FROM THE Content MD’S DESK...  1. Dear Aspirants, BANKING & FINANCE This is the information Page-02 age and knowledge has no limit. Gone are the 2. days when people used STATE AFFAIRS to depend solely on Page-03 libraries and books to gain knowledge. The means of procuring 3. knowledge and NATIONAL NEWS accessing information Anshuman Nayak Page-04 has undergone a sea B.E. (NIST, change with the advent Berhampur) 4. of computers, internet MBA (HR) (UBS, GLOBAL NEWS and smart phones. The Chandigarh) Page-07 internet is the biggest library ever created in human history and 5. seemingly presents itself as an unlimited and ever PEOPLE IN NEWS growing store of knowledge and information. So when my team approached me with the idea Page-09 of a current affairs magazine of ARIFIN the first question I asked myself was why? What 6. difference can we make? SPORTS There are the news papers, a plethora of similar Page-12 national level magazines and of course the internet which serve the purpose already. 7. The reason I gave my nod was simple. AWARDS (1)With so much of information around, Page-14 there is the problem of overload; I believe there is still a gap to be bridged when it 8. comes to providing precise, succinct and relevant information. Know more about (2)It need not be a mere current affairs Page-17 magazine but rather it can be a holistic support system for competitive Exam 9. preparation with question banks, tips and GK/CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ tricks , concepts and practice exercises, Page-19 general awareness, traditional GK and more such similar features. 10. Hence, the result is this magazine whose editorial FUN TIME LESSON team is a blend of youth, energy, knowledge Page-32 and experience. As explained earlier, I promise my readers two things: (1)This is not going to be just another magazine. This will be a magazine with a difference. (2) With each new issue, the magazine will get better and better with new and innovative features,. So, watch out, enjoy and benefit!! Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 BANKING & FINANCE

RBI keeps the repo rate unchanged at 5.15%  Edelweiss aims to raise an initial amount of Rs in 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy 3,000 crore through this bond from institutional  In its 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee players with a greenshoe option of Rs 2,000 crore meeting, the Reserve Bank of has decided in the 3-year maturity period (2023) and Rs 4,000 to keep the policy repo rate unchanged to 5.15%. crore with a greenshoe option of Rs 6,000 crore  The MPC has also decided to maintain the in the 10-year maturity bucket (2030). accommodative stance of monetary policy to  Small retail investors will have to invest at least revive growth, while ensuring that inflation Rs 1,000 in this fund. remains within the target.  After this, there is a facility for multiple  The repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility investments. Here they can invest up to 2 lakhs. (LAF) left unchanged to 5.15%.  At the same time, the minimum amount for  The reverse repo rate under the LAF stands anchor investors has been fixed at Rs 10 crore. same i.e. 4.90%. RBI waives NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for  The marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and savings account holders the Bank Rate also remains same i.e. 5.40%.  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has waived 1st time India’s forex reserves cross $450 NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for savings billion account holders.  The country’s foreign exchange reserves crossed  In an order, RBI instructed banks to make all the $450-billion mark for the first time ever on online payments done through RTGS and NEFT the back of strong inflows which enabled the free of cost for savings account holders. central bank to buy dollars from the market, thus  The new rule will be effective from January 1, checking any sharp appreciation of the rupee. 2020.  India’s foreign exchange reserves were at $451.7 GST Council fixes 28% uniform tax rate for billion on December 3, 2019, an increase of $38.8 lottery billion over end-March 2019.  The Goods and Services Tax or GST Council  The Reserve Bank has always maintained that has fixed a uniform tax rate of 28% on both state- it intervenes in the foreign exchange market to run and private lottery. curb volatility and does not target a particular  It also decided to rationalise the GST rate on level of the exchange rate. woven and non-woven bags to 18%. ADB lowers India’s GDP growth forecast to  It was for the first time that the GST Council 5.1% in FY20 resorted to voting to decide on an issue as it fixed  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has a uniform tax rate on both state and private lowered its forecast for India’s economic growth lotteries. in fiscal year 2019-20 to 5.1%.  The GST Council also decided to exempt upfront  ADB has stated that the consumption was amount payable for long term lease of industrial affected by slow job growth and rural distress and financial infrastructure plots by an entity was aggravated by poor harvest. having 20% or more ownership of Central or State Edelweiss AMC launches India’s 1st corporate Government. bond ‘Bharat Bond ETF’ HDFC Bank crosses $100 billion market  Edelweiss Asset Management Company (AMC), capitalisation a subsidiary of Edelweiss Capital Limited (ECL)  HDFC Bank has become the 3rd Indian firm to has launched India’s 1st Corporate Bond ETF cross $100 billion mark in market capitalisation. (exchange trade fund) called the Bharat Bond  HDFC Bank has joined the league of Reliance ETF. Industries Ltd, which has a market cap of $140.74  The ETF is a government initiative and Edelweiss billion, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) that AMC was given the mandate to design and has a market cap of $114.60 billion. manage the product.  With this achievement, HDFC Bank is now 2 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 ranked 110th in the list of world’s most valued RBI launches new PPI for small digital companies. transactions RBI to buy and sell govt bonds worth Rs 10,000  The Reserve Bank of India has introduced a new crore semi-closed prepaid payment instrument (PPI)  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will which can be used for the transaction of goods simultaneously purchase and sell government and services up to a limit of Rs 10,000. securities worth Rs 10,000 crore under a special  The loading facility of the instrument will be linked Open Market Operation (OMO). only from a bank account. This direction has  On a review of the current liquidity and market made under Section 18 read with Section 10(2) situation and an assessment of the evolving of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. financial conditions, the Reserve Bank has  PPIs are instruments that facilitate the purchase decided to conduct simultaneous purchase and of goods and services, including financial sale of government securities on December 23, services, remittance facilities, etc., against the 2019. value stored on such instruments. There are  The purchase will be for government securities currently three kinds of PPIs allowed by RBI: worth Rs 10,000 crore for the instrument ‘6.45 closed system, semi-closed and open PPIs. per cent GS 2029’.  The PPIs may be issued as cards, wallets, and  The Reserve Bank reserves the right to decide any such form/instrument which can be used to on the quantum of purchase/sale of individual access the PPI and to use the amount therein. securities and to accept bids/offers for less than PPIs in the form of paper vouchers shall no longer the aggregate amount. be issued.

STATE AFFAIRS

Odisha launches ‘Madhu’ app to help school Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves Disha Bill students 2019  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has  The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves the A.P. launched ‘Madhu’ app. It is an e-learning mobile Disha Bill, 2019 (A.P. Criminal Law phone application which will help school students (Amendment) Bill, 2019) paving the way for to understand their subjects in a better and most awarding the death penalty for the offences of efficient way. rape and gang-rape and expediting the verdict in  The app is named after ‘Utkal Gourab’ trials of such cases to 21 days. Madhusudan Das. The app is developed by Haryana Police became the first to introduce Ganjam district administration for school students. ‘Trakea’ software in FSL  Through this app, the students will be able access  Haryana police have introduced a unique the video explanation of the topics they were barcoding software “Trakea” to enable foolproof taught in their classroom. security of the samples collected in Forensic Odisha to set up 45 new fast track courts reports.  45 new fast track courts will be set up in Odisha.  Haryana became the first state in the country to The 21 courts would be dedicated to cases of introduce this unique barcoding system. rape and sexual harassment of women.  Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister (CM) of  The remaining 24 fast track courts will specifically Haryana inaugurated the TRAKEA barcoding deal with Protection of Children from Sexual system of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Offences (POCSO) cases. Madhuban, Haryana.  The State government’s action comes after Odisha Govt. launches ‘Jalsathi’ programme Centre’s decision to formulate a scheme for  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has setting up 1,023 fast track special courts for launched the ‘Jalsathi’ programme to ensure expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases. supply of safe drinking water to all households in

3 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 the state. Rajasthan government starts its first Janta  The Odisha CM also launched the ‘JalSathi’ App Clinic on the occasion. The Water Corporation of Odisha  Rajasthan Chief Minister inaugurated its first (WATCO) signed a memorandum of “Janta clinic” at in the Malviya Nagar area of understanding with the women federations in Jaipur. Bhubaneswar for the implementation of the  This clinic open to provide free primary health programme. care to people living in slums. In its first phase,  The JalSathi initiative aims to ensure the supply 12 Janta Clinics will be opened in Jaipur where of clean drinking water to consumers through people would get free medicines and free medical piped water connections. examination in some cases.

NATIONAL NEWS

Hallmarking to be mandatory for gold jewellery whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and artefacts tuberculosis, measles, meningitis and Hepatitis  Hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts will B. Vaccines for Japanese encephalitis and be made mandatory across the country from Hemophilus influenza are also being provided in January 15, 2021. The step aims to ensure the selected areas. purity of the precious metal. The decision will India successfully test-fires indigenously make it compulsory for all the jewellers to developed nuke-capable Prithvi-II missile register with the Bureau of Indian Standards and  India successfully test-fired its indigenously sell only hallmarked gold jewellery and artefacts. developed surface-to-surface nuclear-capable India becomes first country to make entire Haj Prithvi-II missile off Odisha coast. process digital  The Strategic Forces Command of the Indian  India has become the first country to make the Army conducted the user trial of the 350 km entire process for pilgrims going on Haj range missile from a mobile launcher from launch completely digital. complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at  Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Chandipur. has signed the bilateral agreement for next year’s  The missile weighs about 4,600 kg and 9 meters pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister in Jeddah. tall is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kilograms Mr Naqvi said, an online application, e-visa, Haj of warheads and is thrust by liquid propulsion mobile app, ‘e-MASIHA’ health facility, “e- twin engines. luggage pre-tagging” providing all information India’s first maritime museum coming up at in India itself regarding accommodation and Lothal in transportation in Mecca and Madina will be  Government of India (GoI) & Portugal has provided to 2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj decided to cooperate in the setting up of an in 2020. India’s 1st National Maritime Heritage Museum Nationwide vaccination drive launched under at the ancient Indian site of Lothal in Gujarat Mission Indradhanush 2.0 with the aim to boost the underwater or marine  The centre is launching a nationwide vaccination archaeology. drive to prevent eight diseases under Intensified  The Museum will showcase salvaged material Mission Indradhanush 2.0 across the country. from shipwreck sites in the Indian Ocean waters.  The government’s flagship scheme is aimed at GoI launched National Clean Air Programme immunizing children under the age of 2 years  The Central Government launched the National and pregnant women against 8 vaccine- Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, preventable diseases. time-bound, national-level strategy to tackle the  The IMI covers vaccines for diphtheria, air pollution problem across the country in a

