Gk Digest – January 2016
GK DIGEST – JANUARY 2016
Ramandeep Singh WWW.BANKEXAMSTODAY.COM GK Digest – January 2016
Sr. NO. Particulars Page No. 1 International Events 2 – 7 2 National 7 – 26 3 Trade/Business 26 – 38 4 Appointments 39 – 47 5 Sports 47 – 54 6 Awards 55 – 61 7 Death 61 – 65 8 Books 65 – 66
BankExamsToday.com Page 1 GK DigestInternational– January 2016
Cabinet of Somalia agreed on Election Model services to help the entry into service and outlined by Mogadishu Declaration 2015 efficient operations of these new aircraft. Cabinet of Somalia on 28 January 2016 agreed on Election Model outlined by the Mogadishu Declaration. The declaration, which was adopted International Day of Commemoration in in December 2015, calls for the electoral process memory of the victims of the Holocaust in Somalia to establish a new, bicameral Federal observed Parliament in 2016, based on inclusivity and International Day of Commemoration in memory representation. of the victims of the Holocaust was observed on 27 January 2016 across the world. The day was The new electoral model envisioned a 275- proclaimed so by the United Nations General member lower house which maintains a Assembly. power-sharing formula among clans and a The theme for the Holocaust 54-member upper house based on equal remembrance and education activities in representation of existing, emerging and the year 2016 including the Holocaust prospective federal states plus additional Memorial Ceremony is The Holocaust and seats for Puntland and Somaliland. Human Dignity. It also requires that a minimum of 30 percent of seats be reserved for women.
Iran, Airbus signed deal to buy 118 Airbus Denmark is the world’s least corrupt country planes Iran and Airbus on 28 January 2016 signed two Denmark has emerged as the least corrupt agreements covering new aircraft orders and a country in the world for a fourth consecutive comprehensive civil aviation co-operation year, according to the non-governmental package. The agreement includes purchase of organisation Transparency International. 118 new Airbus aircrafts. The agreement for 118 new aircraft It scored 91 points out of a possible 100 includes 21 A320ceo family, 24 A320neo while North Korea and Somalia remained family, 27 A330ceo family, 18 A330neo (- at the bottom with unchanged scores of 900), 16 A350-1000 and 12 A380. 8. The agreements were signed at the Elysee Finland and Sweden ranked second and Palace, Paris, during Iranian President third respectively on the 2015 Corruption Hassan Rouhani’s official visit to France Perceptions Index, while North Korea and with French President Francois Hollande. Somalia were named the most corrupt Iran Air and Airbus signed an agreement out of 196 nations. for the acquisition of the full range of new India took the 76th spot on the list. Airbus airliners (73 wide-bodied and 45 single aisles). This includes pilot and maintenance training and support
BankExamsToday.com Page 2 6th National Voters’ Day observed GKwith Digesttheme – January 2016reconnaissance technologies as tensions Inclusive and Qualitative Participation rise with China over the disputed South 6th National Voters’ Day (NVD) was observed China Sea, they said. across the country on 25 January 2016 by the Election Commission of India. The theme for the 6th National Voters’ Day is ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’. First Ministerial Meeting of Arab-India The Commission’s objective through NVD Cooperation Forum held at Manama is to increase enrolment of voters, The first Ministerial Meeting of Arab-India especially of the newly eligible ones. The Cooperation Forum was held Manama, capital National function of the NVD was held in city of Bahrain. New Delhi and presided over by President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. The meeting was inaugurated by On the occasion, the Chief Election Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Commissioner Dr. Nasim Zaidi also Ahmed Al Khalifa and was attended by released a book titled, ‘Belief in the Ballot’ representatives of 22 Arab League and presented it’s the first copy to the nations. Indian side was represented by