CONTENTS

Honours & Awards - 2

News Makers - 6

Places in News - 6

Science Snippets - 7

Defence - 8

Space Science - 8

Summits - 9

Committees - 10

Deaths - 10

Economic Scenario - 11

Sports - 14

NationalRound-Up - 16

International Round-Up - 20

Knowledge Capsules - 24

Banking Awareness - 26

(For Bank PO & Clerks Exams)

Current MCQ Capsules - 28

Disclaimer : All Readers of this book undertake responsibility for the relevance and accuracy of its content. The Publisher cannot Guarantee the accuracy and Reliability of Content. Current News & Events 2 Latest Current Affairs each year for the best original full- Honours & Awards Nayudu Award Committee met on length novel, written in the English 25 October and decided to confer language, by a citizen of the the honour on the legendary British Writer Hilary Commonwealth of Nations, opener, a release from BCCI Mantel won Booker Prize Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner secretary Sanjay Jagdale said. The of the Man Booker Prize is generally award comprises a trophy, citation for Second Time assured of international renown and a cheque for Rs 25 lakh. British Writer Hilary Mantel and success. The selection on 16 October 2012 won the process for the winner of the prize Sharmila Tagore gets prestigious literary prize, the Booker commences with the formation of honorary degree from Prize for her novel Bring up the an advisory committee which Bodies, the second in a historical includes an author, two publishers, Edinburgh University trilogy set during the reign of King a literary agent, a bookseller, a Veteran actress Sharmila Henry VIII. Hilary Mantel had earlier librarian, and a chairperson Tagore has been given an Honorary won the Booker prize in 2009 for appointed by the Booker Prize Doctorate of Arts from Edinburgh "Wolf Hall," the first novel in the Foundation. Napier University for her trilogy. Hilary Mantel is the third Gavaskar to receive outstanding contribution to Indian author to win the prize twice, alongside South-African-born J.M. BCCIs lifetime achieve- Coetzee and Australian Peter ment award Carey. With this she also became the first British author, and the first Former captain Sunil woman, to achieve a double Booker Gavaskar will be conferred the Col Prize. Bring Up the Bodies” is also C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement the first sequel to win the prize. award at the annual BCCI awards Bring up the Bodies and Wolf Hall function. The BCCI's Col C K are parts of a planned trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, the powerful and ambiguous chief minister to Narayana Murthy receives 2012 Hoover Medal King Henry VIII. Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy has been conferred with Man Booker Prize: the prestigious 2012 Hoover Medal in recognition of his philanthropic activities in India. Former US Presidents Herbert Hoover, Dwight The Man Booker Prize for Eisenhower and James Earl Carter are among some of the prominent Fiction is a literary prize awarded recipients of this annual award established in 1930 to recognize great, unselfish and non-technical services by the engineers to humanity. Murthy was awarded with the prestigious award at the Global Humanitarian Technology Conference in Seattle. The 70th recipient of the award, Murthy was recognized for establishing a foundation that forges outstanding improvements in healthcare, social rehabilitation, rural uplift and education following his formation of Infosys, an innovative company that provides business consulting, technology, and engineering services in over 30 countries. Current News & Events 3 cinema. The 67-year-old actress, who is the great grand-niece of to be awarded Order of Australia noted poet Rabindranath Tagore, membership joined leading figures from the world of foreign affairs, education Sachin Tendulkar is set to another feather to his already crowded and almost 1000 students at the cap as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard ceremony to collect the award. "It is on October 16 announced that the iconic indeed a privilege to be conferred Indian cricketer will be conferred the an Honorary Degree by Edinburgh membership of the Order of Australia, an Napier University. honour “rarely” awarded to non-Australians. Sachin Tendulkar will become only the Kahaani wins Best Film second Indian after former Attorney General award in Fiji Soli Sorabjee to get the honour. Mr. Sorabjee was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for service Vidya Balan starrer to Australia-India bilateral legal relations” in 2006. Tendulkar is not the 'Kahaani' has been named the best first cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM as in 2009, West film at the International Film Festival Indies legend Brian Lara was also made an honorary member. Another in Fiji. The two-week long film West Indies legend, Clive Lloyd, is an Honorary Officer in the Order of festival, which was partnered with Australia, having been conferred the award way back in 1985. The right- Indian High Commission and handed Tendulkar, considered the finest batsman in contemporary organized by Fiji National University , has 15,533 runs in 190 Tests besides a mammoth 18,426 runs and Film Fiji, was held in Labasa. in 463 ODIs. The Indian feature and documentary films were also a part of festival where 'Kahaani' received accepted the award from director Is Ada Se Aaj' and 'Kafian Bulleh the award in 'Best Film' category. Shyam Benegal, said there comes Shah'. During her career, Abida has The Fiji Film Festival a time in an artiste’s life when he- been awarded both the 'Pride of featured a range of diverse or-she shies away from accolades Performance' and the 'Sitara-e- international and local film entries and she was doing that in the past. Imtiaz' by the Government of including French, Russian, Middle However, this time she Pakistan. Eastern films, Bollywood decided to accept since the honour British military dog gets blockbusters and Bengali classics was from her own fraternity, at an as well. These films were screened international film festival and in the posthumous medal 100th year of cinema. She from all over the country from A British military dog who dedicated the award to her October 5 to 18. died in Afghanistan has been colleagues in the film industry. Ms. awarded the highest bravery award Waheeda Rehman Rehman has acted in 84 films in a for an animal for finding hidden career spanning six decades and conferred with the life weapons and improvised explosive has been awarded the Padma devices planted by the Taliban. achievement award Bhushan. Theo, a springer spaniel, Waheeda Rehman was Pakistani singer Abida died from an undiagnosed seizure conferred with the life achievement hours after his handler Lance award at the closing function of the Parveen recieves lifetime Corporal Tasker was killed on 14th Mumbai Film Festival on achievement award March 1, 2011 in a firefight. Theo October 25. The weeklong festival, Sufi legend Abida Parveen worked for five months in during which over 200 films were Afghanistan with Royal Army was honoured with a lifetime screened, concluded with the Veterinary Corps, searching out screening of Pablo Berger’s achievement award by Kaladharmi Begum Akhtar Academy of Ghazal. roadside bombs. Theo has now Blancanieves. Ms. Rehman, who been recognised with the Dickin Abida is an internationally acclaimed Pakistani singer of Medal by the People’s Dispensary Sindhi descent and one of the for Sick Animals (PDSA). It is the highest award any animal can foremost exponents of Sufi music. Her songs include mainly ghazals, receive and is given for gallantry or Urdu love tracks and her forte, devotion to duty in military conflict. The PDSA Dickin medal Kafis, a classical form of Sufi poetry. Some of her hits are 'Duma recognises that in finding IEDs and Dum Mast Qalandar', 'Teray Ishaq bomb-making equipment, Theo prevented soldiers and civilians Nachaya', 'Latthe Di Chadar', 'Kuch Current News & Events 4 from being killed or wounded. Theo protected areas category. The is the 64th animal to receive the programme was hosted by the PDSA Dickin Medal. Other Ministry of Environment and recipients include 27 other dogs, Forests.The award recognizes the 32 pigeons, three horses and a cat. outstanding models of biodiversity governance across the country. The Gov. of Bangladesh award was actually presented at Awarded Babu Jagjivan ministerial reception of Eleventh Ram with Friends of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Liberation War Honour With the presentation of The President gave away Former Deputy Prime Award, the Minister of Environment 52 awards — 46 Niryat Shree Minister and Defence Minister of and Forests Awards was given to exporters for India, Babu Jagjivan Ram was announced that the India their performance in 12 different awarded with the Friends of Biodiversity Awards will now be categories, which includes Liberation War Honour by the given annualy, to mark International agriculture, plantation products; Government of Bangladesh for his Biodiversity Day on 22 May each chemicals, drugs, pharmacy and contribution in the 1971 War. He year. allied products; engineering; gems was given the honour by the Prime Singham Bravery Awards and jewellery, handicrafts, carpets; Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh textiles, leather, service providers; Hasina and President of An Indian Police Service and 6 Niryat Bandhu Awards were Bangladesh, Mohammad. Zillur officer who was crushed to death given to Export Promotion Councils Rahman. by mining mafia in Madhya and Banks for their support to the The award was received by Pradesh and several security exporting community. Among the Niryat Shree Babuji's grandson, Anshul Avijit at personnel who have laid down awardees that were presented a the Bangabandhu International their lives fighting for the country gold trophy was MIOT Hospitals Conference Centre in Dhaka. were honoured posthumously with Limited for being the highest Anshul Avijit, is a journalist and Singham Bravery Awards on foreign exchange earner in the academician and also the son of October 20. country among all service Speaker of the , Meira The awards, instituted by All providers. Kumar. Babu Jagjivan Ram as the India Anti-Terrorist Front led by M. The award was received by Defence Minister and chief S. Bitta, were handed over to the company chairperson Mallika strategist of India in 1971, helped bereaved families by reel-life Mohandas. Reliance Industries in liberation of Bangladesh. He Singham Ajay Devgn, film-maker was also awarded a gold trophy for assured that the war for liberation Rohit Shetty and former Central earning the highest foreign of Bangladesh ended in the Reserve Police Force (CRPF) exchange. remarkably short time of 13 days. Director-General K. Vijay Kumar. PC Jewellers was awarded First Ever India Narendra Kumar, a 2009-batch IPS a silver trophy in the Gems and officer, was crushed to death under Jewellery category. In the Niryat Biodiversity Award a stone-laden tractor trolley Bandhu category for banks, the Presented in Hyderabad belonging to the mining mafia in winners were Canara Bank which Chambal district of Madhya got gold trophy followed by Bank of The in Pradesh on March 8 while on India and Punjab National Bank collaboration with United Nation inspection. getting silver and Bronze trophy Development Programme (UNDP) respectively. announced Biodiversity award Niryat Shree and Niryat 2012 in Hyderabad on 17 October Bandhu Awards President Presents L.B. 2012. The winners of the awards Shastri National Award were: Pir Jahania Jungle Suraksha President of India Pranab Samiti from in the Mukherjee with Union Minister for The President of India, Shri community stewardship category, Commerce, Industry and Textiles Pranab Mukherjee conferred on Shankarpur Village Gram on 5 October 2012 Smt. Tessy Thomas, the Panchayat from in the presented awards to exporters on prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri category of decentralised the occasion of the presentation of National Award for Excellence in management, Van Utthan Federation of Indian Export Public Administration, Academics Sansthan from in the Organisation’s (FIEO) Niryat Shree and Management: 2012 at a category of co-management and and Niryat Bandhu awards at function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Vigyan Bhavan in . October 1. Current News & Events 5 methods have enabled this field of European Union wins Nobel Prizes 2012 research to take the very first steps towards building a new type of Nobel Peace Prize super fast computer based on British, Japanese The European Union won quantum physics,” the academy scientists win Nobel the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts said. to promote peace and democracy Prize for Medicine Lefkowitz, Kobilka win in Europe despite being in the Two scientists from different midst of its biggest crisis since the generations won the Nobel Prize Nobel chemistry prize bloc was created in the 1950s. in medicine on October 8 for the Americans Robert groundbreaking discovery that cells Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka won in the body can be reprogrammed the 2012 Nobel Prize in chemistry to become completely different on October 10 for studies of protein kinds, potentially opening the door receptors that let body cells sense to growing customized tissues for and respond to outside signals. treatments. Such studies are key for developing better drugs.

