November 1, 2014

accounts as well as for transactions done by savings bank account holders at ATMs situated outside these six metro centres. Banks are also free to offer free transactions above this mandated limit.

2) took the oath as the new Chief Minister of on 31 October 2014 at a glittering ceremony held at ‘s iconic Wankhede Stadium. He became …………Chief Minister of state – 27th Explanation: Fadnavis became th 27 Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the 18thperson to hold this post. He also 1) New restricted free monthly ATM became the fourth politician from usage regime came into effect in 6 Vidarbha region and the second metro cities of the country from 1 youngest to become Chief Minister of November 2014. Under this regime the Maharashtra. The oath was number of mandated free transactions administered by Maharashtra Governor for savings bank account holders at Vidysagar Rao. Eknath Khadse, Sudhir other bank ATMs located in six metros Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde, Pankaja has been reduced from five to ……..per Gopinath Munde and Vishnu Rama month – Three Savra took over as Cabinet Ministers. Explanation: This restricted free monthly ATM usage regime came into effect in country‘s 6 metro cities 3) Warren Anderson, the former chief of Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Union Carbide, died on 29 September 2014 at a nursing home in Vero Beach, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The choice of 6 metros for introducing this regime Florida according to public records. was made primarily due to well-served Anderson was wanted in in payment infrastructure available here. connection with the 1984 Bhopal gas This reduction in the number of tragedy in which over 3,000 people mandated free transactions will, were killed. This tragedy took place on

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT however, not apply to customers having which date? – Midnight of 2 December 1984 2 no-frills/small/Basic Savings Bank

Deposit Account (BSBDA) type of Page

Explanation: The Bhopal horror began able to cruise through the toll plazas around midnight on 2-3 December 1984 without the hassle of stopping for paying when a chemical reaction in a plant, cash with Axis Bank and ICICI Bank owned by US company Union Carbide facilitating electronic Toll Collection that made insecticides, caused a leak of service at all Toll Plazas on the National toxic gases (primarily Methyl iso- Highways. cyanide) that swept through the

surrounding community. The Madhya Pradesh government confirmed 3,787 5) Who took over as the Secretary deaths as a result. More than a half Economic Affairs on 31 October 2014 to million people were injured, with many complete the official-level makeover of dying from illnesses, including lung Finance Ministry? – Rajiv Mehrishi cancer, kidney failure and liver disease. Warren Anderson was heading Union Explanation: Rajiv Mehrishi succeeded Carbide at that time and he reached Arvind Mayaram who was shifted to Bhopal 4 days after the mishap to be Ministry of Minority Affairs on 30 arrested immediately. But after quickly October 2014. Earlier on 16 October paying bail, he never returned to face 2014 Arvind Subramaniam joined as the trial. In 1989, Union Carbide paid $470 new Chief Economic Advisor. million to the Indian government to settle litigation stemming from the disaster. His death was not made public 6) Which bank became the second after by his family and was revealed from United Bank of India to tag Vijay Mallya- public records. owned Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) as a wilful defaulter? – UCO Bank

Explanation: UCO Bank is amongst the 4) What is the name of the Electronic consortium of 17 banks that have a total Toll Collection (ETC) programme that exposure of Rs. 6,500 crore in KFA. was launched by the Union Government While the consortium is led by SBI, on 31 October 2014 on the National UCO on its part is said to have lent Rs. Highway 8 (NH-8) to enable motorists to 300 crore. The grounded airline was pay tolls electronically without stopping earlier declared a wilful defaulter by at the toll plazas? – „FasTag‟ United Bank of India. According to Explanation: This programme has Reserve Bank of India‘s (RBI) been launched by Ministry of Road guidelines a wilful defaulter is one who Transport & Highways, National has the capacity to repay but chooses Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and not to do so. The money borrowed is Indian Highways Management being used for purposes other than for Company Limited (IHMCL) in which it was taken. partnership with private sector banks ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. It was th launched on the 1,428-km highway 7) The 139 birth anniversary of Sardar CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Vallabhbhai Patel on 31 October 2014 (NH-8) which connects the country‘s

3 national capital Delhi with financial was celebrated as the first edition of –

capital Mumbai. FasTag users will be Page

“Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National the first home minister of the country Unity Day) and is credited with persuading more than 500 princely states to accede to Explanation: The Union Government the Indian union post-Independence. On during October 2014 had decided to the occasion of first National Unity Day observe the birth anniversary of Sardar ‗Run For Unity‘ were organised all over Vallabhbhai Patel on 31 October as the country and a pledge to maintain ―Rashtriya Ekta Diwas‘ (National Unity unity was taken by all government Day) every year. Sardar Patel, employees as well as school and nicknamed the Iron Man of India, was college students.

November 2, 2014

proposal. Apart from Bangalore and Mysore, the other cities that formally get new old names are : Belgaum – Belagavi, Mangalore – Mangaluru, Gulbarga – Kalaburagi, Hubli – Hubballi, Shimoga – Shivamogga, Chikmagalur – Chikkamagaluru, Bellary – Ballari, Bijapur – Vijapura or Vijayapura, Hospet – Hosapete and Tumkur – Tumakuru.

1) From 1 November 2014 Bangalore 2) Which country‘s central bank officially became Bengaluru and surprised global financial markets on Mysore became Mysuru. Altogether 31 October 2014 by expanding its the name of how many cities and massive stimulus spending, which towns of Karnataka state was reverted resulted in rally in global stock markets to their old Kannada names from this and India‘s Sensex hitting an all-time

day? – Twelve high on the day? – Japan

Explanation: The name of 12 Explanation: Bank of Japan (BOJ), Karnataka cities and towns was the central bank of Japan announced changed on the occasion of the its decision to buy more assets as a 59thFormation Day of the state. The preemptive strike to keep policy on state had sought the Centre‘s track. The bank would accelerate

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT clearance for the change in names in

purchase of Japanese government

4 2006. The Union Home Ministry had bonds to increase its holding annually

during October 2014 cleared this by ¥30 trillion ($725 billion) and triple Page

its purchases of exchange-traded Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) funds and real-estate investment recently? – Vijay Kelkar trusts. But this move of BOJ was Explanation: Vijay Kelkar was the criticized by numerous economists former Chairman of the 13th Finance who wondered if pushing even more Commission and he succeeded former money into the financial system would PMEAC chairman C. Rangarajan. be effective as long as consumer National Institute of Public Finance confidence continues to worsen and and Policy (NIPFP) is a think tank for demand remains weak. The BOJ‘s doing applied research in the field of move stands in marked contrast with public finance and is based in New the Federal Reserve, the central bank Delhi. of United States, announced closing its monthly bond purchase programme on 29 October 2014. 5) What was the name of the ambitious rocket plane of entrepreneur Richard Branson‘s space company 3) What is the name of the Army Virgin Galactic that was meant to carry officer who appeared to seize power in rich tourists on short space rides and African country Burkina Faso on 1 which crashed on 31 October 2014? – November 2014 a day after country‘s SpaceShipTwo longtime President Blaise Compaore announced his resignation promising Explanation: SpaceShipTwo was the early elections? –Lieutenant Colonel rocket plane for Virgin Galactic, the Issaac Zida space tourism company created by the entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Explanation: Lieutenant Colonel Scaled Composites, the company that Issaac Zida apparently took control of designed and built the plane. The the country after reports of heavy plane crashed in the Mojave Desert on gunfire near the presidential palace 31 October during a test flight, killing early on 1 November. He was the one of the two pilots. Crash of operational commander of the elite SpaceShipTwo came as a major presidential guards. The unfolding setback for commercial space crisis was being closely watched by industry. Virgin Galactic, which hoped the United States and former colonial to begin tourist flights next spring, power France, which were close already has more than 700 military allies of Compaore. Under his reservations, initially sold for $200,000 rule, Burkina Faso became a key ally a seat before rising to $250,000 last in Western operations against al year. Qaeda-linked groups in West Africa.

6) China on 1 November 2014

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT 4) Who was appointed as the new completed its first return mission to the Chairperson of the National Institute of 5 Moon with the successful re-entry and

landing of an unmanned probe. The Page

mission was launched to test Mongolia region on 1 November after technology to be used for China‘s taking some very good photographs of fourth lunar probe. What is the name the Earth and the moon. China sees of this ambitious mission which aims to its multi-billion-dollar space gather samples from the moon‘s programme as a marker of its rising surface and will be launched around global stature and mounting technical 2017? – Chang‟e-5 expertise. It also has a rover on the surface of the moon. Explanation: This unmanned probe landed safely in northern China‘s Inner

November 3, 2014

after watching the flag ceremony at Wagah border that involves Indian Army personnel and Pakistani Rangers. India announced suspension of the flag-lowering ceremony for three days after this attack. The ceremony at the Wagah-Attari border is one of the longest in operation between India and Pakistan. It had continued largely untouched by the many ups and downs in the relationship between the

two countries, including the recent 1) A powerful blast set off by a suicide ceasefire violations at the border. bomber at Wagah in Pakistan on 2 November 2014 resulted in death of at least 55 people and injuries to over 2) A very important and landmark 200. This blast occurred minutes after climate change report was adopted by the immensely popular flag-lowering the United Nations on 1 November ceremony at the Indo-Pak border. 2014 and was released a day later at Which Al-Qaeda affiliated group 40th Session of the Intergovernmental claimed responsibility for this attack Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) held according to the media reports? – at Copenhagen (Denmark). What is Jandullah the main conclusion of this report that was finished by IPCC scientists in over

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Explanation: The blast took place near one of the exit gates after one year? – “Humans are altering

6 hundreds of people were returning Earth‟s climate system” Page

Explanation: This IPCC Report is the as the first base year for computing fifth assessment of climate science country‘s GDP estimates. and mitigation that the IPCC has Read More about Base Year completed since 1990. It primarily offers ―conclusive evidence‖ that humans are altering the Earth‘s climate system. It concludes that it is 4) Which South Asian country now 95% certain that the build-up of witnessed a 24-hour electricity such gases from the burning of fossil blackout on 1 November 2014 which fuels and deforestation is the main resulted in huge chaos all across the cause of warming seen since the country? –Bangladesh middle of the 20thcentury. The main Explanation: Electricity was disrupted objective of IPCC‘s initiatives is to all-across Bangladesh on 1 November bring all nations together to take steps after a major fault due to heavy to reduce the process of climate demand which resulted in failure of the change. In December 2014, all relay system. This forced hospitals countries will meet in Peru to talk over and garment factories in the country to some options, with the goal of arriving rely on back-up generators and even at a final agreement at a meeting in plunged the prime minister‘s official Paris in December 2015. It‘s unclear, residence in capital Dhaka into however, whether the new IPCC report darkness. Electricity was restored on can help overcome the political and the next day. economic obstacles that have blocked major movement of reducing emissions. 5) A Chinese submarine and a warship were allowed dock at its port in Colombo by the Sri Lankan 3) What will the base year for Government recently despite concerns computation of India‘s GDP data from raised by the Indian Government. January 2015 as announced by the What are the names of this submarine National Statistical Commission and warship which will remain in Sri recently? – 2011-12 Lanka for 5 days for refuelling and Explanation: The base year for crew refreshment? – Changzheng-2 computation of country‘s GDP was (submarine) and Chang Xing Dao

2004-05 till now. This change in base (warship)

year is being implemented so as to Explanation: Submarine take into account the structural Changzheng-2 and warship Chang changes which have taken place in the Xing Dao arrived at the Colombo port economy and also to include more on 31 October 2014 and are to remain sectors in GDP computation which here for 5 days for refuelling and crew

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT were not included till now. This would refreshment. Docking of these two be sixth time that the base year will be

7 naval devices was done seven weeks

changed since 1948-49 was chosen after another Chinese submarine, a Page

long-range deployment patrol, had century on 2 November 2014 by called at the same port ahead of a visit reaching the milestone in 56 balls to South Asia by Chinese President Xi against Australia in Abu Dhabi. Whose Jinping. China has invested heavily in record he equalled? – Vivian Sri Lanka in recent years, funding Richards of the West Indies airports, roads, railways and ports, a Explanation: West Indies great Vivian development that has unsettled India, Richards had established the world traditionally the closest economic record for fastest Test century off 56 partner of Sri Lanka. A 1987 accord balls against England at St John‘s, between India and Sri Lanka provides Antigua in 1986. Misbah-ul-Haq that respective territories – including equalled this record by reaching his Trincomalee – will not be used for century in similar number of deliveries. activities prejudicial to each other‘s In the process he also broke Jacques unity, integrity and security. Kallis‘ record of scoring fastest Test century off 24 balls by achieving this in just 21 balls. South Africa‘s Kallis had 6) Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq scored his 24-ball half century against equalled the record for the fastest Test Zimbabwe in Cape Town in 2005.

November 4, 2014

Indic language content for the hundreds of millions of Indians who will be coming online for the very first time. The alliance hopes to enable 300 million Indian language speakers to become highly engaged Internet users by 2017. The initiatives of ILIA would include options such as Hindi Voice Search and building relevant content for new Indian language mobile users. 1) What is the name of the new The alliance comprises of ABP News, ambitious alliance formed by Internet Amar Ujala Publications Ltd, C-DAC, search engine Google on 3 November DB Digital, Firstouch, HinKhoj, Jagran 2014 to promote the growth of Indic Prakashan Ltd, LinguaNext language content online? –Indian Technologies Pvt. Ltd, NDTV, Network

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Language Internet Alliance (ILIA) 18, Oneindia.com, Patrika Group, 8 Explanation: The main task of ILIA Process Nine Technologies Pvt Ltd,

would be to work together in building Prost Innovation Pvt Ltd, Reverie Page

Language Technologies Pvt Ltd, Gujarat cadre and is presently posted Times Internet Ltd, Ver Se in Gujarat. After this reshuffle, the Innovation/NewsHunt, and General Budget for 2015-16 will be Webdunia.com in addition to Google. presented by new team of Secretaries with Rajiv Mehrishi as Economic

Affairs Secretary (who is also likely to 2) Who was named by Pro-Russian be nominated as new Finance separatists of Ukraine as the leader of Secretary because of his seniority), their breakaway republic named Expenditure Secretary Ratan Watal, ―Donetsk People‘s Republic‖ on 3 Revenue Secretary Shaktikantha Das, November 2014? –Alexander Financial Services Secretary Adhia Zakharchenko and Disinvestment Secretary Aradhana Jauhri with Chief Economic Explanation: 38-year old Alexander Advisor Arvind Subramanian. Zakharchenko is a former mining electrician. He easily won election as head of the ―Donetsk People‘s 4) What was the real name of noted Republic‖, an entity proclaimed by actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar who armed rebels in the days after they passed away on 3 November 2014? – seized key buildings in cities of Ganesh Kumar Narwode Ukraine‘s Russian-speaking east during April 2014. Zakharchenko‘s Explanation: Sadashiv Amrapurkar election could create a new ―frozen was born as Ganesh Kumar Narwode conflict‖ in post-Soviet Europe and in Nasik in 1950 and later in 1974 he further threaten the territorial unity of adopted the name Sadashiv. He was Ukraine, which lost control of its associated with Marathi stage before Crimean peninsula during March 2014. migrating to the world of Hindi and Marathi films. He shot into prominence

with his central negative character in 3) Who has been appointed as the Govind Nihalani‘s ‗Ardh Satya‘. Some new Financial Services Secretary by of his most popular Hindi films were the Union Govt. on 3 November 2014? ‗Sadak‘, ‗Hukumat‘, ‗Mohra‘, ‗Ishq‘, – Hasmukh Adhia ‗Aankhen‘ and ‗Coolie No.1‘. For Mahesh Bhatt‘s ‗Sadak‘ he won the Explanation: Hasmukh Adhia first-ever ‗Fimfare award for Best replaces G S Sandhu, who was negative role‘. transferred as the new Chairman of National Authority for Chemical Weapon Convention (NACWC). 5) Former Union Shipping Minister Sandhu is the second Secretary G.K. Vasan on 3 November 2014 quit among five Secretaries in the Finance Congress party and announced Ministry who has been shifted after

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT floating a new party. What was the Arvind Mayaram in last few days. name of the erstwhile political party 9 Adhia is a 1981-batch Indian formed by his late father G.K.

Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Page

Moopanar which is expected to be 6) Who won the US Formula One revived by Vasan now? – Tamil Grand Prix that was held on 2 Manila Congress (TMC) November 2014? –Lewis Hamilton of UK Explanation: TMC was floated by G.K. Moopanar, the father of G.K. Explanation: Mercedes‘ Lewis Vasan, in 1996 by breaking away from Hamilton pipped fellow teammate Nico the Congress, protesting the decision Rosberg (Germany) to take 24 point of the party high command to form an lead over him with just two races left in alliance with J. Jayalalitha‘s AIADMK. the season. Third spot was taken by However, TMC was merged with the Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) of Red Congress in 2002. Vasan quit Bull team. The two F1 GP‘s left this Congress as he felt the party was not year are Brazilian GP and Abu Dhabi taking efforts necessary to fulfil the GP. aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.

November 5, 2014

(WTC) fell down more than 13 years ago, was opened in New York on 3 November 2014. This building is constructed at a cost of $3.9 billion and is the tallest building in the United States. Which company became the first to move into this building? – Conde Nast Explanation: One World Trade Center is owned by the Port Authority of New

York and New Jersey. The building rose from the ashes of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks to become a symbol of American resilience. Publishing giant Conde

Nast, which publishes ‗Vogue‘, ‗The CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT 1) One World Trade Center, the 104- New Yorker‘ and ‗Vanity Fair‘, opened storey building at the same spot where its office at One World Trade Center

10 the twin towers of World Trade Centre by moving in 175 of its employees. Page

2) In an important development Indian superior military.‖ The report also Navy withdrew two of its warships from strongly hinted that the terrorist attack the Kolkata Port on 4 November 2014 on the Indian consulate in Herat after intelligence agencies warned of Province in Afghanistan in May 2014 an attack on the port and the city. This was deliberately timed to coincide with development was a rare one and ‘s swearing-in as Prime came two days after a suicide bomber Minister. killed 60 people on the Wagah border

in Pakistani side of the main border with India. What are the names of the 4) What is the name of the tropical two warships withdrawn in this move? Super cyclone heading towards Japan – INS Khukri and INS Sumitra that is expected to be the most powerful tropical cyclones of 2014? – Explanation: Indian Naval spokesman Typhoon Nuri on 4 November shared information pertaining to this move. INS Khukri Explanation: Typhoon Nuri attained and INS Sumitra were ordered back the Super Typhoon status on 2 into sea for operational reasons and November 2014 and was classified as an alert was sounded at Kolkata Port. a Category 5 typhoon sustaining winds The two ships were meant to be at the of 287 km/h, with gusts up to 352 port until 7 November for public km/h, rivalling typhoon Vongfong viewing as part of ceremonies in the earlier this year. Nuri is the sixth run-up to Navy Day next month. Pacific storm to reach super typhoon status this season, with the average

being four. However, latest forecasts 3) In a report tabled in the U.S. predicted that Nuri is currently not Congress on 4 November 2014, U.S. looking to directly impact Japan and is Security Department (The Pentagon) expected to curl up towards the Bering openly criticised Pakistan for using Sea. militant groups as proxies in a war

against Indian Army. What is the name of this report, the conclusions of which 5) The Union Cabinet on 4 November could mark growing strategic 2014 gave its approval to the proposal closeness between India and the for dissolution of the Delhi Assembly. U.S.? – “Progress Towards Security With this it became clear that and Stability in Afghanistan” Assembly Elections in Delhi is on its way. Delhi has been under President‘s Explanation: The report stated – Rule since which date? – 17 February ―Afghan – and India – focused 2014 militants continue to operate from

Pakistan territory to the detriment of Explanation: President‘s rule in Delhi CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

Afghan and regional stability. Pakistan was imposed after the fall of the Arvind uses these proxy forces to hedge Kejriwal government on 14 February.

11 against the loss of influence in The BJP was unable to form

Afghanistan and to counter India‘s government on its own after this Page

development. The proposal to dissolve of the Assembly after his discussions Delhi Assembly was moved by the with the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Union Home Ministry on the basis of the Congress. All parties were Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung‘s ostensibly in favour of fresh elections. report which recommended dissolution

November 6, 2014

out victories where the going was tough, like a Senate battle in Kansas, and swept a number of governors‘ races in states where Democrats were favored, like Obama‘s home state of Illinois. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who won a tough re-election battle against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, will replace Democrat Harry Reid as 2014 MIDTERM POLLS Senate majority leader. IN US 1) US President Barack Obama‘s final 2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) years in office looked starker as the during November 2014 asked banks to Republicans seized the control of the put in place preventive measures in Senate in the midterm elections held view of the rise in the number of on 4 November 2014. With this win the cheque related fraud cases. What are Republican Party has gained a the important measures recommended majority in the US Senate since which by the RBI in this issue? year? –2006 - Provision of an SMS alert to Explanation: The elections saw payer/drawer when cheques are

sweeping gains by the Republican received in clearing Party in the Senate, House, and in many gubernatorial elections, as well - Provision of alerting customers by as state and local races. The a phone call and get the Republicans gained control of the confirmation from the payer/drawer Senate for the first time since 2006, in case of large value cheques

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT and solidified their majority in the - Ensuring 100% implementation of House. Republicans won in places CTS (cheque truncation system) in 12 where Democrats were favored, like a clearance

Senate race in North Carolina, pulled Page

- Ensuring complete KYC- 4) The BSE Sensex crossed which compliance in clearance of cheques milestone mark for the first time on 5 November 2014? – 28,000 points In its notification, the RBI said that the rise in the number of cheque related Explanation: Both BSE Sensex and fraud cases is a matter of serious NSE‘s Nifty achieved a new high on 5 concern. It is evident that many of November primarily on hopes of early such frauds could have been avoided interest rate cuts and continued fund had due diligence been observed at flow from overseas investor. The the time of handling and/or processing market also remained buoyant due to the cheques and monitoring newly the announcement of reform measures opened accounts. such as diesel decontrol and commencement of some energy

reforms (mainly in coal sector). 3) Which private-sector bank is the However, both Sensex and Nifty only banking entity from entity to be closed lower than the record high recognised by the World Economic achieved during the day. Forum (WEF) as a ―Global Growth

Company‖ (GGC) for 2014? – RBL Bank (Formerly known as Ratnakar 5) The maiden Budget of the newly Bank Limited) constituted Telangana state was presented on 5 November 2014. Who Explanation: 17 companies from India presented the first budget of the state? were recognised as Global Growth – Eatala Rajender, Finance Minister Company by WEF as notified by it on of Telangana 5 November 2014. RBL Bank, headquartered at Kolhapur Explanation: The first budget of (Maharashtra), is the only banking Telangana included outlay of Rs. entity out of these 17 companies from 1,00,637 crore including Rs. 48,648 India, which have been described as crore plan and non-plan outlay of Rs. region‘s most dynamic and high- 51,989 crore. The budget was growth companies by the WEF. presented for the 10 months of the Bandhan Financial Services, the current fiscal. State‘s first budget micro-finance entity which has won the included revenue surplus of Rs. 3.02 banking license to operate banking crore. An allocation of Rs. 6,500 crore

services in the country, was also was made for irrigation with the priority among these 17 entities. Other to complete four lift irrigation projects prominent entities in this list are Sobha in Mahabubnagar district on war- Developers, MakeMyTrip, JustDial, footing and create irrigation potential Finolex, FlipKart, InterGlobe of 2.97 lakh acres. Enterprises, Radikal Foods, 4G

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

Identity Solutions and Transasia Bio- Medicals. 6) What is the name of the

13 autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar

Page

that was released on 5 November (IES) that started from 5 November 2014? – ‗Playing It My Way‘ 2014 at New Delhi? – “Redefining Public-Private Cooperation for a Explanation: ‗Playing It My Way‘ – the New Beginning” much-awaited autobiography of former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was Explanation: IES is organised by released on 5 November in Mumbai in Geneva-based World Economic presence of some of his former Forum (WEF). The 2014 edition of IES teammates, celebrities and family is organised in partnership with the members. The book, the first copy of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). which he gave to his mother Rajni The summit concludes on 6 November earlier in the day,was unveiled by 2014 and almost all important Tendulkar himself. Journalist Boria business leaders took part in it. Union Majumdar has assisted Tendulkar in Finance Minister writing this book which has been addressed the inaugural session of published by Hodder & Stoughton. IES on 5 November and told that the govt. might consider privatization of

some PSUs in coming months. 7) What is the theme of the 2014 edition of India Economic Summit

November 7, 2014

Explanation: Datsun Go is a small hatchback from the stable of Japanese car maker Nissan and was launched in India during 2013. Global NCAP recently put the Datsun Go and the Maruti Suzuki Swift through crash tests in Germany. Both cars crumpled

during the test for a frontal collision, with the Datsun Go performing far 1) Global NCAP, the worldwide safety worse. Datsun received zero of a watchdog for passenger vehicles, on 6 possible five stars in the tests for November 2014 urged which car to be Indian cars. The test concluded that

withdrawn from the Indian market after the body shell of the Datsun Go was CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

this car fared very poorly in crash tests so weak that even adding airbags conducted by it recently? – Datsun Go would not protect passengers in case 14 of a major accident. The Chairman of

Page Global NCAP addressed his letter of

warning to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn to the WHO some 4,818 people have to withdraw this car from the Indian died of Ebola, mostly in Sierra Leone, market. Liberia and neighbouring Guinea. But while the situation is improving in

Liberia and stable in Guinea, two- 2) Former Indian Prime Minister Dr. thirds of the new cases recorded in the Manmohan Singh was conferred with past three weeks have been in Sierra the ―Grand Cordon of the Order of the Leone. Paulownia Flowers‖ Award on 5

November 2014. This award is one of the highest civilian awards of which 4) What is the name of the retired US country? – Japan Navy SEAL who publicly identified himself on 6 November 2014 as the Explanation: The ―Grand Cordon of person who killed al-Qaeda leader the Order of the Paulownia Flowers‖ is Osama bin Laden? –Robert O‟Neill perceived as the second highest civilian award of Japan after ―Order of Explanation: In an interview given to the Chrysanthemum‖. The award was ‗The Washington Post‘ O‘Neill claimed presented to Dr. Manmohan Singh by that he fired the two shots that killed Japanese Emperor Akihito at the bin Laden. One current and one Imperial Palace in Tokyo. He was former SEAL confirmed to the AP that given this award for his ―significant O‘Neill was long known to have fired contribution to the enhancement of the shots that killed the leader of the relations and promotion of friendship‖ international terror group responsible between Japan and India. He became for the 11 September attacks. Osama the first Indian to receive this bin Laden was killed in a US Navy prestigious award. Seal operation on 2 May 2011 in Pakistan‘s Abbottabad where he was

hiding. 3) According to the warning issued by

the U.N. Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) on 6 November 5) The World Chess Championship 2014, which country is seeing a surge begins on 7 November 2014 featuring in number of Ebola cases while the the title clash between Chess World position has improved in other Champion Magnus Carlsen and neighbouring countries? – Sierra Viswanathan Anand, the former Leone champion from India. The first game of this much-anticipated rematch would Explanation: UNMEER claimed that be held a day later on 8 November. the number of Ebola cases is surging Which city is hosting this World in Sierra Leone due to a lack of

Championship clash? – Sochi, Russia CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

treatment centres while scarcity of food may also be forcing some people Explanation: Viswanathan Anand lost

15 to leave quarantined areas, risking his World Chess Champion tag to

further spread of the virus. According Norway‘s Magnus Carlsen last year Page

when Carlsen almost humiliated November 2014 to overtake former Anand in Chennai to win his maiden Brazilian star Ronaldo and come on World title. Anand is the world No. 6 par for scoring highest number of and qualified for the title clash by goals. Whose record he equalled? – winning the Candidates Tournament in Raul Gonzalez March 2014. He has been a Explanation: Spain‘s Raul Gonzalez grandmaster since 1988 – two years had the record of scoring highest before Carlsen was born. But Carlsen, number of goals in UEFA a former child chess prodigy, has Championship League with 71 goals in since achieved the game‘s highest his name. Argentina‘s star striker rating ever. His official FIDE Elo rating Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona eclipsed Anand‘s for the first time in FC scored both the goals in his team‘s 2008, when Carlsen was just 17. 2-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam on 5 November to equal Gonzalez‘s record. However, Gonzalez took 142 matches 6) Lionel Messi scored his 71st UEFA to score his 71 goals while Messi took Championship League goal on 5 only 90 matches to reach this tally.