President. Union External Affairs Minister Sushma To celebrate and recognise the contribution of Government Swaraj and also Foreign Secretary S department/Agencies to the efforts of ECI Jaishankar. for enhancing electoral participation, the election commission has introduced awards. Six newly eligible electors were given their EPICs by President of India. Germany the ‘best country in the world 25 January is the foundation day of the Commission, which came into being on this Germany is the best country in the world, day in 1950. according to new analysis unveiled at the World India to build satellite tracking station in Economic Forum in Davos.. Vietnam The United States is the most powerful India will set up a satellite tracking and imaging country in the world, with India the centre in southern Vietnam that will give Hanoi leading up-and-coming economy. access to pictures from Indian earth observation Italy is the country with the richest satellites that cover the region, including China tradition and Brazil is the top nation to and the South China Sea, Indian officials said. visit. Canada tops the list of countries with the best quality of life. The move, which could irritate Beijing, deepens ties between India and Vietnam, who both have long-running territorial Tunisia imposes curfew as unrest grows over disputes with China. lack of jobs Hanoi especially has been looking for advanced intelligence, surveillance and
BankExamsToday.com Page 3 Tunisia has imposed a nationwide overnightGK Digest – January 2016The Shiite-led government in Baghdad curfew after protests and violence against rising relies on Iranian help to battle the unemployment spread across the country. extremist Islamic State group, but is also trying to repair ties to oil-rich Saudi Arabia. The curfewwas announced after The kingdom closed the embassy in 1990, skirmishes between police and protesters after Saddam Hussein ordered an invasion in the early hours of Friday in the of Saudi ally Kuwait. impoverished suburbs of Tunis. The Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari on capital is braced for mass protests this Thursday accepted the credentials of weekend. Ambassador Thamir al-Sabhan. The violence followed a week of unrest across the country, which police said had Tsai Ing-wen elected Taiwan's first female injured 59 officers and 40 protesters. The president protests carry echoes of Tunisia’s Arab spring revolution in December 2010, Tsai Ing-wen has been elected Taiwan's first which saw the downfall of the former female president.Ms Tsai, 59, leads the president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that wants independence from China.
In her victory speech, she vowed to WHO declared West Africa Free from Ebola preserve the status quo in relations with outbreak China, adding Beijing must respect Taiwan's democracy and both sides must WHO has declared the end of the most recent ensure there are no provocations. outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia and says China sees the island as a breakaway all known chains of transmission have been province - which it has threatened to take stopped in West Africa. back by force if necessary. Mr Chu congratulated Tsai Ing-wen and Liberia was first declared free of Ebola announced he was quitting as KMT head. transmission in May 2015, but Ebola Taiwan's Premier Mao Chi-kuo also outbreaks twice till November. This resigned. announcement has come 42 days (two 21- day incubation cycles of the virus) after the PM Modi Second most popular world leader on last confirmed patient in Liberia tested FB negative for the disease 2 times. According to a study by PR firm Burson-Marsteller, After 25 years, Saudi Embassy officially reopens PM Narendra Modi has over 31 million fans on his in Baghdad personal Narendra Modi page.
Saudi Arabia has reopened its embassy in Baghdad As far as fan following on Facebook is after a closure that lasted 25 years and the concerned, US President Barack Obama is kingdom’s ambassador submitted his credentials the most popular leader in the world. The at the Foreign Ministry. US President has over 46 million likes on his Facebook page.
