wigneswaran

[C]K Murugan                                     [D]Manoranjan Selvam

             ANSWER

1	A	6	A
2	B	7	B
3	B	8	B
4	C	9	B
5	C	10	C

CURRENT UPDATE : GURU DEBAPRASAD AWARD

BHARATNATYAM EXPONENT GEETA CHANDRAN HONOURED

Renowned Bharatnatyam exponent Geeta Chandran was honoured on Tuesday with the prestigious Guru Debaprasad Award for outstanding contribution in the field of dance.

The annual award, instituted in memory of eminent Odissi exponent Guru Debaprasad Das, was presented to Geeta Chandran and three others by Odisha Governor S C Jamir at a function in Bhubaneswar. 

A recipient of Padmashri and a celebrated artist, Chandran is virtually synonymous with the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. 

She is celebrated not only for her deep and composite understanding of Bharatanatyam, but also for Carnatic music as she is a trained and accomplished vocalist too. 

The others who received the award were distinguished Odissi exponent Guru Sudhakar Sahoo, Dr Anita Ratnam for contemporary dance and Guru Shashidhar Acharya for Chhau dance. 

The award ceremony was followed by a solo recital in contemporary dance by Anita Ratnam and group Chhau dance by Shashidhar Acharya. Geeta Chandran is slated to treat dance lovers here to a solo performance on the last day of the function on Wednesday night.

CURRENT UPDATE : SOUL OF INDIA AWARD

ASHOK AMRITRAJ GETS SOUL OF INDIA AWARD

Tennis player-producer Ashok Amritraj, who has produced 109 Hollywood films, was presented with the 'Soul of India Award' for his outstanding achievements in the film industry.

Leading NRI industrialist Dr Rami Ranger presented the award to the 57-year-old producer at the Indian Journalists Association's Diwali Dinner held at the Bombay Palace here last night.

Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Navnit Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lord, Lord Karan Billimoria, founder chairman of the Cobra Beers, Acting High Commissioner of India to the UK Dr Virendra Paul and Dr Kartar Lalvani, founder chairman of Vitabiotics, Britain's largest vitamin producing company, were present on the occasion.

Mrs Paul, wife of Dr Virendra Paul, formally launched Amritraj's book 'Advantage Hollywood' on the occasion. 

Speaking on the occasion, Virendra Paul said, "We are so very proud of what you have achieved in Hollywood. It is personally a great honour to be here." Amritraj said, "It has been a great journey and I could achieve whatever I did because of the support of my parents and my brothers. The last 25 years has been a great ride. The lessons I learnt stood test of the time."

He also said Indian cinema industry has "extra ordinary talent" and also feels "Indian cinema is iconic."

"Directors and Actors in India are given so much importance. The writers need to be paid more. In Los Angeles writers are well paid," he said.

Amritraj has produced 109 Hollywood films. His hits, starting with 'Double Impact' in 1991, have included 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance', 'Bandits', 'Machete and Premonition'.

The latest, 'Life of Crime', starring Jennifer Aniston and Tim Robbins, closed the Toronto Film Festival and opened the one in Abu Dhabi on October 24.

In addition to his work in the entertainment business, Amritraj spends much of his time on his philanthropic endeavours. He lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and two children.

CURRENT UPDATE : AIR MARSHAL ARUP RAHA TO BE NEXT IAF CHIEF

AIR MARSHAL ARUP RAHA TO BE NEXT IAF CHIEF

Air Marshal Arup Raha, an ace fighter pilot, will be the next Air Force chief succeeding incumbent Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne who is retiring on December 31.

Born on December 26, 1954, 59 year-old Raha is expected to have a tenure of three years as the Chief of Air Staff. 

"The Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal Raha, who is at present the Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne," a Defence Ministry release said. 

Commissioned on December 14, 1974 in the fighter stream of the IAF, Raha has held various command, staff and instructional appointments in his 39-year-old career.

He has also served as Air Attache at the Embassy of India in Ukraine. Besides various technical courses, Raha has done Strategic Nuclear Orientation Course and Junior Commanders' course.

He has commanded Central Air Command and Western Air Command. Raha has served as Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School, Tambaram (Tamil Nadu) as well as at the Gwalior-based Tactics and Combat Development Establishment of the IAF. 

The IAF Chief-designate will get the command of the force at a time when it is engaged in a tussle with its largest supplier Hindustan Aeronautics Limited over the issue of indigenous and foreigner trainer aircraft.

The IAF is also engaged in intense negotiations for the procurement of 126 Rafale multi-role combat aircraft from the French firm Dassault Aviation.

CURRENT UPDATE : RBI SECOND QUARTER REVIEW OF MONETARY POLICY 2013-14

RBI SECOND QUARTER REVIEW OF MONETARY POLICY 2013-14

Monetary and Liquidity Measures

Following an assessment of the evolving macroeconomic situation, the Reserve Bank has decided to:

F Reduce the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by 25 basis points from 9.0 per cent to 8.75 per cent with immediate effect;

F Increase the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 7.5 per cent to 7.75 per cent with immediate effect

F Keep cash reserve ratio (CRR) unchanged at 4.0 per cent of net demand and time liability (NDTL); and

F Increase the liquidity provided through term repos of 7-day and 14-day tenor from 0.25 per cent of NDTL of the banking system to 0.5 per cent with immediate effect.

Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF stands adjusted to 6.75 per cent and the Bank Rate stands reduced to 8.75 per cent with immediate effect. With these changes, the MSF rate and the Bank Rate are recalibrated to 100 basis points above the repo rate.

Mid-Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14

The next Mid-Quarter Review of Monetary Policy for 2013-14 will be announced through a press release on Wednesday, December 18, 2013.

Third Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14

The Third Quarter Review of Monetary Policy for 2013-14 is scheduled on Tuesday, January 28, 2014.

Developmental and Regulatory Policies

The Reserve Bank’s developmental measures over the next few quarters will be built on five pillars. These are:

Ä  Clarifying and strengthening the monetary policy framework.

Ä  Strengthening banking structure through new entry, branch expansion, encouraging new varieties of banks, and moving foreign banks into better regulated organisational forms.

Ä  Broadening and deepening financial markets and increasing their liquidity and resilience so that they can help absorb the risks entailed in financing India’s growth.

Ä  Expanding access to finance to small and medium enterprises, the unorganised sector, the poor, and remote and underserved areas of the country through measures to foster financial inclusion.

Ä  Improving the system’s ability to deal with corporate distress and financial institution distress by strengthening real and financial restructuring as well as debt recovery

CURRENT RATES
POLICY RATES	BANK RATE	8.75%
	REPO RATE	7.75%
	REVERSE REPO RATE	6.75%
	MARGINAL STANDING FACILITY RATE	8.75%
RESERVE RATIO	CRR	4%
	SLR	23%
LENDING RATE	BASE RATE	9.80% - 10.25%