4 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 comprehensive manner. ranked 34th by Forbes in ‘The World’s 100 Most  The government is targeting to achieve 20 per Powerful Women’. HCL Corporation CEO and cent to 30 per cent reduction in Particulate Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Matter PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw are two keeping 2017 as the base year for the other Indians who also featured in the above comparison of concentration. list.  Under NCAP, 102 non-attainment cities have S.No. Name Country been identified based on ambient air quality data 1 Angela Merkel Germany for the period 2011 – 2015 and WHO report 2 Christine Lagarde France 2014 – 2018. 3 Nancy Pelosi United States India ranks 129th in Human Development 4 Ursula von der Leyen Belgium Index 2019 5 Mary Barra United States  India has been ranked 129th among 189 6 Melinda Gates United States countries in the Human Development Index 7 Abigail Johnson United States 2019 released by the United Nations 8 Ana Patricia Botín Spain Development Programme (UNDP). 9 Ginni Rometty United States  India was ranked 130th last year in the index. 10 Marillyn Hewson United States Norway, Switzerland, Ireland occupied the top 34 Nirmala Sitharaman India three positions in the index. 54 Roshni Nadar Malhotra India  According to the report, South Asia was the 65 Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw India fastest growing region in human development 100 Greta Thunberg Sweden progress showing a 46% growth over 1990-2018, India slips to 112th place on WEF’s Global followed by East Asia and the Pacific at 43%. Gender Gap Report ISRO to launch earth observation satellite,  India has slipped four places to rank 112th RISAT-2BR1 globally as per the Global Gender Gap Report  The ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation) 2020. will launch its earth observation satellite, RISAT-  The report was released by World Economic 2BR1 on PSLV-C48 from the First Launch Pad Forum (WEF) headquartered at Geneva. (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre,  Iceland has topped the report and remains the Sriharikota. world’s most gender-neutral country while  RISAT-2BR1, a Radar imaging earth observation Yemen was ranked the worst (153rd) in the satellite weighing about 628 kg, will be placed report. into an orbit of 576 km at an inclination of 37 Union government launches National degrees. Broadband Mission  PSLV-C48, which is the 50th mission of PSLV,  The Union government has launched National will also carry 9 customer satellites of Israel, Broadband Mission to provide Broadband access Italy, Japan and USA as co-passengers. to all villages by 2022. ISRO begins preparations for setting up 3rd  The mission aims to connect 600,000 villages rocket launchpad across India with an investment of Rs 7 lakh  Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has crore in the next 4 years from both government begun preparatory works for setting up a 3rd and private sector. rocket launchpad in the small coastal hamlet of  The mission is a part of the National Digital Kulashekhrapattinam in the Thuthukudi district Communications Policy, 2018. of Tamil Nadu.  The mission will secure universal broadband  At present, the Indian Space Research access for implementation of broadband Organization (ISRO) has two launch pads at initiatives and aims to offer Internet speed upto Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. 50 Mbps in a phased manner. Nirmala Sitharaman 34th among world’s 100 India test fires QRSAM System most powerful women: Forbes  Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been (QRSAM) system developed by Defence

5 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 Research and Development Organisation improve groundwater management. (DRDO) was successfully flight-tested from  The scheme has been designed with the principal Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha objective of strengthening the institutional coast. framework for participatory groundwater  The QRSAM weapon system, which operates management. on the move, comprises of fully automated  It aims to bring behavioral changes at the Command and Control System, Active Array community level for sustainable groundwater Battery Surveillance Radar, Active Array resource management in seven States. Battery Multifunction Radar and Launcher.  The 7 states includes Gujarat, Haryana, India world’s 3rd largest producer of Scientific Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Articles Rajasthan and .  India has emerged as the world’s third-largest  The scheme will promote panchayat led ground publisher of science and engineering articles, water management and behavioural change with according to a latest US report. primary focus on demand side management.  In 2008, India published 48,998 science and  The Government has outlaid Rs. 6000 crore for engineering articles. the scheme. Out of the total outlay of Rs. 6000  This increased to 1,35,788 articles in 2018 and crore to be implemented over a period of 5 years the country now accounts for 5.31 per cent of (2020-21 to 2024-25), 50% shall be in the form the total world publications in science and of World Bank loan, and to be repaid by the engineering. Central Government.  China, which accounts for 20.67 per cent of all  The remaining 50% shall be through Central global publications in scientific articles, is at the Assistance from regular budgetary support. The top position, followed by the US at 16.54 per entire World Bank’s loan component and Central cent, as per the statistics compiled by the US Assistance will be passed on to the States as National Science Foundation (NSF). Grants. Rohtang tunnel in Himachal Pradesh named as IAF bids farewell to the iconic “MiG-27” fighter Atal tunnel aircraft  Prime Minister Narendra Modi named Rohtang  The Indian Air Force bids farewell to the iconic passageway in Himachal Pradesh as Atal Tunnel “MiG-27” with a decommissioning ceremony at to mark the 95th birth anniversary of former the Jodhpur air base. The Mig 27 is a soviet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. origin aircraft that was built under licence by  It will provide all-weather connectivity to remote HAL and became a part of the IAF strike fleet areas of Lahaul and Spiti Valley and also reduce in 1985. the distance between Manali and Leh by 46  The jet contributed significantly in wars and Kilometres. peace-keeping operations and also emerged as Atal Bhujal Yojana launched by Government of the real hero in the 1999 Kargil war. It’s India contribution in the Kargil war earned it the title  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Atal ‘Bahadur’. Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) which aims to

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6 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 GLOBAL NEWS

Saudi Arabia takes over G20 Presidency from Beaver seaplane re-fitted with a fully electric 750 Japan horsepower motor was piloted by Greg  The G20 Presidency has been taken over by Saudi McDougall, founder and chief executive of Arabia from Japan. Saudi Arabia has become the Harbour Air, a British Columbia-based charter 1st Arab nation to assume the G20 presidency. airline that transport passengers between  The Saudi G20 presidency is committed to Vancouver. continue the work from Osaka (Japan) and Nuad Thai massage included in UNESCO promote the multilateral consensus. heritage list  The G20 presidency, which Saudi Arabia has  Thailand’s famous 2000-year-old massage, Nuad taken over from Japan, will host world leaders Thai was added to UNESCO’s (United Nations for a global summit in its capital Riyadh in 2020. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Iraq Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi Resigns prestigious heritage list.  Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has  Nuad Thai is an intense form of massage in which submitted his resignation to Parliament amid the body is pulled and rotated well with the help ongoing anti-government protests across the of the thumb, elbow, knees and feet. country.  Thai massage originated in India and brought it  The formal resignation came after an emergency to Thailand about 2,500 years ago by doctors and cabinet session in which ministers approved the monks who carried its secrets for generations. document and the resignation of key staffers, Former PM Abdelmadjid Tebboune elected as including Abdul Mahdi’s chief of staff. the President of Algeria Pritivirajsing Roopun elected as new President  Abdelmadjid Tebboune, former Prime Minister of Mauritius by parliament (PM) of Algeria was elected as the President of  The National Assembly of Republic of Mauritius Algeria succeeding Abdelkader Bensalah. has unanimously elected Prithvirajsing Roopun,  He served as the PM from May 2017 to August as new President of the island nation, a largely 2017, under the governance of President Abdelaziz ceremonial post. Bouteflika.  He was former arts and culture minister of the British PM Boris Jhonson re-elected as Prime country. In Mauritius, Prime Minister is head of Minister of UK government and holds most political power while  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won the president is head of state but has no executive the historic UK General Election as his role and is considered guardian of the constitution. Conservative Party crossed the magic number of Finland elects Sanna Marin, the youngest-ever 326 required for a majority in the Parliament. Prime Minister  He is re-elected as a Prime Minister of UK.  Finland’s Social Democrats elected 34-year-old Donald Trump becomes 3rd US President to Sanna Marin to the post of the prime minister, be impeached making her the youngest head of government in  Donald Trump has become the third US President the country’s history. in history to be impeached by the House of World’s First commercial electric plane takes Representatives. The impeachment will led to flight in Canada setting up a trial in the Senate that will decide  The world’s first fully-electric commercial aircraft whether Trump will remain in office or not. took its inaugural test flight, taking off from the  The House of Representatives formally charged Canadian city of Vancouver and flying for 15 Donald Trump with abuse of power. minutes. Ethiopia launched its first space satellite  A 62-year-old six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland  Ethiopia launched its first satellite, a landmark

7 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

achievement for the country’s space program that 16 years and is an architect by trade, helped boost caps a banner year for the African space industry. Cuba’s economy by making tourism one of the  The launch of the Ethiopian Remote Sensing engines of growth. Satellite (ETRSS) took place at a space station in  The post of prime minister was scrapped in 1976 China. by the then-revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.  The launch makes Ethiopia the 11th African China launches its largest carrier rocket “Long country to put a satellite into space. Egypt was March-5” the first in 1998.  China has successfully launched its largest carrier  Data provided by Ethiopia’s satellite is expected rocket “Long March-5”. The rocket was to paint a fuller picture of the country’s agriculture, launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center forestry and mining resources and improve in south China’s Hainan Province. The rocket is responses to flooding and other disasters. also known as CZ-5. It was China’s third attempt Eight West African nations rename common to launch the rocket. currency to Eco  The Chinese rocket carried the Shijian-20 satellite,  Eight West African countries have agreed to a communication satellite and placed it into its change the name of their common currency to designated orbit. The Shijian-20 satellite will lay Eco and severed their earlier currency CFA the foundation for the development of highly Franc’s links to former colonial ruler France. sensitive space probes.  Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast,  It is China’s heaviest and most advanced Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo currently use the communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit. currency. Russia deploys its 1st Avangard Hypersonic  All the countries are former French colonies with missile system the exception of Guinea-Bissau.  Russia’s 1st missile unit equipped with Avangard  The CFA franc, created in 1945, was seen by Hypersonic glide vehicle enters into service. many as a sign of French interference in its Russia’s defence ministry stated that a new former African colonies even after the countries hypersonic weapon with latest strategic missiles became independent. of intercontinental range has became operational. Cuba names Manuel Marrero Cruz to be first  The nuclear-capable missiles can travel more than PM since 1976 20 times the speed of sound. They have a “glide  In Cuba, President has appointed Manuel system” that affords great manoeuvrability and Marrero Cruz as the country’s first prime minister could make them impossible to defend against. in more than 40 years.  Marrero, who has served as tourism minister for

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8 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 PEOPLE IN NEWS