BankExamsToday.com Page 4 GK Digest – January 2016guidance to its agency specialising in the children's causes, Kathmandu Post Sri Lankan parliament begins process to adopt reported today. new Constitution Nepal will help ensure, among other things that Unicef activities are responsive to the Sri Lankan parliament began a process to needs and priorities of the recipient formulate a new constitution with Prime Minister countries, particularly from the Ranil Wickremesinghe presenting a resolution to perspective of a country emerging from set up Constitutional Assembly of all members for conflict and reeling under the the purpose. humanitarian crisis as a result of natural disasters and the vulnerabilities of being “We will have the whole parliament least developed and land-locked country, formulating the constitution unlike the it reported. previous instances when the constitutions Nepal recently completed its terms as a were drafted outside parliament,” he said. member of the UN economic and social The new constitution will replace the council (ECOSOC) for 2013-2015 and as current executive president headed vice-president from Asia-Pacific region at constitution adopted in 1978. the executive board of President Maithripala Sirisena in his UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS for the year 2015. address said the time has come to Nepal had contributed to the Unicef by formulae a new constitution in keeping remaining in the executive board in with the demands of the 21st century. He different times including 1982 to 1985, warned that extremist elements both in 1992 to 1995 and 2002 to 2004. the south and the north may try to scuttle the process. 11th World Hindi Day observed on 10 January
Nepal elected as Unicef’s executive board The 11th World Hindi Day was celebrated on 10 member January 2016. To mark the occasion, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through its missions/posts Nepal has been elected to the Unicef executive abroad and the Department of Official Language board, representing the group of Asia-Pacific (Rajbhasha) conducted special events to spread countries for the term 2016-2018. the greatness of the language.
Nepal's ambassador and permanent The day was first observed on 10 January representative to the UN Durga Prasad 2006. And, it is in addition to the National Bhattarai, has also been unanimously Hindi Divas that is being celebrated elected as vice-president to the bureau of annually on 14 September. the executive board on Saturday, National Hindi Divas is celebrated to mark according to Nepal's Permanent Mission to the day, 14 September 1949, on which the the UN in New York. Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi With its election to the United Nations written in Devanagari script as the Official Children's Fund, Nepal has got another Language of the Union. chance to contribute to the work of the UN, this time in providing strategic
BankExamsToday.com Page 5 Indra Nooyi becomes ‘most generousGKgraduate’ Digest – January 2016language publication Ma’ariv Sof of Yale School of Management Hashavua. It polled a total of 527 Jewish adults on Tuesday, while there was an The prestigious Yale School of Management will error margin of 4.3 percent. name its deanship in honour of PepsiCo’s India- The results certainly showed that born CEO Indra Nooyi as she gifted an undisclosed President Putin has made an impact on the amount to her alma mater, becoming the school’s people of Israel during 2015. He received biggest alumni donor and the first woman to 29 percent of the vote as the respondents endow a deanship at a top b-school. were asked to choose their person of the year. Yale did not disclose the amount gifted by Sixteen percent opted for Chancellor Nooyi but said her “landmark gift” to Merkel, who had been previously chosen endow the deanship of the school and as TIME magazine’s Person of the Year for inaugurate an innovation fund has made 2015. Benjamin Netanyahu received 15 her the “most generous graduate” of Yale percent of the vote, while Islamic State’s School of Management in terms of lifetime leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi had 3 percent giving to the school. She is also the first of voters thinking he was their person of woman to endow the deanship at a top the year. business school, the school said in a statement yesterday. World Braille Day observed on 4 January The PepsiCo chairman, who graduated from the school in 1980, credited her World Braille Day was observed across the world experience at the school for “forever” on 4 January 2016 to commemorate the birth altering “the course of my life” and said anniversary of Louis Braille. her gift “pales in comparison with the gift that Yale gave me the fundamental To mark this occasion, NGOs, as well as understanding that leadership requires an other organizations came together to raise expansive worldview and a deep awareness about the apathy towards appreciation of the many points of visually impaired people and to help them intersection between business and be equal with the rest of the people. society.” Louis Braille, who was born in France on 4 January 1809, is credited for inventing the Braille script. The script helps the visually impaired people to read as well as write. Israelis vote for Putin as their person of 2015 India-Nepal Bus Service resumed after 27 years An Israeli poll has named Russian President Vladimir Putin as their person of the year for 2015. India-Nepal Bus Service on 4 January 2016 Putin was the clear winner with almost 30 percent resumed after a gap of 27 years. The service was of the vote, ahead of German Chancellor Angela suspended 27 years ago in the wake of the Indo- Merkel in second place. Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty.