The Norwegian prize committee said the EU received the award for six decades of contributions “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The EU rose from the ashes of World War II, born of the The work of British The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the two conviction that ever-closer researcher John Gurdon and economic ties would make sure Japanese scientist Shinya researchers had made ground that century-old enemies never Yamanaka who was born the year breaking discoveries on an turned on each other again. It’s now Mr. Gurdon made his discovery has important family of receptors, made up of 500 million people in raised hopes of developing known as G-protein-coupled transplant tissue to treat diseases receptors. About half of all 27 nations, with other nations lined medications act on these like Parkinson’s and diabetes. And up, waiting to join. receptors, so learning about them it has spurred a new generation of will help scientists to come up with Two Americans win laboratory studies into other better drugs. The human body has diseases, including schizophrenia, about 1,000 kinds of such Nobel economics prize that may lead to new treatments. receptors, which let it respond to a Americans Alvin Roth and Haroche, Wineland win wide variety of chemical signals, Lloyd Shapley were awarded the like adrenaline. Some receptors Nobel economics prize for Nobel prize for physics are in the nose, tongue and eyes, research that helps explain the and let us sense smells, tastes Frenchman Serge Haroche market processes at work when and vision. and American David Wineland doctors are assigned to hospitals, have won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Mo Yan wins Nobel students to schools and human physics for inventing and organs for transplant to recipients. developing methods for observing Prize for Literature The Royal Swedish tiny quantum particles without Chinese author Mo Yan has Academy of Sciences cited the two destroying them. The Royal been awarded the 2012 Nobel economists for "the theory of stable Swedish Academy of Sciences Prize for literature. The Swedish allocations and the practice of cited the two scientists “for ground- Academy praised his work which market design". Roth, 60, is a breaking experimental methods "with hallucinatory realism merges professor at Harvard University in that enable measuring and folk tales, history and the contem Boston. Shapley, 89, is a professor manipulation of individual quantum porary". Mo Yan is the first Chinese emeritus at University of California systems.” “Their ground-breaking resident to win the Los Angeles. prize. Chinese- born Gao Xingjian was honoured in 2000, but is a French citizen. Mo is the 109th recipient of the prestigious prize. Current News & Events 6 Ajit Saran Appointed as Planet to visit in 2013 are San News Makers Francisco, Amsterdam, Hyderabad, Secretary in National Derry/Londonderry, Beijing, Hyderabad Last Nizam Commission for Women Christchurch, Hobart, Montreal, Named All time Richest Addis Ababa and Puerto Iguazu. Senior IAS officer Ajit M Earlier in 2011, New York Times Indian Sharan was appointed as Member rated Hyderabad among the 41 top Secretary in National Commission Osman Ali Khan the last destinations to visit in the world. for Women (NCW) on 3 October Nizam of Hyderabad on 16 October 2012. Ajit Sharan is a 1979 batch North East biggest 2012 was named in list of the 25 officer of Haryana cadre. He is richest people across the world mosque to be going to be in the rank and pay of who ever lived by US website Additional Secretary. inaugurated in Shillong Celebrity Networth. The Appointments Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam, The north-east biggest and Committee of the Cabinet has also who ruled Hyderabad between a unique mosque is all set to be appointed Rajiv Mehrishi, an IAS 1886-1967, was ranked sixth in opened up for devotees for prayers officer of 1978 batch of the world and the richest in India with from October 18. Named as Rajasthan cadre, as Secretary, $236 billion. He died in 1967 at age Medina Masjid with an imposing Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and resplendent structure of glass of 80. The list declared by US in the vacancy of Parvez Dewan, a dome and glass minarets. website Celebrity Networth was 1977 batch IAS officer of Jammu The four storey structure on compiled after adjusting the and Kashmir cadre. Rajiv Mehrishi the Umshyrpi College campus an fortunes of people across history is presently Special Secretary, institution run by Shilong Muslim for inflation. For example, $100 Department of Agricultural Union (SMU), is an architectural million in 1913 is equivalent to Research and Education, Ministry marvel in itself. With 120-foot width $2299.63 billion in 2012. of Agriculture. and 61-footbreath, the building As per the report, The 25 fitted with glittering glass work richest who ever lived had a Places in News houses a mosque besides an combined fortune of $4.317 trillion, orphanage, Islamic library and a of which 14 are American. Hyderabad Named world Markaz (Islamic theological Chavez re-elected to 6- institute). At night the mosque is an Third Best City to Visit in eye catching spectacle as brilliant year term in Venezuela 2013 ligh work set the entire area glowing. The Shillong Muslim Venezuelan President Hugo The City of Hyderabad was Union was formed in 1905 in Chavez was re-elected on October named as World Third best city to erstwhile East Bengal, which 7 to a fourth term, which would bring visit in 2013 by Travel guide book stretched from Siliguri to Cox's his total years in office to 20, Lonely Planet published on 22 Bazar and Chittagong to Dibrugarh. according to preliminary official October 2012. Hyderabad the After India's partition in 1947, SMU results made public by the National capital city of Andhra Pradesh was narrowed down its activities to Electoral Council. described as "elegant and Assam. Since Meghalaya's Mr. Chavez received 54.42 blossoming" by the Lonely Planet. formation in 1972, its activities have per cent of the votes with about 90 The top 10 cities according to Lonely been limited to the state. per cent of the ballots counted while Henrique Capriles, the unified opposition candidate, Monisha Kalterborn Became the First Woman received 44.97 per cent. The results Team Principal in Formula one would secure Mr. Chavez another Indian born, Monisha Kalterborn Became the First Woman Team six-year mandate, taking his term Principal in Formula one on 11 October 2012 after taking the control of of office through 2019. team Sauber, a swiss Formula one team with the stepping down of team founder Peter Sauber from day to day management. The news of Monisha Kalterborn appointment came after Peter Sauber made it clear that he did not wish to run the team, which he built more than fourty years ago. Monisha Kalterborn joined Sauber in 2000 as head of its legal department and has been its CEO since January 2010. Monisha secured her bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Vienna in 1995 and also holds a Master’s degree in International Business Law from the London School of Economics which she did in 1996. Current News & Events 7

Science Snippets New species of coelacanth fish discovered Scientists have discovered a new species of coelacanth fish Humanoid Robot called whose tiny pieces of fossil skull are 100 million years old. The Baxter designed in USA coelacanth has one of the longest lineages, 400 million years, of any animal. The discovery, made in Texas, is significant because it is most A humanoid robot with closely related to vertebrates, including humans. The Southern common sense, designed to work Methodist University (Dallas) specimen is the first coelacanth in Texas safely alongside its human co- from the Cretaceous (period), extending from 146 million years ago to workers on factory production 66 million years ago, said John F. Graf, the palaeontolgist who identified lines, was unveiled in the US. the fossil and named it Reidus hilli. Previously, the youngest was a Baxter could apply common sense, 200 million-year-old coelacanth from the Triassic. Reidus hilli is the adapt to its environment and be first coelacanth ever identified from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, trained in less than 30 minutes to according to a Southern Methodist statement. complete specific tasks. It is Coelacanth fossils have been found on every continent except capable of superhuman speed and Antarctica. The species has eluded extinction for 400 million years. precision. To teach Baxter a new Scientists estimate the coelacanth reached its maximum diversity job, a human guides its arms to during the Triassic. simulate the desired task, and presses a button to program in the health freak’s favourite. But its pattern, the report said. The robot the gases that resulted in the dengue-fighting properties have responds with a confused formation of any particular star. Pulsars and quasars can only recently been discovered. expression, if it does not Chymopapin and papin-j enzymes understand. also be identified by the telescope with an ease pushing forward the in the papaya leaf—help revive Australian Scientists boundaries of knowledge of the platelet count, say experts. mankind ahead of the physical laws The juice has to be unveiled the Colossal prepared from fresh papaya leaves. of nature. The principle of radio- De-vein the leaves and grind the Radio Telescope astronomy can provide the details green, pulpy part into a paste. You of the beginning of the universe. Australian Scientists on 5 can also use a mixer. The paste is Basically the antennas of the October 2012 unveiled a colossal very bitter and you would probably radio telescope with abilities of telescope spread across the rocky have to mix it with fruit juice. Doctors exploring the depths of universe terrain would be used for collection recommend 20-25 ml (about four with unparalleled precision. The of the radio signals of the cosmic to five teaspoons), twice a day, for telescope will increase the phenomenon. Being 50 times more at least a week to get the best abilities of astronomers in powerful, when compared to other results. mapping black holes, survey the radio devices, it can easily detect universe, and cracking the new the exploding stars. Hence can be Giant telescope with most light across the galaxies to an of a great use in establishing the advanced mirror to exponential level. facts related to the formation of the At present the Australian universe that happened about 14 probe universe SKA Pathfinder telescope having billion years ago. Scientists have developed 36 antennas with diameter of 12 the most challenging astronomical meters each is placed at the Home cure for dengue mirror - ten times more powerful remote Murchison Radio- The juice of the humble than any other ever made - for a Astronomy observatory in the papaya leaf has been seen to giant telescope to explore the outer deserts of West Australia. arrest the destruction of platelets space and early universe. Designed and developed by that has been the cause for so Researchers at the Steward making investments of Australian many deaths due to dengue. Observatory Mirror Laboratory, $ 140 million has facilities of Ayurveda researchers have University of Arizona and in surveying the sky at a much faster found that enzymes in the papaya California, working underneath a speed than any other telescope leaf can fight a host of viral football stadium have been available in the world. The infections, not just dengue, and can polishing an 8.4-meter diameter sensitive antennas of the help regenerate platelets and white mirror with an unusual, highly telescope are quite sensitive to the blood cells. Scores of patients have asymmetric shape. By the faint radiations of Milky Way hence benefited from the papaya leaf standards used by optical is able to detect the galaxies far juice, say doctors. Papaya has scientists, the “degree of difficulty” away. The radio waves generated always been known to be good for for this mirror is 10 times that of from this telescope can provide the digestive system. Due to its rich any previous large telescope details of the cosmos far away and vitamin and mineral content, it is a mirror. Current News & Events 8 throughout its flight path. The sodium food kits to clothing and Defence Defence Research and computer hard drives. It's Development Organisation scheduled to return in late October India tests nuclear- (DRDO) have developed Prithvi-II with about 2,000 pounds of cargo, capable ballistic missile for the Indian Air Force for deep including scientific experiments interdiction and the missile can be and failed equipment that can be Dhanush armed with a nuclear warhead repaired and sent back India successfully test-fired weighing 500 kg. In this flight, it The Dragon spacecraft is nuclear capable Dhanush, the carried conventional explosives. supposed to catch up with the naval version of Prithvi short-range Prithvi-II is a user-friendly space station early Wednesday. ballistic missile, from a warship off missile which has a completely Station Commander Sunita Odisha coast on October 5. guided trajectory. The SFC had Williams and Aki Hoshide from the earlier launched it on August 25, Japanese Space Agency will use 2012 and the flight was successful. the robotic arm to grab Dragon and The Indian Army is already armed berth it to the station. with the single-stage Prithvi-II, which uses liquid propellants. ISRO plans 58 space From July 2012 onwards the missions during 12th Plan Strategic Forces Command had ISRO plans to launch 58 launched a series of strategic space missions, including sending missiles including Agni-I, Agni-II spacecraft to moon and Mars, an and Agni-III. exclusive satellite to keep a round- It is one of the five missiles the-clock watch on the country and that were developed under the The indigenously deve deploy 500 transponders in the next loped naval version of the Prithvi country's Integrated Guided Missile five years. short-range ballistic missile has a Development Programme. The space agency also strike range of up to 350 km and aims to deploy its own version of can carry 500 kg of conventional or Space Science the Global Positioning System by nuclear warhead. putting into orbit a constellation of "Dhanush was test-fired First commercial cargo seven satellites which would form from a naval ship off Odisha coast. flight heading to the Indian Regional Navigational The test was conducted by the Satellite System (IRNSS). strategic force command (SFC) of International Space Station According to the 12th Five the Indian Navy. The trial was a The SpaceX rocket, the first Year Plan, approved by the Cabinet complete success and all the commercial flight to the mission objectives were last week, the Indian Space International Space Station, lifted off Research Organisation plans to accomplished. Developed by the October 7 carrying an unmanned DRDO, the missile is about 8.53 add 400 transponders to the cargo capsule. The Falcon 9 rocket existing 187 to meet the growing metre in length and 0.9 metre in with its Dragon capsule launched diameter. This single stage missile demand from DTH operators, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. satellite mobile communications uses liquid propellant. About 10 minutes into the flight, the and new generation broadband Dragon separated from the rocket Nuclear Capable Prithvi VSAT systems. and was on its way to the space An indicative plan outlay of II Missile Sucessfully Test station. Mission control called it "a Rs 39,750 crore for the 12th Plan picture-perfect launch and a Fired has been made for the Department flawless flight of Falcon." of Space. Missions initiated in the India on 4 October 2012 It is is the first of a dozen 11th Plan like Chandrayaan-II, successfully test fired its NASA-contracted flights to resupply Astrosat-1 and Aditya-1 are also indigenously developed, nuclear- the International Space Station, at expected to set forth on their capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II a total cost of $1.6 billion. The from a test range in Odisha. launch comes nearly five months respective destinations into space The missile was test fired after a demonstration mission in over the next five years. by the Strategic Forces Command which a Dragon capsule As part of Chandrayaan- (SFC) from the Integrated Test successfully berthed at the station II, ISRO plans to land a rover on the Range at Chandipur, Odisha. and returned to Earth. lunar surface and put a satellite in All the radars and electro- The unmanned capsule is an orbit around the moon. The optical systems along the coast packed with about 1,000 pounds mission is expected to be launched have monitored the missile of cargo -- everything from low- in 2014. Current News & Events 9

Summits CoP - Leading the Way Forward International Conference Following are the highlights of the CoP-11 Conference on Biodiversity concluded in Hyderabad on 19 October, 2012: of CAPAM • Largest ever such conference organised in India. 170 countries The three day International participated. The number of pre registered delegates around 15000. Conference of Commonwealth Minister/Vice Minister level participation around 80. More than 400 Association of Public Admini side events – many organised by the World Bank, UNDP, GEF, stration and Management (CAPAM) other countries and International and national NGOs. and the fourth Common Public • The elements of successful CoP were flawless logistics, strategic Service Ministers’ Forum thinking in the development of Agenda’s content, participation of a concluded at New Delhi on October large number of stakeholders and persuasive yet effective 27 with a call for efficient and negotiations. effective public administration that • One of the most important outcomes of the CoP is the commitment can enhance the role of just and of the Parties to double the international financial flows for Bio honest government to spur socio- Diversity by 2015. This will translate into additional financial flows economic and political to the developing countries to the tune of about US $ 30 billion development, leading to transfor equivalent to about Rs. 1,50,000 crore over the next 8 years. This is mation of societies. The Ministers’ a major achievement especially in the context of . Forum agreed on the important role 1. Global economic downturn of public policy in improving 2. Contentious stands regarding the robust baseline and the reporting governance and strengthening mechanism public admini stration in support of 3. Absence of any such target in the recommendation sent to the CoP national development objectives by WGRI and to meet international 4. With no proposal from Working Group on Review of Implementation challenges. They acknowledged (WGRI) the Parties would not have come with the required clearance the need for developing countries from the respective Finance Ministries. to address challenges posed by a India rectified the situation by her initiatives globalised economy, the competi 1. Suggested a two track solution envisaging a preliminary target and tiveness of markets and the a road map. capability of member countries to 2. Co sponsored informal dialogue to promote better Understanding retain their comparable advan among the parties of the issues involved. tages. The three day CAPAM 3. Co sponsored India UK High Level Panel to assess the requirement conference was attended by of funds. Ministers and senior officials from 4. Worked closely with the Bureau to introduce a specific element of 21 countries besides India. The preliminary target, so that the parties come prepared with mandates theme of the Conference was “A from their Finance Ministries. Public Service Fit for the Future.” 5. During the CoP India led the efforts of the Parties to find a satisfactory During the conference learned outcome scholars made important presentations on the challenges of briefed the other on their respective on Agriculture and Forestry meeting good governance and public defence and security policies in the to showcase technologies of the service excellence. background of each country’s region to further promote and security environment. intensify cooperation between Second India-Japan 2+2 The next and the 3rd round India and ASEAN nations in Dialogue held in Tokyo of the India – Japan 2+2 Dialogue agriculture, forestry and allied will be held at New Delhi at a sectors. The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 mutually convenient date. The Expo displays exhibits Dialogue was held in Tokyo on 22 October, 2012. These 2+2 ASEAN- India Agri Expo from different Indian institutes such as the test kit for detection of consultations at Senior Official Agriculture Minister Sharad antibiotic residues in milk at dairy level are mandated by the Action Pawar October 17 inaugurated the farm and new colour based test for Plan to Advance Security ASEAN-India Agri Expo along with Cooperation concluded between Ministers and representatives of anionic detergent in milk developed India and Japan in December the ASEAN member countries. The by the National Dairy Research 2009. The first India- Japan 2+2 Exposition has been organised Institute, Karnal. Exhibits from Dialogue was held at New Delhi in concurrently with the Second institutes of ASEAN countries are June 2010. The two countries ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting also on display at the Expo. Current News & Events 10