Soma Roy Burman becomes new Controller after Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey General of Accounts Brin have announced that they are stepping down  Soma Roy Burman has assumed the charge of from the leadership role of the parent company new Controller General of Accounts (CGA). She Alphabet. is the 24th CGA and the seventh woman to hold  Google CEO Indian-American Sundar Pichai will this coveted position. be assuming the role of Alphabet Inc CEO,  She has replaced J P S Chawla. Prior to assuming making him one of the most powerful corporate the charge of CGA, Burman served as Additional leaders of the world. Controller General of Accounts in the office of Veteran journalist Bhaskar Menon passes away the CGA.  Baskar Menon, Veteran Journalist in the Press Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar takes over as C-n-C of Trust of India (PTI) passes away. Andaman & Nicobar Command  He was the Regional Manager in the south  Lt Gen Podali Shankar Rajeshwar took over as division of the PTI. the 14th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman K Vijay Kumar appointed senior security & Nicobar Command (CINCAN). advisor in MHA  He is a graduate of  K Vijay Kumar has been appointed as a senior and was commissioned into the Regiment of security advisor in the Union Home Ministry Artillery in December 1980. headed by Amit Shah.  He has actively taken part in Operation  The 1975 batch officer of Indian Police Service Meghdoot and Operation Rakshak. will “advise the ministry on security-related Hari Mohan takes over as Chairman, Ordnance matters of Union Territory of J&K and Left Wing Factory Board Extremism (LWE) affected States.  Hari Mohan has taken over the charge as  He will be in the position for a period of 1-year Chairman, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). from the date of his taking charge.  He will replace Saurabh Kumar who Bob Willis Former England superannuated from the services. passes away Veteran actor Shelley Morrison passes away  Former England captain Bob Willis passed away.  Former Hollywood actress Shelley Morrison  He captained England in 18 Tests and 29 one- passed away recently. day internationals before his retirement from all  She had a long 50-year career and was best forms of cricket in 1984. known for playing a memorable maid from El Girish Chandra Chaturvedi appointed as new Salvador, in the original run of “Will and Grace” chairman of NSE from 1999 to 2006, becoming part of a cast that  The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) won a Screen Actors Guild award for best has appointed Girish Chandra Chaturvedi as its ensemble in a comedy series. new chairman. Masatsugu Asakawa elected ADB President  The appointment was approved by Securities and  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) board has Exchange Board of India (SEBI). unanimously elected Masatsugu Asakawa as its  Girish Chandra Chaturvedi is a retired IAS officer new president. and former Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and  He is currently a special advisor to Japan’s Prime Natural Gas. Minister and Minister of Finance, will assume News Broadcasters Federation elects Arnab office as ADB’s 10th President on January 17, Goswami as governing board president 2020.  The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), the  He will succeed Takehiko Nakao, who will leave country’s largest association of over 78 news office on January 16, 2020. channels, has elected editor-in-chief of Republic Sundar Pichai promoted as Alphabet Inc. CEO TV Arnab Goswami as the President of its  Sundar Pichai promoted as Alphabet Inc. CEO governing board. 9 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020  The body of 78 news channels in 14 languages, the 800m and 1500m double at an Olympic representing broadcasters from 25 states. The Games, which he achieved in Tokyo in 1964. new self-regulatory organization in order to bring  He also won 2 gold medals at the Commonwealth in transparent self-regulation on content will be Games in 1962 in the 880 yards and one mile run announced by the end of January 2020. in Perth. C. Sugandh Rajaram appointed as India’s next Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane to be next envoy to the Republic of Ghana Army Chief  C. Sugandh Rajaram has been appointed as the  Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane will be the next next High Commissioner of India to the Republic Chief of Army Staff of India. of Ghana.  He is currently serving as Vice Chief of the  He will replace Birender Singh Yadav . Army. Lt Gen Naravane will succeed Gen Bipin ICSSR Chairman Braj Bihari Kumar passes Rawat, who will retire on the 31st December. away  He has served in numerous command and staff  Braj Bihari Kumar, the Chairman of Indian appointments in peace, field and highly active Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and passed away. Kashmir and the Northeast.  He was appointed as the chairman of the ICSSR  In a distinguished military career spanning almost in May 2017. four decades, Lt Gen Naravane has the distinction George Laurer, inventor of the barcode passes of tenanting key appointments in active Counter away Insurgency environments, both in the North East  The inventor of Universal Product Code(UPC) and in Jammu and Kashmir and was a part of or Barcode, George Joseph Laurer, passed away. the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka  His barcode invention at IBM (International during Operation PAWAN. Business Machines) corporation, transformed the  He has been awarded the retail industries as well as other industries across (Distinguished) for effectively commanding his the world. battalion in Jammu and Kashmir.  He worked as an electrical engineer with IBM  He is also a recipient of the in North Carolina’s research triangle park in the for his services as the Inspector General Assam early 1970s. Rifles (North) in Nagaland and the Ati Vishisht Former US Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker Seva Medal for commanding of a prestigious passes away strike corps.  The former US Federal Reserve chief Paul  He was honoured with Param Vishisht Seva Volcker passed away. He was appointed as the Medal for his distinguished services as the chief of the US Federal Reserve in 1979. Commanding in Chief of the  He was popularly known for fighting inflation by Army Training Command. raising interest rates. IAS Ravi Mittal takes charge as new I&B Viswanathan launches his autobiography Secretary ‘Mind Master’  IAS officer Ravi Mittal took charge as the new  Viswanathan Anand has launched his Secretary, Information and Broadcasting autobiography ‘Mind Master’. Anand’s Ministry. autobiography is co-authored by sports journalist  Mr Mittal took charge from Amit Khare who Susan Ninann. has been appointed as Secretary, Department of  It has been published by THG Publishing Private Higher Education. Limited. The book covers wonderful memories R N Ravi to hold additional charge as governor of Viswanathan Anand’s journey. of Meghalaya New Zealand three-times Olympic champion  Nagaland Governor R N Ravi has been given Peter Snell passes away additional charge of Meghalaya.  New Zealand’s 3-times Olympic middle-distance  The decision has been taken by the President of champion Peter Snell passed away. India in the wake of the “absence of leave” of  He was the last male athlete to have completed Tathagata Roy, Governor of Meghalaya.

10 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 Veteran film actor Danny Aiello passes away  He is best known for his book “Hosagannada  Veteran film actor Danny Aiello, known for his Sahitya Charitre”. roles in the movies Do The Right Thing and The Monisha Ghosh named 1st woman CTO at FCC Godfather Part II passed away. in US Bollywood actress Gita Siddharth Kak passes  Indian-American Dr Monisha Ghosh has been away appointed as the first woman Chief Technology  Bollywood actress Gita Siddharth Kak passed Officer at the US government’s powerful Federal away. Communications Commission (FCC).  Her most well-known movies include Garm Hava  Dr Ghosh will take charge on January 13. She (1973), Parichay (1972), Gaman (1978) among replaces Dr Eric Burger. others. Vice Prez released book ‘Turbulence and Former Union Minister ID Swami passes away Triumph: The Modi Years’  Former Union Minister ID Swami passed away.  The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu  He served as the Union Minister of State for released a book titled ‘Turbulence and Triumph: Home Affairs in 1999 in former Prime Minister The Modi Years’ in New Delhi. Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government.  The book is jointly authored by Rahul Agarwal Sridhar Patra appointed NALCO CMD and Bharathi S Pradhan and is published by Om  Sridhar Patra was appointed as the chairman- Books International. cum-managing director of National Aluminium  The book is about the life journey of Prime Company Ltd (NALCO). Minister Shri Narendra Modi from his days as a  He is at present Director (Finance) in NALCO. young boy rin Gujarat till becoming the Prime Former HC Judge CV Ramulu appointed as Minister of India. Telangana Lokayukta Sangita Reddy appointed as the President of  Former High Court Judge Justice CV Ramulu FICCI for 2019-20 has been appointed as the Lokayukta of  Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Telangana. Former Law Secretary V Niranjan Hospitals Group, has taken over as the President Rao has been appointed as Upa Lokayukta. of the Federation of Indian Chambers of  The governor also appointed another former Commerce & Industry (FICCI) for 2019-20. judge Justice G Chandraiah as Chairman of the  She succeeds Sandip Somany, Vice-Chairman State Human Rights Commission. and Managing Director, HSIL. Devesh Srivastava appointed GIC chief Harsh Vardhan Shringla appointed new Foreign  Devesh Srivastava has been raised to the position Secretary of Chairman and Managing Director (MD) at  Senior diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s the General Insurance Corporation India (GIC Ambassador to the US, has been appointed as Re). the new Foreign Secretary. IPS officer Atul Karwal appointed as Director  He is a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign of National Police Academy Service. He will take over the charge of the  The Union Government appointed a senior foreign secretary on January 29 from incumbent Gujarat Cadre IPS officer Atul Karwal, as Vijay Gokhale. Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Vidushi Police Academy in Hyderabad. Savita Devi passes away  He is a 1988 batch IPS officer, is currently  Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Vidushi posted as Additional Director General of Central Savita Devi has passed away. Reserve Police Force (CRPF).  She was known for her thumirs. She was the Writer and critic LS Sheshagiri Rao passes author of the book ‘Maa…Siddheshwari’ which away was the biography of her mother Siddeshwari  Kannada writer and critic L.S. Sheshagiri Rao Devi. passed away. His first work was Idu Jeevana, Niranjan Hiranandani takes over as Assocham an anthology of short stories was released in president 1948.  Niranjan Hiranandani has taken over as the new

11 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 president of The Associated Chambers of Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad passes Commerce & Industry of India (Assocham), the away country’s apex organisation of industry and trade.  Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad Vimal  He will succeed Balkrishan Goenka, the Welspun passed away in a road accident in Sri Lanka. Group Chairman.  He was born in 1939 in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.  Niranjan Hiranandani is the Co-Founder and He wrote more than a dozen poetry collections, Managing Director of the Hiranandani Group of short story collections and novels. Companies. American songwriter Allee Willis passes away England World Cup winner Martin Peters  The American songwriter Allee Willis passed passes away away recently. She penned the iconic “I’ll Be  Former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder There For You” track for the long-running Martin Peters, who scored England’s second goal television show “Friends”. in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany, passed away.

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SPORTS

Lewis Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix GS Lakshmi to become 1st Woman Match  Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton has won the Referee to officiate men’s ODI match Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Indian match referee GS Lakshmi is set to  He has claimed his 84th career victory and 11th become the first woman match referee to in 21 races of this year. officiate a men’s ODI match.  Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished 2nd in the  She will oversee the third series of the ICC Men’s race whie Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished 3rd Cricket World Cup League 2. in the race.  Lakshmi has the experience of officiating in three Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik clinch gold in women’s ODI matches, 16 men’s T20Is and Senior Wrestling National C’ships seven women’s T20Is.  Star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik England Cricketer Laura Marsh announces registered convincing wins in the finals to claim retirement gold medals at the Senior Wrestling National  The Laura Alexandra Marsh, England cricketer Championships in Jalandhar, Punjab. announced her retirement.  While Phogat beat 20-year-old Haryana’s Anju  Laura has won three World Cups in her 13-year 7-3 in the 55kg category, Olympic bronze medallist career, she made her debut in 2006 as a seamer, Malik defeated Radhika of Haryana 4-2 in the later on, she switched to spin. 62kg category.  She has represented England in 103 ODI’s (One India’s R. Praggnanandhaa wins London Chess Day International), 67 T20’s and 9 Tests and has Classic taken 217 in her career.  R. Praggnanandhaa from India has won the  She is also England’s 3rd highest -taker in FIDE Open category of the London Chess ODI cricket. Classic held in London. S. Mandhana in ICC’s ODI and T20 team of  He won the tournament with a tally of 7.5 points the year out of nine rounds.  India opener Smriti Mandhana was named in both  The 14-year-old Indian chess player finished joint the International Cricket Council’s ODI and T20 first with Anton Smirnov of Australia both scoring teams of the year. 7.5 points.  She has Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav and