November 8, 2014

and freshwaters in form of two calcareous shells or valves. The fisherfolk of Ashtamudi Lake decided to go in for sustainable activities after they extracted over 10,000 tonne clams from the lake, reducing its capacity over the years. The certificate for sustainable clam fishing was provided to the Clam Governing Council of Ashtamudi Lake. With this

certificate the lake would showcase to

the world that development and 1) Which lake on 7 November 2014 environment protection go hand in got the recognition of India‘s first hand and participatory approach at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)- local level in managing biodiversity is

certified fishery for sustainable clam an important aspect of it. This CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT fishing? –Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala achievement also opens up the scope for other fisheries in India to work 16 Explanation: Clam is an edible towards MSC certification, which

marine product that is found in lakes would enhance conservation and Page

sustainability of the resource. Modi on 7 November 2014 under the Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar wetland of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (MP international importance, is the second Model Village Plan)? –Jayapur largest estuarine system in Kerala and Explanation: Modi chose Jayapur the clam fishery began in 1981. It village in Varanasi district under the supports the livelihoods of around Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). 3000 fisherfolk involved in collection, Under SAGY, each Member of cleaning processing and trading Parliament (MP) needs to choose one clams. village each from the constituency that they represent, fix parameters and make it a model village by 2016. It was 2) What is the name of India‘s first launched on 11 October 2014 on the automatic freight train especially birth anniversary of Jayaprakash designed for transportation of finished Narayan, the legendary socialist cars that was flagged-off on 7 leader. Modi announced adopting November 2014? –AutoLinxSM Jayapur during his 2-day visit to Explanation: AutoLinxSM was Varanasi, which he represents in the flagged-off by Union Rail Minister D.V. . Sadanada Gowda at Melpakkam near

Chennai. This train carried around 280 finished cars and left for Delhi where it 4) Regional approval for restarting would reach in a week‘s time. It will which nuclear power plant of Japan arrive at the multi-modal logistics park was won on 7 November 2014, a of Container Corporation of India (CCI) move which could make this plant the at Khatuwas near Delhi. The trial runs first in Japan to be restarted under a for AutoLinxSM were completed in new and independent nuclear power October 2014 and four automotive regulator? – Sendai (original equipment manufacturers Explanation: Sendai nuclear power (OEMs)- Ford, Honda, Hyundai, and plant has 2 reactors to produce Renault-Nissan collaborated in it. This nuclear electricity and is located some train is developed by Delhi-based APL 1,000 km southwest of Tokyo in Logistics Vascor Automotive, a joint Kagoshima prefecture. 38 of the 47 venture between APL Logistics and members of Kagoshima‘s Prefectural Vascor. APL Logistics Vascor is the Assembly backed the restart which is first third-party logistics provider to an important endorsement to restart offer rail-based services under the the plant. This could pave the way for Automobile Freight Train Operator a revival of the stalled industry more license administered by Indian than three years after the Fukushima Railways.

disaster of 2011, which set off closure CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

of numerous nuclear power plants after a massive earthquake and 3) Which village near Varanasi was 17 tsunami. Japan has been forced to adopted by Prime Minister Narendra

import expensive fossil fuels to replace Page

atomic power, which supplied around Chattergam village of Budgam district. 30% of the country‘s electricity before Two were killed in the incident while the 2011 disaster. two were hospitalised for serious injuries. This incident provoked local

populace who protested against it 5) The Indian Army on 7 November vehemently. On 7 November the 2014 admitted its mistake over the Indian Army claimed responsibility for firing incident in Budgam district of the incident and announced Kashmir which left two youths dead. compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each for This firing incident took place at which the next of kin of the two deceased village of Budgam (near capital along with Rs. 5 lakh each for the Srinagar) on 3 November 2014? – injured boys. It also offered quality Chattergam medical care at the 92 Base Hospital for the injured youths. Explanation: The soldiers of Indian Army opened fire on a few Kashmiri youths who were moving in a car at

November 9-10, 2014

strength of the Union Council of Ministers reached 66. How many new Cabinet ministers were inducted? – Four Explanation: The four cabinet ministers inducted included include former Goa Chief Minister , former Union Minister , Haryana leader Birendra

Singh and BJP General Secretary J.P. Nadda. Three ministers of state (independent charge) and 14 ministers of state (MoS) were also inducted. The three ministers of state (independent charge) included ,

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Dr. Mahesh Sharma and Rajiv Pratap 1) 21 ministers were inducted into the Rudy. 14 ministers of state included Narendra Modi Cabinet on 9 18 , Rajyavardhan

November 2014 with which the total Rathore, Ramshankar Katheria, Vijay Page

Sampla, Babul Supriyo, Ram Kripal Three-time legislator Laxmikant Yadav, Sanwar Lal Jat, Giriraj Singh, Parsekar was Health Minister till now Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya, and became the 11th Chief Minister of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Jayant Sinha, the state. Francisco D‘Souza, who had Y.S. Chowdary, Hansraj Gangaram earlier voiced discontent for choosing Ahir and Haribhai Parthibhai Parsekar as the new chief minister, Chaudhary. was inducted into Cabinet along-with Dayanand Mandrekar, Ramesh Following are the portfolios of 4 Tawadkar, Mahadev Naik, Dilip new Cabinet Ministers Parulekar, Milind Naik, Alina Saldanha Manohar Parrikar – Defence Minister (all BJP), Ramkrishna Dhavlikar and Deepak Dhavlikar (both MGP). (Arun Jaitley relieved of his Defence Ministry portfolio) Suresh Prabhu – Rail Minister 3) Which Shiv Sena leader came to highlight for formally joining the BJP (DV Sadananda Gowda shifted to the before being sworn in as Cabinet Law and Justice Ministry , relieving Minister in the first expansion of the Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Narendra Modi government on 9 Prasad from this additional charge.) November 2014? – Suresh Prabhu J P Nadda – Health and Family Explanation: Prabhu was a cabinet Welfare Minister minister in the erstwhile Atal Bihari (Harsh Vardhan has been shifted to Vajpayee Govt. of 1999-2004. He the Science and Technology and Earth received the party‘s primary Sciences Ministry) membership on 9 November and was welcomed by senior party leaders. He Birender Singh – Panchayati Raj and is expected to assist Prime Minister Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Narendra Modi at the upcoming G20 (This charge was held by Transport Summit in Brisbane. However, Suresh Minister till now after the Prabhu‘s walkover to the BJP was demise of Gopinath Munde) ridiculed by the Shiv Sena for being opportunist.

2) Who became the new Chief Minister of Goa on 8 November 2014? – 4) Which anniversary of the fall of the Laxmikant Parsekar Berlin Wall was observed on 9 November 2014? – 25th Explanation: Laxmikant Parsekar was elected the leader of the Goa BJP Explanation: The infamous Berlin

Legislative Party on 8 November and Wall, that was used to separate West CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT was administered the oath of office on Berlin from the portion of Berlin under the same day. He replaced Manohar the possession of the erstwhile East 19 Parrikar, who took oath as Union Germany, was erected in 1961 by East Germany to protect the population of Page Cabinet Minister on 9 November.

East Germany from fleeing to the 6) Who was named as the most- affluent West Germany. It was often powerful woman in business in India called the ―Wall of Shame‖ or the ―Iron by ‗Fortune Magazine in a list released Curtain‖ which restricted the freedom on 8 November 2014? – Arundhati of movement. On 9 November 1989 Bhattacharya, Chairperson of SBI the East German government Explanation: Arundhati Bhattacharya announced that all East German is heading India‘s largest banking citizens could visit West Germany and group – the State Bank of India (SBI). West Berlin. This not just led to the Bhattacharya made to number one dismantling of this wall but also to spot due to her relentless fight against unification of Germany in 1990. bad loans. Since she took over a year or so ago, she has improved assets quality, cut costs and recapitalised 5) In a major breakthrough The West SBI. ICICI Bank‘s Chanda Kochhar Bengal Police arrested Sajid, the and Shikha Sharma of Axis Bank mastermind of the Burdwan blast follow Bhattacharya at the second and case, on 8 November 2014. He is said the third place respectively. The other to be associated with which women who figure in the top 10 are Bangladesh-based terror group which Zia Mody Co-founder AZB Partners; was allegedly planning to assassinate Mallika Srinivasan CEO of TAFE and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Aruna Jayanthi CEO of Capgemini Hasina? – Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India; Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Bangladesh (JMB) Hospital Enterprise; Kiran Mazumdar Explanation: Sajid alias Sheikh Shaw chairperson and MD at Biocon Rahmatullah, is a member of JMB and and Shobhana Bhartia, chairperson, is also a member of Majlis-e-Sura HT Media. which is the central committee of JMB.

He was the chief of the Burdwan module of JMB. This case is 7) The Bangladesh High Court on 9 associated with the blasts took place November 2014 questioned the on 2 October 2014 in a house in the legality of the 16th amendment of the Khagragarh locality of Burdwan. Later country‘s Constitution. The notice during investigations over 50 explosive came on a writ petition filed by nine devices were recovered from the Supreme Court lawyers seeking to house. The case was handed over to overturn the amendment two months the National Investigation Agency after the parliament amended the (NIA) which unearthed the various Constitution. This amendment is complexities of the case and associated with which issue? – associated it with suspected plots to Empowering Parliament to impeach

assassinate Sheikh Hasina and Supreme Court judges for CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT opposition leader Khaleda Zia. incapacity or misconduct

20 Explanation: The parliament, led by

ruling Awami League, had passed the Page

amendment bill on 17 September 2014 who was temporarily suspended on 8 17 restoring an old provision allowing it November 2014 after he failed a to impeach Supreme Court judges for doping test? – Lee Chong Wei ―misconduct and incapacity‖. Following Explanation: Lee Chong Wei is a the amendment, a Supreme Court Malaysian player of Chinese origin and judge could be removed by adopting a is presently ranked No.1 in men‘s resolution with a two-third majority in badminton. A badminton official of parliament on the basis of a Malaysia confirmed that it was the government probe. The judiciary of the sample of Lee Chong Wei which had country fears that the amendment failed during this year‘s World might have been done with a mala fide Championships. This sample test was intention and that the judges might feel carried out on 5 November at Oslo at risk to pass an order against a (Norway) and concluded that the lawmaker. banned steroid dexamethasone was taken. However, Chong Wei denied cheating or relying on banned 8) What is the name of the substances despite this result. Badminton‘s top-ranked male player

November 11, 2014

Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The draft would now be open for wider consultation with all stakeholders and is expected to be implemented by January 2015. It proposes to corporatise AAI and PHHL so as to improve transparency and efficiency of these two PSU entities. An in-house expert committee for 1) The Union Govt. on 10 November suggesting road map of Air India‘s 2014 unveiled the draft Civil Aviation revival has also been proposed. The Policy. Which two PSU stakeholders in draft also proposes to enhance aviation sector are proposed to be regional air connectivity, develop six corporatised and listed on stock major metro airports as international exchanges as listed in this draft? – hubs, create more airports through Airports Authority of India (AAI) and PPP mode, rationalise jet fuel cost,

Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited promote air cargo, MRO and CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT (PHHL) helicopter operations and improve passenger facilitation.

21 Explanation: The draft Civil Aviation

Policy was unveiled by Union Civil Page

2) Which state became the first in $1.4 billion and highlights burgeoning India to make voting compulsory in Israeli-Indian defence ties. local bodies after the Governor of the

state sanctioned the bill associated with the issue? –Gujarat 4) What is the name of the prize given on 9 November 2014 to 12 winners Explanation: Gujarat Governor O.P. from fields of Science and Math with Kohli recently gave his sanction by each prize worth $3 million, almost signing the controversial Gujarat Local three times the cash a Nobel Prize Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, winner receives? – Breakthrough 2009. This bill empowers an official Prize chosen by the State Election Commission to declare an absent Explanation: The Breakthrough Prize voter a ―defaulter‖ except in case of was instituted in 2012 by Russian illness or being out of station. The billionaire venture capitalist Yuri defaulter is liable for punishment but Milner. Later Facebook founder Mark the nature of penalty is not specified. Zuckerberg, Google co-founder The Bill also makes a provision for Sergey Brin, and other tech industry 50% reservation for women in local luminaries became associates in it and bodies, raising the quota from 33%. now jointly award it. The first edition of This bill was opposed by the Congress the prize was given in 2013 to 11 party. Legal experts also advocated personalities from the field of Life that forcing voters could be Sciences. This year the prize was unconstitutional and unworkable. given to 6 personalities from the field of Life Sciences and 6 from the field of

Mathematics. This prize is presently 3) An aerial defence system the most rewarding one as far the developed jointly by Israel and India prize money is concerned. passed its first trial simulating combat

conditions in Israel on 10 November 2014. What is the name of this missile 5) Mercedes‘ Nico Rosberg (Germany) system that is designed to shoot down won the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix, the incoming aircraft or missiles from land penultimate GP race of the year, on 9 or sea platforms? – Barak 8 November 2014. With this it became clear that the F1 World Champion for Explanation: Israel‘s state-owned 2014 would be selected in the last GP company Israel Aerospace Industries of the year. Which is the last Grand (IAI) and India‘s Defence Research Prix event of the 2014 season? – Abu and Development Organisation Dhabi GP (DRDO) are jointly developing this

Long Range Surface to Air Missile Explanation: Rosberg‘s win at CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

(LRSAM) system. The Israeli and Brazilian GP was his fifth of the year Indian militaries both plan to use Barak and now he trails by only 17 points to

22 8 once it becomes operational within his teammate Lewis Hamilton who is

months. The total cost of this project is leader. This means that even with an Page

unprecedented double points on offer Hamilton finished second in Brazilian at Abu Dhabi‘s Yas Marina circuit, GP while Brazilian Felipe Massa Rosberg can only become champion if finished third for Mercedes-powered Hamilton finishes out of the top two. Williams in his home race.

November 12, 2014

banks, or non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), have in recent years played a bigger role in financing small businesses and individuals in India, taking over from the banks that reined in credit as economic growth slowed. These companies were now so entrenched in the financial system that they needed better regulation.

1) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 11 November 2014 raised the 2) What important decision regarding minimum capital requirement for so- subsidy for cooking gas (domestic called shadow banks to Rs. 1 crore by LPG) was taken by the Union Govt. March 2016 and Rs. 2 crore by end of recently? – It has capped or frozen March 2017. This was done to avoid the budget subsidy for cooking gas any potential risk to the economy from at Rs. 20 a kg these rapidly growing finance firms by Explanation: The Union Govt. regulating them like traditional banks. decided to shift to a fixed budget What was the minimum capital subsidy for cooking gas and has requirement for these entities till now? hence frozen this subsidy at Rs. 20 – Rs. 25 lakh per kg. This will not mean any Explanation: The RBI also increase in price for the consumer announced that certain investment- right away. However, if international grade non-banking firms would be prices were to rise, as they normally allowed to take deposits and the do in winter, then the government will companies will have until March 2016 be faced with the choice of either

to acquire a credit rating. It also passing on the increase to consumers CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT capped deposit-taking at 1.5 times the (i.e., increasing prices of domestic

size of a firm‘s minimum capital, down LPG) or asking the oil companies to 23

from four times previously. Shadow bear the burden. The decision to shift Page

to a per-kg subsidy norm has the modern era. Some of his prominent added advantage of introducing works are ‗Akaal Mein Saras‘, ‗Abhi transparency and predictability to the Bilkul Abhi‘, ‗Zameen pak Rahi Hai‘, calculation of the fuel subsidy element ‗Yahan se Dekho‘ and ‗Tolstoy aur of the fiscal deficit. Against the market Cycle‘. The Jnanpith Award conferred price in Delhi for a 14.2-kg cylinder of on him was for year 2013. He became Rs. 810, the subsidised price is Rs. the 10th Jnanpith award winner of Hindi 417. At Rs. 20 per kg, the budget language after Sumitranandan Pant subsidy works out to Rs. 284 while the (1968), Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1972), under-recovery for the oil companies Sachchidananda Vatsyayan (1978), will be Rs. 109. Mahadevi Varma (1982), Naresh Mehta (1992), Nirmal Verma (1999),

Kunwar Narayan (2005), Amar Kant 3) The Summit of 21-nation Asia- and Shrilal Shukla (both 2009). Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

was held during November 2014 at – Beijing, China 5) 11 women died and over fifty others were hospitalised due to botched Explanation: The Summit meet of surgeries at a government-organised APEC (called APEC CEO Summit sterilisation camp in Chhattisgarh‘s 2014) was held from 8 November to Bilaspur district. This incident shocked 10 November 2014 at Beijing. APEC is the whole nation and protests against a forum for 21 Pacific Rim member the Chhattisgarh Govt. were held. This countries that seeks to promote free sterilisation camp was set up in which trade and economic cooperation village of Chhattisgarh? –Pendari throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It was established in 1989 in response to Explanation: A sterilisation surgeries the growing interdependence of Asia- (laparoscopic tubectomy) were carried Pacific economies and the advent of out at the camp held at a private regional trade blocs in other parts of hospital (Nemichand Jain Cancer and the world and to fears that Japan (a Research Centre) in Pendari village on member of G8) would come to outskirts of Bilaspur town on 8 dominate economic activity in the November 2014. About 83 women had Asia-Pacific region. undergone surgeries at this camp. Over 60 women were admitted to

different hospitals after they 4) 49th Jnanpith Award, the country‘s complained of complications following highest literary award, was conferred sterilization and were admitted to on which literary personality by Bilaspur district hospital. Four health President Pranab Mukherjee on 10 officials including Chief Medical Health

November 2014? –Kedarnath Singh, Officer of Bilaspur were suspended CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Hindi poet following the incident.

24 Explanation: Kedarnath Singh is one

of the most prominent Hindi writers of Page

6) Which Lumia smartphone will Microsoft fully acquired the Finnish become the first such device without company‘s handset business. the iconic Nokia brand name and Microsoft completed its $7.2 billion would only have Microsoft name on it, deal to buy Nokia‘s handset business as announced by the company on 11 in April 2014. Nokia continues as a November 2014? – Lumia 535 networks, mapping and technology licensing company. It owns and Explanation: Microsoft Corporation on manages the Nokia brand and only 11 November 2014 unveiled the Lumia licenses it to Microsoft. It is worth 535. This 5-inch Windows 8.1 phone mentioning that Nokia had partnered would be launched later this month in with Microsoft in 2011 to launch its some key markets. This would be first Lumia range of smartphones based on Lumia range of mobile phone without latter‘s Windows Phone operating Nokia name on it. The Nokia name system. has been dropped just months after

November 13, 2014

12th edition of ASEAN-India Summit was also held simultaneously. The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum held annually by leaders of 18 countries – Australia, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, The United States and Vietnam. 1) The 2-day 9th East Asia Summit started on 12 November 2014 with 2) The United States and China on 12 heads of 18 countries participating in November 2014 unveiled ambitious it. This summit is being held in which targets to reduce greenhouse gases. city? – Nay Pyi Taw (capital of What is this new target for United Myanmar) States, which is a move to cut pollution Explanation: Indian Prime Minister levels at a much fast rate? –

Narendra Modi addressed 9th East Reduction in emission of CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

Asia Summit‘s inaugural session on 12 greenhouse gases by 26% to 28% November. He gave the call for ‗Act by year 2025 as compared with 2005 25 Asia Policy‘ by amending the levels

Page traditional ‗Look East Policy‘. The

Explanation: Both countries agreed to numbers were first published in reduce emissions on the occasion of January 2012? –5.52% bilateral talks held on the sidelines of Explanation: Consumer inflation for the 9th East Asia Summit held at September 2014 stood at 6.46%. Myanmar. US President Barack Sharp drops in food and oil prices Obama announced that his country were the major reasons for significant would move much faster in cutting drop in inflation. On the other hand pollution, with a goal to reduce by 26% food price inflation, under a new series to 28% by 2025, compared with 2005 published by the government, eased to levels. Earlier in his presidency, he 5.59% in October from 7.67% in had set a goal to cut emissions by September. With consumer inflation 17% by 2020. China on the other hand coming below the Reserve Bank of didn‘t commit to cut emissions by a India‘s target level of 6%, and global specific amount. Instead, it set a target oil prices hovering near 4-year lows, for country‘s emission to peak by expectations are high that the central 2030, or earlier if possible. United bank could cut rates. States and China are two of the largest polluters in the world and the breakthrough achieved by them displays their desire to display a united 5) The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP front on climate change. govt. in Maharashtra won the much- awaited trust vote in Assembly on 12 November 2014 with the motion being carried by a voice vote on the floor of 3) Indian Railways had identified how the Maharashtra Assembly. Who was many areas in its operations to allow unanimously elected Maharashtra 100% foreign/private investment as Assembly Speaker on the same day? stated in the new guidelines under the – BJP‟s Haribhau Bagde Railway FDI policy that was approved by the Union Govt.? – 17 sectors Explanation: The exercise of choosing Assembly Speaker became Explanation: Broadly, the Railway a mere formality after the Sena and Ministry is putting up for private Congress withdrew their nominee for participation projects that are expected the post of Speaker paving way for to be financially remunerative and on unanimous election of the BJP‘s which construction work has not candidate as the new Speaker. This started. The Railways has sanctioned controversial trust vote was won as the projects running into lakhs of crores on Shiv Sena and the Congress, which which work has not started because of had said that they would vote against dearth of funds. the motion, chose not to exercise the

option. Sharad Pawar‘s NCP also did CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

not participate in the voting. Later 4) What was the consumer inflation for Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde was October 2014, which is the slowest 26 Maharashtra‘s new Opposition leader.

pace of price rise since retail inflation Page

November 14, 2014

‗Discovery of India‘, ‗Glimpses of World History‘ and ‗Toward Freedom‘.

2) In a major development India and the US reached an agreement on public stockpiling of food and thus paving the way for the implementation of WTO‘s global trade facilitation deal that has been stalled for months. India had called for a permanent ‗peace clause‘ to protect its food stockpiling scheme until a permanent solution on the issue was found at the WTO. This peace clause would have expired after how many years as agreed to at WTO talks held at Bali (Indonesia) during 2013? – 4 years 1) 125th birth anniversary of Pandit Explanation: Under the pact with Jawaharlal Nehru is being celebrated Washington, India will lift a veto on a on 14 November 2014. As first Prime global agreement on streamlining Minister of India, Nehru is considered customs rules pertaining to food-grain. to be the architect of modern India and The pact is likely to add $1 trillion to the father figure of Indian politics of the the world economy as well as 21 20th century. He was born on 14 million jobs, 18 million of them in November 1889 at which place? – developing countries. India has Allahabad wanted to keep a ―peace clause‖ that protects its huge state food purchases Explanation: Born to Motilal Nehru, until the WTO can strike a definitive

the leading barrister of his time, Nehru deal on stockpiling. As originally served twice as the President of the envisaged in Bali, the clause would Indian National Congress. He steered expire in four years. A peace clause is free India to become a modern country an undertaking that action won‘t be while being the Prime Minister of the taken against India for breaching food country from 15 August 1947 till his procurement subsidy levels (fixed at

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT death on 27 May 1964. He was a 10% of agricultural production) till the prolific writer and gave the world some formula for calculating trade distorting

27 of the iconic books on history such as subsidies is satisfactorily changed. Page

Explanation: On 30 April 2010, three civilians were lured to work as porters 3) Scientists of the European Space for the Army in Kupwara district. Agency (ESA) made space history on Instead, the Army killed them in a fake 12 November 2014 by placing a small encounter, applied black paint on the spacecraft on the surface of a clean-shaven faces of the slain, placed speeding comet. What was the name weapons on them and said they had of this mission under which the probe killed foreign militants. It was later named ‗Philae‘ was placed on a found that they three were the three comet? – Rosetta Mission civilians missing from Rafiabad. The Explanation: The Rosetta Mission staged killings known as the Machil was launched more than 10 years ago fake encounter case became one of on 2 March 2004 through Ariane 5G the important reasons for the 2010 rocket. Mission‘s probe ‗Philae‘ was mass protests in Kashmir in which the placed successfully on the surface of police and CRPF killed more than 120 the comet named 67P/Churyumov- young unarmed protestors. Gerasimenko. However, the reports

after this landing also suggested that the probe bounced twice on comet‘s 5) According to the data released by surface before attaining stability. With the World Gold Council (WGC) on 13 this achievement, a comet no longer November 2014, India once again remains a mysterious and sometimes emerged as world‘s biggest gold frightening spray of light across the consumer after it imported largest night sky, but another member of the amount of gold during the third quarter solar system to be explored, like the of 2014. India overtook which country moon and Mars. For scientists, one of to take number position once again? – the key mysteries that Rosetta mission China will explore is whether Earth‘s oceans Explanation: India once again took are filled with melted comets. Comet over as the world‘s biggest gold 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a consumer, buying 225.1 tonnes of gold 2.5-mile-wide ball of rock, ice and dust jewellery, coins and bars during third moving faster than 40,000 mph. quarter of 2014 quarter, compared to 182.7 tonnes in China. India, which lost its crown as the leading gold buyer 4) The Indian Army convicted seven to China in 2011, saw a 60% surge in soldiers, including two officers, in the jewellery demand in the third quarter. in-famous Machil fake encounter case Last year‘s number one consumer and sentenced them to life China saw a 39% drop in jewellery imprisonment on 13 November 2014. consumption as well as a 30% fall in This incident involving staged killing of

bar and coin investment. According to CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

three Kashmiri civilians took place on WGC‘s data total gold demand fell 2% which date? – 30 April 2010

to 929 tonnes in the third quarter. 28

Page

6) Indian batsman Rohit Sharma 7) V R Krishna Iyer, who turned 100 created ODI world record by scoring on 13 November 2014 and whose 264 runs against Sri Lanka at 100thbirthday was celebrated with joy Kolkata‘s Eden Garden on 13 all across Kerala, was a leading November 2014. He also became the luminary of which field? – Judiciary first-ever batsman to score two double Explanation: V R Krishna Iyer (also centuries in ODI. Whose record he known as Justice V R Krishna Iyer) is broke to become highest individual a former Judge of the Supreme Court scorer in ODIs? – Virendra Sehwag of India. He is the last Supreme Court Explanation: Rohit Sharma judge to have previously served as a surpassed Virendra Sehwag‘s 219 politician as he had also served as a runs to become highest individual minister in the first Communist scorer in ODIs. He achieved this feat government in Kerala till 1959. In the against Sri Lanka in the 4thODI of the field of judiciary he is known as a series at Eden Gardens (Kolkata). champion for civil rights and Powered by Sharma‘s record breaking democracy. Iyer is also an author of innings India batting first, finished at over a 100 books on plethora of mammoth 404 for 5 wickets and easily subjects from law and judiciary to defeated Sri Lanka in the match. travel and philosophy.

November 15-16, 2014

20 biggest economies of the world. It includes the largest developed countries of the world as well as the largest developing countries. The group comprises of 19 countries – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,

Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico,

Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,

South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom 1) The G-20 Summit 2014 started on and United States. The 20th member is 15 November 2014 in Brisbane, the the European Union (EU). The capital of Queensland (Australia). This European Commission (EC) and the summit is which edition of the meeting

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT European Commission (EC) represent of the G-20 heads of state? – Ninth EU in G-20. Indian Prime Minister

29 Explanation: G-20 (also known as Narendra Modi represented India in

Group of 20) is a global forum of the the summit. 6 countries – Mauritania, Page

Myanmar, New Zealand, Senegal, have not yet availed the benefit will be Singapore, and Spain have been able to get cash subsidy amount invited as guest countries to the transferred into their accounts to buy summit. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders at market price. Every time a

domestic LPG consumer books a 2) According to an announcement cylinder the government will transfer made by the Union Finance Ministry Rs. 568 to the customers‘ bank on 14 November 2014, which two account so that the money would be States and three Union Territories there in the account before gas have achieved 100% banking inclusion reaches their homes. Each household under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan is entitled to get 12 subsidized Yojana (PMJDY) as on 5 November cylinders a year. So those who have 2014? – Goa and Kerala (states) and already exhausted the quota will not Chandigarh, Puducherry and get any subsidy this year. This scheme Lakshadweep (Union Territories) will be implemented in the rest of India on 1 January 2015. Post Explanation: 100% banking inclusion implementation of this scheme India‘s means having at least one bank LPG subsidy burden of Rs 48,000 account for every household. crore is expected to come down by According to official data available till 5 15%. The Aadhaar linked DBTL November 2014, 11.26 lakh bank scheme was launched on 1 June 2013 accounts were opened in Kerala, and finally covered 291 districts. The followed by 77,485 accounts in Goa, government has comprehensively 1.36 lakh accounts in Chandigarh, reviewed the scheme and after 69,819 accounts in Puducherry and examining the difficulties faced by the 3,588 accounts in Lakshadweep under consumer substantively modified the the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana scheme prior to the launch. (PMJDY). States of Kerala and Goa, union territories of Chandigarh, Puducherry and Lakshadweep and 4) The Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircrafts three districts of Gujarat — Porbandar, of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were Mehasana, Gandhinagar have been allowed to fly again from 15 November declared as 100% saturated in terms 2014 after being grounded since 22 of coverage of all households with at October 2014. These aircrafts were least one bank account. grounded after a Sukhoi fighter crashed on 14 October. This crash took place near which place? – Pune 3) The Union Govt. launched a modified Direct Benefit Transfer of Explanation: An IAF Sukhoi 30 MKI

LPG (DBTL) scheme in how many fighter had crashed on 14 October CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT districts on 15 November 2014? – 54 2014 in a village near Pune when it

was returning after a regular exercise. 30 Explanation: Under this modified After this the IAF had ordered an