Committees Shome Committee Deaths The Parthasarathi Shome PM constitutes National Committee report on General Anti- King of romance Yash Avoidance Rules (GAAR) has Committee on Direct recommended the postponement Chopra died Cash Transfers of GAAR by three years and King of romance, master of abolition of short-term capital The Union Government on the emotion-laden weepie and gains tax. lover of beautiful people and 25 October 2012 constituted a beautiful locations are some of the National Committee on Direct Rangarajan panel terms being showered on Yash Cash Transfers. The committee recommends deregulation Chopra, who died on October 21. would be responsible to coordinate in development of the process for of sugar sector making the transfer of the cash The Rangarajan directly to the individuals, being Committee in its latest report, provided under different types of submitted to the Prime Minister, government schemes and recommended deregulation of the programs. sugar sector, the only remaining The , industry that continues to be would be the controlled by the government, by Chairperson of the committee and giving freedom to mills to sell sugar in the open market. the group of members would It has also suggested doing Chopra’s oeuvre tracks that include eleven Cabinet Ministers, away with the system of levy sugar, arc, beginning with the aftermath two Ministers of State with under which the mills are required of Partition and the effect it had on independent charge, the Deputy to sell 10 per cent of their production ordinary people to the lifestyles of Chairman Planning Commission, to the government at below market the rich and famous who live as the Chairman UIDAI, the Cabinet price for running ration shops. Levy easily in London and Ludhiana, Secretary with the Principal sugar is meant for distribution in Jalandhar and New Jersey. At all Secretary to the PM as the the ration shops, while non-levy times, however, they remain convenor. The Prime Minister can sugar is for sale in the open market. Punjabi and that too a certain kind invite some more officers, minister While other sectors of the of Punjabi — living life king size, wearing their heart on their sleeves, or any expert for the committee’s economy have been freed, the hosting huge weddings and, sugar industry continues to remain meet. sticking to “Indian Traditions” in under the government control, right The National Committee on which the women, pretty and from the level of production to Cash Transfers will be assisted by gorgeously dressed, carried distribution. The Centre fixes the an Executive Committee on Direct designer bags and let the men be quantity of sugar that mills can sell Cash Transfers chaired by the men. Though the new generation in the open market and ration Principal Secretary to PM and the will identify him with films like shops. The industry has been for a Secretaries of the concerned Chandni, Dil to Pagal Hai and Veer long time demanding the Zara — all directed by him — and Ministries and the DG UIDAI. The government do away with the Secretary Planning Commission blockbusters like Dilwale Dulhania systems of regulated release Le Jayenge (DDLJ), directed by his will be the convenor. mechanism and levy sugar talented son Aditya but with the Kelkar Committee obligations. The expert committee father’s unmistakable stamp on it, was set up by the Prime Minister to one must look way back into history The Kelkar Committee was examine issues related to to really understand the Yash set up by Finance Minister P. decontrolling the sugar sector. Chopra journey. Chidambaram to chalk out a roadmap for fiscal consolidation. It was headed by Mr Vijay Kelkar, Jaspal Bhatti died in a road accident former Finance Secretary. The A pall of gloom descended on the streets in Chandigarh as report was warned there is an word spread about the tragic demise of satirist and filmmaker Jaspal urgent need to take immediate Bhatti, whose mortal remains were consigned to flames following his corrective measures to fix the fiscal death in a road accident. Bhatti, who became popular with his satirical deficit to prevent the economy from shows during the golden days of Doordarshan, was on a tour to slipping in to a situation worse than promote his upcoming film 'Power Cut' when the accident took place. 1991. Current News & Events 11

Economic Scenario AP ranks 4th in share of private investments Indian government debt Andhra Pradesh ranks fourth in terms of share in the total private sector investments, including from foreign private players across India. jumped 3.6% A study by industry body Assocham revealed that the State had a share The government's debt in of over 8 per cent in the total private sector investments as of June this the July-September period in this year. Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra with a share of 12.5 per cent, financial year grew by 3.6 per cent 10.7 per cent and 8.9 per cent, respectively, figure ahead of Andhra to Rs 39,00,386 crore from Rs Pradesh. Out of the total outstanding investment of over Rs 12.3 lakh 37,63,264 crore in the previous crore in the State, private sector accounts for over Rs 6.9 lakh crore, quarter. accounting for a share of 56 per cent, the study reveals. The total public debt In fact, at the national-level, private sector investments account (excluding liabilities that are not for a share of 86.6 per cent of the total outstanding investments. At the classified under public debt) of the other end of the spectrum, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand Government had grown by 5.2 per and Assam, have the least share in India’s total private sector cent in April-June quarter. "This investment, which is even less than one per cent, the study said. represented a Quarter-on-Quarter (QoQ) increase of 3.6 per cent generally comfortable and (provisional) compared with an the cost of new projects, if any, remained in positive territory for a that may be approved by the increase of 5.2 per cent in the major part of the period under previous quarter (Q1 of FY13)," the Empowered Committee, review. Gross tax collections during (ii) continuing the Special Plan for Quarterly Report on Debt the April-August at 26.4 per cent of Management released by the the Kalahandi-Bolangir- budget estimates were higher than Koraput (KBK) districts of Finance Ministry said. Internal debt 25.8 per cent a year ago. in July -September quarter Odisha in 2012-13 with an In the direct taxes, allocation of Rs.250 crore, and constituted 90.4 per cent of public collections from corporation tax debt, compared with 89.6 per cent (iii) continuing the special package and personal income tax at Rs for implementing drought at the end of June. The internal debt 64,900 crore and Rs 58,249 crore, at Rs 35,27,405 crore constituted mitigation strategies in respectively, showed healthy Bundelkhand region of Uttar 34.7 per cent of GDP. It was 33.2 growth rates of 25.8 per cent and per cent at end-June 2012. Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh 30.3 per cent against 13.9 per cent in 2012-13 with an Additional During the second quarter growth rate budgeted for each of the fiscal, liquidity conditions in Central Assistance of Rs.1400 during FY13. Among the major crore. the economy remained generally indirect taxes, growth in collections tight, though the deficit was within from customs and excise duties Background: the Reserve Bank's stated comfort decelerated to 3.4 per cent and The Twelfth Five Year Plan zone of about one per cent of Net 10.8 per cent, respectively, against (2012-17) is being finalized. The Demand and Time Liabilities budgeted growth rates of 22.0 per possibility of restructuring the (NDTL) of scheduled commercial cent and 29.1 per cent. However, Backward Regions Grant Fund banks. service tax collections increased by (BRGF) including the District The net amount provided 33.5 percent during April-August Component as well as the State under Liquidity Adjustment Facility 2012-13 as against BE growth rate Component for the period 2013-14 (LAF) operations, the report added, of 30.5 per cent. to 2016-17 is being considered. witnessed some oscillations Pending completion of this during the quarter. It further said that Backward Regions Grant exercise, it is necessary to continue the cash position of the government Fund (BRGF) the BRGF (District Component and during the second quarter was The Cabinet Committee on State Component) in its present Economic Affairs on October 25 form in 2012-13. The district approved the proposal for : component of BRGF as well as the (i) continuing the Special Plan for special plan for West Bengal and Bihar in 2012-13 with an the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for allocation of Rs.1500 crore, selected tribal and backward based on the enhanced level districts under the State component of cost of Rs.9985.54 crore of of BRGF are already approved for all existing projects, revised continuation in 2012-13. Since the cost of existing projects, and present approval to the special plan for Bihar, special plan for the Current News & Events 12 KBK districts of Odisha and make dealing with construction earlier this year. BSE is also Bundelkhand package is valid only permits easier for local firms since credited with launching the first- for the Eleventh Five Year Plan 2005. In the past year India ever live Carbon Index BSE- period i.e. 2011-12, it is now established strict time limits for GREENEX in India, earlier in 2012. proposed to continue these preconstruction approvals, The index measures the programmes in 2012-13 in its reducing the time needed to performances of companies in present form. process permit applications. terms of carbon emissions. "BSE is committed to India ranks 132nd in BSE joins UN's Sustainable working with investors, companies ease of doing business Stock Exchanges global and regulators in playing a among 185 economies initiative transformative role towards enhancing sustainability in Indian India lags behind The Bombay Stock capital markets. neighbours Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Exchange Ltd (BSE) announced and Nepal in the rankings on ease that it has joined the Sustainable More powers to FMC in doing Business, despite carrying Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative. In a reforms boost to the out most reforms since 2005, a The SSE initiative was commodity futures market, the survey by International Finance launched by UN Secretary-General Union Cabinet, on October 4, Corporation, the private sector Ban Ki-moon and UNCTAD cleared amendments to the lending arm of World Bank shows. Secretary-General Supachai Forward Contract (Regulation) Act A new IFC and World Bank Panitchpakdi in 2009 at UN (FCRA) Amendment Bill, 2010, report- Doing Business- finds that headquarters in New York City. which provides for autonomy and India has improved the regulatory The BSE has been the first power to the regulator. environment for local amongst global peers to join five The amendments are entrepreneurs more than any other other leading exchanges that have based on the recommendations of economy in South Asia since 2005. publicly committed to promoting the Standing Committee of the In the past eight years India sustainable investment practices. Ministry of Food and Consumer implemented a total of 17 Other exchanges include Affairs. The Act provides for institutional or regulatory reforms the Brazilian stock exchange BM & regulation of futures markets in making it easier to do business. FBOVESPA, Egyptian Exchange India and establishment of the 'Doing Business' analyzes (EGX), Istanbul Stock Exchange Forward Markets Commission. regulations that apply to an (ISE), Johannesburg Stock The Bill was meant to give economy's businesses during Exchange (JSE) and NASDAQ OMX more teeth to the regulator and also their life cycle, including start-up made a commitment towards benefit farmers, Minister of State for and operations, trading across improving sustainability at the Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas told borders, paying taxes, and Sustainable Stock Exchanges 2012 journalists after the Cabinet protecting investors. The aggregate global dialogue in Rio de Janeiro meeting. ease of doing business rankings are based on 10 indicators and cover 185 economies. But in terms India among fastest growing Internet market of ranking, India lags Sri Lanka ( India is among the top three fastest growing Internet markets in 81), Maldives (95) and Bangladesh the world, a study by industry body Assocham and ComScore has said. (129) and is ranked 132 globally in "Among the Bric nations, India has been the fastest growing market terms of doing business. adding over 18 million Internet users and growing at an annual rate of The report finds that India is 41 percent," the study said. The Internet user base in the country is the first economy in the region to approximately 125 million, the study added. "China added over 14 million users to reach 336 million Internet users by the end of July 2012. Russia and India show similar trends in online usage patterns along with similarities in e-commerce and payment types," it said. India is also among the top three fastest growing markets worldwide in the last 12 months, the study said. The top five popular categories accessed online are social networking, portals, search, entertainment and news sites, the study said. "Out of the approximate 125 million Internet user base, the female population accounts for almost 40 percent," it added. The study said the average transaction size online in India across both travel and retail category is USD 31 between April-June 2012. This amount is set to increase with consumer confidence in buying high priced products in the coming months, it said. Current News & Events 13