12 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 Shikha Pandey for the company in the ODI team  Besides accumulating the biggest points haul, of the year and all-rounder Deepti Sharma in the Qatar has also jumped a year-high 38 places, T20 side. followed closely by fellow climbers Algeria (up Indian men’s football team ranked 108th in 32 ranks) and Japan (up 22 places). latest FIFA rankings Meiraba Luw+ang wins Bangladesh Junior Int’l  The Indian men’s football team remained static Badminton Series at 108th spot in the year-ending FIFA rankings.  India’s shuttler Maisnam Meiraba Luwang has  India lost 11 places throughout the year. With 1187 won the Men’s singles Bangladesh Junior total points, India is placed at 19th spot among International Badminton Series 2019 in Dhaka, Asian countries headed by Japan 28th. Bangladesh. Nadal and Barty named 2019 ITF World  Top-seeded Meiraba, who hails from Manipur, Champions beat Ken Yong Ong 21, 14, 21-18 in the final.  Ashleigh Barty and Rafael Nadal were named South African seamer Vernon Philander International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) World announces retirement Champions in singles for 2019.  South African all-rounder Vernon Philander  This awards will be given at the 2020 ITF world announced international retirement from all forms champions 2nd June, in Paris. of cricket after the conclusion of the upcoming CATEGORY WINNER Test series against England. Men Singles Rafael Nadal (Spain) MS Dhoni named captain of CA’s ODI team of Women Singles Ashleigh Barty (Australia) the decade Women Doubles Timea Babos (Hungary)  Former India skipper and wicket-keeper batsman and Kristina Mladenovic (France) MS Dhoni been named captain of Cricket Men Doubles Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Australia’s (CA) ODI team of the decade and Farah (Colombia) the line-up features three Indian players. Men’s Wheelchair Gustavo Fernandez  Apart from Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Argentina) have made the cut in CA’s team. Women’s Wheelchair Diede de Groot  CA’s ODI team of the decade: Rohit Sharma, (Netherland) Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Quad Dylan Alcott (Australia) Al Hasan, Jos Buttler, MS Dhoni (c), Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan. Mirabai Chanu wins Gold in 6th Qatar Leander Paes to retire from Tennis in 2020 International Cup  Indian tennis ace Leander Paes has announced  Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the that 2020 will be his last year as a professional women’s 49kg category gold medal to open tennis player. India’s account at the 6th Qatar International Cup  Leander, who made his Olympic debut in 1992, in Doha. will look for one final flourish at Tokyo Olympics  She bagged gold with an effort of 194kg in the next year. Olympic qualifying event, with the points which  He has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles will come in handy when the final rankings for Grand Slam titles. Tokyo 2020 cut are done. Virat Kohli named in Wisden cricketers of the  She lifted 83kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and decade list jerk to finish on top of the podium.  Indian skipper Virat Kohli is one of the five players Belgium crowned FIFA Team of the Year named in the Wisden Cricketers of the Decade.  Belgium has been crowned FIFA ‘Team of the Kohli, who has scored 5,775 more international Year’ for the second successive time after a runs than anyone else in the last 10 years, has record-breaking year for the global ladder. arguably been the best batsman over the last  World champions France remains in the second decade. place ahead of Brazil in third.

 13 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 AWARDS

Tony Joseph wins 2019 Shakti Bhatt First at an event in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Book Prize  The award was given to Late Lini Sajeesh from  English author Tony Joseph has won the 12th Kozhikode, , who died while on duty caring ‘Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize’. for a Nipah (NiV) virus-infected patient in  He was awarded for his 2018 book, “Early Kerala. Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where  Other 35 awardees were Auxiliary Nurse We Came From”. Midwives (ANMs), Lady Health Visitors Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for 6th time (LHVs), and nurses from different states and  Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Union Territories (UT). Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player Miss South Africa crowned 2019 Miss for a record 6th time. Universe  It is the 32-year-old Argentine’s first Ballon d’Or  Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi was crowned since 2015 and comes after he scored 54 times in Atlanta, US. Ms Tunzi for club and country in 2018-19, in which Barca beat over 90 contestants from around the globe won La Liga. in the 68th instalment of Miss Universe. ET Lifetime of Public Service Award for Former  Miss Universe Puerto Rico Madison Anderson FM (Late) Arun Jaitley was the runner-up in this contest.  Arun Jaitley former Finance Minister of India 4 eminent diplomats honoured with 2019 ‘Diwali was bestowed with the Economic Times (ET) – Power of One Award’ Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service  The 4 prominent diplomats have been honoured 2019. with ‘The Diwali – Power of One’ award 2019 ‘Joker’ fame Joaquin Phoenix named 2019 in recognition and celebration of their work, ‘Person of the Year’ by PETA especially at the United Nations, for a secure  ‘Joker’ fame Joaquin Rafael Phoenix, American and peaceful world. actor from California, United States (US) has  The diplomats who were honoured are: been bestowed with the PETA (People for the  Former foreign minister and Permanent Ethical Treatment of Animals) ‘Person of the Representative of Kazakhstan to UN: Kairat Year’ Award 2019. Abdrakhmanov.  He has recently appeared in an advertisement  Former Permanent Representative of Cyprus to of PETA titled “We are all animals”. UN: Nicholas Emiliou. New Zealand wins MCC’s Spirit of Cricket  Former Chef de Cabinet to President of 72nd award Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA)  The New Zealand cricket team has been and Permanent Representative of Slovakia to UN: awarded the Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit Frantisek Ruzicka. of Cricket award.  Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN:  The team has been awarded for its exemplary Volodymyr Yelchenko show of sportsmanship during the final match of Greta Thunberg named Time Person of the the ICC World Cup at Lord’s in July 2019, which Year for 2019 it lost under controversial circumstances.  Sweden’s Greta Thunberg has been named as  Martin-Jenkins was the former MCC president Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019. and BBC Test Match Special commentator.  Greta Thunberg is the Swedish schoolgirl who National Florence Nightingale awards 2019 inspired a global movement to fight climate  President of India conferred 36 awardees with change and became popular with the the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2019 “#FridaysForFuture”.

14 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

S.No. Name Profession Category 1 Greta Thunberg Climate activist Person of the Year Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Businessperson of the 2 Bob Iger Company Year 3 The Public Servants Federal workers of the US Guardians of the Year United States women’s national 4 Women’s Soccer Athlete of the Year soccer team 5 Melissa Jefferson (Lizzo) Singer Entertainer of the Year

Rani Rampal, Saurabh Chaudhary Win Top PMGSY-II covering a length of 783.88 Honours at FICCI India Sports Awards kilometres at an estimated cost of 878.53 crore  Indian women’s hockey team captain rupees for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Rampal and ace pistol shooter Saurabh Gujarat police became 7th state police to get Chaudhary won the Sports Person of the Year ‘President’s Colours’ awards at the FICCI India Sports Awards 2019.  The state police of Gujarat were honoured with Toni-Ann Singh crowned ‘President’s colours’. The Gujarat police were  Tony-Ann Singh of Jamaica was announced as presented with the President’s colours by Vice the winner of the Miss World 2019 beauty President of India Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu pageant held at the ExCeL London. in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.  She was crowned by her predecessor Miss  They were presented the president’s colours for World 2018 Vanessa Ponce from Mexico. their outstanding services.  Ophelia Mezino of France and of  It is the highest honour given to a police force in India were the first and second runners up of India. the beauty pageant respectively.  The previously awarded states were Madhya UN Medal awarded to Indian peacekeepers to Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, support the people of South Sudan Tripura and Assam.  Indian peacekeepers have been recognized for Ben Stokes awarded with Sports Personality their strong contribution to building peace in of the Year 2019 award conflict-affected South Sudan as well as for  England cricketer Ben Stokes has been voted going above and beyond their duties to support BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019. local communities.  He has become the first cricketer since Andrew  Almost 850 Indian troops received the United Flintoff in 2005 to win the prize. Nations Medal for their dedication and sacrifice  Ben Stokes was Man of the Match as England serving so far away from home to protect won the 2019 World Cup for the first time with a civilians and build durable peace in South Sudan. dramatic super over victory against New Zealand Union Rural Development Ministry selected at Lord’s. UT of J&K for National award Sahitya Akademi award 2019 released  Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been  Sahitya Akademi announced its annual Sahitya selected for the national award by Union Rural Akademi Awards in 23 languages. Seven books Development Ministry for best performance in of poetry, four of the novel, six of short stories, the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram three of essays and one each of non-fiction, Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). autobiography and biography have won the  Union Rural Development Ministry has Sahitya Akademi Awards 2019. This time, the sanctioned 147 Road and Bridge projects under awards for the Nepali language will be announced later.

15 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

S.No Language Title and Genre Name of the Author 1 Assamese Chanakya (Novel) Joysree Goswami Mahanta 2 Bengali Ghumer Darja Thele (Essays) Chinmoy Guha 3 Bodo Akhai Athumniphrai (Poetry) Phukan Ch. Basumatary 4 Dogri Bandralta Darpan (Essays) Om Sharma Jandriari 5 English An Era of Darkness (Non-Fiction) Shashi Tharoor 6 Gujarati Mojma Revu Re (Essays) Ratilal Borisagar 7 Hindi Chheelate Hue Apne Ko (Poetry) Nand Kishore Acharya 8 Kannada Kudi Esaru (Autobiography) Vijaya 9 Kashmiri Akh Yaad Akh Qayamat (Short Stories) Abdul AhadHajini 10 Konkani The Words (Poetry) Nilba A Khandekar 11 Maithili Jingik Oriaon Kariat (Poetry) Kumar Manish Arvind 12 Achan Piranna Veedu (Poetry) V Madhusoodanan Nair 13 Manipuri EiAmadi Adungeigi Eethat (Novel) L Birmangol Singh (Beryl Thanga) 14 Marathi Kadachit Ajoonahi(Poetry) Anuradha Patil 15 Odia Bhaswati (Short Stories) Tarun Kanti Mishra 16 Punjabi Antheen (Short Stories) Kirpal Kazak 17 Rajasthani BareekBaat (Short Stories) Ramswaroop Kisan 18 Sanskrit Prajnachakshusham (Poetry) Penna Madhusudan 19 Santali Sisirkali (Short Stories) Kali Charan Hembram 20 Sindhi Jeejal (Short Stories) Ishwar Moorjani 21 Tamil Sool (Novel) Cho Dharman 22 Telugu Septabhoomi (Novel) Bandi Narayana Swamy Sawaneh-E-Sir Syed: Ek Bazadeed 23 Urdu (Biography) Shafey Kidwai

Malayali boy Aditya bags top bravery award  He served as the founder-director of Tamilnadu  Aditya K. of Kozhikode, Kerala has become the Archaeology Department. first child from the State to bag the Bharat Award  In 2018 he was awarded India’s third highest for bravery. civilian award Padma Bhushan.  The most prestigious of the National Bravery Kamareddy wins Unicef-2019 Award for Swachh Awards, given away by the Indian Council for Bharat implementation Child Welfare.  Kamareddy district of Telangana has secured  The Bharat Award has gone to Aditya for rescued the United Nations International Children’s and 20 people from a bus carrying members of the Education Fund (Unicef)-2019 Award. Calicut University Pensioners’ Forum and their  The district has won the award for effective families when it caught fire coming down a steep implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission in mountain road. water sanitation and hygiene sectors.  Two more children from the State are also AAO bestows Life Achievement honour to Dr recipients of the awards. Muhammed Mohsin Santosh G Honavar has been given the award posthumously for  Dr Santosh G Honavar, India’s ophthalmologist saving the lives of three children. is conferred with the American Academy of Indian Archaeologist honoured in Bangladesh Ophthalmology’s (AAO) highest award Life  Noted archaeologist R. Nagaswamy was Achievement honour that is given to its members. honoured at the Silver Jubilee International  He is the first Indian chosen for the honour. Conference of Art in Dhaka by Bangladesh. American Academy of Ophthalmology is the  He is an Indian historian, archaeologist and world’s largest associ epigraphist. 16 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 Know more about MAHARASHTRA Majestic Maharashtra Formation: 1st May 1960 (Maharashtra Day) The Western Ghats is also known as the Sahyadri Capitals: (Summer) & Nagpur (Winter) Mountain range Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari Kalsubai, near Nashik - Highest elevated point in Maharashtra. Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray rivers: Krishna, Bhima, Godavari, Tapi- Legislature: Bicameral Purna and Wardha-Wainganga. State Symbols: Maharashtra is divided into five geographic regions- Animal-Indian giant squirrel Konkan , Kandesh, Desh, Marathwada, Vidarbha. Bird-Yellow-footed green pigeon Wildlife sanctuaries: Insect-Blue Mormon Bhimashankar , Radhanagari , Bor , Koyna , , Nagzira and Mhadei . Flower-Jarul National Parks: Tree-Mango Tree Chandoli National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Sport- Kabaddi Park, Navegoan National Park. Dance-Laavni Economy: Neighboring States: Mumbai- The financial capital of India 6 (Gujarat, MP, Chhattishgarh, Telangana, Important financial institutions- Kernataka, Goa) Reserve Bank of India, Bombay Stock Exchange, Nashik-The ‘Wine Capital of India’ SEBI. Pune- The ‘Oxford of the East’ India’s premier scientific and nuclear institutes - Mumbai-The most populous urban area in India. BARC, NPCL, IREL, TIFR, AERB, AECI, and the Department of Atomic Energy. Maharashtra is the third-most urbanised state of India. Transport: Etymology- Maha (“great”) and Rashtra (“nation/ Thane and CSMT( Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj dominion”) Terminus) are the busiest railway stations in India. History: Maharashtra was chronologically ruled Jawaharlal Nehru Port, abbreviated as JNPT, also by the Satavahana dynasty, Rashtrakuta dynasty, known as Nhava Sheva, is the largest container port Western Chalukyas, Deccan sultanates, Mughals in India. and Marathas, and the British. Cuisine: Geography and Climate: puran poli, modak, and batata wada. Misal Pav, One of the more prominent physical features of Pav Bhaji and Vada pav,Bhakris. Maharashtra is the Deccan plateau