The survey was carried out by the The service runs between Kanchanpur in Jerusalem Post and its sister Hebrew- Nepal, which is close to Banbasa border in
BankExamsToday.com Page 6 Champavat district of Uttarakhand,GK Digest and– January 2016Mendes (Music), Emerson Spartz (Media) Anand Vihar ISBT in Delhi. among others. Further, 45 Indians and Indian-origin people figured in the annual compilation for their entrepreneurial spirit and Forbes released 2016 30 Under 30 List; 45 breakout talents. Indian-origin people featured World's largest blue star sapphire discovered in Forbes on 4 January 2016 released the 2016 30 Sri Lanka Under 30 List featuring 600 men and women who achieved remarkable professional success before The world's largest blue star sapphire that weighs attaining 30 years of age. They were chosen from 1404.49 carats was discovered in a mine in Sri an initial screening list of more than 15000 Lanka. The sapphire was found in August 2015 representing a gamut of 20 segments that include near Ratnapura city in the South of Sri Lanka. art & style, finance, sports, education, etc. The stone is worth at an estimated cost of The list includes John Boyega (Hollywood 100 million US dollars but could be valued & Entertainment category), Shawn up to 165 million US dollars.
National
Uttar Pradesh joins UDAY scheme Puducherry Lt Governor AK Singh launched Uttar Pradesh became the fourth state to join the MITRA app for women safety Centre’s scheme to revive state electricity Lt Governor of Puducherry AK Singh on 28 January distribution utilities on Saturday. The state 2016 launched the MITRA mobile application to government signed a memorandum of ensure safety and security of women in the Union understanding with the Centre and the Uttar Territory. The app was launched in the presence Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd, the holding of the Chief Minister N Rangasamy in Puducherry. company of the various electricity distribution The Android based application can send utilities in the state. emergency SOS messages when in danger The four states – Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, or emergency. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh – which have At present, it is available only in smart signed MoUs for joining UDAY, account for phones. about 35 per cent of the outstanding loans of state electricity distribution utilities in Commemorative Coin of 150 rupees & the country. Circulation Coin of 10 rupees on Lala Lajpat Rai released
BankExamsToday.com Page 7 Ministry of Culture on 28 January 2016GK released Digest a – January 2016The Ministry aims to carry out skill training commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a programme for 5 lakh Persons with circulation coin of 10 rupees on Lala Lajpat Rai. Disabilities in next 3 years. The Commemorative Coin of 150 rupees is made of Quaternary alloy with diameter of 44 mm and weight of 35 grams. CERT-In inks cyber security agreements with 3 The Circulation coin of 10 rupees is made nations of bi-metallic material with diameter of 27 Indian Computer Emergency Response Team mm and weight of 7.71 grams. The coin (CERT-In) has signed cybersecurity agreement was released by Dr Mahesh Sharma, with its counterparts in Malaysia, Singapore and Minister of state (Independent charge) Japan. Minister of Tourism & Culture at New In this regard, the Union Cabinet chaired Delhi on the occasion of 150th birth by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai. apprised the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed between Kerala to host global skill summit CERT-In and 3 nations. Kerala will host a three-day ‘Nypunyam International Skill Summit and Skill Fiesta 2016’ next month with a view to bridging the gap Rajasthan Govt inks MoU to join UDAY Scheme between the job market requirement and the Rajasthan Government along with its power skill level of available workforce. distribution companies (DISCOMS) has signed a The event will unfold on February 5, MoU to join UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance according to Tom Jose, Additional Chief Yojana) Scheme. Secretary, Department of Labour and State DISCOMS part of this MoU are Jaipur Skills, Kerala. The focus will be on Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVNL), improving the skill levels and bringing Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited them up to world standards in tune with (JVVNL) and Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam the Prime Minister’s initiative for skilling Limited (AVNL). 500 million young people by 2020. The skill summit will gather an array of top industry leaders, key government officials, policy makers and analysts India successfully test fired Akash missile at functioning in the sector. Chandipur India on 28 January 2016 test fired its indigenously-built surface-to-air Akash missile Union Government launched National Job Portal from complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range for Persons with Disabilities (ITR).at Chandipuri in Odisha. It was as part of a The Union Ministry of Social Justice and user trial mission. Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot on 27 Three rounds of test were carried out by January 2016 launched the National level Job Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel aiming at portal www.disabilityjobs.gov.in for Persons with para-barrel targets. Disabilities (PwDs).