RBI Expanded the Union Cabinet Approved setting up of National Lending Norms on Automotive Board Priority Sectors The Union Cabinet on 18 October 2012 gave its nod for setting The Reserve Bank of India up of the National Automotive Board (NAB). The body will be (RBI) on 18 October 2012 extended responsible for promoting the research and development activities of the lending’s on the Priority sectors the industry and act as a facilitator in between the industry and the like housing, agriculture, small and government. NAB would also be responsible as a specialized body to medium enterprises, and promote sustainable development of the Nation’s Auto Sector along expanded the scope of bank loans with skill development for the automobile sector. for these sectors up to 2 crore Rupees. These ammendments 19th livestock census would be in effect from 20 July 2012. The banks were permitted report by Aug 2013 by the central bank to offer loans The 19th livestock census up to an aggregate limit of 2 crore will be completed by November-end Rupees, to corporate that includes in all the States and the final report farmers’ producer companies, co- will be presented by August 2013, operatives and partnership firms of the Central Statistical Organisation famers indulged in agricultural and (CSO) said. allied activities including animal The livestock census is husbandry, bee-keeping, dairy, However, its volume slipped to 6.5 conducted once in five years. The fishery and sericulture. The Priority million tonnes in 2012. "On the last census report was finalised in loan would also be made available export side, India's exports were 2007.“The 19th livestock census for pre-harvest and post-harvest raised 1.75 million tonnes to a was launched on September 15 activities like weeding, spraying, record 9.75 million tonnes based except in Sikkim and Jammu and grading, harvesting and sorting. on a record pace of shipments to Kashmir. The census will be Export Credit loans for exporting completed in all the States by date and larger supplies. This one’s own farm produce would November-end and the final report makes India the largest rice also be made available. The will be presented by August 2013,” lending scheme fulfills the criterion exporter in 2012, a first for India," CSO Director-General S. K. Das mentioned under the MSMED Act- the USDA report said. told. At present, information about 2006. India is followed by Vietnam, livestock population has been Bank loans to Micro and which shipped 7 million tonnes of collected in 18 States and the Small Enterprises (MSEs) those are rice, Thailand (6.5 million tonnes), process is midway in the remaining engaged in providing services Pakistan (3.75 million tonnes) and 17 States. would be eligible for the direct the US (3.5 million tonnes), it finance of up to 2 crore Rupees per South Africa agrees to added. India moved to the top slot borrower per unit under priority from the third place in 2011 buoyed host planned development sector. In case the loan amount per borrower increases the limit of 2 by record production of 104.32 bank for BRICS crore rupees, than it can be million tonnes on the back of good South Africa indicted that it considered as the indirect finance monsoon rains. was ready to host a planned for agriculture. The US agency said with development bank for the BRICS India topples Thailand as India's shipments rising this year grouping of five emerging it had to revise its global trade economies, including India. world's largest rice estimates upwards by 1.85 million Officials from Brazil, Russia, India, exporter tonnes. "Global trade for 2012 was China and South Africa are working raised 1.85 million tonnes to a on feasibility studies for the creation India has the emerged as record 37.7 million tonnes, with of a BRICS bank expected to the world's largest rice exporter in mobilise resources for infrastru India accounting for the bulk of the 2012 beating its Asian counterpart ctural upward revision in exports," it said. Thailand with shipment of 9.75 develop million tonnes, according to The global rice production m e n t USDA's latest report. Thailand was in 2012 is estimated at 464.87 projects in the top rice exporter with exports of million tonnes in 2012. India is the developing 10.65 million tonnes in 2011. world's largest grower. nations. Current News & Events 14 annihilated the Lions with eight Sports fours and five sixes in his 42-ball 82 while Haddin blasted four Pankaj Advani wins boundaries and a six in his 33-ball Billiards world title 37. The opening duo was particularly harsh on Chris Morris (Time format) and Aaron Phangiso as the two Ace Indian cueist Pankaj conceded 54 in just four overs. Advani proved his class once again title rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari The Sydney Sixers became as he notched up his seventh and Mark Webber of Red Bull, who the second Australian team, after World Billiards Championship title had to relinquish second place late New South Wales Blues to win the after comprehensively beating in the race with problems with the Champions League. They were defending champion and Kers power boost system. tested by the Nashua Titans in the seasoned Englishman Mike Alonso led Vettel by 39 second semi-final but apart from Russell in the final. The celebrated points but the German turned the that, they have been outstanding cueist stamped his dominance deficit into a 13-point lead into the throughout the tournament. The with 1895-1216 win. final three races with victories in Sixers take away the trophy, Lumb Singapore, Japan, South Korea takes away the Golden Bat and and India. Mitchell Starc takes away the Vettel has 240 points to Golden Wicket. Alonso’s 227, with Kimi Raikkonen Man-of-the-match: M. Lumb; of Lotus (173) and Webber (167) Man-of-the-tournament: M. Starc. with only a mathematical chance. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton (165) Minatsu Mitani wins and Jenson Button (141) are now French Open Title officially out of the title race after coming fourth and fifth, respectively. Minatsu Mitani of Japan shocked World No. 3 Saina Nehwal Sydney Sixers win 2012 This is the eighth overall of India to record a sensational 21- world title for Pankaj and his Champions League 19, 21-11 win in the 39-minute final seventh in billiards. His first world of the French Open Super Series title in billiards came in 2005 when women’s singles in Paris on he created history by becoming the Sydney Sixers produced a October 28. Mitani created history first cueist ever to win the Timed clinical all-round display to clinch of sorts by becoming the first and Points format of the IBSF World the Champions League Twenty20 Japanese woman player ever to Billiards Championship in the title with a thumping 10-wicket win the French Open, which also same year, a feat he repeated in victory over Highveld Lions in a for the first time has not featured 2008. He also won the IBSF World lopsided summit clash at any Chinese player in the final. This Billiards Championship (Timed Johannesburg on October 28. performance also meant that Mitani Format) in 2007 and won World Sixers first rode on a denied Saina Nehwal what could Professional Billiards title 2009. brilliant bowling display by spinner have been her third straight title- The only active player to compete Nathan McCullum (three for 24) and triumph in Super Series this year at the highest level in both Billiards pacer Josh Hazlewood (three for having won the Indonesian and the and Snooker, Pankaj made the 22) to dismiss Lions for a modest Denmark editions earlier. tough choice of picking the World 121 after electing to field. The Rupesh claim World Billiards Championship over Australian side overhauled the International Snooker Champion target with 7.3 overs to spare, billiards title thanks to some powerful hitting by ships due to a clash in the dates of (point frame) the two tournaments. openers Michael Lumb and Brad Haddin who added 124 runs. Lumb Vettel wins Indian Grand Prix Rupesh Shah became only the fifth Indian cueist to lift the world Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel title twice after he beat Australia’s had a lonely race from pole to the Matthew Bolton 6-2 in the final of chequered flag at the Indian Grand the World billiards (point frame) at Prix as the German took another Leeds. Rupesh had earlier step towards a Formula One title defeated big guns like Mike Russell hat-trick. Vettel got his fourth victory (in quarterfinals), and Peter in a row, a first for him, ahead of Gilchrist (in semifinals). Current News & Events 15 Saina clinches Denmark Sun TV Network wins new IPL franchise bid Open title Sun TV Network has won the Hyderabad franchise of the Indian Saina Nehwal came up with Premier League for an amount of Rs 85.05 crores per year, putting an a near flawless performance to end to the process of finding a new team in the wake of the controversial notch up an impressive 21-17, 21- termination of cash-strapped Deccan Chargers. The IPL Governing 8 win over Juliane Schenk of Council met in Mumbai to open the bids for the new IPL franchise and Germany in the 35-minute final of Sun TV was found to have the highest bid amount. the Denmark Super Series The SUN TV Network bid was substantially higher than the badminton championship. second bid of PVP Ventures, which was Rs 69.03 crores. The BCCI had floated the tenders for a new IPL franchise after terminating Deccan Chargers' contract on 15th September but the team owners DCHL had challenged it at the Bombay High Court.The High Court had ruled in favour of the BCCI after Deccan Chargers Holdings Limited failed to furnish bank guarantee of Rs 100 crore before October 12 5pm deadline. DCHL then approached the Supreme Court which, however, declined on 19th October to interfere with the High Court decision which had set aside the status quo order passed by the arbitrator.

at Doha Asian Games, Rana would The World No. 4 from India 7, 7- 6 ( 13/ 11), 6- 3 victory in the Shanghai Rolex Masters final. With be entitled for a salary of 50,000 was in irresistible form against an rupees per month. opponent who threatened to pose the winning of match Novak much bigger challenge than many Djokovic became the first player to Olympic Shooter Vijay win seven of the nine ATP World of the opponents lined up in this Kumar Named Services event against Saina did to level the Tour 1000 Masters events scores nine-all 10-all at one stage. Also in the Double’s Best Sportsman Saina, playing in her maiden Category, Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won the Shanghai London Olympic Shooter tournament after her bronze-medal and silver medalist Vijay Kumar on winning performance in the 2012 Rolex Double title by defeating Mahesh Bhupati and Rohan 19 October 2012 was honoured London Olympics, ensured that her with the Services Best Sportsman return to the big league ended on a Bopanna. award for 2012 at the Army triumphant note. Novak Djokovic has won five Headquarters in New Delhi Playing without the chief Grand Slam singles titles: the 2008, The award which include national coach and her mentor 2011, and 2012 Australian Open; trophy and cash award of one lakh Pullela Gopi Chand, the 22-year- the 2011 Wimbledon rupees is generally given to the old Hyderabadi was just too good Championships; and the 2011 US best sportsman from the three for the German opponent, winner Open. By winning three Majors in defence forces of Army, Air Force of the World championship bronze 2011, Djokovic became the sixth in 2011 and who ironically finished male player in the open era to win and Navy. Vijay Kumar is the current runner-up in four events this year. three Majors in a calendar year. world number and had earlier won The final point of the match He is the first male player three gold medals and one silver when Schenk did not attempt to representing Serbia to win a Major medal at the Delhi 2010 return the serve from Saina was in singles title and the youngest player Commonwealth Games. Vijay a way symbolic of the total in the open era to have reached the Kumar won a silver medal at the domination of the ace Indian semifinals of all four Grand Slam July-August 2012 London Games shuttler. On the other hand for events, separately and in the individual 25 metre rapid fire Saina, this was her sixth Super consecutively. pistol. Vijay Kumar is from Barsar Series title overall and second this NRAI appointed Jaspal village of Hamirpur district of year after the Indonesian Open win. Himachal Pradesh and is Rana as Junior Pistol presently a serving Subedar Major Novak Djokovic won Chief Coach in the Dogra Regiment (16th Shanghai Masters Battalion) of the Indian Army. He was National Rifles Association also awarded with Arjuna Award in Novak Djokovic beated of India (NRAI) on 15 October 2012 2007 and British Tennis Player Andy Murray, appointed Jaspal Rana as the Award in 2011-12 by the on 14 October 2012 saving five chief coach for the Junior Pistol Government of India. match points to seal a stunning 5- Shooters. The triple Gold Medallist Current News & Events 16

National Infant Mortality Rate Reduced to 44 Per 1000 Live Round-Up Births during 2011 Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped by 3 points from 47 to 44 16 States Sign Tripartite infant deaths per 1000 live births during 2011. As per October 2012 bulletin of the Sample Registration System (SRS) released by the Agreements for Laying Registrar General of India (RGI), the IMR for rural areas has dropped Digital Highways by 3 points from 51 to 48 infant deaths per 1000 live births while the Urban rate now stands at 29 from the previous 31/1000. The Minister of Among the states, Goa and Manipur have the lowest IMR of 11 Communications & IT Sh. Kapil infant deaths followed by Kerala with 12 infant deaths per 1000 live Sibal on October 26 called the births. Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 59/1000 followed by UP National Optical Fibre Network and Odisha with 57/1000 IMR. Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan (NOFN) ---a project, which would and Meghalaya have IMRs more than the national average of 44. connect all the 2, 50,000 Gram It may be mentioned that the Sample Registration System (SRS) Panchayats (GPs) in the country is a large-scale demographic survey for providing reliable annual through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) estimates of birth rate, death rate and other fertility & mortality indicators in two years—as a paradigm shift at the national and sub-national levels. At present, SRS is operational which would transform the way in 7,597 sample units (4,433 rural and 3,164 urban) spread across all India works. Sh Sibal was speaking States and Union territories and covers about 1.5 million households at a function in New Delhi where and 7.35 million population. 13 State governments and 3 Union territories signed tripartite messaging and cable Memorandums of Understanding Indian Cinema (NMIC). The television, among others. for free Right of Way (RoW) with the Museum would be located in the Central Government and Bharat Films Division Complex, Dr. G. (b) Penalties to be enhanced to a maximum of three years of Broadband Network Limited Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai and is imprisonment and fine of (BBNL--the SPV incorporated for predicted to come up by June 2013. execution of the project). Calling it between 50000 to 100000 The development of the museum the ‘end of distance”, the Minister Rupees for first conviction, and was planned to mark the occasion said from people reaching out to imprisonment of not less than the government we have now come of Indian Cinema that will complete two years, but which may to the government reaching out to its 100 years of journey from the extend to seven years, and a the people. He emphasized that the day of first screening of Raja fine between 100000 Rupees content that would be “riding” on Harishchandra in 1913. to 500000 Rupees for second the virtual highway would be conviction. equally important, and its success Union Cabinet Approved (c) Police officers not below the would lay on it being accessible Amendment of Indecent rank of Inspectors authorized and affordable to the common man. to carry out search and seizure, Sh Sibal said it is now upto the Representation of in addition to State and Central State governments to digitize all Women Act Government officers authorized data, and make it interoperable not by the State or Central The Union Cabinet on 11 just within the state but also inside Government. the country. October 2012 approved the introduction of Amendments to the The Act was enacted in In all 1,40,727 Gram 1986 to prohibit the indecent Panchayats will get covered by Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 in representation of women through Optical Fibre Network in these advertisement, publication, writing, States and UTs. Parliament under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and painting or in any other Mumbai to have First Manmohan Singh. manner. With the increased use of Museum of Indian The amendments advanced technology and proposed are as: communication devices in everyday Cinema (a) Broaden the scope of the law life, the Government felt the scope Films Division Ministry of to cover the audio-visual media of the Act should be amended. The Information & Broadcasting, and material in electronic form amendments were introduced after Government of India on 16 October which includes Internet, consultations with stakeholders, 2012 announced its plan of satellite-based communi including lawyers and civil society establishing a National Museum of cation, multi-media organisations, on the draft Bill. Current News & Events 17 Arvind Kejriwal of the state on 7 October 2012. In making the country free from open the last two surveys conducted in defecation.The yatra will begin from Launched Bijli Paani the year 2005 and 1982, the Wardha District of Maharashtra Satyagrah population of this species recorded from 3 october 2012 and will go was 1,600 and 4000 to 5000 through Indore, Kota, Gwalior, and Indian Social activist Arvind respectively. Gorakhpur and end up in Bettiah Kejriwal on 6 October 2012 district of Bihar on November 17, launched a Bijli-Paani Satyagraha Construction of Tunnel covering about 2000 km of in New Delhi to protest against across Jojila Pass on distance. The Indian Bollywood inflated power and water bills and actress Vidya Balan is the brand hike in tariffs by restoring electricity Srinagar-Leh highway ambassador of the campaign. connection to the household of a Started labourer which was disconnected Oldest Voter, Highest In Jammu and Kashmir, an for non-payment of bills. Polling Booth in The protest was launched ambitious project of constructing at Tigri Colony in New Delhi where 6.5 kilometre long tunnel across Himachal Pradesh Jojila Pass on Srinagar- Leh Kejriwal and his supporters The Election Commission highway started on 4 October 2012. restored the power connection of has identified Sh. Shyam Saran The project on its completion will the labourer. The labourer claimed Negi as oldest voter in Himachal make Srinagar - Leh road an all that he got a bill for Rs 15000 last Pradesh (HP). Sh. Negi, aged 95, weather road and fulfill the long month and connection lives in Kalpa Tehsil, District pending demand of the people of disconnected as he could not pay Kinnaur. H.P. Sh. Negi retired from it. Arvind Kejriwal told the masses Laddakh region. The tunnel project Government Primary School in to Stop paying electricity and water fulfills the long term demand of 1975 and his family includes wife, bills till Delhi government people in Laddakh region. four sons and five daughters. withdraws tariff hikes. Ministry of RD Launched Sh. Negi was among the first to cast his vote in independent Save Ganga, Save Dolphin Nirmal Bharat Yatra India’s first Election in October campaign initiated in Ministry of rural 1951, of H.P. State Legislative Uttar Pradesh development on3 October 2012 Assembly from 10- Chini Assembly started a campaign named Nirmal Constituency later renamed as Save Ganga, Save Dolphin, Bharat Yatra which focuses on Kinnaur. At that time, election in the three day campaign was snow-bound 10- Chini (now initiated on 5 October 2012 by the Kinnaur) was held ahead of other Uttar Pradesh Forest Department places in the State. in association with the World Interestingly, the world’s Wildlife Fund (WWF). The team highest Polling booth will also be also included local volunteers and located in H.P. at the height of 15000 14 NGOs. The campaign was a ft above sea level. This Polling state-initiative to create awareness Station will be at Hikkam in Lahaul to conserve the Gangetic Dolphins & Spiti Assembly Constituency one of the critically endangered located on motorable road. The species of the Gangetic River Hikkam Polling Station will serve 333 voters, comprising 180 male System. These dolphins are & 153 female voters. scientifically named as Platanista Gangetica. To cover a distance of about 5 October observed as Dolphin Day in Bihar 2,800 kilometers in the Gangetic Bihar on 5 October 2012 observed Dolphin Day. This day was River System that flows within the observed in wake of spreading awareness for conservation of the state, 18 boats were flagged off by Gangetic Dolphins the rare and endangered species that is found Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh, only in the Gangetic River System and its Tributaries. Bihar that the Transport Minister of the state. observed the World Wildlife Week from 2 to 8 October 2012, decided The campaign that also aims at to observe 5 October as Dolphin Day every year. Sushil Kumar Modi, identifying the population of the the Deputy Chief Minister of the state on this occasion declared that dolphins in the river system and it the state will come up with a Dolphin Watch Center at places where ended with the declaration by these rare aquatic species are seen. Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief Minister Current News & Events 18