17 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 The Kaashtha sari – A style of sari draping Aurangabad(City of Gates) (Kaashtha refers to the sari being tucked at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and back). Ellora caves, the Daulatabad Fort, and the Bibi Ka Also Called-Nauvari or Sakachcha sari which Maqbara (Taj of the Deccan) in Aurangabad. means Nine Yards. The important hill stations in Western Maharashtra Performing arts: are Mahabaleshwar, and Matheran. Lavani (derived from the word “lavanya” meaning The Lonar Lake-The only saline Soda lake in the beauty)., world created by a meteor Koli dance (as called ‘Koligeete’ related to the fisher Shani Shingnapur is a village where there are no folk of Maharashtra) door frames and locks in homes. Tamasha (based on the Ramayana and the The First Train In India Ran Between Mumbai Mahabharata.) To Thane On 16 April, 1853 Dindi Railway station of Navapur- Partly in Maharashtra symbolises the devotion and love of Lord Krishna. and in Gujarat. Dhangari Gaja RBI maintains the country’s total gold reserves in Nagpur. performed by the shepherd community called the Dhangars. Navi Mumbai- Largest planned city in the World. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest Dharavi- 2nd largest slum in asia. award in cinema. Nashik-The place where Lord Lakshman cut the Tourism: nose of Suparnakha. Mumbai Local- Lifeline of Mumbai

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18 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 GK/CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ

1. Election Commission of India (ECI) has 12. Which city organized the 47th All India Police recognized Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) as state Science Congress? party of which state? (a) Kolkata (b) Gurugram (a) Haryana (b) Jharkhand (c) Lucknow (d) Pune (c) Maharashtra (d) Odisha 13. Researchers of which country have recently 2. Yasuhiro Nakasone, who passed away recently, discovered a massive black hole in the Milky was the former PM of which country? Way? (a) North Korea (b) China (a) India (b) China (c) South Korea (d) Japan (c) USA (d) Russia 3. Angad Vir Singh Bajwa is associated to which 14. Who was awarded 2019 Karmaveer Chakra by sports? iCONGO and United Nations? (a) Chess (b) Cricket (a) Manjeet Singh (b) Rahul Adhikari (c) Boxing (d) Shooting (c) Aman Desai (d) Sachin Tanwar 4. Who has become fastest man to reach 7,000 15. Bala Singh, who recently passed away, was a Test runs? famous personality of which profession? (a) Virat Kohli (b) Rohit Sharma (a) Actor (b) Novelist (c) Steve Smith (d) Aaron Finch (c) Singer (d) Sculptor 5. Noted theatre artiste Paramananda Sahu, who 16. Who is the author of ‘Garam pahad’? passed away recently, was from which state? (a) Namdev Tarachandani (a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Odisha (b) Moti Prakash (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Rajasthan (c) Anita bhatnagar Jain (d) Fahmida Hussain 6. Who is the author of the book “The Legacy of 17. Which IIT has joined hands with the National Militancy in Punjab: Long Road to Normalcy” ? Council of Science Museums to develop (a) Dona Suri (b) Vikram Seth ‘Gandhipedia’? (c) Arundhati Roy (d) Vani Kaushal (a) IIT Kharagpur (b) IIT Delhi 7. Schistura syngkai is the scientific name of which (c) IIT Madras (d) IIT Bombay type of species? 18. Which film won the Golden Peacock Award (a) Elephant (b) Fish 2019? (c) Frog (d) Tortoise (a) Marighella (b) Particles 8. Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, who has been (c) Rwanda (d) Jallikattu chosen for the 55th Jnanpith Award, is associated 19. Which company has became the first company to which language? to list commercial papers on stock exchanges? (a) Kannada (b) Tamil (a) Tata Capital (c) Malayalam (d) Telugu (b) Aditya Birla Finance 9. The first-ever International Conference on (c) Muthoot Finance “Landslides Risk Reduction and Resilience” was (d) Bajaj Finserv Ltd. held in which city? 20. Which bank is to assist in strengthening power (a) Geneva (b) London connectivity in Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial (c) Paris (d) New Delhi Corridor? 10. Who has been appointed as chairman of (a) Asian Development Bank microfinance panel of the Code for Responsible (b) Reserve Bank of India Lending (CRL)? (c) Swiss Bank (a) H R Khan (b) R Gandhi (d) BRICS Bank (c) Mahesh Kumar Jain (d) Anand Sinha 21. According to the recently released UNEP 11. 50th International Film Festival of India was Emissions Gap Report 2019, the global temperature recently concluded in which city? will rise by how many degrees till 2100? (a) Mumbai (b) Goa (a) 3.2 degree Celsius (c) New Delhi (d) Chennai (b) 4.7 degree Celsius (c) 1.9 degree Celsius (d) 2.4 degree Celsius