BankExamsToday.com Page 8 IPS officer Aparna Kumar became India'sGK Digestfirst – January 2016 Kakinada civil servant to scale Mount Vinson Massif Belagavi Aparna Kumar, IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Udaipur became India's first civil servant to scale Mount Guwahati Vinson Massif, the highest peak in the Antarctica. Chennai She hoisted the Tricolour and the flag of Ludhiana the Uttar Pradesh Police Service on Mount Bhopal Vinson Massif. She set out on the Antarctic expedition on 5 January 2016, accompanied by a 10- member team of mountaineers from UP launches helpline number for journalists various countries.
Govt. releases list of 20 smart cities Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav launched a The Union government today announced the dedicated helpline for journalists with number names of the first 20 urban areas that will be 1800-1800-303. developed as smart cities. Managed by the state’s Information and “Implementation of smart cities plan will Public Relation Department, the helpline showcase integrated planning. The will help and assist the media persons. investment of Rs 50,802 crores has been He also launched a computerised file- proposed in selected smart cities and tracking system to track the development towns during the five-year period,” said of a file and ensure its time-bound minister of urban development Venkaiah disposal. Naidu, while announcing the list. There are five capital cities among the 20 smart cities chosen which are as follows – Cabinet approves raising of 17 Indian Reserve Bhubaneswar Battalions by J&K and LWE States The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Pune Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the raising Jaipur of 17 India Reserve Battalions (IR Bns) by Jammu & Surat Kashmir and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected Kochi States. Ahmedabad It includes five IR Bns in the state of J&K, four Jabalpur IR Bns in Chhattisgarh, three IR Bns in Vishakapatnam Jharkhand, three IR Bns in Odisha and two IR Sholapur Bns in Maharashtra. Davangere Indore New Delhi (New Delhi municipal council area) President rule imposed in Arunachal Pradesh Coimbatore
BankExamsToday.com Page 9 President rule has been imposed in ArunachalGK Digest – January 2016To avail the benefits of this scheme, each Pradesh after President Pranab Mukherjee on beneficiary would have to fulfil some Tuesday gave his assent to Union Cabinet’s mandatory conditions like submission of recommendation. marriage certificate, income certificate, etc. Justifying the Centre’s move, minister of state for home Kiran Rijiju had earlier said the Cabinet was forced to take the BEPS guidelines of OECD to be implemented in decision because of a Constitutional India from 1 April 2016 breakdown as six months had lapsed The term BEPS is an acronym of Base Erosion and between two sessions of the state Profit Shifting and it was in news in the third week assembly. of January 2016 as India decided to implement On Monday, President Pranab Mukherjee these guidelines. had called home minister Rajnath Singh These norms were announced by and put some queries to him on the need Organization for Economic Cooperation for the imposition of President’s rule. and Development (OECD) in October 2015 to close tax loopholes that it estimated Andhra tops in implementing MGNREGA for cost countries upwards of 100 billion US 2014-15 dollars a year. With the implementation of these Andhra Pradesh has topped in the country in guidelines, it will become mandatory for implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Indian multinationals to make country-by- Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the 2014- country reporting to follow guidelines 2015 in category of transparency and from the financial year that begins on 1 accountability. April 2016.