DBTL scheme, LPG consumers who Page

inquiry into the snag that led to this Northeast have been discriminated crash and announced grounding all of against because of the colour of skin, the around 200 fighters of this make till the built of body and even due to slant completion of this probe. A team of the eyes. IAF, HAL personnel and Russian

technicians are examining the reasons for crash but grounding of the aircraft 6) The Islamic State (IS) group on 14 was withdrawn from 15 November. November 2014 ordered that the organisation start minting gold, silver

and copper coins for its own currency. 5) The Assembly of which What is the name given to this Northeastern state of India on 14 currency? – Islamic Dinar November 2014 adopted a motion Explanation: The plan to create its against attacks on people from own currency is part of IS‘ grandiose Northeast? – Mizoram plan to restore the caliphate era that Explanation: The Mizoram Assembly dominated the Middle East more than unanimously adopted a resolution 1,300 years ago. It has already condemning racial attacks on people prepared its own flag, formed courts from the Northeast and expressed and ministries, issued passports and hope that such incidents do not take even license plates. IS is the violent place again. The resolution was Sunni jihadist group that has seized moved in the Assembly by Mizo parts of Syria and Iraq and plans to National Front (MNF) MLA Lalruatkima take more areas in the Arabic region who said that even 67 years after under its fold. independence, people from the

November 17, 2014

1) Which Indian male badminton player created history by defeating

two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China to win the China Open Super Series tournament on 16 November 2014 – Kidambi Srikanth Explanation: Kidambi Srikanth

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT shocked five time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of

31 China, who was also the home

favourite, by 21-19, 21-17 to win the Page

title. Lin Dan is considered the greatest badminton player of all time 4) Andhra Pradesh‘s Puttamaraju and deemed invincible by all Kandriga village came to news contemporaries. This was the first time recently due to which reason? – that any Indian male shuttler had won Sachin Tendulkar adopted this a Super Series Premier event ever village under the Sansad Adarsh since the Super Series and Premier Gram Yojna (SAGY) tournaments were introduced. Srikanth belongs to Guntur (Andhra Pradesh). Explanation: Sachin Tendulkar visited this village on 16 November 2014 for

the first time after his announcement 2) The 2014 summit of G-20 nations to adopt it during October 2014. This concluded at Brisbane (Australia) on village is in Nellore district of Andhra 16 November 2014. Which city would Pradesh and with a population of host the 2015 Summit of G-20 next around 400, depends primarily on year? –Antalya (Turkey) farming as a source of livelihood. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Explanation: The G-20 Summit Independence Day speech had urged concluded with world‘s most powerful all MPs to adopt a village each by industrial economies pledging to grow 2016, and another two by 2019, their combined economic output by an focusing on providing modern and extra 2.1%, i.e., around $2 trillion – better services and infrastructure. over the next five years. The ―Brisbane Action Plan‖ was formulated to achieve this goal through domestic 5) During November 2014 Microsoft policy reforms. issued an emergency patch for a dangerous bug that had existed in the Windows operating system 3) Saina Nehwal‘s title win at the undiscovered for 19 years. The bug, China Open Super Series tournament which is present in every version of on 16 November 2014 completed a Microsoft Windows from Windows 95 rare doubles in singles for India. onward, allows an attacker to remotely Nehwal defeated which player in the take over and control a computer. This final to give Indian this rare double title bug was discovered by cybersecurity win? – Japan‟s Akane Yamaguchi research team of which company? – Explanation: Saina Nehwal defeated IBM Corp. Akane Yamaguchi by 21-12, 22-20 in Explanation: The bug was discovered the finals. This was Saina‘s third title of by IBM‘s cybersecurity research team the year as she had won the in May 2014. It was revealed that a Australian Super Series in June,

hacker could take control of computers CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

besides clinching the Syed Modi after luring Internet Explorer browser International Grand Prix Gold early in users to bobby-trapped Internet pages. 32 the year.

However, it was also revealed that Page

there was no evidence that hackers the ODI series under the captaincy of had managed to pull-off any such Kapil Dev. India won the final ODI at move. Ranchi by 3 wickets under pressure and were guided by a magnificent 139

not out by skipper Virat Kohli. Set to 6) India whitewashed Sri Lanka by 5-0 chase a convincing target of 287 India in the ODI series by winning the final achieved the target with 8 balls to ODI held at Ranchi on 16 November spare. Virat Kohli was adjudged the 2014. When was the last time when Man of the Series. Earlier Sri Lankan India had whitewashed Sri Lanka in an skipper Angelo Mathews hit a brilliant ODI series? – 1982 139 not out, the maiden century of his career to steer his team to a Explanation: This series win is India‘s respectable score of 286. second ODI series whitewash over Sri Lanka at home – the first since 1982, when India had whitewashed it 3-0 in

November 18, 2014

and give a new feel to audience. What was the slogan adopted for the channel in this relaunch? –“Desh ka Apna Channel” Explanation: Doordarshan beamed completely fresh content from 17 November to its viewers across the country. It came out not just with new programmes but also repackaged itself in new theme colours – purple and pink. Doordarshan had earlier put in

place new guidelines to acquire best

quality content to keep up with the expectations of the audience. DD National (also called DD1) is the 1) Doordarshan National (DD flagship TV channel of government-run National), the national channel of Doordarshan and has the widest reach

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT across the country.

government-run Doordarshan, was re- launched on 17 November 2014 with a 33 slew of new programming. This was

done in a bid to attract more viewers Page

2) The report of Justice Mukul Mudgal the President Pranab Mukherjee on 16 panel on match fixing in IPL was made November 2014? – Vrindavan public on 17 November 2014. The Chandrodaya Mandir (Vrindavan, report gave a major relief to the UP) stepped down BCCI president N. Explanation: The Vrindavan Srinivasan observing that it could not Chandrodaya Mandir is being be proved that he was involved with constructed at Vrindavan by ISKCON betting activities. The report however and it will be the tallest and the most gave harsh comments on Raj Kundra, expensive temple in the World. It will co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, stating have height of around 700 feet (213 that he was in touch with bookies who meters) and would cost around Rs. indulged in betting. The report would 300 crore ($49 million). A look-alike of now be considered by the bench of the verdant forests of Vrindavan will be which two Justices of the Supreme recreated around this magnificent Court? – Justices T.S. Thakur and temple. It will be spread over a Ibrahim Kalifulla sprawling 26 acres, it will consist of the Explanation: The Mukul Mudgal panel twelve forests of Braj, with varieties of was constituted by the Supreme Court lush vegetation, green pastures, to probe the allegations of spot-fixing elegant vistas of fruit bearing trees, in IPL matches. The committee is flower laden creepers serenaded by headed by Justice (Retd.) Mukul bird songs, clear water lakes with Mudgal, former Chief Justice of the lotuses and lilies and water falls that Punjab and Haryana High Court. The tumble from small artificial hillocks. panel submitted its final report to the

Supreme Court during November 2014 after going through its probe 4) What is the name of the American thoroughly. The copies of the report hostage who was killed by the militants were made public on 17 November of Islamic State (IS) as claimed in a 2014. The report also stated that video released by it on 16 November N.Srinivasan along with four other 2014? –Peter Kassig BCCI officials was aware of the violation of the Players Code of Explanation: Peter Kassig was an Conduct of a prominent unnamed American aid worker from Indiana and individual. On Gurunath Meiyappan, his family had claimed that he was son-in-law of Srinivasan, the panel taken captive on his way to the Syrian said investigations have confirmed that city of Deir al-Zor on 1 October 2013. he was a team official of the franchise The announcement of Kassig‘s death, Chennai Super Kings. the fifth such killing of a Western captive by the Islamic State group,

formed part of a video posted online in CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

which IS showed the beheadings of at 3) What is the name of the proposed least 14 men it said were pilots and tallest temple in the world, the 34 officers loyal to Syrian President foundation stone of which was laid by

Bashar al-Assad. Page

third quarter of July-September 2014. However, country‘s Gross domestic 5) Which important development product (GDP) fell by an annualised associated with the Japanese rate of 1.6% during the quarter. economy came to news on 17 Country had already observed a huge November 2014? – Its economy fall of 7.3% during the second quarter unexpectedly slipped into recession (April-June 2014) following a rise in in the third quarter (July-September the national sales tax. This latest slide 2014) is expected to delay an unpopular Explanation: Japan is world‘s third sales tax hike and call a snap election largest economy after the US and halfway through Prime Minister Shinzo China. Country‘s economy had been Abe‘s term in office. forecast to rebound by 2.1% in the

November 19, 2014

Explanation: Nanavati Commission was constituted in 2002 by the Gujarat govt. to inquire the incidents of violence (riots) that took place after the Godhra incident. Godhra incident is associated with the burning of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station in February 2002. More than 1,000 people, mostly of minority community, were killed in the Gujarat riots that followed this incident. Initially, the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the commission

were to inquire into the facts,

circumstances and course of events that led to the burning of the S-6 coach 1) Nanavati Commission, lead by of Sabarmati Express. Later the TOR Retd. Supreme Court Justice G.T. were further amended in June 2002, Nanavati, submitted its final report to as per which the panel was also asked Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT to inquire the incidents of violence that Patel on 17 November 2014. This took place after the Godhra incident. Commission is associated with which

35 The commission was given 24 subject? – Gujarat riots of 2002

extensions of around six months each Page

to complete its investigations. The operate at 33.86 petaflops per second report of the commission is over 2,000 (Pflop/s), the equivalent of 33,860 pages long. quadrillion calculations per second. Super computer Titan, installed at the

DOE‘s Oak Ridge National Laboratory 2) Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), one of the (US), remains the No. 2 system with a most popular small savings scheme in performance of 17.59 Pflop/s. The No. India, was re-launched on 18 3 spot was acquired by Sequoia, November 2014. It was discontinued installed at the DOE‘s Lawrence from November 2011 on the Livermore National Laboratory. recommendation of the Shyamala

Gopinath Committee. When KVP was initially launched? – 1 April 1988 4) Over 200 persons were injured when hundreds of policemen and Explanation: The Kisan Vikas Patra followers of self-styled godman Sant was launched initially in 1988 and Rampal‘s followers fought a pitched became one of the most popular small battle as the police tried to enter the savings instruments ever. However, ashram to arrest the godman on 18 the Shyamala Gopinath Committee November 2014. The police who (2011) recommended that it should be wanted to execute a warrant against discontinued as it was prone to Rampal, used tear gas, water cannon misuse, being a bearer-line and lathicharged Rampal‘s followers, instrument. KVP was later who responded by firing gunshots and discontinued from November 2011. throwing acid pouches. Rampal‘s But now Union govt. has relaunched ashram named ‗Satlok Ashram‘ is in the scheme with an objective of giving which town of Haryana? – Barwala a boost to country‘s small savings (Hisar district) sector. Explanation: The Punjab and Click Here for Knowing all about Kisan Haryana High Court had set a Vikas Patra deadline of 21 November 2014 for producing him in a contempt case and therefore the Haryana Government 3) What is the name of the Chinese was racing against time to get hold of supercomputer which was rated the the ‗godman‘ to meet the deadline. world‘s fastest supercomputer for the The standoff of several days between fourth consecutive year in the biannual the authorities and Rampal‘s Top500 list released in Washington on supporters took a violent turn on 18 17 November 2014? – Tianhe-2 November 2014 as they faced stiff Explanation: Tianhe-2 was developed resistance from Rampal‘s supporters. Rampal, who faces arrest in a murder

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT by China‘s National University of Defence Technology and is installed at case, has been hiding in his ‗Satlok Ashram‘ for nearly two weeks.

36 the National Supercomputer Centre in

Guangzhou in south China. It can Page

5) According to the announcement 6) Which former cricketer was selected made by the Union Health Ministry on for the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime 18 November 2014, the Ebola virus Achievement Award for 2014, given by was found in the semen of a 26-year- the Board of Control for Cricket in old man who had travelled from an India (BCCI)? – Dilip Vengsarkar Ebola-infested West African country to Explanation: Dilip Vengsarkar is India and reached Delhi on 10 regarded as one of India‘s best November 2014. He is under batsmen. He is the only non-English treatment and cannot transmit the batsman to score three Test hundreds virus as he has been kept in an at the Lord‘s cricket ground and is the isolation facility. This man arrived from second Indian to have played 100 which country? –Liberia Tests. He was a member of the 1983 Explanation: The Union Health World Cup and the 1985 World Ministry said the semen tested positive Championship winning Indian teams for the virus on two occasions. and was rated the world‘s number one Currently, this person does not have batsman in the 1986-87 season. He any symptoms of the disease. This retired in 1992 and has since donned person from Liberia is a recovered the role of an administrator. He will be case of Ebola and is in the shedding handed a citation, trophy and cheque stage. He can pass on the virus for Rs. 25 lakh at the 8th annual BCCI through sexual contact and has Awards Ceremony. therefore been kept in isolation.

November 20, 2014

1) What is the name of the internet banking facility of Bharatiya Mahila Bank Ltd (BMB) that was launched on 19 November 2014? –

„BMBSmartBanking‟ Explanation: BMB, India‘s first women‘s bank completed one year of operations on 19 November 2014. On this occasion a newly designed

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT website of the bank was also launched. The ‗BMBSmartBanking‘

37 was launched by Ananthasubramanian, Chairman and

Page

Managing Director, BMB. BMB Explanation: It is alleged that Rampal currently has network of 33 branches had made derogatory remarks against and all of them have core banking Arya Samaj‘s founder Swami solutions (CBS) with onsite ATMs. Dayanand Saraswati. In 2006 the differences between his supporters

and the people of Arya Samaj 2) The committee constituted to review culminated in a clash that resulted in environmental laws in India submitted the death of one person. A case was its report to the Union Govt. on 18 registered against Rampal in this case November 2014. The committee was way back but he was able to skip legal constituted to provide the appropriate hearing 42 times. It was then that an actionables to the govt. in its move to arrest warrant was issued against him amend five key green laws to ensure by the Punjab and Haryana High transparency in environmental Court. Before arresting Sant Rampal, clearances. Who headed this the police had managed to evacuate committee? – TSR Subramanian, 15,000 of his followers. former Cabinet Secretary

Explanation: The Govt. feels that 4) What is the name of Indonesian suggestions of this committee would capital Jakarta‘s first Christian help the Environment Ministry in governor in nearly 50 years who was avoiding undue delays and ensure sworn in on 19 November 2014 transparency in clearances and despite protests from religious implementation of projects. But the hardliners opposing a non-Muslim forming of this committee and its taking over this post? – Basuki report were protested by a section of Tjahaja Purnama environmental activists due to the absence of any environmental expert Explanation: Basuki Tjahaja in the committee. This section feels Purnama, who is better known by his that committee‘s suggestions could nickname ―Ahok‖, is a Christian result in complete dismantling‖ of laws belonging to the ethnic Chinese and institutions related to minority. He has been serving as environmental governance. acting governor since Joko Widodo stepped aside last month to become

country‘s president. The post of 3) The controversial ‗godman‘ Sant Governor of Jakarta is considered one Rampal was arrested on 19 November of Indonesia‘s most powerful political 2014 from his besieged ‗Satlok jobs. Hundreds of religious hardliners Ashram‘ in Barwala, Hisar (Haryana). staged protests against Ahok‘s He has to be produced before the appointment, underlining the

Punjab and Haryana High Court in difficulties facing the president‘s battle CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Chandigarh by 21 November 2014 in against intolerance in a nation with the

connection with a murder case. This world‘s biggest Muslim population. 38 case pertains to which year? – 2006

Page

5) 5 Israeli citizens, including one enterprise customers unlock the full security personnel, were killed in an potential of professionals and the attack by 2 Palestinians on a Jewish clients. The company‘s enterprise mail synagogue situated near Jerusalem on service, known as Notes, is used by 18 November 2014. It was the companies worldwide, while more than deadliest attack on Israeli civilians in 50,000 use IBM‘s social platform for more than three years. This incident businesses, IBM Connections. took place in which ultra-Orthodox

neighborhood of Jerusalem? – Har Nof 7) The first edition of the Champions Tennis League (CTL) got underway Explanation: Har Nof is an ultra- from 17 November 2014. CTL is styled Orthodox neighborhood in West on the pattern of Indian Premier Jerusalem. The attack was carried out League (IPL) and would feature some at the Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue of the top male and female players by two Palestinian assailants armed from around the world. Who is the with a gun, knives and axes. The promoter of CTL? – Vijay Amritraj assailants, cousins from East Jerusalem, were killed at the scene in Explanation: CTL is the first mega a gun battle with the police that injured professional tennis event in India and two officers. is promoted by Vijay Amritraj‘s sports management company Second Serve.