Brahma Chellaney is going second on the Index with a few other Rajat Gupta Got Two Year to be honoured with $20,000 prize cities as a place to bargain for a Jail For Inside Trading money at a special event to be held good price. The national Capital at Asia Society's headquarters in also scored well on climate and Rajat Gupta, the former New York City. The book Water: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) tourist sites, however, its Asia's New Battleground" by performance was held back by the director and McKinsey & Co. Brahma Chellaney was selected quality of public transport and the Managing director on 25 October from nearly 90 nominations cost of some luxury items such as 2012 was sentenced to two years submitted by US and Asia-based watches and electrical goods. in prison for passing inside tips to publishers for books published in his business partner. Rajat Gupta 2011. Asia Society Bernard Global Blue's expanded was convicted in June 2012 on Schwartz Book Award was Globe Shopper Index adds 25 Asia- three counts of securities fraud and established in 2009 and is the only Pacific cities to the existing 33 one count of conspiracy. It was award that recognizes non-fiction European cities and ranks them on alleged by the US prosecutors that books for their outstanding the experience they provide to Rajat Gupta used his positions on contributions to the understanding international travel shoppers. The the boards of Goldman and Procter of contemporary Asia or US-Asia rankings are based on five & Gamble, one of the world's relations. categories covering shops, largest consumer goods affordability, convenience, hotels companies, to pass information to Delhi among 10 most and transport and culture and hedge fund manager Raj attractive cities for global climate. Rajaratnam, who then drew millions of dollars in profit from shoppers in Asia-Pacific Saibaba Sansthan bans its trading on it. Rajat Gupta, the India- region born businessmen in the US who staff from using mobile was considered to be an icon is Delhi figures among the 10 phones now being called "deceptive and most attractive cities for The Shri Saibaba Sansthan dishonest" after his conviction on international travel shoppers in the has banned its staff and security insider trading charges. Asia-Pacific region, a report says. Delhi came tenth in the Globe men from using mobile phones International rubber Shopper Index, published by Global after it was found that this caused conference Blue. A few points behind Seoul and negligence of their duties. Several ahead of Manila, while Bangalore Sansthan employees have links to The International Rubber ranked fourteenth and Mumbai outside businesses and they also Research and Development Board sixteenth. facilitate 'darshan' of rich VIPs. After will hold its ‘annual meetings 2012’ The length of the city's sales the ban, such activities will be and the tenth annual rubber seasons also helped Delhi to a conference at Kovalam. The good score. The sales seasons reduced. Earlier, the Sansthan had conference will be held from last more than 13 weeks of the year banned using mobiles in temple October 29 to November 2. The in Delhi, the fourth longest of the premises, but employees and conference will have technical cities on the Index. In Delhi, globe security men failed to maintain the deliberations focusing on shoppers have good opportunities ban, forcing it to impose the ban on ‘challenges to rubber industry’ and for bargaining and the city ranked its staff and security men. ‘farm mechanisation.’ Annual meetings include those of directors, chief executive officers Indira Gandhi International Airport Got and liaison officers of international International Certification board. The Indira Gandhi International Airport operator, Delhi Brahma Chellaney won International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) on 22 October 2012 got an ISO Bernard Schwartz Award 20000 international certification for eliminating and controlling information technology-related threats. With the getting of ISO India's leading strategic certification, Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) became the thinker and analyst, Brahma sixth airport operator to receive the ISO 20000 certification in IT Service Chellaney on 25 October 2012 won Management System (ITSMS) after Dubai, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Incheon the 2012 Asia Society Bernard and Hyderabad. ISO 20000-1:2011 is a service management system Schwartz Book Award for his (SMS) standard which specifies requirements for the service provider recently published book Water: to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain and Asia's New Battleground . improve an SMS. Current News & Events 19

Global Hunger Report India's milk output may touch new high of 135 mn 2012 tonne next year The report on Global India's milk production, highest in the world, is estimated to Hunger Index for seventh year was touch a record 135.5 million tonne next year on firming domestic demand released on 11 October 2012 by the and better prices, a study has said. International Food Policy Research It is expected to be sufficient to meet the local demand, and Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe, there may not be significant export volumes of skimmed milk powder and Concern Worldwide. The basic (SMP) even as the ban has been lifted on the same in June 2012. "As theme of the report for the 2012 a result of strong prices, active government support, and growing Global Hunger Index -- The demand, USDA forecasts 2013 calendar year fluid milk production at a Challenge of Hunger: Ensuring record 135.50 million tonnes, 5 per cent more than 2012," the US Sustainable Food Security under Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest report. Land, Water, and Energy Stresses. Similarly, production of butter and ghee is estimated to increase IFPRI that calculated the by 5 percent to 4.75 million tonnes next year. While fluid milk production global hunger Index analysed the is expected to continue increasing in 2013, production of non-fat dry measures based upon milk (NFDM) is only expected to face marginal increases due to large multidimensional angles. The stocks carried over from this year, it added. USDA also noted, "This published report have shown a estimate may fluctuate slightly in response to fodder availability and proportional growth in hunger overall monsoon conditions in 2013." India accounts for about 17 reduction of people worldwide but percent of the world's total dairy production, and consumes almost all recorded the progress speed was of it. The report highlighted that over the last several years, India has tragically slow and alarming. experienced strong growth in demand for dairy products, which is The report in its findings estimated to be 6-8 percent annually, approximately twice the growth recorded twenty countries across rate of supply. the world mainly from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to be highly Index, India was ranked 65th poliovirus transmission continues alarming and have highest level of behind China that was placed at anywhere in the world," says Dr Ajay hunger, and showcased the 2nd place position, Pakistan at Khera, Deputy Commissioner at sufferings of millions of poor. 57th and Sri Lanka at 37th position. the Union Ministry of Health and As per the report, the nations The report also points out Family Welfare, while pointing out that had showcased an absolute the three countries Bangladesh, that among the remaining polio progress between 1990 Global India and Timor-Leste constitutes endemic countries of Pakistan, Hunger Index to 2012 Global to the highest occurrence of Afghanistan and Nigeria, two of Hunger Index were Bangladesh, underweight children under the age them are with close proximity to Angola, Malawi, Nicaragua, group of five years, which records India. Regular Polio immunisation Ethiopia, Niger, and Vietnam. to more than 40 percent in each is being carried out at five border Whereas there are 15 countries that country. India was ranked second points along the Indo-Pak border, have managed to reduce it by 50 with 43.5 percent of the children at Baramulla and Poonch in percent or more. As per the report, less than five underweight in the Jammu and Kashmir, Attari and India instead of its fast paced list of the 129 countries compared Wagah in Punjab and Munabo in economic growth in past two for underweight child, after Timor- Rajasthan. decades has lagged behind in Leste. Countries like Ethiopia, To raise public awareness improving its record in Global Niger, Nepal and Bangladesh on the ravages of polio and garner Hunger Index chart. In the list of 79 followed the chart. support for eradication efforts, countries in the global Hunger World Polio Day will be observed India gearing up to be tomorrow across the globe. The declared polio free by 2014 health ministry, along with its Having made unpreced partners in World Health ented progress in polio Organisation (WHO), Unicef and eradication, India is now gearing Rotary International, are taking up to be declared polio free by 2014 special efforts across the country, by guarding itself against the import particularly in the high-risk areas of polio virus from neighbouring and among high-risk groups for countries and by boosting routine polio - such as migrant and mobile immunisation. "However, the risk populations to ensure they are of polio persists as long as reached with polio vaccines. Current News & Events 20 The gathered represen concerns in their financial and International tatives of 193 countries decided that development plans. All parties the developed countries would agreed to substantially increase Round-Up double the biodiversity-related domestic expenditures for international funds by 2015, using biodiversity protection over the India and Spain Sign a baseline figure of the average same period. These targets are not annual national spending on to be reviewed in 2014. MoU on Roads and Road biodiversity between 2006 and In another significant Sector 2010. Back-of-the-envelope decision, the countries decided to calculations peg it to be around classify marine areas on basis of Memorandum of Under $12 billion. their ecological or biological standing between India and Spain The decision took a long- significance. This classification is on Roads and Road Transport drawn argument with the UK, EU expected to feed into the larger UN Sector was signed by the Minister and Canada besides some other process of creating a new global of Road Transport & Highways and developed countries, Indian treaty for conservation of Minister of Railways, Dr. C.P.Joshi negotiators said. Union biodiversity in international waters. and visiting Spain Minister of Public environment and forests minister The meet also decided to Works and Transport, Ms. Ana Jayanthi Natarjan was engaged in keep track of and follow the Pastor Julián at New Delhi on several closed-door parleys to precautionary principle in studying October 26. convince the developed nations to the impact of the new emerging The objective of MOU give into the demand. science of synthetic biology — an include promoting efficient and In a meeting that saw the advancement over the existing environmentally sustainable North-South cleave get deepen, the genetically modified technologies. transport systems and to rich countries demanded that the institutionalize a technical and developing world first make a Tea Board of India Joined scientific cooperation in the fields firmer assessment of needs and hand with European Tea of road infrastructure, construction, also develop elaborate reporting maintenance and management of Committee framework before funds are roads. It will also include exchange committed. The African nations, Tea Board of India Signed a of information between particularly, along with several other joint Communique with European Government officials and developing countries like Brazil tea Committee on 17 October specialists of the Highway saw this as a delaying tactic after 2012. It was agreed with signing of Departments in the field of promises were made last year that communiqué that both the transportation by road, and rich countries would pledge money oraganisation will cooperate and promote and develop the relations at Hyderabad. work together in distributing between enterprises (consultancy, The last-minute deal also information about the Protected engineering and road transport included the decision that greater Geographical Indication (PGI) service provider companies) to number of countries would registration and its implications in enable transfer of technology in the incorporate biodiversity-related Germany and other tea consuming field of road and road transport. India convinces rich Cultural Carnival to Celebrate Six Decades of Indo- nations to commit $12 German Ties billion biodiversity The German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner on 19 Octo- conservation ber 2012 announced the event named Indo-German Urban Mela sched- India, backed by vociferous uled to start from 27 October 2012 at Delhi. The celebrations are the developing countries, ultimately part of Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities. convinced the rich world to double The nine-day cultural extravaganza that is scheduled to be held the international funds for at Indraprastha Millenium Park that is meant for commemorating the conserving biodiversity in the sixty years of German and Indian ties. developing world by 2015. The The Carnival that is named as Indo-German Urban Mela is decision was taken at the annual partnered by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and other meeting of the UN Convention on business organizations from Germany and India and aims towards Biodiversity, after hard-nosed achieving a holistic exchange, of culture, science, entertainment and negotiations with the European technology. Union and some other countries Before this the Mela travelled through Mumbai, Bangalore and drew the meeting into extra time. Chennai and has followed its journey to the largest show in the capital. Current News & Events 21 countries within the European Union. Now with the implemen President of Mauritius to be the Chief Guest of 11th tation of PGI, tea produced only in Darjeeling can be labelled and sold Pravasi Bharatiya Divas as Darjeeling Tea within the territory The President of Mauritius, Shri Rajkeshwur Purryag will be the of European Union. Chief Guest of the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, which will be held from 7 to 9 January, 2013 in Kochi. Addressing a press India and New Zealand conference here today, Shri , Minister of Overseas Indian Sign “Arrangement for Affairs said that since the centenary of the Gadar Movement is being Cooperation on Civil celebrated in 2013, the PBD Oration will be on the Gadar Movement and an exhibition on this will also be organized during PBD-2013. He Aviation” said that PBD has become a significant forum to connect the overseas India and New Zealand Indians from all over the world and the PBD-2013 will be focusing on October 17 signed the more connectivity with overseas Indians. He further said that Kerala will “Arrangement for Cooperation on be the partner State of the 11th PBD, which would provide the Diaspora Civil Aviation”. The document was an opportunity to understand the vibrant culture and potential of the signed in the presence of Union State. Kerala has been chosen as the host for the convention since Minister of Civil Aviation Keralites constitute one of the largest expatriate communities of India. and Minister of Economic He expressed the hope that more than 2000 delegates would participate Development and Tertiary in PBD-2013 from all over the world. Education Mr. Steven Joyce of New Zealand by Secretary Civil Aviation meeting of finance ministers in added 86,000 more jobs in July and K.N, Shrivastava and High Luxembourg. The European August than initially estimated. Alan Commissioner of New Zealand to Stability Mechanism (ESM) will Krueger, Mr. Obama’s Chairman of India Ms. Jan Henderson. have a full lending capacity of 500bn the Council of Economic Advisers, Under the Arrangement the euros (£400bn; $650bn) by 2014. said the jobs report “provides further two countries will promote and It will initially run alongside, and evidence that the economy is support the development of training then eventually replace, the continuing to heal.” and technical cooperation in the European Financial Stability Facility Facebook surpasses one field of Civil Aviation. The type of (EFSF). cooperative activities will include Europe's largest economy, billion users Germany, will make the biggest civil aviation programmes; sending Facebook now has more and receiving experts or instructors contribution to the fund, about 27% than one billion people using it for training purposes; acceptance of its total. The ESM, which is a new every month, the company has of licenses; acceptance of European Union agency, will be aeronautical products including but chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker, said.The passing of the milestone not limited to aircraft, engines, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg was announced by founder Mark propellers and parts, and aviation and chair of the Eurogroup. Zuckerberg on US television on services; organization of seminars; Unemployment rate in Thursday. The company said that exchanging information on those billion users were to date activities, policies, practices and U.S. at 44-month low responsible for 1.13 trillion "likes", laws and regulations concerning Even as U.S. President 219 billion photos and 17 billion civil aviation, including but not Barack Obama fought to dispel the location check-ins. The site, which limited to safety and environmental notion that he showed a weaker was launched in 2004, is now matters; and visits and exchanges debate performance in Denver this looking towards emerging markets of technical personnel or other week , his campaign was buoyed to build its user base further. experts. A Joint committee of the two by news of the unemployment rate Statistics released to countries will be formed to dropping to 7.8 per cent for determine and oversee mutually coincide with the announcement September, a 44-month low for the acceptable cooperation activities. revealed there were now 600 economy. Breaching the psycholo million users accessing the site via gically important 8 per cent-mark, Eurozone rescue fund a mobile device - up 48 million from launched the joblessness rate faced downward pressure even as the 552 million in June this year. Since The eurozone's new Bureau of Labour Statistics its early beginnings at Harvard permanent fund to bail out announced here that employers University, Facebook users have struggling economies and banks had created 114,000 jobs last befriended each other 140.3 billion has been formally launched at a month, and further, the economy times. Current News & Events 22 Tsunami hits Hawaii Delhi Metro chief Mangu Singh the London Array project is fully received the award in the presence operational at the end of the year, A potentially destructive of Shinya Ejima, Chief Britain will have nearly 3 GW of Pacific tsunami hit Hawaii on Representative, JICA, Hiroshi offshore wind capacity in operation. October 28 after a powerful Suzuki, Senior Representative, earthquake struck off the west coast JICA and M P Singh, Additional Chief Russian vessel carrying of Canada, triggering calls for Development Specialist. 700 tonnes of gold ore urgent action to protect lives as The new age transport goes missing sirens wailed across the system was chosen in recognition archipelago. of its outstanding contribution to the A Russian cargo vessel, the Superstorm Sandy slams development of human resources, Amurskaya, went missing on society and the economy in India October 28 in the Sea of Okhotsk into Atlantic coast and to the enhancement of friendly with 700 metric tonnes of gold ore, Superstorm Sandy relations and mutual under the Far Eastern transportation slammed into the New Jersey standing between India and Japan. supervising department said in a coastline and hurled a record- World's biggest offshore statement. The bulk freighter was breaking 4-metre surge of en route from the port Kiran to the seawater at New York City on wind farm powers up port of Okhotsk with a cargo of gold ore weighing 700 tonnes. There October 29, roaring ashore after The world's largest offshore supposedly was a crew of nine washing away part of the Atlantic wind farm produced its first people," the statement said. The City boardwalk and putting the electricity on October 29 around 20 number of people on board of the presidential campaign on hold. At kilometres off the east coast of missing vessel differs according to least 10 deaths were blamed on Britain, boosting the country's various sources as earlier media the storm. Sandy knocked out position as the world's top offshore reports said there were 11 crew power to at least 3.1 million people, wind market. members, while the emergencies and New York’s main utility said The first 151 wind turbines ministry puts the number at eight. large sections of Manhattan had of the London Array project been plunged into darkness by the generated electricity for the first S. Korea sets new window storm, with 250,000 customers time and the remaining 24 will for rocket launch without power as water pressed power up by the end of the year, into the island from three sides. owners DONG Energy (50 per South Korea has said it The National Hurricane cent), E.ON (30 per cent) and would make another attempt to Centre announced that Sandy had Masdar (20 per cent) said. send a satellite into space on come ashore near Atlantic City. It Britain aims to build around November after a scheduled rocket smacked the boarded-up big cities 30 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity launch last week was cancelled of the Northeast corridor, from at sea by 2020 to make use of high because of a technical glitch. A Washington and Baltimore to wind speeds for electricity Science Ministry statement said the Philadelphia, New York and Boston, generation to help meet the 140-tonne Korea Space Launch with stinging rain and gusts of more governments legally binding Vehicle-1 would blast off sometime than 85 mph (135 kph). The sea emissions reduction targets. Once during a November 9-24 window surged a record of nearly 4 metre at the foot of Manhattan, flooding the financial district and subway Largest Hindu temple from 14th Century discovered tunnels. in Bali Delhi Metro bags Japan Archaeologists believe they have discovered the largest ancient Hindu temple ever found in the Indonesian island of Bali. Construction International workers were digging a new drainage basinnear a Hindu learning Cooperation Agency center on Jalan Trengguli, in East Denpasar, when their tools struck a President Award large stone structure one metre underground, the Jakarta Globe re- ported. The crew then excavated a large stone plate, the first of many The country's symbol of discovered at the site. The Denpasar Archeology Agency took over the progress Delhi Metro, which was excavation and uncovered an 11-metre-long structure. built with the assistance from The Wasa Temple, which was uncovered in Gianyar in 1986, is Japanese government, has been 11 metres long and 10 metres wide. Bali archaeologists later found awarded with this year's Japan buried 16 sarcophaguses in 2010 in Gianyar. The island is home to International Cooperation Agency most of the Hindus in Indonesia, a country with the world's biggest (JICA) President Award for its Muslim population. contributions to Indo-Japan ties. Current News & Events 23