19 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 22. SURYA KIRAN, a joint military Exercise of 34. Who recently took charge as the new Controller India with which country? General of Accounts? (a) Nepal (b) Sri Lanka (a) Giriraj Prasad Gupta (c) Myanmar (d) Bhutan (b) Archana Nigam 23. Who won 55th Jnanpith Award-2019? (c) J.P.S. Chawla (a) Rajeev Alunkal (d) Soma Roy Burman (b) Lalithambika Antharjanam 35. Which became the first Asian country to be the (c) Akkitham ‘Guest of Honour Country’ at the International (d) Rafeeq Ahamed Book fair, Mexico? 24. Who has been appointed as first chairman of (a) China (b) Japan steering committee panel on Code for (c) India (d) Australia Responsible Lending (CRL) in Micro-Credit? 36. 13th South Asian Games have recently been (a) Sonia Krishnankutty inaugurated in which country? (b) H R Khan (a) China (b) Vietnam (c) P Satish (c) India (d) Nepal (d) Harsh Shrivastava 37. Who won the Women’s Singles title at 2019 Syed 25. The sixth Dornier aircraft squadron of Modi International badminton tournament? was recently commissioned in which state/UT? (a) P.V. Sindhu (b) Carolina Marin (a) Goa (b) Punjab (c) Baek Ha-na (d) Alina Davletova (c) Gujarat (d) Andaman & Nicobar Islands 38. Which city is to organize the 3rd edition of Khelo 26. Which one is the maximum fine that can be India Youth Games? imposed by the government for the misuse of (a) Chandigarh (b) Nashik National Emblem? (c) Guwahati (d) Patna (a) Rs.5 lakh (b) Rs.2 lakh 39. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is (c) Rs.1 lakh (d) Rs.4 lakh observed on which date? 27. Which online trucking platform, has partnered (a) November 30 (b) December 1 with IDFC Bank and Yes Bank to provide (c) December 2 (d) December 3 FASTags? 40. The National Pollution Control Day is observed (a) Blackbuck (b) Trunk pool on 2 December every year in order to honor the (c) Freight (d) Integrated logistics lives that were lost because of the Bhopal gas 28. The police of which Indian city has recently calamity.The calamity occurred due to discharge received SKOCH award for clean stations? of which gas? (a) Hyderabad (b) Chennai (a) Propane (b) Methyl Isocyanate (c) Amravati (d) Panaji (c) Propyl Isocyanate (d) Methane 29. Which cricket player has recently become the 41. Who won the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title? fastest to reach 7,000 Test runs? (a) Max Verstappen(b) Charles Leclerc (a) Joe Root (b) David Warner (c) Valtteri Bottas (d) Lewis Hamilton (c) Steve Smith (d) Ross Taylor 42. Which spacecraft of NASA has recently found 30. The Small Industries and Export Corporation of the crashed Indian Moon lander Vikram? which state has recently launched a Web-based (a) CALIPSO (b) Aura Geographic Information System? (c) Landsat7 (d) LRO (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Madhya Pradesh 43. Carl XVI Gustaf, who is on a visit to India, is (c) Punjab (d) Uttar Pradesh the King of which country? 31. Mitra Shakti is a joint military exercise of India (a) Sweden (b) Switzerland with which country? (c) Turkey (d) Scotland (a) Nepal (b) Bhutan 44. Who is the author of the book ‘The Vault of (c) Sri Lanka (d) Iran Vishnu’? 32. Which country has become the first country to (a) Ashwin Sanghi (b) Amish Tripathi make entire Haj process digital? (c) Devdutt Pattanaik (d) Sunil Dalal (a) Pakistan (b) India 45. Who recently became the 1st woman of Indian (c) UAE (d) Kuwait Navy to fly Dornier surveillance aircraft? 33. Who has been elected as the new speaker of (a) Shivangi (b) Punita Arora the Maharashtra Assembly? (c) Shaliza Dhami (d) Minty Agarwal (a) Praful Patel (b) Nana Patole (c) Dilip Walse Patil (d) Kisan Kathore 20 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 46. Which Income Tax Act will be amended by the 57. India Ranking Society has been established to Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019? rank which type of public facilities? (a) Income Tax Act 1922 (a) Hospitals (b) Panchayats (b) Income Tax Act 1962 (c) Educational institutes (d) Banks (c) Income Tax Act 1961 58. World Wildlife Conservation Day was observed (d) Income Tax Act 2018 around the world on which date? 47. Who has been appointed as the new President (a) December 4 (b) December 5 of Mauritius? (c) December 3 (d) December 2 (a) Ameenah Gurib-Fakim 59. Which American Telecommunications Company (b) Pravind Jugnauth has partnered with Amazon on 5G in cloud (c) Pritivirajsing Roopun computing expansion? (d) Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (a) T Mobile (b) AT&T 48. International Day of Persons with Disabilities was (c) Sprint Corporation (d) Verizon celebrated on December 3 under which theme? 60. Which country is to organize the 2019 NATO (a) Empowering persons with disabilities Summit? (b) The Future is Accessible (a) United States (b) United Kingdom (c) Ensuring inclusiveness and equality (c) France (d) India (d) Transformation towards sustainable and 61. Sarai Sewage Treatment Plant was inaugurated resilient society for all in which state? 49. Who took charge as the Commander-in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command? (a) West Bengal (b) Kerala (a) Sam Manekshaw (c) Gujarat (d) Uttarakhand (b) Podali Shankar Rajeshwar 62. Recently inaugurated Avantee Mega Food Park (c) Bipin Rawat is located in which of the following locations? (d) Amarjeet Singh Bedi (a) Ujjain (b) Dewas 50. What is the name of the typhoon that recently (c) Itarasi (d) Jabalpur hit Philippines? 63. INDRA is a Joint tri service exercise between (a) Frank (b) Kammuri India and which country? (c) Angela (d) Haiyan (a) France (b) Russia 51. Which country has recently won the Christopher (c) USA (d) China Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket award for 2019? 64. Which education board in India is to introduce (a) India (b) Australia AI in schools from the session 2019-20? (c) New Zealand (d) West Indies (a) ICSE (b) SSC (c) CBSE (d) HBSE 52. Which state won the Best State Award in 65. According to a recent report, which country has cadaveric organ donation? recorded the highest estimated number of (a) Maharashtra (b) Rajasthan cervical cancer deaths in 2018? (c) Kerala (d) Tamilnadu (a) China (b) Brazil 53. The railway station of which city has been (c) India (d) Mexico certified as first ever ‘Eat Right Station’ by 66. International Civil Aviation Day is being observed FSSAI for food safety and hygiene? on which date? (a) Mumbai (b) Hyderabad (a) December 5 (b) December 6 (c) Amravati (d) Bhopal (c) December 7 (d) December 8 54. India is to set up Healthcare Innovation Centre 67. Which language has recently been used for the with the help of which country? first time in Rajya Sabha? (a) Netherlands (b) USA (a) Bodo (b) Dogri (c) Japan (d) Sweden (c) Maithili (d) Santhali 55. According to Euro Monitor International, which 68. Which mobile game has crossed 170 million one is the rank of Delhi in the list top 100 downloads in just 2 months of its release? destinations of the world? (a) Diablo Immortal (b) Wild Rift (a) 12 (b) 13 (c) 11 (d) 10 (c) Call of Duty (d) Mario Kart Tour 56. What is the strike range of nuclear-capable 69. Which state has recently partnered with WEF Prithvi-II missile whose night trial was recently to promote electric mobility? conducted? (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) West Bengal (a) 250 Kms (b) 350 Kms (c) Punjab (d) Telangana (c) 422 Kms (d) 450 Kms 21 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 70. Which city organized the National Florence 81. ‘The Diwali – Power of One- 2019’ awards Nightingale Awards-2019? were organized in which city? (a) Bengaluru (b) (a) New Delhi (b) London (c) Pune (d) New Delhi (c) Melbourne (d) New York 71. Who has been appointed as a Senior Security 82. Which country has recently recorded the first Advisor in the Home Ministry? polio case in 27 years? (a) C. Sylendra Babu (b) K Vijay Kumar (a) Vietnam (b) Singapore (c) Walter Devaram (d) Sandeep Bharadwaj (c) Malaysia (d) Indonesia 72. The 4th India Water Impact Summit was being 83. Who won the Miss Universe 2019 title? organized in which city? (a) Tyler Perry (b) (a) New Delhi (b) Mumbai (c) Zozibini Tunzi (d) Catriona Gray (c) Chennai (d) Hyderabad 84. Who has been recently elected the youngest- 73. According to recent report, which police station ever as PM of Finland? is the best police station of India? (a) Sanna Marin (b) Katri Kulmuni (a) Ajk Burhanpur Police Station (c) Li Andersson (d) Antti Lindtman (b) Balasinor Police Station 85. International Anti-Corruption Day is being (c) Aberdeen Police Station observed on December 9,2019 under which (d) Bakani Police Station 74. Which state has launched Anti Depredation theme? Squads in forests to avoid human-wildlife (a) The Power of People’s pressure conflicts? (b) United Against Corruption (a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Nagaland (c) Fight Corruption (c) Assam (d) Sikkim (d) End of corruption 75. Which railway station has become the 5500th 86. Which city in Karnataka recently conducted a station of India to get free wifi facility? Human Library event? (a) Hazaribagh Railway Station (a) Bengaluru (b) Mysore (b) Arigada Railway Station (c) Hubli (d) Mangalore (c) Mahuamilan Railway Station 87. The famous pilgrimage centre Omkareshwar, (d) Ranchi Railway Station recently in news, belongs to which Indian state? 76. Which state has distributed free laptops to Plus (a) Bihar (b) Jammu and Kashmir Two (+2) meritorious students under the ‘Biju (c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Maharashtra Sashaktikaran Yojana’? 88. According to a recent report, which Indian River (a) West Bengal (b) Maharashtra has become one of the top 10 cleanest rivers of (c) Odisha (d) Telangana the world? 77. The provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) (a) Ganga (b) Yamuna Bill, 2019 are not applicable to tribal areas of (c) Ravi (d) Kaveri which state? 89. The satellite Duchifat 3, which is to be launched (a) Nagaland (b) Jharkhand from India, belongs to which country (c) Meghalaya (d) Chhattisgarh (a) USA (b) Russia 78. Who has been appointed as the new chairman (c) Netherlands (d) Israel of National Stock Exchange? 90. Sohae Satellite Launching Station is located in (a) Vipin Anand which country? (b) Ashok Chawla (a) Japan (b) South Korea (c) T C Suseel Kumar (c) China (d) North Korea (d) Girish Chandra Chaturvedi 91. Human Rights Day is celebrated on which date? 79. 5th edition of annual ‘MED – Mediterranean Dialogues’ is being held in which city? (a) December 7 (b) December 8 (a) Rome (b) Paris (c) December 9 (d) December 10 (c) Madrid (d) Amsterdam 92. What is India’s rank in Human Development 80. Global Migration Report 2020 is published by Index-2019? which organization? (a) 95 (b) 117 (c) 129 (d) 125 (a) UNESCO 93. Which city is host to the “BlockHash Live 2019” (b) International Organisation for Migration conclave? (c) League of Nations (a) Kochi (b) Ahmedabad (d) UNICEF (c) Bengaluru (d) Mumbai 22 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 94. Which city is to organize “Transforming 107. Which country has topped the medal tally of Education Conference for Humanity 2019”? 13th South Asian Games-2019? (a) Vishakhapatnam(b) Chennai (a) China (b) Nepal (c) Amravati (d) Hyderabad (c) India (d) Japan 95. Who became the first Indian to play 150 Ranji 108. Which country is to be the partner country of matches? India at the BioAsia-2020 conference? (a) Sairaj Bahutule (b) (a) Israel (b) Russia (c) (d) Devendra Bundela (c) Nepal (d) Switzerland 96. Who is to get the ‘Gangadhar National Award’ 109. The International Union for the Conservation 2019? of Nature (IUCN) has recently added how (a) Ashok Chakradhar many species to List of Threatened Species? (b) Suryakumar Pandey (a) 840 (b) 640 (c) 1240 (d) 1840 (c) Phoolchand Gupta 110. Union Ministry of Road Transport and (d) Viswanath Prasad Tiwari Highways (MoRTH) has launched a pilot 97. Which city organized the FICCI ARISE project for using FASTags for parking Conference 2019? purposes in which city? (a) Gurugram (b) Sonipat (a) Jaipur (b) Hyderabad (c) New Delhi (d) Noida (c) Chennai (d) New Delhi 98. Who is the famous ‘Sesame Street’ puppeteer 111. Gollapudi Maruti Rao, who recently died, was that recently passed away? a famous personality of which field? (a) Caroll Spinney (b) Kevin Clash (a) Actor (b) Musician (c) Matt Vogel (d) Jerry Nelson (c) Pianist (d) Hockey Player 99. Which country recently abolished rules requiring 112. How many deemed Sanskrit universities will restaurants to provide separate entrances for be converted into Central universities under women? Central Sanskrit Universities Bill? (a) UAE (b) North Korea (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (c) China (d) Saudi Arabia 113. Which company has launched First Audio 100. A MoU has been signed between NSIC and Service ‘Suno’ of india? Aramco for the development of MSME (a) Boss (b) Audible Ecosystem in India in Oil & Gas Sector. (c) Sony (d) Samsung Aramco belongs to which country? 114. Parivara, Talwara and Siddi are the Scheduled (a) UAE (b) Saudi Arab Tribes of which Indian state? (c) Russia (d) Israel (a) Kerala (b) Karnataka 101. International Mountain Day is observed on (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Bihar which date? 115. Which country has recently left 2050 Climate (a) December 11 (b) December 8 Neutrality Agreement of European Union? (c) December 9 (d) December 10 (a) Ethiopia (b) Sudan 102. How many ‘Must See Monuments’ have been (c) Poland (d) Greece identified by Archaeological Survey of India? 116. Who has topped the Forbes’ 2019 edition of (a) 101 (b) 138 (c) 156 (d) 142 100 World’s Most Powerful Women? 103. National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has (a) Nancy Pelosi (b) Ursula von der Leyen selected which Bollywood actor as its brand (c) Angela Merkel(d) Christine Lagarde ambassador? 117. Who has been named as the 2019 Person of (a) Akshay Kumar (b) Salman Khan the Year by TIME magazine? (c) Suniel Shetty (d) Imran Hasmi (a) Virat Kohli (b) Bob lger 104. Which rank has been achieved by India in the (c) Greta Thunberg (d) LeBron James Climate Change Performance Index? 118. The National Energy Conservation Day is (a) 9 (b) 7 (c) 8 (d) 12 observed on which date? 105. ‘Iron Union 12’, a joint military exercise of (a) December 12 (b) December 13 USA with which other country? (c) December 14 (d) December 15 (a) India (b) China (c) Iran (d) UAE 119. The Narcotics Control Bureau is to destroy 106. The first fully electronic flight in the world which drug plantation using drones in India? recently took off from which country? (a) Opium poppy (b) Peyote (a) USA (b) Russia (c) Salvia (d) Marijuana (c) Canada (d) Netherlands 23 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 120. Which Indian city became the first city to have 133. Who has recently created history by scoring an online waste exchange for municipal solid centuries on debut in both ODI and ? waste? (a) Marnus Labuschagne (a) Pune (b) Indore (b) Abid Ali (c) New Delhi (d) Chennai (c) Dhananjaya de Silva 121. Which nation has recently gained (d) Mohammad Hasnain independence from Papua New Guinea? 134. Who has been recently crowned Miss World (a) Kiriwina (b) Manus Asia 2019? (c) Buka (d) Bougainville (a) Suman Rao (b) 122. Which city organized the Symposium on Scope (c) Shreya Shanker (d) of Science of Ayurveda in Global Health? 135. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (a) Dehradun (b) Haridwar has issued a draft notification on December (c) New Delhi (d) Panchkula 15, 2019, to regulate the registration of which 123. The Legislative Assembly of which state has type of vehicles? passed Disha Bill, 2019 recently? (a) Petrol Vehicle (b) Vintage Vehicle (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Goa (c) Diesel Vehicle (d) Luxury Vehicle (c) Maharashtra (d) West Bengal 136. Which paramilitary force has launched the first 124. International Universal Health Coverage Day ever matrimonial site for its staff? is observed on which date? (a) CISF (b) BSF (c) NSG (d) ITBP (a) December 9 (b) December 10 137. Police of which state has recently received (c) December 11 (d) December 12 the President Colours Award -2019? 125. Recently established trust “InvIT Trust” (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Haryana belongs to which Indian authority? (c) Gujarat (d) Rajasthan (a) DRDO (b) ISRO 138. Which Union Territory unveiled a start up (c) NHAI (d) CSIR policy of the Industries Department? 126. George Laurer,who recently passed away was (a) Chandigarh (b) Delhi (c) Puducherry (d) Lakshadweep the inventor of which service? 139. Which site has been selected for sample (a) Telegram (b) Bar Code collection on asteroid Bennu? (c) Twitter (d) Email (a) Nightingale (b) Ceres 127. Which country has become the sixth largest (c) Itokawa (d) Hygiea oil supplier of India? 140. Which famous massage has been recently (a) UAE (b) Kuwait added to prestigious heritage list of UNESCO? (c) USA (d) Iran (a) Swedish massage 128. Which state government is to set up a virtual (b) Hot Stone massage police station? (c) Aroma Therapy massage (a) Odisha (b) Bihar (d) Nuad Thai massage (c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Andhra Pradesh 141. Recently, the Indian troops serving with the 129. Peter Handke, who received the Nobel UNMISS received the UN Medal for their Literature prize,belongs to which country? dedication and sacrifice. The UNMISS is in (a) Australia (b) Serbia service to which country? (c) Austria (d) USA (a) Morocco (b) South Sudan 130. The 37th National Symposium of Heads of (c) Sudan (d) Syria Police Training Institutions is being held in 142. Five US tech giants are currently facing which Indian city? lawsuits over the death of child labourers in (a) Saharanpur (b) Pune cobalt mines in which country? (c) Hyderabad (d) New Delhi (a) Democratic Republic of Congo 131. Which country is to host the 36th International (b) Uganda Geological Congress? (c) Angola (a) Russia (b) USA (d) Sierra Leone (c) India (d) Japan 143. Which neighbouring country of India was 132. Which company has won the Space Oscars recently criticised for providing special permits awards at Copernicus Masters competition? for the royal family of Qatar to hunt vulnerable (a) Urthecast (b) Spatial AI species Houbara Bustards? (c) Blue Sky analytics (d) PCI Geomatics (a) Nepal (b) China (c) Sri Lanka (d) Pakistan 24 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 144. Which joint military exercise was recently 154. The US has recently rejected China and concluded by Nepal and India? Russia’s call to ease sanctions on North Korea. (a) Yudh Abhyas (b) Sampriti Which country supported North Korea during (c) Hand in Hand (d) Surya Kiran the Korean War? 145. In December, the MSME ministry launched (a) China (b) USSR which of these products produced by women (c) Vietnam (d) Cambodia of militancy affected areas of J&K? 155. The Odisha Cabinet has approved (a) Khadi Rumal SAMRIDHI. What is it? (b) Kashmiri Rug (a) Agriculture policy (c) Papier mache crafts (b) Healthcare policy (d) Pashmina shawls (c) Education policy 146. The Ilisu Dam, which has been in the news (d) Trade policy recently, is in which country? 156. Lok Sabha speaker emphasised on the (a) Pakistan (b) Bhutan implementation of e-cabinet. Which is the first (c) Turkey (d) Bangladesh North East State to implement e-cabinet 147. The scientists at the IIT-H developed a solution? ‘memristor’ for detecting Bovine Serum (a) Assam (b) Sikkim Albumin. Which of the following is not a (c) Tripura (d) Arunachal Pradesh feature of this ‘memristor’? 157. Where is the Bharat Vandana Park being (a) SET switching constructed? (b) RESET switching (a) New Delhi (b) Gujarat (c) Metal electrodes (c) Rajasthan (d) Uttar Pradesh (d) None of the above 158. Where is the Incirlik Air Base located? 148. Pakistani judiciary recently announced the (a) USA (b) Greenland death sentence for former president Pervez (c) Turkey (d) Syria Musharraf. In which year, Musharraf had 159. The Global Refugee Forum meeting was seized power in a military coup in Pakistan? organised by which institution? (a) 1996 (b) 1999 (a) Amnesty International (c) 2000 (d) 2002 (b) Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor 149. The Centre is planning to initiate ‘Saksham (c) Centre for Economic and Social Rights Anganwadi’ scheme through which of its (d) UNHCR ministries? 160. The Abraham Koshy Committee was (a) Ministry of health and family welfare constituted for which organisation? (b) Ministry of science and technology (a) RBI (b) SEBI (c) Ministry of women and child development (c) IRDAI (d) TRAI (d) Ministry of human resource development 161. The Jalasathi program was launched by which 150. Which sportsman was recently named “BBC state government? Sports Personality of the year 2019”? (a) Telangana (b) Andhra Pradesh (a) Lewis Hamilton (b) Ben Stokes (c) Odisha (d) Tamil Nadu (c) Jos Buttler (d) Eoin Morgan 162. What is Andhra Pradesh’s OCTOPUS? 151. India and the US are going to hold 2+2 Ministerial (a) Science research institute Dialogue in Washington. India holds similar (b) Water management authority dialogue format with which other country? (c) Anti-encroachment drive (a) Japan (b) Australia (d) Counter-terrorism unit (c) Russia (d) New Zealand 163. Which state is in talks to develop 3 152. What is the name of the trilateral naval decentralized capitals instead of one? exercise held between India, the US and (a) Telangana (b) Nagaland Japan? (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Odisha (a) Milan (b) Malabar 164. The upcoming 2020 Raisinia Dialogue is to deal (c) SIMBEX (d) INDRA with what topic? 153. India’s Supreme Court has decided to examine (a) Infrastructure Development the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (b) Geopolitics Amendment Act. Which part of the (c) Climate Change constitution deal with citizenship in India? (d) Wildlife conservation (a) Part I (b) Part II (c) Part III (d) Part IV 25 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 165. The Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan is a 176. Which surface rover recently broke the record scheme of which state? for lunar longevity? (a) Chhattisgarh (b) Jharkhand (a) Lunokhod 1 (b) Viper (c) West Bengal (d) Odisha (c) Pragyan (d) Yutu 2 166. The Ludhiana Tiger Safari, which is to receive 177. The bite strength of a Purussaurus was new Bengal Tigers, is in which state? recently calculated. What is a Purussaurus? (a) Punjab (b) Chhattisgarh (a) a flying reptile (b) an ancient shark (c) Gujarat (d) West Bengal (c) a caiman (d) an ancient snake 167. The INDRA 2019 bilateral exercise involves 178. RBI’s Operation Twist is meant for tackling which arms of the armed forces? which issue? (a) Army (b) Air Force (a) Stagflation (c) Navy (d) All of the above (b) Hardening in long tenor bond yields 168. Which of the pairs of host star and exoplanet (c) Liquidity crunch in NBFC were named after gemstones in Malay (d) Low transfer of rate cuts language? 179. The ‘Cricket 4 Good’ is a program (a) Wadirum and Petra of ICC with which international body? (b) Bibha and Santamasa (a) Olympic committee (b) UNESCO (c) Baiduri and Intan (c) UNICEF (d) WADA (d) Nakambe and Mouhoun 180. The Kambala sport, which is to get its own 169. Which recently named star is in the museum, involves the use of which animal? constellation Eridanus (the River (a) Dogs (b) Camels constellation)? (c) Horses (d) Buffaloes (a) Baiduri (b) Nakambe 181. The ‘Nine Dash Line’, which is to be contested (c) Bran (d) Wadirum at the UN, is in which water body? 170. The recently conducted exercise ‘Apharan’ (a) South China Sea involves which arm of the armed forces? (b) North Atlantic Ocean (a) (b) Indian Navy (c) East Philippine sea (c) Indian Air Force (d) CRPF (d) Arctic Ocean 171. Which country recently became the first to 182. The Nord Stream 2 is a gas pipeline project recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia? between which two countries? (a) Afghanistan (b) Iraq (a) Russia and Turkey (c) Saudi Arabia (d) Qatar (b) Germany and Turkey 172. What aspect does the recently launched EChO (c) Russia and Germany Network deal with? (d) Turkey and USA (a) Indian ecology and environment 183. The International Criminal Court, which is (b) Indian foreign policy seeking to look into war crimes in West Asia, (c) Indian military technology was established by which treaty? (d) India’s satellite network (a) Geneva Convention (b) Rome Statute 173. What is Pinaka which was recently tested in (c) Vienna Convention (d) Kyoto Protocol Chandipur of Odisha? 184. Which pope abolished the ‘pontifical secrecy’ (a) Cruise Missile (b) IED rule’s applicability to sexual abuse cases? (c) Minesweeper (d) Artillery Missile (a) Pope Francis (b) Pope Benedict XBI 174. What is Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that is (c) Pope Pius XII (d) Pope Paul VI being tested? 185. The Apex court of which country recently (a) Solar space probe became the first for holding the government (b) Mars space probe responsible for climate action? (c) Astronaut capsule (a) Netherlands (b) Denmark (d) Jupiter space probe (c) Norway (d) Finland 175. The Kuril Island is being disputed between 186. The humanoid robot capable of mirroring human which two countries? actions, T-HR3, was launched by which firm? (a) Japan and South Korea (a) Ford (b) Volkswagen (b) Japan and Russia (c) Toyota Motor Corp. (d) Honda (c) Russia and Ukraine 187. USA’s legislation DASKA provides for (d) Russia and USA sanctions against which country? (a) Russia (b) China (c) Iran (d) Iraq 26 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