It will feature six teams, one each from 6) What is the name of the newly Delhi (Delhi Dreams), Mumbai launched e-mail application of tech (Mumbai Tennis Masters), Chandigarh giant IBM made available for (Punjab Marshalls), Pune (Pune enterprises that integrates social Marathas), Bengaluru (Bangalore media, file sharing and analytics to Raptors) and Hyderabad (Hyderabad help increase productivity? – „Verse‟ Aces). Some of the great names from tennis world to feature in CTL are Explanation: ‗Verse‘ is a single Venus Williams, Martina Hingis, platform e-mail application for Jelena Jankovic, Juan Carlos Ferrero, enterprises through which employees Thomas Enqvist, Mark Philippoussis, can access emails, calendars, file Agnieszka Radwanska, Pat Cash, sharing, instant messaging, social Leander Paes, Greg Rusedski and updates and video chats seamlessly. Marcos Baghdatis. The league would IBM Verse is intended to help conclude on 26 November 2014.

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

39 Page

November 21, 2014

is this? – 2G spectrum scam investigation Explanation: CBI Director Ranjit Sinha was removed from 2G scam investigation case as the Supreme Court bench ruled that there is credible information that he has been trying to subvert his own agency‘s inquiry on the telecom scam. Sinha has been 1) Which bank would be merged with accused by lawyer-activist Prashant Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) as Bhushan of trying to protect some of approved by the Board of Directors of the telecom executives that his agency KMB on 20 November 2014? – ING has charged with criminal conspiracy. Vysya Bank As evidence, Bhushan, during Explanation: As per as a notice to the September 2014, submitted a diary of BSE by KMB, the KMB Board visitors to the CBI chief‘s home. approved a share swap ratio of 725 Regular house calls were made by equity shares of Rs. 5 each of KMB for men who are named as the accused every 1000 equity shares of Rs. 10 by the CBI. The Supreme Court has each held in IVB. This merger would been monitoring the CBI‘s be first merger since 2010 in private investigation since 2010 based on a sector banking space when Bank of petition by Prashant Bhushan. The Rajasthan was acquired by ICICI CAG in a report released in 2010, had Bank. ING Vysya Bank was the first estimated the 2G spectrum scam bank to come into existence through a worth Rs. 1.76 lakh crore. merger between an Indian bank and a foreign bank when Dutch banking group ING and Vysya Bank merged in 3) The International Film Festival of 2002 to form this bank. India (IFFI) was inaugurated on 20

November 2014 at Goa, which is the permanent venue for hosting the IFFI. 2) In an important development the This is which edition of IFFI? – 45th Supreme Court on 20 November 2014 Explanation: The opening ceremony removed the Director of India‘s of 45th IFFI was held at Prasad

premier investigating agency – the Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim (Goa) CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while screening of films was started at

from inquiry into one of the country‘s Kala Academy, Panaji. The 11-day 40

largest financial swindles. Which case cinematic extravaganza, which was Page

inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan, 5) Sri Lankan President Mahinda would feature 178 films from 79 Rajapaksa on 19 November 2014 countries. First film to be featured in pardoned five Indian fishermen who the festival was Iranian filmmaker had been sentenced to death for drug Mohsen Makhmalbaf‘s film ‗The trafficking. This is expected to result in President‗. significant reduction in tension between India and Sri Lanka as the

death penalty triggered a diplomatic 4) The Securities and Exchange Board row between the two. In which year of India (SEBI) on 19 November 2014 these 5 fishermen were arrested by Sri approved new rules on insider trading Lankan Navy? – in 2011 that will replace a two-decade old law. Explanation: Sri Lankan Navy had Under the newly approved rule, which arrested these 5 fishermen, belonging new segment of people will be to Tamil Nadu, in 2011 on charges of considered insiders, i.e., persons illegal poaching in Sri Lankan waters, capable of influencing prices of shares a charge denied by them. On 30 through the sensitive information they October 2014 a Sri Lankan court possess about particular scrip/scrips? sentenced them death penalty – Immediate relatives of senior triggering considerable anger in Tamil management, other stakeholders Nadu. India has now welcomed the such as founders, and third-party death pardon by Mahinda Rajapaksa. clients handling market sensitive information Explanation: The rules, which are 6) Four time Formula 1 (F1) champion based on recommendations first Sebastian Vettel of Germany would revealed late during 2013, broaden the join which F1 team in 2015 as scope of who can be held liable for confirmed by the team on 20 insider trading violations and require November 2014? – Ferrari company officials to be more Explanation: Vettel, who has been transparent about their trading associated with Austrian F1 team Red activities. SEBI has widened the Bull for 5 years, would leave it to join definition of who exactly is an insider Italian marquee team Ferrari by by including persons in possession of replacing Spanish driver Fernando or with access to unpublished price Alonso. The deal would be for 3 years. sensitive information. The definition Vettel will partner Finland‘s 2007 world now states that all persons and their champion Kimi Raikkonen, who has a immediate relatives with a contractual, year remaining on his contract. Alonso fiduciary or employment relationship is expected to return to McLaren, the with the company will be considered team he spent a torrid season with in

―connected persons‖. New insider CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

2007. rules are part of efforts being done by

SEBI to boost investor confidence in 41

stock markets. Page

7) Which Spanish city has agreed to Affairs M. enter into technical collaboration with participated. He held talks with Xavier the Delhi Development Authority Trias, the Mayor of Barcelona, in (DDA) and New Delhi Municipal which Trias announced that Barcelona Corporation (NDMC) to develop New would be happy to cooperate with Delhi as a Smart City? – Barcelona India to develop its smart cities on the lines of Barcelona. The Mayor agreed Explanation: Barcelona is hosting the to develop a technical collaboration Smart City Expo World Congress in proposal in cooperating directly with which the Minister for Urban Delhi‘s municipal agencies DDA and Development, Housing and Urban NDMC. Barcelona is regarded as the Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary foremost smart city of the world.

November 22, 2014

Explanation: The notification issued by the RBI stated that the penal charges should be directly proportionate to the extent of shortfall observed. Charges should be a fixed percentage levied on the amount of difference between the actual balance maintained and the minimum balance as agreed upon at the time of opening of account. A suitable slab structure for recovery of charges may be finalized for the same. 1) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on

20 November 2014 asked banks to

inform their customers about fall in 2) Who will be the Chief Guest at the

minimum balance well in advance and 2015 Republic Day celebrations of said that penal charges should be India, as announced on 21 November levied only to the extent of shortfall in 2014? – US President Barack such balances. The guidelines Obama pertaining to levying of penal charges Explanation: Indian Prime Minister

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT for non-maintenance of minimum Narendra Modi had invited Barack balance are coming into effect from Obama to be the chief guest at the

42 which date? – 1 April 2015 Republic Day ceremony of 2015. This

Page invitation was delivered by Prime

Minister during his visit to Myanmar areas, including metering of and Australia, when he met President distribution transformers and feeders. Obama at the East Asia summit and The estimated cost of the scheme for the G-20 meeting of world leaders. On above two components is Rs. 43,033 21 November 2014 the official letter crore which includes the requirement from the White House was received of budgetary support of Rs 33,453 confirming this invitation. Obama crore from the government over the would thus become the first US entire implementation period. President to grace Republic Day

celebrations as the Chief Guest. Obama‘s acceptance of Modi‘s invite 4) The Centre‘s decision to name the is also being seen as a major sign of domestic terminal of Hyderabad‘s the deepening ties between India and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport the US. (RJAI) after which leader was opposed vociferously in the Telangana

Assembly on 21 November 2014? – 3) The Union Cabinet on 20 November NT Rama Rao, former Chief Minister 2014 approved the launch of of Andhra Pradesh Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Explanation: The Centre had on 20 Yojana (DDUGJY), a rural November 2014 decided to name the electrification scheme. This scheme domestic terminal of Hyderabad airport would replace which existing scheme on late NT Rama Rao. While shifting which was launched by the erstwhile the international airport to UPA Govt.? – Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Shamshabad, the then Congress Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) Government named it after former Explanation: Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi but chose Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) was not to name the domestic terminal. On launched in March 2005 by the Union 21 November the leaders of Power Ministry with the objective of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and electrifying over one lakh un-electrified Congress strongly opposed the villages and to provide free electricity decision in Telangana Assembly. TRS connections to 2.34 Crore rural BPL demanded that the govt. should have households. This scheme was later chosen someone from Telangana to brought under the ambit of Bharat name the airport. Nirman. The newly launched DDUGJY

will have components to separate agriculture and non-agriculture feeders 5) Which IIT became the first IIT to be facilitating judicious rostering of supply made a full member of the CMS to agricultural and non-agricultural collaboration of CERN, the European

consumers in rural areas. The scheme Organization for Nuclear Research, CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT also includes strengthening and where physicists and engineers are

augmentation of sub transmission and probing the fundamental structure of 43

distribution infrastructure in rural the universe? – IIT Madras Page

Explanation: CERN (Conseil properties, and the Shahi Imam cannot Européen pour la Recherche unilaterally decide his successor. The Nucléaire) is known for the discovery Bukharis have been the traditional of the Higgs boson in 2012. CMS custodians of the Jama Masjid for (Compact Muon Solenoid) is one of almost 400 years since it was built by the two CERN experiments that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in discovered Higgs boson particles. IIT the 17th century. Madras‘ admission as a full-member of

CMS was made possible by a presentation made to the CMS 7) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Collaboration Board by Prafulla Kumar Abe dissolved parliament‘s lower Behera of the Department of Physics house on 21 November 2014 for a at IIT Madras. He emphasised IIT snap election expected on 14 Madras‘ capabilities in experimental December. This decision was taken to research, particularly in high-energy seek a fresh mandate for his visibly physics. struggling economic policies. The general elections in Japan were due in

which year? –2016 6) The Delhi High Court in its order Explanation: Shinzo Abe was elected given on 21 November 2014 said that Japan‘s Prime Minister in December Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam 2012. He had announced a revival of Delhi‘s Jama Masjid, has no right to strategy for struggling Japanese pick his son as his successor. The economy and had returned to power court also asked Bukhari to explain his promising that ―Japan is Back‖. But decision to pick his son as his doubts are being raised about his successor. Syed Ahmed Bukhari has economic strategy especially after been the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid data released during third week of since which year? – 2000 November 2014 showing that the Explanation: Syed Ahmed Bukhari economy had surprisingly slipped into was appointed the Shahi Imam of recession in the third quarter after an Jama Masjid, India‘s largest mosque, initial rise in the sales tax to 8% from on 14 October 2000. He succeeded April 2014. his father late Syed Abdullah Bukhari,

who was the 12th Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. Syed Ahmed Bukhari had 8) Kishore Biyani‘s Future Group announced the function to anoint his acquired which South India-based 19-year-old son as Vice-Imam on 22 supermarket chain as announced by November 2014. Bukhari had been the group on 21 November 2014? – challenged by a series of public Nilgiris

interest litigations (PILs) which CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT contend that the mosque is the Explanation: Nilgiris operate Nilgiris

property of the Delhi Wakf Board, convenience store chain in the 44 which administers Muslim religious southern states of Kerala, Karnataka,

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It Page

has 140 outlets in key urban centres in convenience store network in southern these 4 southern states. It also owns a India, as its existing footprint is portfolio of brands in dairy, bakery, primarily concentrated in North and chocolates and staples along with their West India. The total value of this manufacturing facilities in Bangalore. acquisition was estimated at around The acquisition by Future Group will Rs. 300 crore. lead to geographical expansion of the

November 23-24, 2014

the race and was followed by teammate Valterri Bottas. This was the second F1 championship title for Hamilton, who first won the prestigious championship in 2008. Mercedes won the constructors title with massive 701 points and was followed by Red Bull- Renault (405 points) and Williams- Mercedes (320 points). Force India achieved its best-ever performance in F1 by collecting 155 overall points and 1) Who became the Formula One (F1) claiming 6th place in constructors champion of 2014 by winning the Abu standings. Dhabi Grand Prix on 23 November 2014? – Lewis Hamilton (Great Final standings in 2014 F1 Britain) Driver Explanation: British driver Lewis Hamilton, who represents Mercedes Team Points team, won the 2014 by winning the Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held at Yas Mercedes 384 points Marina on 23 November. He pipped fellow teammate Nico Rosberg Nico Rosberg (Germany) (Germany) despite Rosberg starting Mercedes 317 points the race from the pole position. Rosberg could not garner any points Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull 238 points

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT by finishing at a very disappointing 14th place. He however finished