India, Spain & Benin to review record of Lanka’s human rights performance India, Spain and Benin will review the record of Sri Lanka’s human rights performance under the United Nations Human Rights Commission’s periodic review mechanism. The review will be held on November 1 and the report filed by the three countries will be placed for general discussion on November 5. Sri Lanka has already submitted its country report and ninety nine countries have posed questions to Sri from the Naro Space Centre on the Lanka. south coast. The launch had been slated for last Friday, but was shoes, an amphibious shoe line. organized by The Energy and cancelled after engineers detected Sohra has an average Resources Research Institute in a broken rubber seal in the annual rainfall of about 12,000 mm partnership with and supported by connector between the launch pad and by comparison, Hartley Bay, Ministry of Environment and and the rocket's first stage. one of the rainiest places in Forests, the Inter-State Council Australian MP’s initiative Canada has an annual rainfall of Secretariat, Government of India; about 4500 mm, which is less than the World Bank and the Forum of on anti-Sikh riots half of what Sohra receives. Federations, Ottawa at New Delhi An Australian politician will The highest recorded total on October 29. table a signed petition in annual rainfall was 24,555 mm in World's highest national Parliament, which would ask the 1974. The maximum for a single government to recognise the 1984 day was recorded in 1876 in Sohra, park opens in Tibet anti-Sikh riots in India as when 1,040 mm fell in 24 hours. China has set another “genocide.” An official statement Sohra also holds the world record tourism record by opening what it for a month's rainfall when 9,300 issued by federal MP Warren dubs "the world’s highest national mm fell in July 1861. Entsch’s office said, “The nation’s park". Standing on "the roof of the Sikh community has enlisted the While efforts are on to world," the Qomolangma National help of Entsch to have Australia safeguard the natural beauty of Park embraces five eight- recognise the November 1984 Meghalaya, the state government thousander mountains, including killings of Sikhs in India as has no control over mining which 8,848-meter Mount Everest (known genocide.” has threatened the green cover of in China as Mount Qomolangma), The issue was first raised the state to a large extent. The 8,201-meter Mount Cho Oyo and by Daljit Singh of Cairns. He said, Meghalaya Mining and Mineral 8,013-meter Shishapangma. “Every person on this planet who Policy, 2012, approved by the believes in equality and peace for cabinet recently, has, however, The sky-high attraction also mankind should support this. failed to put a ban on unscientific contains 10 mountains rising Justice delayed is justice denied.” mining activity due to the presence between 7,000-8,000 meters, as of a strong mining lobby. well as glaciers, hot springs and Cherrapunji, a hotspot for alpine forests. Occupying 78,000 international companies International Conference square kilometers, the newly on Strengthening Green unveiled tourist spot is situated in Known for being the wettest the Xigaze Prefecture in southern place on earth, this sleepy town Federalism Tibet Autonomous Region, near near India-Bangladesh border in The Vice President of India, China's border with Nepal. The Meghalaya has attracted some top- Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that national park will be focused on the notch companies of the world who culturally, legally, morally and protection of the ecology and test their products there. The tag existentially we need to move to a biodiversity and prevention from 'Cherrapunji', Sohra's earlier name, deeper understanding and illegal resource exploitation or land is said to work wonders for the recognition of the fact that human use. companies' new products, which wellbeing and even economic the buyers instantly associate with growth are underpinned by a clean trustworthiness and quality. and healthy environment. "Tested in the wettest place Delivering inaugural address at the on earth in monsoons" so goes International Conference on the blurb in an advertisement for ‘Strengthening Green Federalism: Italian-made Geox waterproof Sharing International practices’ Current News & Events 24 Knowledge Capsules Council of Ministers

Cabinet Ministers 17. Minister of Commerce Anand Sharma Industry and Minister of Textiles S. No. Portfolio Name of Minister 18. Minister of Road Transport and Highways 1. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh C. P. Joshi Ministry of Personnel, 19. Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Public Grievances and Pensions Ajay Maken Ministry of Planning 20. Minister of Culture Department of Atomic Energy Department of Space 21. Minister of Shipping G.K. Vasan 22. Minister of Urban Development 2. Minister of Railways Pawan Kumar Bansal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs 3. Minister of Finance P. Chidambaram 4. Minister of Agriculture 23. Minister of Water Resources Minister of Food Processing Industries 24. Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Selja 5. Minister of Defence A.K. Antony 25. Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers 6. Minister of Home Affairs M. K. Alagiri Sushil Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde 26. Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Manoharbhai Patel 7. Minister of External Affairs 27. Minister of Coal 8. Minister of Science and Technology 28. Minister of Law and Justice Minister of Earth Sciences Jaipal Sudini Reddy Ashwani Kumar 9. Minister of Health and Family Welfare 29. Minister of Minority Affairs K. Rahman Khan 30. Ministry of Mines Dinsha J. Patel 10. Minister of New and Renewable Energy 31. Minister of Tribal Affairs Dr. Minister of Panchayati Raj 11. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas V. M. 32. Minister of Steel 12. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs 33. Minister of Rural Development Vayalar Ravi 13. Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh 14. Minister of Labour and Employment Ministers of State with Independent Charge 15. Minister of Human Resource Development 1. Ministry of Women and Child Development M. M. Pallam Raju 16. Minister of Communications and Information 2. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Technology Jitendra Singh Current News & Events 25

3. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public 14. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Distribution Prof. K.V.Thomas Sathyanarayana Sarvey 4. Ministry of Statistics and Programme 15. Ministry of External Affairs Implementation 16. Ministry of Agriculture 5. Ministry of Environment and Forests Ministry of Food Processing Industries Jayanthi Natarajan Dr. 6. Minister of Information and Broadcasting 17. Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Food Processing Industries 7. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region 18. Ministry of Tribal Affairs 8. Minister of Tourism K. 19. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 9. Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Porika Balram Naik Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki 20. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 10. Minister of Power Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia 21. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways 11. Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Tushar Amarsinh Chaudhary K.H. Muniyappa 22. Ministry of Communications and Information 12. Minister of Corporate Affairs Technology Milind Murli Deora 23. Ministry of Communications and Information Ministers of State Technology Kruparani Killi 1. Ministry of External Affairs E. Ahamed 24. Pratik Prakashbapu 2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 25. Ministry of Minority Affairs S. Gandhiselvan 26. Ministry of Rural Development 3. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Pradeep Kumar Jain Aditya D. Napoleon 27. Ministry of Home Affairs 4. Ministry of Human Resource Development Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh 28. Ministry of Planning 5. Ministry of Human Resource Development Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Dr. 6. Ministry of Home Affairs 29. Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ramachandran Mullappally Srikant Kumar Jena 7. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and 30. Minister of Urban Development Pensions Prime Minister Office V. Narayanasamy 31. Minister of Labour and Employment 8. Ministry of Commerce and Industry Suresh Kodikunnil 32. Minister of New and Renewable Energy 9. Ministry of Railways S. Jagathrakshakan 33. Minister of Civil Aviation K. C. Venugopal 10. Ministry of Railways 34. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy Paban Singh Ghatowar 11. Lakshmi Panabaka 35. Ministry of Defence Jitendra Singh 12. Ministry of Finance 36. Ministry of Defence Lalchand Kataria

13. Ministry of Finance S.S. Palanimanickam (As on 29-10-2012) Current News & Events 26 Banking Awareness For Bank PO & Clerks Exams

1. Reserve Bank of India instructions issued on KYC 12. Interest rate risk is a type of cancelled the license of which norms? (1) Credit risk co-operative bank hit by the 1) Bank of Baroda (2) Market risk scam recently? 2) State Bank of Hyderabad (3) Operational risk 1) Andhra Pradesh Gramina 3) ING Vysya Bank (4) All the above Vikas Bank (AP) 4) Oriental Bank of Commerce (5) None of these 2) TN Co-operative Bank (Tamil 5) Union Bank of India 13. Unit Banking means? Nadu) 7. What is the full form of PIN in 1) Individual bank run 3) Madhavpura Mercantile Co- ATM card? independently or through operative Bank (GUJ) 1) Personal Index Number offices in limited area 4) Konkan Mercantile Co- 2) Permanent Information 2) Individual bank run with operative Bank (Goa) Number branches in wide area 5) None 3) Personal Identification 3) Branch opens in one village 2. As per RBI order on 20th August Number 4) Branch not controlled by head 2012, ''No frills accounts'' to be 4) Permanent Identification office called as? Number 5) Branch can frame its own 1) Basic Saving Bank Deposit 5) None of these rules without following rules of Account 8. Which of the following term NOT RBI 2) Poor Man Saving Bank used in Banking? 14. NABFINS means? Deposit Account 1) Nomination 1) NBFC Financial Services 3) BPL Account 2) Over Draft Limited 4) No Pay Account 3) Pasteurization 2) NABARD Financial 5) None 4) Endorsement Securities Limited 3. Banking sector falls under? 5) Letter of Credit 3) NABARD Financial Services 1) Agricultural Sector 9. ''Bank Saathi'' is a? Loan 2) Service Sector 1) Nearest ATM 4) NABARD Financial Services 3) Manufacturing Sector 2) Business correspondent Limited 4) Industrial Sector scheme 5) None 5) Small Scale Sector 3) Nearest Internet Centre 15. 'Buy now and Pay later' is the 4. Foreign banks operating in 4) Account for friend principle of? India must give ..... percent of 5) Scheme for wife and 1) Debit Card 2) Credit Card Net Bank Credit (NBC) to Export husband 3) Now card 4) ABM card Credit. 10.KYC guidelines followed by 5) AADHAR Card 1) 12 2) 25 banks have been framed on the 16. Expand CTS. 3) 15 4) 50 recommendations of the? 1) Cheque Truncation System 5) 18 1) Ministry of Home Affairs 2) Cash Transaction System 5. Which Act was framed to deal 2) Ministry of Information 3) Current Transaction System more effectively with the Technology and Human 4) Credit Truncation System problem of Non Performing Resource Development 5) None of the above Assets (NPAs) in banking 3) Indian Banks Association 17.Which of the following is the system? 4) Ministry of Finance purpose of introducing 'Know 1) Banking Regulation Act 5) Reserve Bank of India Your Customer' and AML norms 2) RBI Act 11. The loan taken for not doing of by the banks? 3) FEMA the business, it is usually 1) To bring more and more 4) SARFAESI Act called? people under the banking net 5) None of these 1) Commercial loan 2) Identifying people who do not 6. Which bank was imposed 2) Business torn loan pay income tax Penalty of Rs. 55 Lakh by RBI 3) Individual Group loan 3) To Identify the customer and on 11th October 2012, for 4) Virtual loan identifying the source of funds contravention of directions and 5) Non-commercial loan deposited in banks Current News & Events 27