188. Harbin Ice Festival is celebrated by which 197. Acute Respiratory Infection, which is claiming country? the lives in Bangladesh, is caused by which (a) China (b) Japan organism? (c) Finland (d) South Korea (a) Bacteria (b) Virus 189. The South Central Railway recently adorned (c) Fungus (d) Achaea the Hyderabad to New Delhi Express in the 198. Storm Elsa is affecting which part of the world? colours of which company as a part of its vinyl (a) America (b) East Asia wrapping advertisement? (c) Central Asia (d) West Europe (a) Singareni Collieries Company Limited 199. What is Ursids that was recently mentioned (b) Mahanadi Coal Mine Limited in the news? (c) Tata Steel (a) Meteor Shower (b) Comet (d) Eastern Coal Field (c) Constellation (d) Satellite 190. Which port was recently brought under the 200. FDA has recently approved Ervedo. What is Chabahar Agreement? Ervebo? (a) Chennai (b) Mormugoa (a) Ebola vaccine (c) Kolkata (d) Vishakhapatnam (b) Measles vaccine 191. Galapagos National Park, sometimes seen in (c) Small pox vaccine news, is located in which country? (d) Polio vaccine (a) Ecuador (b) Honduras 201. The government had recently notified rules on (c) Papua New Guinea (d) Brazil microdot identifiers. Microdot technology is 192. Manuel Marrero Cruz is the Prime Minister used for what purpose? of which country? (a) Vehicle ID (b) Surveillance (a) Cuba (b) Cambodia (c) Navigation (d) E-Banking (c) Chile (d) Ecuador 202. Shahid Beheshti Port, sometimes seen in the 193. The National Farmers Day is celebrated in news, is located in which country? honour of which Indian Prime Minister? (a) Turkey (b) UAE (a) Gulzarilal Nanda (b) Morarji Desai (c) Oman (d) Iran (c) Chandra Shekhar (d) Charan Singh 203. The newly inaugurated DNA analysis centre 194. The Kirtipur Girls’ Hostel was constructed by in Chandigarh was established under which the Indian Government for the armed police fund? force of which country? (a) National Small Savings Fund (a) Nepal (b) Bhutan (b) Enterprise Fund (c) Tibet (d) Afghanistan (c) Nirbhaya Fund 195. India’s National Mathematics Day is celebrated on 22 December each year. It is to (d) Provident Fund commemorate which person? 204. The Kanal Istanbul project connects the Sea (a) Aryabhata (b) C.R.Rao of Marmara with which sea? (c) D.R.Kaprekar (d) Srinivasa Ramanujan (a) Red Sea (b) Black Sea 196. The Ethiopian Prime Minister, the 2019 Nobel (c) Arabian Sea (d) Bohani Sea Peace Prize winner, had recently called for 205. When is National Consumer Day observed? peace in Horn of Africa. What is it? (a) March 15 (b) December 24 (a) Island (b) Peninsula (c) March 14 (d) December 25 (c) Plateau (d) Subcontinent

