CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 123

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK  QUIZ - 123

1.On November 21, 2013 India entered the golden jubilee of the launch of its rocket. India’s first rocket was launched (November 1, 1963) from which among the following places?

[A]Thumba                              

[B]Balsore

[C]Sriharikota                         

[D]Wheeler Island

2. As per the RBI guidelines Public Sector Banks has to give loans to women SHGs at the interest rate of  

[A]5 percent                            

[B]6 percent

[C]7 percent                            

[D]8 percent

3. Who among the following is the new Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India?

[A]Justice D K Jain                 

[B]Justice A P Shah

[C]Justice Vikram Sen            

[D]Justice Gopal Gowda

4. The United Nation Environment Programme  (UNEP) has recently issued a warning about the nitrous oxide, which is now biggest threat to the ozone layer. Which among the following is the biggest human activity, that causes maximum nitrous oxide emission?

[A]Agriculture                        

[B]Industries

[C]Mining                              

[D]Automobiles

5. Which of the following countries has recently tested its first stealth drone, joining the elite group of four nations in the world to develop the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle?

[A]China                                

[B]Japan

[C]Pakistan                             

[D]India

6. “Magnus Carlsen” who has been recently become the youngest worlds chess championship belongs to which country?

[A]Russia                                

[B]Sweden

[C]France                               

[D]Norway

7. Which of the following countries is hosting the 2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference

[A]Poland                                    

[B]Peru

[C]Norway                            

[D]Sweden

8. Frederick Sanger, who passed away, recently was a ___?

[A]Economist                        

[B]Biochemist

[C]Author                              

[D]Philanthropist

9. The “Tirumayam Fort” popular for its architectural beauty of rock-cut temples is located in which state?

[A]Kerala                                

[B]Tamil Nadu

[C]Maharashtra                      

[D]Andhra Pradesh

10. The “Aranumala International Airport” is an airport project planned to be built in which state? 

[A]Kerala                         

[B]Madhya Pradesh

[C]Gujarat                   

[D]Odisha

             ANSWER

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

CURRENT UPDATE : ASSAM PAVILION RECEIVES GOLD AWARD AT IITF-2013

ASSAM PAVILION RECEIVES GOLD AWARD AT IITF-2013

The Assam Pavilion was adjudged “First for Excellence in display amongst State Governments and Union Territory Pavilions” and was given the award of Gold Medal in the India International Trade Fair 2013 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

This is the first time in the 33 years of history of the IITF that a State Government has consecutively received the prestigious Gold Award in succession after the Gold Awards in 2012. 

The theme of this year was “Inclusive Growth” and the theme Pavilion set up reflected the growth of various sectors in the State. 

The live demonstration of manufacturing of designer candles, manufacturing of various water hyacinth products, traditional Assamese jewellery and natural dye were the attraction of the pavilion. 

The stall set up by the Directorate of Tea where various types of Tea were shown and testing procedure of teas were demonstrated was another highlight. 

Live demonstration of Muga Reeling, displayed by the department of Sericulture also drew a large number of visitors. 

And attraction was also drawn by the department of Horticulture with display of various agro products and the replica of Rang Ghar by the directorate of Information & Public Relations depicting the heritage of the state. 

This year 57 organisations participated in Assam Pavilion, of which 40 are Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the remaining 17 are Govt. departments, public sector undertaking (PSU). 

The growing sector of higher and technical education has also been show cased in the Pavilion. 

CURRENT UPDATE : RBI EASES INVESTMENT NORMS FOR NBFCS IN INSURANCE VENTURES

RBI EASES INVESTMENT NORMS FOR NBFCS IN INSURANCE VENTURES

The Reserve Bank on Thursday relaxed norms for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in insurance joint ventures by allowing them to hold more than 50 percent in such companies. 

"On a review, it has been decided that in cases where IRDA issues calls for capital infusion into the insurance JV company, the bank (RBI) may, on a case-to-case basis, consider need-based relaxation of the 50 percent group limit," the Reserve Bank of India said in a notification. 

The relaxation is subject to compliance by the NBFC with all regulatory conditions, it said. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) often requires an insurance company to expand its capital, taking into account stipulations of the Insurance Act and its solvency requirements, the RBI said. 

The limit on NBFC holdings may act as a constraint for the insurer in meeting the IRDA requirement, it added.

As per existing norms, an NBFC cannot hold more than 50 per cent of the paid-up capital of an insurance joint venture. 

A subsidiary or company in the same group of an NBFC or of another NBFC engaged in the business of a non-banking financial institution or banking is not allowed to join the insurance company on a risk participation basis.

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 122

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK  QUIZ - 122

1. The “ISON” which is in news nowadays is ___?

[A]Asteroid                            

[B]Comet

[C]Galaxy                              

[D]Pulsar

2. What is India’s ranking at the first ever “Environment and Gender Index (EGI)” launched at a side event of the Conference of Parties (COP19), recently?

[A]46               

[B]54              

[C]35               

[D]41

3. “Leo Messi” who has been chosen for Golden Boot trophy for third time is from which country?

[A]France                                    

[B]Italy

[C]Argentina                           

[D]Germany

4. "O Mor Aponar Desh (O my beloved land)” is slated to be state anthem of __ ?

[A]Assam                               

[B]Tripura

[C]Mizoram                             

[D]Manipur

5. Who among the following will be awarded the “Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2013”?

[A]Julian Gillard                     

[B]Hilary Clinton

[C]Angela Merkel                   

[D]Sheikh Hasina

6. India and which of the following countries has recently decided to hold their first-ever joint air combat exercise in the Peter the Great Bay?