4) To ensure whether the 4) A bank deposit scheme for 2) The rate at which the apex money deposited in the bank is employees of insurance bank RBI borrows money from of an Indian or a foreign national companies commercial banks. 5) None of these 5) None of these 3) The amount of funds that the 18.Banks in their daily business 26.Business Correspondents in commercial banks have to keep face various kinds of risks. banking are for? with the RBI. Which of the following is one 1) Providing services for the 4) The rate at which apex bank such major risk? Platinum Customers RBI allows finance to 1) Customer Risk 2) Providing services for commercial banks. 2) Reputation children 5) None of the above 3) Goodwill Risk 3) Serving the educational 4) Protection Risk 32.Which of the following institutions 5) Operational Risk organisations / agencies has 19.Which of the following banks 4) Serving the weaker sections specifically been set up to boost removes minimum balance of society overall rural development in stipulations for Saving Bank 5) None of these India? accounts recently? 27.In the given Public Sector 1) RBI 2) SIDBI 1) SBI 2) PNB banks, which bank has more 3) NABARD 4) SEBI 3) OBC 4) HDFC number of branches? 5) EXIM 5) ICICI 1) Bank of Baroda 33. In the minting of Rs. 500 and 20. A loan taken by the person, not 2) Union Bank of India Rs. 1000 paper currency, RBI telling the purpose of taking 3) State Bank of Hyderabad uses OVI. OVI means? loan is called? 4) Punjab National Bank 1) Oval Variation Ink 1) Personal Loan 5) Bank of India 2) One Variation Ink 2) No tell loan 28.The customers of banks can 3) Optically Value Ink 3) Purpose loan make a complaint to which of 4) Optically Variable Ink 4) Group loan the following offices on the 5) None 5) Go and Apply Loan issues related to deficiency in 34.Best example for demand 21. Which account in India is called services, if the problems are deposit is? the common man account? not resolved at banks' level? 1) Current Account and Fixed 1) Recurring account 1) Reserve Bank of India 2) Fixed deposit Deposit 2) Indian Banks' Association 3) Savings account 2) Savings Account and Current 3) Attorney General 4) Current account Account 4) Ombudsman 5) Kiddy account 3) Savings Account and Fixed 5) Comptroller and Auditor 22.Which of the following Deposit committees dealt with reforms General 4) Fixed Deposit and Recurring in Banking sector? 29. What is ASBA with respect to Deposit 1) Sachar Committee banking? 5) Fixed Deposit 2) Yashpal Committee 1) Application Supported by 35. Which is the intermediate rung 3) Ranganath Misra Committee Blocked Amount in the three-tier Cooperative 4) Malegam Committee 2) Application Supported by Credit structure? 5) Narasimham Committee Black Amount 1) Primary Co-operative Banks 23. Which of the following terms is 3) Application Sign by Blocked 2) State Co-operative Banks not associated with banking? Amount 3) National Co-operative Banks 1) NEFT 2) RTGS 4) Application Supported by 4) District Central Co-operative 3) SLR 4) CRR Blocked Array Banks 5) IRDP 5) None of these 5) None 24.Which of the follow ing is not 30. Which paper currency note has related with banks ? more circulation? 1) NPA s 2) TRAI 1) Rs.100 2) Rs.50 ANSWERS 3) CRR 4) Repo 3) Rs.10 4) Rs.1000 1. 3 2. 1 3. 2 4. 1 5. 4 5) Bank rate 5) Rs.5 25. What is Bancassurance? 31.Which of the following 6. 3 7. 3 8. 3 9. 2 10. 5 1) An insurance scheme for all statements correctly define the 11. 5 12. 2 13. 1 14. 4 15. 2 bank employees meaning of reverse repo rate? 16. 1 17. 3 18. 5 19. 1 20. 1 2) Sale of insurance products 1) The rate at which apex bank 21. 3 22. 5 23. 5 24. 2 25. 2 through a bank 26. 4 27. 4 28. 4 29. 1 30. 3 3) An insurance scheme to RBI lends money to insure bank deposits commercial banks. 31. 2 32. 3 33. 4 34. 2 35. 4 Current News & Events 28 Current MCQ Capsules

1. Between 16-19 October 2012, 4th mills to sell sugar in the open market 3) Kumar Sangkara OECD World Forum on statistics, on 12th October 2012? 4) Marlon Samuels knowledge and policy hosted by? 1) Subhir Gokaran 5) Mahela Jayawardene 1) Bangalore 2) New Delhi 2) Chaturvedi 14. According to The Global Gender 3) Pune 4) Hyderabad 3) C.Rangarajan Gap Report-2011, prepared by the 5) Jaipur 4) Vijay.C.Kelkar World Economic Forum, India ranks 2. Planning Commission sanc tioned 5) None at which of the following positions? Rs...... crores for sanitation in the 8. Who are awarded the 2012 Nobel 1) 131st 2) 123rd 12th Five Year Plan on 7th June Prize in Chemistry for studies of G- 3) 115th 4) 127th 2012. protein coupled receptors? 5) None 1) 36,000 2) 34,000 1) Thomas Steitz (USA) & Ada 15. India has recently been launched 3) 56,000 4) 74,000 Yonath (Israel) its heaviest (3400 kg) 5) 15,000 2) Barry Sharpless & William communication satellite GSAT-10 3. Who was sworn in as the 39th Knowles (USA) from Kourou spaceport. Where is Chief Justice of India on September 3) Robert Lefkowitz & Brian Kobilka Kourou spaceport situated? 29, 2012? (USA) 1) Italy 2) France 1) Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan 4) Peter Agre & Roderick Mackinnon 3) Russia 4) Guyana 2) Justice J.S. Khehar (USA) 5) Kazakhstan 3) Justice Altamas Kabir 5) None 16. Micro finance development equity 4) Justice D. Murugesan 9. Who is the UN-Arab League special fund is managed by? 5) Justice M.Y. Eqbal envoy for the Syrian conflict? 1) RBI 2) NABARD 4. The three-day World Economic 1) Kofi Annan 3) Indian Banks Association Forum on India Summit will be held 2) Lakhdar Brahimi 4) Asian Development Bank in which of the following cities in 3) Vannina Maestracci 5) None November 2012? 4) Nabil El Araby 17. Vanuatu joined as the 157th me- 1) Panaji 2) Gurgaon 5) None mber of which of the following 3) Mumbai 4) Kolkata 10. On 20th September 2012, the Union organizations on August 24, 2012? 5) Hyderabad government hiked the foreign 1) IMF 2) World Bank 5. Who won the Nobel Prize in Physics investment cap for the broadcasting 3) WTO 4) ILO for the year 2012 for their work service providers to? 5) UNESCO with light and matter at the most 1) 24 % 2) 49 % 18. Deposit Insurance and Credit fundamental level? 3) 100 % 4) 51 % Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) 1) Adam Reiss and Brian Schmidt 5) 74 % insures the deposits of the bank 2) Adam Reiss and Saul Perlmutter 11. Verghese Kurien, who died on 9th customers up to 1 lakh. DICGC is 3) Serge Haroche and David September was Honoured as the the wholly owned subsidiary of? J.Wineland architect of India’s? 1) SBI 4) Charles K. Kao and Willard S. 1) Yellow Revolution 2) NABARD Boyle 2) Green Revolution 3) Union Government 5) Andre Geim and Konstantin 3) Blue Revolution 4) RBI Novoselov 4) White Revolution 5) IDBI 6. Wrestling coach Yashvir Singh, 5) None 19. An IPO is? Boxing Coach BI Fernandez, 12. India Signed MOU (Memorandum of 1) Initial Price Offered by private Athletics Coach Virender Poonia, Under standing) on Tourism with limited company to its share holders. Kabaddi Coach Sunil Davas, ASEAN on January 12, 2012. The 2) An offer by an unlisted company Parathletics Coach Dr.Satyapaul agreement took place in? for sale of its shares for the first and Hockey Coach Harinder Singh 1) Indonesia 2) Thailand time to the public. received which award? 3) Malaysia 4) Singapore 3) Used to increase the share 1) Arjun 2) Khelratna 5) None capital of an unlisted company 3) Dronachharya 13. Who won the ‘Man of the 4) A book building process 4) Dhyanchand Series’award in 2012 ICC World 5) None 5) None Twenty20 cricket tournament held 20. Who will be the Chief Guest of 11th 7. Which Committee has in Sri Lanka recenlty? Pravasi Bharatiya Divas? recommended deregulation of the 1) Shane Watson 1) President of Mauritius sugar sector, by giving freedom to 2) Chris Gayle 2) President of Trinidad and Tobago Current News & Events 29

3) Prime Minister of Mauritius 2) 4.50 per cent 35. Which of the following countries 4) PM of Trinidad and Tobago 3) 4.75 per cent recently launched Kobalt-M, a spy 5) None 4) 5.00 percent satellite? 21. At the 2012 US Open tennis 5) 6.00 percent 1) China 2) USA championships Andy Murray 28. The Reserve Bank of India has 3) Russia 4) Japan became the first British man since constituted a committee to review 5) North Korea Fred Perry in 1936 to win a Grand the existing short term cooperative 36. India Mortgage Guarantee Corp- Slam singles tournament when he credit structure (STCCS). The oration (IMGC) is India's first defeated which of the following committee is headed by? mortgage guarantee company. It is players in the final? 1) Prakash Bakshi a joint venture between Inter- 1) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 2) Umesh Kumar national Finance Corporation (IFC), 2) David Ferrer (Spain) 3) Mona Sharma Asian Development Bank (ADB), US 3) Tomas Berdych (Czech 4) V.Ramakrishna Rao based financial security firm Republic) 5) Y.H.Malegam Genworth and? 4) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 29. Govt. approves an ordinance to 1) SBI 2) RBI 5) Roger Federer (Switzerland) completely digitise TV Broad- 3) SIDBI 4) NHB 22. Who was appointed as the casting. The entire nation has been 5) NABARD Chairman of the senior selection targeted to be covered by? 37. Citi Bank headquarters is at ? committee of BCCI in the place of K. 1)2013 2)2014 1) Mexico City 2) Paris Srikkanth? 3)2015 4)2016 3) New York 4) Tokyo 1) 5) 2017 5) Tel Aviv 2) Venkatapathi Raju 30. The World Health Organization 38. According to The 2012 Global 3) Sandeep Patil (WHO) has conferred WHO-South Hunger Index (GHI), India ranks at: 4) East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) 1) 43rd 2) 48th 5) Award-2012 to which of the 3) 62nd 4) 65th 23. Nobel peace prize for the year 2012 following states for its outstanding 5) 58th has been awarded to which of the achievements in Anti Tobacco 39. Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley were following international entities/ Campaign? conferred with Noble Prize 2012 in organisations? 1) Haryana the field of? 1) EU 2) UNO 2) Punjab 1) Economics 2) Physics 3) BRICS 4) SAARC 3) Rajasthan 3) Medicine 4) Chemistry 5) None 4) Andhra Pradesh 5) Peace 24. The 62nd meeting of Nobel 5) Himachal Pradesh 40. Name the India’s ‘Missile Woman’ Laureates was held in Lindau from 31. Gyanodaya is the e-Learning who was conferred the Lal July 1 to 6, 2012 that was dedicated Gateway of? Bahadur Shastri National Award to Physics. Lindau is located in 1) Bank of Baroda 2012 recently. which of the following European 2) State Bank of India a) Sunita Williams countries? 3) ICICI b) Tessy Thomas 1) Italy 2) Portugal 4) Axis Bank c) Buela M. Sam 3) Spain 4) Germany 5) Andhra Bank d) Shashi Bala Singh 5) France 32. Which Steel Plant won the e) None 25. PSLV- C 21 carried which satellites. prestigious Prime Minister's Trophy 41. The 12th Five Year Plan document 1) SPOT-6 of France and Proiteres for the tenth time? targets an economic growth of: of Japan 1) Bhopal 2) Ranchi 1) 8.2 % 2) 8.3 % 2) Megha - Tropiques of India and 3) Bhilai 3) 8.5 % 4) 8.6 % Jugnu of Japan 4) Visakhapatnam 5) 8.9 % 3) RISAT - 1, OCEANSAT-1 of India 5) Durgapur 42. P-Notes allow foreign HNIs (high 4) PROBA of Belgium and METSAT 33. Which is a familiar parameter to networth individuals) and other rich of India measure the healthy economy of investors to invest in India through 5) ANUSAT of India and ALSAT-2A the country? already registered FIIs. What does of Algeria 1) More Exports 2) SLR the letter ‘P’ in ‘P-Notes’ stands for? 26. On 18 July 2012, the planning 3) GDP 4) WPI 1) Policy commission reduced the power 5) More growth of Service Sector 2) Public target for the end of 12th Five Year 34. How much percent of the seats in 3) Purchasing Plan from 1,00,000 MW to? Panchayati Raj Institutions has been 4) Possession 1) 84,000 MW 2) 50,000 MW reserved for women to bring them 5) Participatory 3) 15,000 MW 4) 95,000 MW in the mainstream of political 43. Identify the mismatched pair with 5) 88,000 MW leadership at the grass root level? regard to Arjuna Award winners 27. The Cash reserve Ratio (CRR) rate 1) 25 % 2) 30 % for the year 2012? effective from the Sept 22, 2012 is: 3) 33 % 4) 37 % 1) Sudha Singh-Athletics 1) 4.25 per cent 5) 39 % Current News & Events 30