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206. What is thermal inversion which caused Iran 214. What is Sire Directory that was recently to close down its schools recently? launched by Madhya Pradesh Government? (a) A type of heat wave (a) Matrimonial record of cattle (b) Drought-like condition (b) Land ownership record (c) Hot air held close to the ground by cold air (c) Farmers’ portal above (d) Home ownership record (d) Cooler air held close to the ground by the 215. Many civilians were recently killed in Burkina hot air above Faso due to terror strike in the military base 207. Chillai Kalan, sometimes seen in the news, is and a village. Where is Burkina Faso? related to which of the following? (a) North Africa (b) Latin America (c) West Asia (d) West Africa (a) Avalanche-prone area in Kashmir 216. Typhoon Phanfone had recently hit which of (b) Tourism spot in Jammu and Kashmir the following countries? (c) Sanctuary (a) Japan (b) China (d) Harshest period of winter in Kashmir (c) USA (d) Philippines 208. Which app was recently released by the 217. National Street Food Festival was organised president to improve access to blood banks? by which of the following? (a) Red Cross App (a) FAO (b) Friends2Support (b) Department of Agriculture (c) MBlood (c) Department of Food and Public Distribution (d) LifeLine (d) NASVI 209. Which region of Africa was recently deemed 218. As per the recently released report by Global as the most unequal on the continent by UNDP Alliance on Health and Pollution, which country in terms of income? saw the most deaths due to pollution? (a) North Africa (b) West Africa (a) China (b) India (c) East Africa (d) South Africa (c) Indonesia (d) Nigeria 210. Arak Nuclear Reactor, which is currently 219. Where is Chaukhandi Stupa, an ASI protected site being redeveloped, is in which country? where Chinese sign boards were installed recently? (a) North Korea (b) India (a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Pakistan (d) Iran (c) Bihar (d) Ladakh 211. When is “Good Governance Day” observed? 220. The recently unveiled long distance CNG bus project was executed by which natural gas (a) December 24 (b) December 25 distribution? (c) December 26 (d) December 27 (a) Indraprastha Gas Ltd 212. Strategic tunnel under Rohtang Pass was (b) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation recently named after which of the following individuals? (c) Reliance Petroleum Ltd (d) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (a) Indira Gandhi (b) Vallabhai Patel (c) Moraji Desai (d) Atal Bihari Vajapyee 221. Which state is going to observe 2020 as Susashan Sankalp Varsh? 213. Who is Madan Mohan Malviya, who was (a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Gujarat recently mentioned in the news? (c) Haryana (d) Madhya Pradesh (a) Freedom Fighter 222. The followers of which religion are called the (b) Nobel Peace Prize Winner “Hynniew Trep”? (c) Wartime Gallantry Winner (a) Shinto (b) Taoism (d) Distinguished scientist (c) Seng Khasi (d) Confucianism 28 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

223. Which government is going to conduct ‘Night 232. Which tropical storm is also known by the Walk’ to promote women empowerment? name of Typhoon Ursula? (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Andhra Pradesh (a) Typhoon Kammuri (c) Karnataka (d) Kerala (b) Typhoon Phanfone 224. In which state, India’s first university for (c) Typhoon Nakri transgender community will be opened? (d) Typhoon Bualoi (a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Kerala 233. The centre is consulting with the states and (c) Gujarat (d) Andhra Pradesh UTs for the 2020 Shehri Samriridhi Ursav – 225. Pakistan, one among the three countries in the which is used to create awareness about which world with Polio endemic, is planning to import government initiative? Polio markers from India. Which are the other (a) DAY- NULM two countries: (b) PMKVY (a) Afghanistan and Mongolia (c) PM KISAN (b) Nigeria and South Africa (d) National Rural Livelihood Mission (c) Afghanistan and Nigeria 234. The government recently made Aadhaar linking (d) Nigeria and Kenya for Vaya Vandana Yojana mandatory. Who are 226. Which organisation gives forecast on general the beneficiaries under this Vaya Vandana locust situation to the global community? Yojana? (a) FAO (b) WWF (a) Widows of the armed personnel (c) IFAD (d) WFP (b) Senior citizens 227. Which of the following is called the Falcon (c) physically challenged persons Capital of the World? (d) Destitute women (a) Siberia (b) Nagaland 235. Who is the world’s longest serving president, (c) Meghalaya (d) China recently in news when IMF asked him to 228. Which of the following is the only ape found in India? declare his assets before availing financial (a) Gorilla (b) Chimpanzee assistance? (c) Hoolock Gibbon (d) Mandrill (a) Teodoro Mbasogo (b) Robert Mugabe 229. Which American firm is developing the Project (c) Hun Sen (d) Hassanal Bolkiah Kuiper, which is to launch thousands of 236. Mauritius accused UK of committing ‘Crimes satellites into space? against Humanity’ for refusing to allow people (a) SpaceX (b) NASA to return to their homes. This accusation is in reference to which island? (c) Amazon (d) Blue Origin (a) Bougainville (b) Sri Lanka 230. The Tamil Nadu government recently observed the 15th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami. (c) Chagos (d) Kiribati Where did this tsunami originate? 237. Japan recently announced a rare overseas (a) Java Island (b) Sumatra Island mission to protect their merchant ships in which (c) Bali Island (d) Sulawesi Island region? 231. Which fighter aircraft, that was recently retired, (a) Strait of Hormuz(b) Gulf of Oman is also known as Bahadur? (c) Pacific Ocean (d) South China Sea (a) MiG 27 (b) Tejas 238. Which state/ UT celebrated the Losar Festival (c) Mirage 2000 (d) Gulfstream recently? (a) Telangana (b) Meghalaya (c) Puducherry (d) Ladakh

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239. Shirodhara, which was recently highlighted by 247. Him Darshan Express that was recently the health ministry, is most associated with launched connects which of the following which therapy? states? (a) Ayurveda (b) Rigpa (a) Haryana and Himachal Pradesh (c) Unani (d) Traditional Chinese Medicine (b) Sikkim and Assam (c) Haryana and Punjab 240. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, near which (d) Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand an earthquake struck recently, is in which country? 248. Which state’s urban bodies have not yet declared themselves Open Defecation Free? (a) Iran (b) Iraq (a) Bihar (b) Uttar Pradesh (c) Saudi Arabia (d) Kuwait (c) Jharkhand (d) West Bengal 241. China had recently launched its heaviest 249. The Mandu Festival is held in Madhya Pradesh. satellite, Shijian-20, on which rocket? Who is organising this event? (a) Long March 2E (a) Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (b) Long March 4C (b) Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Department (c) Long March 3B (c) UNESCO (d) Long March 5 (d) Madhya Pradesh Department of Culture 242. Which archipelago did Tropical Cyclone Sarai 250. Which bank had recently received the “Best recently hit? Performing Bank Award”? (a) Indonesia (b) Solomon Islands (a) SBI Bank (c) Fiji (d) New Guinea (b) ICICI Bank 243. Who had drafted the recent UNGA-approved (c) Jammu and Kashmir Bank draft for international treaty to combat cyber- (d) Andhra Bank crime? 251. Which of the following versions of fast chess that was in news recently, when Koneru (a) USA (b) Russia Humpy won the World Women’s Rapid Chess (c) France (d) China Championship had more time on the clock for 244. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank had the White than the Black? recently announced a loan for irrigation and (a) Blitz chess (b) Armageddon chess solar energy projects in India. It is (c) Bullet chess (d) Ultrabullet chess headquartered in which of the following 252. The Stolen Works of Art Database, which was countries? in news recently, is maintained by which (a) South Korea (b) Singapore organisation? (c) Japan (d) China (a) UNESCO (b) WTO (c) ASI (d) INTERPOL 245. Which state/UT had recently approved the 253. Which state recorded the highest forest cover Electric Vehicle Policy, 2019? in the recently released India State of Forest (a) Delhi (b) Punjab Report 2019? (c) Puducherry (d) Sikkim (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Madhya Pradesh 246. Da Chen, who had recently died, is well known (c) Nagaland (d) Meghalaya for which of the following works? 254. What is CAT IIIB system which has been in (a) Colours of the Mountain news recently with respect to the fog conditions (b) Dream of the Red Chamber in the north? (c) To Live (a) Instrument landing system (d) Art of War (b) Weather monitoring system (c) System for classifying fog intensity (d) Road safety system 30 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

255. Operation Inherent Resolve, which was in 258. Who recently set the record for the longest news recently, is being conducted by which spaceflight by a woman? country’s military forces? (a) Peggy Whitson (b) Christina Koch (a) France (b) USA (c) Jessica Meir (d) Sally Ride (c) Canada (d) Russia 259. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which was 256. The atrial fibrillation technology, over which conferred recently, is the highest award in the tech giant Apple was recently sued, is used to country for which field? detect what condition? (a) Theatre (b) Classical dances (a) Overheating of system (c) Cinema (d) Classical music (b) Foreign body attack 260. All cases registered during the Pathalgadi (c) Irregular heartbeat Movement were withdrawn recently. Which (d) Electrolyte imbalance state is the movement associated with? 257. The protein Importin-11, that was recently (a) Chhattisgarh (b) Jharkhand identified by scientists, is linked with causing (c) Odisha (d) West Bengal which type of cancer? (a) Blood Cancer (b) Lung Cancer (c) Prostate cancer (d) Colorectal cancer

31 www.arifin.in Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020 FUN TIME LESSON

One’s True Potential..!!

Once a pregnant lion died soon after giving birth. New born cub didn’t know what to do. Cub started to roam around just when it saw a herd of sheep. Seeing that little cub, mother sheep decided to raise it as its own. With time, that little cub grew up along with sheep and started to think and act just like a sheep. It would even eat grass like sheep. Lion was teased by other sheep for being so different. Some of them would say, “You are so ugly. Your voice is so weird. You are disgrace to sheep family.” Lion felt sad that he didn’t looked like them and that something was missing. Lion tired to get along with sheep herd but still it felt that he had let down the sheep community by being so different and that it was a waste of space. One day, an older lion saw herd of sheep and decided to attack it. While attacking, it saw the young lion running away along with the other sheep. Older lion got curious and decided to pursue younger lion. Soon it was able to pounce on young lion and then asked, “Why are you running away with sheep?” Younger lion who had never seen lion, shaking in fear it said, “Please don’t eat me. I am just a young sheep, please let me go..!!” Hearing this, older lion growls, “What?? You are not a sheep.. You are a lion just like me..” Young lion just kept on saying, “I am sheep.. please let me go..” At this point the older lion gets an idea. It drags the younger lion to a river nearby and asks it to look at its reflection. Upon looking at the reflection and then older lion, young lion realized who he really was. Young lion learned that it was not a sheep but a lion. The young lion feels so thrilled that it let’s out a mighty roar.

Moral: Many time we are unaware of our True Potential because of Limiting Beliefs that we inherits from our surroundings. Allow your awareness to shine light onto all your limiting beliefs and find who you truly are 32 www.arifin.in