45 second in overall season. Felipe

Massa (Williams) finished second in Page

2) Which team created tennis history Court had given the go-ahead for by winning its maiden Davis Cup title Vikrant to be auctioned in January, on 23 November 2014? – Switzerland after it rejected a public interest litigation petition to save the vessel Explanation: Led by a vintage and convert it into a maritime museum. performance by Roger Federer, In March, the Indian Navy sold Vikrant Switzerland won its maiden Davis Cup to a Mumbai-based ship breaking title with a 3-1 win over hosts France company for Rs. 63 crore. on 23 November 2014. Federer crushed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to give his country an invincible 3-1 4) What is the name of the 19-year lead over hosts. He was earlier son of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid defeated by Frenchman Gael Monfils who was anointed as his successor at on 21 November. Stan Wawrinka gave a ceremony on 22 November 2014? – Switzerland the first point by beating Shaban Bukhari Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Switzerland were 2-1 up going into reverse singles after Explanation: Shaban Bukhari was Wawrinka and Federer teamed up to anointed Naib or deputy Imam of the beat Gasquet and Julien Benneteau in 17thcentury mosque by his father, Syed the doubles on 22 November. This Ahmad Bukhari. The anointment came defeat was France‘s third defeat in amid much controversy with three their last three finals. petitions against it having been admitted by the Delhi High Court soon

after the announcement of his intent 3) INS Vikrant, the county‘s first by the Shahi Imam in October 2014. aircraft carrier, has finally faded away The Delhi High Court on 21 November into history as dismantling of the said that both the ceremony and the majestic vessel began on 21 anointment held no legal sanctity. The November 2014 at Mumbai. This was court had, however, refused to stay despite last ditch attempts by activists the ceremony with a Bench of Chief and former navy servicemen to save it Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. from being dismantled and broken. Endlaw saying that the function was INS Vikrant was decommissioned from not legal and would not give any the Indian Navy in which year? – 1997 ‗special equities‘ in their (Imam Bukhari‘s) favour. Explanation: The 16,000-tonne ship, which had helped to enforce a naval blockade of East Pakistan (present 5) What are the names of two Indians Bangladesh) during the 1971 war, was who were declared Saints by the decommissioned in 1997. It was Vatican on 23 November 2014? – purchased as HMS Hercules from

Father Kuriakose Chavara and CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

Britain in 1957 and rechristened INS Sister Euphrasia Vikrant. It was formally commissioned

46 into the Indian fleet at Bombay on 3 Explanation: Father Kuriakose

November 1961. The Bombay High Chavara was ordained as a priest in Page

1829. He set up the first printing press named Best Male Athlete of the Year among the Syro-Malabar churches in while Valerie Adams, the Olympic shot Kottayam, which went on to publish put champion, was named Best the first Malayalam daily, and Female Athlete of the Year. It marked popularised the concept of Sunday the first time that field event athletes sermons. He died in 1871 and is had won both awards and the first time buried at Saint Philomina‘s Church at a male pole vaulter or a female Koonammavu in Ernakulam district. thrower collected the honours. Sister Euphrasia was known as a Lavillenie set the world record of 6.16 ‗praying mother‘ and a ‗saint among metres in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk nuns‘, who, according to followers, had in February 2014, breaking Sergei several miracles to her credit. She Bubka‘s 21-year-old mark. He also died in 1952, at the age of 75 and is won 21 of 22 competitions. Valerie buried at Ollur, Thrissur. With these Adams claimed a ninth global title two canonisations, the centuries-old when she retained her world indoor Syro Malabar Church will have three crown in Sopot, Poland. She was Saints, the first being Sister Alphonsa, unbeaten in 2014 and boosted her who was declared a saint in 2008. winning streak to 56 competitions, having not lost since 2010.

6) On 22 November 2014 who became the all-time highest scorer in the 8) Who won the men‘s and women‘s history of La Liga – the Spanish title of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon Football League? – Lionel Messi held on 23 November 2014? – Guye Adola (Ethiopia) and Florence Explanation: FC Barcelona superstar Kiplagat (Kenya) Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in a 5-1 triumph against Sevilla on 22 Explanation: Guye Adola broke the November to complete 253 goals and course record to emerge triumphant in became the all-time highest scorer in the international elite men‘s category La Liga history. He eclipsed the earlier by completing the race 59.06 minutes. record of 251 goals set by former He broke the record set by Athletic Club Bilbao striker, Telmo countryman Atsedu Tsegay last year. Zarra in the 1950‘s. World Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor finished second

and third spot was claimed by another 7) Who were named World Athletes of Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew. In the the Year at the IAAF (International International Elite Women category, Association of Athletics Federations) defending champion Florence Kiplagat gala held at Monaco on 21 November of Kenya won with a timing of 01 hour

2014? –Renaud Lavillenie (France) 10 minutes beating compatriot Gladys CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT and Valerie Adams (New Zealand) Cherono. Third position was claimed

by Ethiopian runner Worknesh Degefa. 47 Explanation: Renaud Lavillenie, the The race comprised of 21.1 km.

Pole vault world record holder, was Page

November 25, 2014

States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France, plus Germany.

2) Who was appointed as the special representative of India to conduct boundary negotiations and strategic consultations with China on 24 November 2014? – Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor (NSA) Explanation: The appointment of 1) The talks between Iran and six Doval comes at a time when there world powers (P5+1) on the crucial have been several incidents of tension issue of Iran‘s nuclear deal ended on between the two countries at the 24 November 2014 without reaching border and Line of Actual Control any break-off. However, the talks were (LAC). Doval is credited with solving extended till which date with the aim of several issues including planning key achieving political agreement by missions related to Myanmar and March 2015? – 1 July 2015 China related missions. In September this year, Chinese incursions in Explanation: 24 November 2014 was Ladakh raised security alarms for the the deadline for a deal to resolve a 12- Indian government. Indian troops had year stand-off over Tehran‘s atomic to reportedly make a tactical retreat of ambitions. These talks were held about two kilometers in Chumar. between Iran and group of 6 countries called P5+1in Vienna. The objective of these talks was to achieve an accord 3) World chess champion, Norway‘s that could transform the Middle East, Magnus Carlsen retained his title, open the door to ending economic defeating Indian challenger th sanctions on Iran and start to bring the Viswanathan Anand in the 11 round country from the cold after decades of of their title match on 23 November hostility with the West. The P5+1 is a 2014. Anand was able to defeat group of six world powers which in Carlsen in how many game/games? – 2006 joined the diplomatic efforts with One Iran with regard to its nuclear program.

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT The term refers to the P5 or five Explanation: The 12-game World permanent members of the UN Championship tie had started on 8

48 Security Council, namely United November at Sochi (Russia). Carlsen

won three games out of 11 games Page

held while Anand could win just one ministry for the longest term? – game. Seven games were drawn and Petroleum Ministry Carlsen won the tie by 6.5 – 4.5. Explanation: Deora was India‘s Anand‘s lone win came in the third longest serving Petroleum Minister, games whereas Carlsen won the completing exactly five years in office second, sixth and eleventh games to in a tenure that began in January 2006 claim the title. Carlsen had wrested the and was spread between UPA-1 and World title from Anand last year in II. He was the Mayor of Mumbai from Chennai 1977-78 and was later elected to the Lok Sabha four times from Mumbai South, a seat later held by his son, 4) On 23 November 2014 China Milind, who is also a former MP and an started generating electricity from the ex-Union minister. Deora was a sitting biggest ever hydropower project in member of the Rajya Sabha and was Tibet. What is the name of this suffering from cancer. hydropower project built over Brahmaputra River, the first unit of which started operations? – Zangmu 6) Share of which private sector bank Hydropower Project will be split and reduced to face value Explanation: The first unit of Zangmu of Rs. 2 from 4 December 2014, as Hydropower Project, built at an notified in a notification issued by the estimated cost of $1.6 billion, is on the NSE and the BSE? – ICICI Bank Yarlung Zangbo river (known as the Explanation: Face value of ICICI Brahmaputra in India). This dam Bank‘s equity share is Rs. 10 at stands more than 3,300 metres above present. ICICI Bank has fixed record sea level and is the largest dam ever date as 5 December 2014 for the built on the Tibetan plateau. It will purpose of ascertaining the eligible have a total generating capacity of shareholders who would be entitled to 510,000 kilowatts. India‘s Foreign receive five equity shares of face value Ministry last year urged China ―to of Rs. 2 each in lieu of one equity ensure that the interests of share of face value of Rs. 10 each of downstream states are not harmed by the bank. The stock split is expected to any activities in upstream areas‖ of the increase investor participation in the river, after state media reports that stock. China planned several more dams there. 7) Which Northeastern state of India launched the scheme management 5) Former Union minister and senior system (SMS) software on 24

Congress leader Murli Deora passed CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

November 2014 for providing better away in the early hours of 24 government services by way of November 2014. He had the 49 implementing online planning and

recognition of serving which Union Page

monitoring processes? – Arunachal single window SMS offers multifaceted Pradesh modules, like project management, annual plan, third party monitoring and Explanation: Arunachal Pradesh file management besides a grievances became the first state to implement redressal system for the citizens to this software for governance. The complaint against ongoing schemes.

November 26, 2014

new venture. Initially, the bank will focus on motor and health insurance and aims to grab about 0.5% of the market share in five years. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% to grow to Rs.1.80 lakh crore by 2020 (from Rs. 77,000 crore).

2) A new international bus service was inaugurated by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on 25 November 2014 from Delhi‘s Ambedkar Stadium bus terminal. This

daily bus service is between Delhi and 1) Which private-sector bank on 25 – Kathmandu, the Nepali capital November 2014 received approval Explanation: The Delhi-Kathmandu from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Bus service became operational after to enter the general insurance the Union Cabinet on 24 November business? – Kotak Mahindra Bank 2014 had approved the signing of (KMB) Bilateral Agreement for the regulation Explanation: Kotak Mahindra Bank of passenger traffic between India and was given the approval to form a Nepal on the sidelines of the 100% subsidiary to enter the general forthcoming SAARC Summit in insurance industry. KMB has also Kathmandu on 26 November. The

floated the new venture with an initial Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

capital of Rs. 100 crore and Executive operating a luxury Volvo bus on the Vice-President Mahesh Delhi-Kathmandu bus route and the 50 Balasubramanium was named the tentative one-way fare is likely to be

Page Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the around Rs. 2,300. The bus will reach

its destination via Lucknow- Gorakhpur-Sunauli-Bhairahawa and 4) Who was chosen as the next will cover the distance of 1250 km chairperson of the Press Council of between two cities in about 30 hours. India (PCI) on 24 November 2014 to The inauguration took place replace Justice Markandey Katju? – simultaneously with the Prime Justice Chandramauli Kumar Ministers of the two countries Prasad (CK Prasad) (Narendra Modi and Sushil Koirala) flagging off Kathmandu-Delhi- Explanation: Justice CK Prasad, is a Kathmandu bus service from former judge of the Supreme Court. Swaymbhu Terminal in Kathmandu. At He was selected by a selection present, DTC has been running Delhi- committee headed by Vice-President Lahore bus, which was launched by Hamid Ansari. Justice Markandey the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Katju had demitted his office on 3 Vajpayee in March 1999. October 2014 after occupying the post for 3 years. Press Council of India

(PCI) is a statutory body that governs 3) Which Australian international the conduct of the print media and was cricketer went in a critical condition set up on 4 July 1966 by the Indian after being struck by a ball while Parliament. batting on 25 November 2014? – Phil

Hughes 5) Renowned dancer Sitara Devi, who Explanation: Phil Hughes is an passed away at the age of 94 in international cricketer who has played Mumbai on 25 November 2014, was for the country in 26 Tests and 25 an exponent of which classical dance ODIs. He got the injury while playing in form? – Kathak a Sheffield Game at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 25 November. Explanation: Sitara Devi was a Wearing a helmet, he attempted to legend of Kathak and was a hook a rising fast delivery from Sean pioneering force in bringing the genre Abbott but was hit on the side of his to Bollywood. She was born in 1920 in head instead. He stood on the pitch for Kolkata as Dhannolakshmi. Her father, a few moments before collapsing face a Vaishnavite Brahmin scholar and first on the ground. He was treated on Kathak exponent, sent her to a local the field immediately and was then school where she impressed her taken to the boundary for further aid. teachers and the local media with her He was then transferred to the St. performance in a dance drama, Vincent‘s Hospital nearby where he ―Savitri Satyavan―. At a tender age of remained critical and went into coma. 11 she impressed Nobel laureate

With the Test series against India Rabindranath Tagore with a three-our CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT coming up, Hughes was expecting a solo recital. Kathak, which literally

Test call to replace an injured Michael means ‗katha‘, is a narrative drama 51

Clarke. which evolved out of the Krishna Page

temples of hinterland to scale the County in the state of Missouri and pinnacle of glory in the Muslim courts. has been witness to longstanding racial tensions in the predominantly

black city. This is because the power 6) Violence erupted in Ferguson, a structure of the town has been small town in Missouri State of the US, dominated by the whites. on 24 November 2014 after the grand

jury found there was no probable cause to charge the white officer for 7) Which model of car from the stable shooting an 18-year old black youth. of Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) became This incident of August 2014 had company‘s third brand to cross sale of shocked the country for having partial 15 lakh in the domestic market as white-dominated power structure. announced by the company on 25 What is the name of the white officer November 2014? – WagonR involved in this incident? – Darren Explanation: WagonR was launched Wilson by the company in 2000 and its total Explanation: The grand jury, which sales have crossed 15 lakh in the was hearing this case among others, domestic market. It thus became the in its order given on 24 November third car model of MSI to cross this 2014, said that it found there was no figure after Maruti 800 and Alto. probable cause to charge Officer Earlier, this year company‘s compact Darren Wilson with any crime for the car Alto had become the second shooting of 18-year-old youth Michael model from the company‘s portfolio to Brown. This meant Wilson would not cross the 25 lakh unit sales mark in be indicted in the case that had rocked the domestic market. Alto had entered the country. This shooting incident had the 25 lakh club, where the only other taken place on 9 August 2014, when a car is the Maruti 800. In January 2014, black unarmed teenager Michael MSI stopped production of the Maruti Brown was allegedly killed by a white 800, the small car that was the carrier police officer, Darren Wilson. for millions of Indian middle-class Ferguson is a small suburb in St. Louis families.

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

52 Page

November 27, 2014

2) Which country was the only one to object to three major agreements proposed on the first day of the 18th SAARC Summit at Kathmandu? – Pakistan Explanation: The three proposed agreements are associated with energy cooperation, motor vehicle agreement and railway linkages in the region. Pakistan blocked these three key proposals which were backed by India and other countries. These three agreements are primarily proposed to promote cross-border trade, which remains minimal between SAARC 1) 18th SAARC Summit started on 26 countries. If these agreements are not November 2014 at Kathmandu, Nepal. carried forward, to would mean a The summit of 8-nation South Asian failure of this summit in achieving Association for Regional Cooperation major agreements. (SAARC) was held after an interval of 3 years. What is the motto of this summit? –„Deeper Integration for 3) The Ministry of External Affairs on Peace and Prosperity‟ 26 November 2014 informed Lok Sabha that the Ebola scare in West Explanation: SAARC is an economic Africa has claimed only one Indian life. organisation of 8 countries of South This Indian citizen was killed in which Asia – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, African country? – Liberia Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The summit Explanation: The name of the Indian citizen who died of Ebola in Liberia

was represented by heads of all 8 countries – Ashraf Ghani was Mohammed Amir and he was (Afghanistan), Sheikh Hasina employed there in a pharmacy. He (Bangladesh), Tshering Tobgay died of Ebola virus infection on 7 (Bhutan), Narendra Modi (India), September 2014 and as per World Abdulla Yameen (Maldives), Sushil Health Organisation (WHO) norms his body was buried in Liberia. In is worth CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT Koirala (Nepal), Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan) and Mahinda Rajapaksha mentioning that one Ebola-affected person was identified in India during 53 (Sri Lanka).