2) Ashwini Ponnappa- 51. On 5th October 2012, World Bank 3) She is the first British author and Badminton agreed to provide loan of $ 500 the first woman to achieve a 3) Deepika Kumari-Archery million to India for? Booker double. 4) Deepika Pallikal-Squash 1) Infrastructure projects in the 4) Hilary Mantel joins Peter Carey 5) Geeta Phogat-Weightlifting Southern Part of Western Ghats. of Australia and J.M.Coetzee of 44. An expert panel set up by the Prime 2) Upliftment of poor people residing South Africa as a two-time winner Minister recommended complete in Andaman Nicobar Islands. of the prize. decontrol of the sugar industry. 3) Repairing the old dams in the 5) Salman Rushdie's 'Joseph Anton' Who headed this committee? Coastal parts of Karnataka. was one of the six short listed 1) Kaushik Basu 4) Providing the water to the region books for this year's Booker prize. 2) Bimal Jalan of Bhundelkand. 57. World Bank has appointed Onno 3) C.Rangarajan 5) Secondary Education Project Ruhl as the Country Director for 4) R.S.Gujral named Rashtriya Madhyamik India. He belongs to? 5) Y.V.Reddy Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). 1) Moldova 2) Armenia 45. The Government has set up a co- 52. According to the latest Education 3) Nigeria 4) Netherlands mmittee to recommend the fram- Development Index (EDI) released 5) Germany ework for cloud computing by the Human Resource 58. Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza services under the Chairmanship Development Ministry on July 24, visited India and signed three of? 2012 which of the following States/ agreements. The capital and 1) Kapil Sibal Union Territories retained the first Currency of Burundi are? 2) Gulshan Rai position? 1) Kampala and Burundi Dollar 3) S. Gopalakrishnan 1) Puducherry 2) Bujumbura and Burundi Franc 3) Harare and Burundi Dollar 4) Shiv Nadar 2) Lakshadweep 4) Nairobi and Burundi Franc 5) None 3) Punjab 5) None 46. Which country has inaugurated a 4) Mizoram 59. Which of the following provides a "mini capital" Sejong City designed 5) Sikkim network that enables financial to act as a new government hub? 53. ISO 27001: 2005 given to banks in institutions worldwide to exchange 1) North Korea the recognition of .... messages about financial 2) South Korea 1) having best telephone service transactions in a secure and reliable 3) China 2) having good infrastructure environment? 4) Vietnam 3) having best managers 1) NEFT 2) RTGS 5) Malaysia 4) having best security practice 3) CHAPS 4) SWIFT 47. What is the minimum amount for 5) having Air-conditioned branches 5) None NEFT transaction? 54. The Nuclear Power Corporation of 60. In the Forbes magazine's list of the 1) Rs.100000 India Limited (NPCIL) will launch world's 100 most powerful women, 2) Rs. 200000 how many reactors during the 12th Sonia Gandhi got? 3) Rs. 50000 Plan period (2012-2017)? 1) First rank 2) Second rank 4) No minimum limit 1) 12 2) 16 3) Third rank 4) Sixth rank 5) None 3) 10 4) 11 5) Fifth rank 48. Which one of the following has 5) 13 61. SEBI has been imposed a restriction launched guidebook on standards 55. The Reserve Bank of India on money flow in equity through ‘P- for exporters? constituted a Financial Inclusion notes’. What is the full form of ‘P- 1) RBI 2) SEBI Advisory Committee (FIAC) to spe- notes’? 3) IBA 4) UNIDO arhead the efforts towards greater 1) permanent notes 5) UNESCO financial inclusion in the country in 2) purchase notes 49.'Lucknow Boy' is the autobiography October 2012. Who is the Cha-irman 3) participatory notes of which of the following eminent of this high-level committee? 4) private notes journalists? 1) Y.H.Malegam 5) None 1) Vinod Mehta 2) Dipankar Gupta 62. The 12th annual summit of the 2) N.Ram 3) K.R.Kamath Shanghai Cooperation Organiz- 3) Vir Sanghavi 4) K.C.Chakrabarty ation (SCO) was held in June 2012 4) Pritish Nandi 5) D.K.Mittal in which of the following cities? 5) M.J.Akbar 56. Which of the following statements 1) Moscow (Russia) 50. On 16th August 2012, SEBI made it about the 2012 Man Booker literary 2) Dushanbe (Tajikistan) mandatory that all listed companies prize is not true? 3) Beijing (China) must have minimum of ...... 1) British writer Hilary Mantel won 4) Astana (Kazakhstan) percent of public shareholdings by this prestigious prize for a second 5) Tashkent (Uzbekistan) June 2013. time for her novel 'Bring up the 63. The ownership of Dokdo/ 1) 15 2) 74 Bodies' on October 16, 2012. Takeshima islands has been 3) 49 4) 20 2) She won in 2009 also for 'Wolf disputed for decades. Which two 5) 25 Hall'. countries claim the islands? Current News & Events 31

1) Japan& South Korea 4) UN High Commissioner for Human 2) Ministry of Finance 2) Japan& Philippines Rights 3) RBI Governor 3) Philippines& China 5) Director General of IAEA 4) CBDT 4) China& Japan 71. In which year, the National Mission 5) President of India 5) None for Empowerment of Women 78. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or 64. Which of the following Indian (NMEW)was launched by The Medicine 2012 was awarded jointly Institutes of Technology (IITs) will Ministry of Women and Child to Sir John B. Gurdon and Shinya start Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy Development? Yamanaka for their research Institute of Medical Science and 1) 2007 2) 2008 related to Research? 3) 2009 4) 2010 1) Ribosome 2) RNA 1) IIT, Bombay 5) 2011 3) DNA 4) Stem cells 2) IIT, Madras 72. Which country tops the overall 5) None 3) IIT, Hyderabad rankings in The Global 79. Union Human Resource Develo- 4) IIT, Kanpur Competitiveness Report 2011- pment Minister Kapil Sibal 5) IIT, Kharagpur 2012? announced the setting up of two 65. The e-TDS prepared by the 1) Sweden 2) Singapore Central Universities in Motihari and deductor has to be submitted at 3) Netherland 4) Switzerland Gaya in which of the following 1) TIN Facilitation Centres 5) Hong kong states? 2) TAN Facilitation Centres 73. K.R. Kamath took charge on 1) Jharkhand 2) Bihar 3) PIN Facilitation Centres October 1, 2012 as the Chairman 3) Odisha 4) West Bengal 4) PAN Facilitation Centres of Indian Banks' Association (IBA). 5) Uttar Pradesh He is the Chairman and Managing 80. The Planning Commission 5) None Director (CMD) of which of the constituted an expert group headed 66. Indian Institute of Agricultural following public sector banks? by which of the following Biotechnology will be established 1) Bank of India economists to review the Tendul- in? 2) Indian Bank kar committee methodology for 1) Jalandhar 2) Amritsar 3) Corporation Bank estimating poverty? 3) Mysore 4) Ranchi 4) Punjab National Bank 1) Y.V.Reddy 5) Nagpur 5) United Bank of India 2) Kaushik Basu 67. Which among the following 74. Service Area Approach (SAA) is 3) C.Rangarajan countries is the first to set up a associated with? 4) Mahendra Dev cardless ATM which will run on 1) Rural and Semi-urban branches 5) K.L.Datta palm-scanning biometric of commercial banks 81. The Central Government has technology, which recognizes the 2) Urban branches of commercial approved how many crores of unique pattern of veins in a palm? banks rupees for purchase of high-tech 1) China 2) Japan 3) Branches of commercial banks equipment for the National 3) South Korea situated in metro cities Intelligence Grid or NATGRID? 4) USA 4) Development banks 1) 1500 2) 2500 5) England 5) None 3) 1100 4) 2300 68. Which of the following programs 75. Which of the following is a correct 5) 1600 has been rechristened as Nirmal statement? 82. The Mercosur trade bloc has Bharat Abhiyan? 1) RBI decides inflation rate. suspended which of the following 1) JNNURM 2) PURA 2) Axis Bank is a public sector countries over the impeachment of 3) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan undertaking. President Fernando Lugo? 4) Total Sanitation Campaign 3) France is a member of OPEC. 1) Argentina 2) Brazil 5) National Rural Livelihood Mission 4) Mustard is one of the major food 3) Uruguay 4) Paraguay 69. Who has launched "Oceans grain crops grown in India. 5) Chile Compact", an initiative to protect 5) RTE Act ensures that every child 83. Which of the following does not oceans from pollution, excessive gets school education. come under core sector? fishing and global warming? 76. Who won the 2012 International 1) Crude Oil 2) Natural Gas 1) Irina Bokova IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for his 3) Coal 4) Electricity 2) Ban Ki-moon novel 'Even the Dogs'? 5) Automobile 3) Barack Obama 1) Orhan Pamuk 84. Which of the following is 4) Manmohan Singh 2) V.S. Naipaul implemented in India in all the 5) Vladimir Putin 3) Philip Roth districts of the country for providing 70. Navanethem Pillay of South Africa 4) Jon McGregor employment? was given a two-year second term 5) Julian Barnes 1) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak in 2012 as the? 77. Finance Minister proposed to set up Yojana 1) Director General of ILO National Investment Board (NIB) 2) Bharath Nirman 2) Managing Director of IMF under the chairmanship of? 3) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural 3) Director General of UNESCO 1) Prime Minister Employment Guarantee Act Current News & Events 32

4) Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar 4) Gulshan Rai 1) Raj Kapoor Yojana 5) None 2) S.H.Kapadia 5) None 90. Who was given the David Sheph- 3) Satyajit Ray 85. Saina Nehwal won the Denmark erd Trophy for ICC of the 4) Soli Sorabjee Open Super Series Premier Year Award in September 2012? 5) Amitabh Bachchan badminton title by defeating which 1) Billy Bowden 98. Who is the present Foreign player in the final in Odense, 2) Secretary of India? Denmark on October 21, 2012? 3) 1) Nirupama Rao 1) Wang Yihan (China) 4) Rod Tucker 2) Ajit Kumar Seth 2) Jiang Yanjao (China) 5) Kumar Dharmasena 3) Ranjan Mathai 3) Juliane Schenk (Germany) 91. The Electronic Nose, a biomarker 4) Shiv Shankar Menon 4) Li Xuerui (China) used to diagnose which disease? 5) Shashikant Sharma 5) Tine Baun (Denmark) 1) Tuberculosis 2) Influenza 99. Floating / Variable-rate Loan 86. Among the following schemes, 3) Malaria 4) Allergy means? which is applicable to senior 5) None 1) the interest rate will change citizens? 92. Which country recently test fired 1) Annapurna Shahab-3, a medium range ballistic according to the increasing and 2) Bharat Nirman missile? decreasing movement of interest 3) SABLA 1) Syria 2) Pakistan rates 4) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan 3) Iran 4) Afghanistan 2) the interest rate depends on the 5) None 5) Israel moment of foreign exchange rates 87. Which Indian state will set up 93. The objective of which of the fixed by RBI Common Bio-Medical Waste following programs is to provide 3) the interest rate fixed by RBI Treatment Disposal Facility to gainful employment to the urban regarding Repo Rate manage and handle bio medical unemployed and underemployed by 4) the interest rate varied by RBI in waste of government and private encouraging them to set up self- the giving of loans to USA hospitals in all of its districts? employment ventures? Companies alone 1) Karnataka 2) Kerala 1) MGNREGP 2) PURA 5) None 3) Punjab 4) Haryana 3) IAY 4) SJSRY 100. Indian cricket captain Mahendra 5) Uttarakhand 5) RAY Singh Dhoni was appointed as 88. Paris-based Sanofi developed a 94. Where the Confederation of Indian brand ambassador of which of the vaccine for? Industry (CII) held the 'Eleventh following cricket associations to 1) Dengue 2) Flu Energy Efficient Summit' recently promote and develop cricket in that 3) AIDS 4) Swine Flu between 22 August 2012 to 25 country? 5) Cancer August 2012? 1) Bhutan 2) Burma 89. Who is the author of the book “Bring 1) Pune 2) Kolkata up the Bodies”? 3) Nepal 4) Singapore 3) Hyderabad 4) Chennai 5) Malaysia 1) Hilary Mantel 5) Kanpur 2) Peter Carey 95. Which is the largest stock 3) J.M. Coetzee exchange in the world by dollar ANSWERS volume/market value? 1. 2 2. 1 3. 3 4. 2 5. 3 1) Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) 6. 3 7. 3 8. 3 9. 2 10. 5 2) London Stock Exchange (LSE) 3) New York Stock Exchange 11. 4 12. 1 13. 1 14. 1 15. 2 (NYSE) 16. 2 17. 3 18. 4 19. 2 20. 1 4) Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) 21. 4 22. 3 23. 1 24. 4 25. 1 5) None 26. 5 27. 2 28. 1 29. 2 30.5 96. Which of the following has 31. 2 32. 3 33. 3 34. 3 35. 3 launched 'Maa Thota' scheme in 36. 4 37. 3 38. 4 39. 1 40. 2 Andhra Pradesh to improve the lot 41. 1 42. 5 43. 5 44. 3 45. 3 of tribal families? 46. 2 47. 4 48. 4 49. 1 50. 5 1) SBI 2) SBH 51. 5 52. 1 53. 4 54. 2 55. 4 3) Andhra Bank 56. 5 57. 4 58. 2 59. 4 60. 4 4) NABARD 61. 3 62. 3 63. 1 64. 5 65. 1 5) None 66. 4 67. 2 68. 4 69. 2 70. 4 97. Sachin Tendulkar will become the 71. 4 72. 4 73. 4 74. 1 75. 5 first Indian sportsperson to be Ph. No. 9290010274, 9030893956 76. 4 77. 1 78. 4 79. 2 80. 3 sreemediacommunications2012@ conferred with the Membership of the Order of Australia. He will 81. 3 82. 4 83. 5 84. 3 85. 3 gmail.com become only the second Indian 86. 1 87. 4 88. 1 89. 1 90. 5 Visit us at http:// after which of the following 91. 1 92. 3 93. 4 94. 3 95. 3 sreemediacommunications.blogspot.in persons to get the honor? 96. 4 97. 4 98. 3 99. 1 100. 3