[A]Japan                                  

[B]China

[C]Russia                                

[D]Sri Lanka

7. Which one of the following book has won the 2013 US National Book Award in fiction?

[A]The Good Lord Bird         

[B]Tenth of December

[C]The Lowland                     

[D]Bleeding Edge

8. The “CityNext” an initiative to leverage technology for sustainable growth of cities in India is being launched by___?

[A]IBM                                   

[B]Microsoft

[C]Facebook                           

[D]Yahoo

9. The Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) has commissioned a world’s first red mud powder plant in Odisha.

Red mud powder has great usage in which industry?

[A]Fertilizer                            

[B]Cement

[C]Handicrafts                        

[D]Chemicals

10. Which of the following super computers has recently retained its place at the top of a list of the world’s most powerful systems?

[A]Piz Daint                            

[B]Tital

[C]Tianhe-2                             

[D]Sequoia

              ANSWER

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

CURREN UPDATE : FIRST ISLAMIC BANK IN EUROZONE TO COME UP IN LUXEMBOURG

FIRST ISLAMIC BANK IN EUROZONE TO COME UP IN LUXEMBOURG

A host of private investors from GCC countries, including a royal family from the UAE have planned to set up the first full-fledged Islamic bank in the euro zone. The Eurisbank will come up in Luxembourg during the last quarter of 2014. An announcement to this effect was made on the sidelines of Global Islamic Economy Summit in Dubai. 

The Excellencia Investment Management group said that with an initial capital of $80m, the bank would offer retail, corporate and private banking services, and would open branches in Paris, Brussels, the Netherlands and Frankfurt.

In addition to the royal family from the UAE, Eurisbank will be owned by a bank from a GCC country and other private investor. Islamic finance has been slow to develop in Europe, but Luxembourg has successfully marketed itself as a center for issuing and trading Islamic bonds. Since the global financial crisis, some European governments have shown more interest in Islamic finance, partly because it could be a way to attract funds from the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

CURRENT UPDATE : Lt Gen RAHEEL SHARIF APPOINTED AS PAKISTAN'S NEW ARMY CHIEF

Lt Gen RAHEEL SHARIF APPOINTED AS PAKISTAN'S NEW ARMY CHIEF

Ending weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday appointed Lt Gen Raheel Sharif as Pakistan's new Army Chief and Lt Gen Rashid Mehmood as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. 

Prime Minister Sharif recommended the names of the two commanders which were endorsed by President Mamnoon Hussain. The President promoted both the Lt Generals to General rank.

Lt Gen Sharif will replace 61-year-old Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who would hang his boots on Friday after being at the helm of the Army for six years. Earlier today, Prime Minister Sharif held separate meetings here with Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Mahmood and Inspector General Training and Evaluation Lt Gen Sharif.

"The meetings discussed professional matters and matters relating to national security," a senior government official told.

Lt Gen Sharif's prior appointments include Commander, Gujranwala XXX Corps, Commandant of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul and General Officer Commanding Lahore. Lt Gen Mahmood has served as the Corps Commander of Lahore. He was also the military secretary to former President Rafiq Tarar.

Mahmood comes from Baloch Regiment and had served under General Kayani as ISI deputy director general. Both Generals have superseded Lt Gen Haroon Aslam, currently Chief of Logistics Staff and the senior-most General after Kayani.

He is scheduled to retire in April. In a surprise move, Kayani had scotched speculation of a possible extension by issuing a statement on October 6 saying, "My tenure ends on 29th November 2013. On that day I will retire."

A change of command ceremony has been planned for November 29. Sharif will today host a farewell dinner for Kayani today.

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK QUIZ - 121

CURRENT AFFAIRS & GK  QUIZ - 121

1. Which of the following countries will host the “Common Wealth Summit 2015”?

[A]Malta                                

[B]Australia

[C]Mauritius                            

[D]Maldives

2. The “Swarm Mission”, which aims to study the Earth’s magnetic field is proposed to be launched by?

[A]NASA                   

[B]European Space Agency

[C]ISRO                     

[D]Russian Space Agency

3. Doris Lessing, who passed away recently, was a well known ____?

[A]Actress                               

[B]Singer

[C]Author                               

[D]Artist

4. Who among the following has been named male “World Athlete of the Year 2013”?

[A]Usain Bolt                                     

[B]Mo Farah

[C]Bohdan Bondarenko         

[D]Tiger Woods

5. The “Battle of Aleppo” is an ongoing military confrontation related to which of the following countries?

[A]Egypt                                 

[B]Turkey

[C]Syria                                  

[D]Cuba

6. The “Yashsvini Health Insurance” scheme is associated with which of the following states? 

[A]Punjab                               

[B]Karnataka

[C]Tamil Nadu                        

[D]Andhra Pradesh

7. Who among the following has become the first Formula One driver to take eight consecutive victories in a single season?

[A]Sebastian Vettel                

[B]Michael Schumacher

[C]Rubens Barrichello            

[D]Vitaly Petrov

8. India’s “Ganganjeet Bhullar” and “Anirban Lahiri” are associated with which one of the following sports/events?

[A]Tennis                                

[B]Golf

[C]Football                               

[D]Hockey

9. The “Akhaura” is the first multi-purpose integrated check post along the India and which among the following neighbours?

[A]Pakistan                            

[B]China

[C]Nepal                                 

[D]Bangladesh

10. In which of the following cities India's first privately funded Metro rail system commenced its operation recently?

[A]Mumbai                             [B]Bhopal

[C]Gurgaon                             [D]Pune

          ANSWER

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