November 2014 and he too was a Page

Liberian citizen who had come to Delhi Explanation: The said bill provides for from Liberia. The three worst Ebola- inclusion of leader of the single largest affected countries of West Africa are opposition party in the three-member Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea with committee that selects the CBI over 5,000 deaths. Director since there is no recognised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok

Sabha. The Committee has Prime 4) India ordered culling of over 2 lakh Minister and Chief Justice of India as birds in which state on 25 November other members. The amendment bill 2014 after two bird flu outbreaks in the also provides that ―No appointment of state? – Kerala a Director shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy or absence of a Explanation: The two bird flu member in the committee.‖ outbreaks were reported from Kottayam and Alappuzha and were the first cases of the disease in the 6) Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, the owner of country since February 2014. The Pakistan‘s biggest media group along virus itself killed about 15,000 infected with actor Veena Malik and her ducks in Kottayam and another 500 in husband was sentenced to 26 years in nearby Alappuzha. Over 200,000 birds prison by an anti-terrorism court on 26 are being culled (killed) in the villages November 2014 for allegedly airing a where the outbreaks were found and blasphemous programme. What is the an intensive surveillance campaign name of the media group owned by had been launched in a 10 km radius Shakil-ur-Rahman? –Geo TV around the area to ensure that the virus did not spread further. Since Explanation: Shakil-ur-Rahman is the 2006 India has culled 6.4 million birds owner of Geo TV and ‗Jang‘, two of due to bird flu. the most respectable media groups of Pakistan. He was accused of allowing

the airing of a blasphemous 5) A bill to amend a law on programme by Geo television in May, appointment of CBI chief was passed which played a religious song while in the Lok Sabha on 26 November staging a mock marriage of Malik with 2014. What is the name of the bill, Bashir. TV host Shaista Wahidi was which was resisted by Congress as it also given similar sentence. Both alleged that the bill was aimed at Wahidi and the Geo group had keeping the largest opposition party tendered apology after the allegations out of the selection process? – Delhi were levelled but the extremists in the Special Police Establishment country refused to accept it.

(Amendment) Bill, 2014 CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

54 Page

November 28, 2014

had scored 3 Test centuries and 2 ODI centuries. On 11 January 2013, he became the first Australian batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score a century on debut, a feat which he achieved against Sri Lanka in Melbourne.

2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 1) Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes 27 November 2014 issued final (Phil Hughes), who had sustained guidelines for payments and small severe head injury after being struck banks that aim to take banking by a ball on 25 November, passed services to more people and small away on 27 November 2014 at a businesses. What is the prescribed Sydney hospital. He was representing minimum paid-up equity capital for which team in the Sheffield Shield both these categories of banks? – Rs. match in which he sustained this fatal 100 crore injury? –South Australia Explanation: The small bank will Explanation: The Sheffield Shield primarily undertake basic banking match was being played between activities of acceptance of deposits South Australia and New South Wales and lending to un-served and under- at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). served sections, including small Hughes was batting on 63 when he business units, small and marginal was struck by a bouncer from New farmers, micro and small industries South Wales bowler Sean Abbott. and unorganised sector entities. On Hughes was wearing a helmet, but the the other hand payments banks would ball made contact with an unprotected help a common person to make area. He collapsed before receiving payments through an easy mode, to a mouth to mouth resuscitation and was wide array of institutions/people in a subsequently taken to St Vincent‘s cost effective manner. They are Hospital, Sydney, where he underwent expected to emerge as specialized surgery and was placed into an banks to provide services to small induced coma. He passed away on 27 businesses and persons.

November due to subarachnoid CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT haemorrhage. His death led to gloom th over the cricketing fraternity all over 3) The 18 SAARC Summit held at 55 the world. Hughes had represented Kathmandu (Nepal) concluded on 27 November 2014. Only one agreement Page Australia in 26 Tests and 25 ODIs. He

was signed at summit while agreement airports across the country – Delhi, on two proposed economic Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, agreements could not be reached. The Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, signed agreement pertains to which Thiruvananthapuram and Goa. 76 topic? – To create a regional counters have been established at electricity grid in the SAARC region these 9 airports for this facility. A foreign tourist will have to apply online Explanation: At the start of the at the website, upload a photo and summit, key agreements were passport and pay a fee online. In 72 proposed to free up road and rail hours, the applicant would receive an movement in the SAARC region. But ETA by e-mail. The 30-day permit these agreements were shelved during would include sightseeing, visiting the course of the summit, mainly due friends and family, recreation, short to Pakistan‘s attitude. Pakistan duration medical treatment, and a blocked two key proposals which were casual business visit. The step is backed by India. However, the aimed at boosting tourism sector and agreement to integrate energy grids of offer hassle-free travel to foreign all the member countries was signed nationals. on 27 November. In its 30 years, the SAARC has delivered negligible results for economic ties and 5) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) development among its eight members during November 2014 eased rules for – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, low-cost housing loans. What is the India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan new prescribed rule? – Banks can and Sri Lanka. Despite a free trade now extend loans to individuals pact since 2006, South Asian nations against long-term bonds issued by conduct only 5% of their total trade banks for financing infrastructure with each other, and there are few and affordable housing transport and power links among them. Explanation: This regulation has been imposed primarily to provide liquidity to

retail investors investing in such long- 4) India launched the electronic visa term bonds. The RBI also proposed facility for foreign tourists on 27 that the banks should lay down a November 2014. Under this facility policy in this regard prescribing tourists from 43 countries can apply for suitable margins, purpose of the loan Indian visa in four simple steps. The and other safeguards. Such loans facility has been initially introduced at should be subject to a ceiling, how many airports of the country? – say, Rs. 10 lakh per borrower, and Nine tenure of loan should be within the

maturity period of the bonds. Banks CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT

Explanation: The electronic visa would not be permitted to lend against facility or the electronic travel such bonds issued by other banks. 56 authorisation (ETA) has been

introduced in a phased manner at nine Page

6) In one of the first operation of its recently, giving a new lease of life to kind in India of separating conjoined Saboora and Safoora of Jammu and twins in India, conjoined twin girls Kashmir, who were joined at the sharing a common liver were abdomen and shared a liver since successfully separated recently. This birth. The operation was performed by operation was performed in which a team of nearly 40 doctors led by hospital? – Medanta Hospital chief liver surgeon A.S. Soin. The (Gurgaon) operation was a complex one as there is no described anatomy of a liver that Explanation: The liver specialists at is shared between two humans and Gurgaon‘s Medanta Hospital there is no standard technique to split accomplished this surgical feat it.

November 29, 2014

imports surged 280.4% year-on-year in October 2014, the RBI had been in talks with the government for a decision on increasing curbs on gold imports. India‘s trade deficit in October narrowed to $13.36 billion, after hitting an 18-month high of $14.2 billion in September 2014. The 80:20 Scheme ensured that at least one-fifth of every lot of imported gold is exclusively made available for the purpose of 1) In a surprise move the Reserve exports. Bank of India (RBI) on 28 November 2014 scrapped the gold import curb scheme, popularly known as the 80:20 2) Ministry of Railways has decided to Scheme. This scheme required trading allow public private partnership (PPP) companies to export 20% of gold in computerized passenger imported. When the scheme was reservation, as stated by it on 28 imposed by RBI? – August 2013 November 2014 in the Rajya Sabha. Explanation: The 80:20 Scheme was What would be the name of the put in place in August 2013 to curb proposed computerized Passenger

gold imports, considered a major Reservation System (PRS)-cum CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT cause for the widening current account Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) deficit. The move to curb this scheme terminals that would be opened under 57 came as a surprise because after gold this scheme? – Yatri Ticket Suvidha

Page Kendra (YTSK)

Explanation: All the authorized Explanation: India‘s gross domestic ticketing agents, who have worked for product (GDP) expanded 5.3% in the at least five years in providing railway July-September quarter from a year ticketing (reserved/unreserved) earlier. Growth in the June quarter services for passengers of Indian (April-June 2014) had spurted to a 2- Railways, are eligible to become YTSK 1/2 year high of 5.7%. Lower growth licensee. In addition a large number of during second quarter was attributed safeguards would be established built due to a slump in country‘s in the YTSK counters for general as manufacturing sector. Worried by the well as ―Tatkal‖ booking, taking growth performance, and encouraged adequate financial security, not by low oil prices and falling inflation, allowing booking of concessional Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asked tickets (except senior citizens tickets), RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to cut non-availability of facility of block interest rates when it holds its policy booking etc. restricted facility for review on 2 December 2014. cancellation of tickets etc.

5) Thailand‘s military-appointed 3) The erstwhile political party of Tamil legislature on 28 November 2014 Nadu – the Tamil Maanila Congress started impeachment proceedings (TMC), was re-launched on 28 against ousted former Prime Minister November 2014 by former Union Yingluck Shinawatra. This Minister G.K. Vasan who had earlier impeachment is being seen as a deserted the Congress party. Who further step to try to end the political was the founder of TMC, who had influence of her powerful family. The established this party initially in 1996? impeachment has been carried out in – G.K. Moopanar which case? – Over a loss-making rice subsidy programme Explanation: TMC was floated by G.K. Moopanar, the late father of G.K. Explanation: Yingluck was removed Vasan, in 1996 by breaking away from from office in May 2014, after a court the Congress, protesting the decision found her guilty of abuse of power, of the party high command to form an days before the army staged a coup alliance with J. Jayalalitha‘s AIADMK. after months of sometimes violent However, TMC was merged with the street demonstrations in Bangkok Congress in 2002. G.K. Vasan aimed at ousting her government. A announced re-launching the erstwhile day after she was removed, Thailand‘s TMC in a programme held at Tiruchi. National Anti-Corruption Commission found her guilty of mishandling the rice

scheme. The military junta of Thailand

4) What was the GDP growth rate for is edging a step closer to rooting out CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT second quarter of 2014-15 (July- the influence of Yingluck and her

September 2014) as announced on 28 brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin 58

November 2014? – 5.3% Shinawatra. Thailand has been Page

convulsed by bouts of political record Rs. 100 trillion (1 lakh crore) turbulence ever since Thaksin was mark in morning trade on 28 removed in 2006. The kingdom is November 2014. Nearly 5,500 bitterly divided between his supporters companies are listed on the BSE, but and detractors. the top 100 companies make up for over 70% in market capitalization.

Market capitalisation is used to 6) The market capitalization of all compare companies in terms of their listed companies on the Bombay Stock market value. So, to gauge BSE‘s Exchange (BSE) hit which landmark standing, its market cap should be figure on 28 November 2014? – Rs. seen in the global context. In dollar 100 trillion terms, BSE‘s market cap is now nearly $1.7 trillion (at Rs. 60 per dollar). That Explanation: BSE is the oldest stock is roughly one tenth the size of the exchange in Asia. The combined New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), market capitaliastion of all listed which has a market cap of nearly companies on the exchange hit a $18.8 trillion.

November 30, 2014

of first train service from this state? – Meghalaya Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first train from Meghalaya – the 55819 Up Mendipathar – Guwahati. Mendipathar is the first railway station in Meghalaya and train connectivity in the state

became possible due to construction

of the 19.75 km long line from Dudhnoi in Assam to Mendipathar. Earlier a railway line between Dudhnoi and Deepa (Meghalaya) was proposed in the Rail budget of 1992-93. Later

CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT alignment was changed to Dudhnoi- 1) Which Northeastern state came on Mendipathar in 2007 due to opposition the railway map of India on 29 of local people. A train engine rolled

59 November 2014 with commencement Page

on the soil of the hilly state for the first Herring Prospectus for the public issue time on 31 March 2014. involving sale of nearly 72 lakh shares. SEBI had discovered that merchant

banking arms of SBI, ICICI, Kotak 2) On 27 November 2014 the World Mahindra, IDBI, DSP Merrill Lynch and Trade Organization (WTO) clinched Edelweiss had picked and chosen the first global trade deal after years of some material facts that they preferred stalemate between its members. This to disclose and suppressed some historic deal is associated with which material facts about the IPO. The six subject? – New standards for merchant banks have been asked to customs checks and border pay a fine of Rs.1 crore – the procedures maximum penalty applicable for violation of disclosure related norms in Explanation: The deal was adopted IPO documents within 45 days. by 160 member countries barely a fortnight after India and the United States resolved a major dispute over 4) Ousted Egyptian President Hosni food subsidies. It paved the way to Mubarak was on 29 November 2014 remove a major irritant in adopting the acquitted of a murder charge by a trade facilitation agreement (TFA) to court which found him not guilty in the make global trade easier, faster and killing of hundreds of unarmed cheaper by making systems protesters during the 2011 revolution. transparent and reducing red tape. This revolution had toppled his 3- The agreement means the WTO will decade old govt. in Egypt. The introduce new standards for customs judgment also overturned the life checks and border procedures. sentence pronounced on him. When Proponents say this will streamline the he was given this life sentence? – flow of trade around the world, adding June 2012 as much as $1 trillion and 21 million jobs to the world economy. Explanation: Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 but the verdict

was successfully appealed in January, 3) In a major clampdown for 2013, as the presiding judge ruled that suppression of material facts in IPO there was not enough evidence documents, SEBI on 29 November presented by the prosecution. His 2014 penalised merchant banking retrial began in April 2013. He was arms of SBI, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra, given life sentence for allegedly IDBI, DSP Merrill Lynch and Edelweiss sanctioning the murder of 846 groups in a public offer of 2012. This protesters during Egypt‘s 2011 public offer was of which reputed uprising. The judgment also meant

rating agency? – CARE that Mubarak will now face no CURRENT AFFAIRS AFFAIRS CURRENT punishment for allegedly profiting from

Explanation: The IPO of CARE came the export of gas at below-market 60 in December 2012, prior to which rates.

these six bankers had filed a Red Page

Explanation: Apart from the refinery, IOC is also setting up a polypropylene 5) Paradip Refinery, being established project with capacity of 680 KTA at with a cost of Rs.34,555 crore and Paradip. Among the major pipeline having capacity to process 15 million projects envisaged by the company in tonnes per annum, would be the near future are Paradip-Hyderabad commissioned in phases from March product pipeline, Durgapur-Barauni- 2015. This Odisha-based refinery is Patna-Muzzaffarpur LPG pipeline, capable for processing a broad basket augmentation of the existing Koyali- of crude oil grades, including cheaper Sanganer pipeline and its extension as high-sulphur heavy crudes. Which Jaipur-Panipat Naphtha pipeline and PSU oil company owns Paradip Koyali-Ahmednagar pipeline. Refinery? – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)

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