Ayyanna Patrudu, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Panchayat Raj and MGNREGA, said that the award will be PM declassifies 100 files relating to Netaji given in New Delhi on 2nd of February. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy AP Govt. launched Giriputrika Kalyana over his death. Pathakam Scheme for tribal people The files were declassified and put on digital display at the National Archives of The Andhra Pradesh Government launched India (NAI) here by the Prime Minister, Giriputrika Kalyana Pathakam Scheme to support who pressed a button in the presence of the tribal women in their quest for livelihood. Bose family members and Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo. The scheme was launched by Andhra Later, Modi and his ministerial colleagues Pradesh Minister for Social Welfare went around glancing at the declassified Ravela Kishore Babu. files, spending over half an hour at the National Archives. He also spoke to the
BankExamsToday.com Page 10 members of the Bose family.GK The Digest NAI also– JanuaryIndia’s2016Grid-linked solar generation capacity plans to release digital copies of 25 crosses 5,000 MW mark declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has The first lot of 33 files were declassified by announced that India’s grid-connected solar the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and power generation capacity has crossed the 5,000 handed over to the NAI on December 4, Mega Watt (MW) mark. last year. Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs too The Central Govt. has increased the target initiated the process of declassification of of solar power generation capacity by five files relating to Bose in their respective times from 20,000 MW to 100 GW by collection which were then transferred 2022. over to the NAI, it added.
Metro Train will be started in Kochi India, Japan conduct joint exercise ‘Sahyog- Kaijin’ off Chennai coast Kochi will be the eighth city of India where Metro train becomes operational. Trial run will begin on The 15th edition of bilateral exercise by the Indian 23rd January in the presence of Oommen Chandy, Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart titled the chief Minister of Kerala. ‘Sahayog-Kaijin 2016’ has begun off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the Bay of Bengal.
Sahayog-Kaijin bilateral exercise is a part of 15th January: Indian Army Day celebrated the cooperative arrangements between two Coast Guards for the last 15 years and Indian Army Day is being observed every year on held once in two years and the venue 15 January in India. would shift in both countries on alternate occasions. This year it will be the 68th Indian Army Day. Nag anti-tank missile Successfully Test fired
The indigenously-built anti-tank missile Nag was successfully test fired at Mahajan Field Firing First 'Mahila Squad' Commissioned For High- Range in Rajasthan. Altitute Posts Of India-China Border
It is developed by the DRDO under the A freshly-trained contingent of 500 women Integrated Guided Missile Development personnel will become the first 'mahila' squad to Programme (IGMDP). It is fire-and-forget be deployed in high-altitude posts along the India- anti-tank missile. HeliNa is a helicopter- China border. The squad was commissioned into launched version of Nag missile. the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) today in It has operational range of upto 4km (Land Panchkula. version) and upto 10 km (Air-launched).
BankExamsToday.com Page 11 The women, in the rank of constable,GK Digest were– Januarywith Directorate2016 General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) inducted in the border-guarding force for sharing of foreign exchange realization data. after 44-weeks of training in battle craft and mountain survival and will now be sent Smt. Sujata Chaturvedi, Commissioner to frontier areas for final acclimatisation cum Principal Secretary, Commercial Taxes before being deployed at ITBP posts along Department represented Government of the 3,488-km Sino-India Line of Actual Bihar while Shri D. K. Singh, Additional Control (LAC). DGFT represented DGFT. The ceremony These 'mahila' contingents are expected to was presided over by DGFT Shri Anup be posted by March this year at about 20 Wadhawan. forward locations of the ITBP situated at The foreign exchange realization data is an heights of between 8,000-14,000 feet, important economic indicator as it including at the 'Mana pass' border post, quantifies transaction level export the last village on the Indian side in earnings. This is also known as eBRC Uttarakhand. (Electronic Bank Realization Certificate) ITBP Director General Krishna Chaudhary, data. BRC can be used by state after reviewing the 'passing out parade' of government departments for ensuring the new personnel, asked them to exhibit refund of VAT to eligible exporters. the best skills that they have learnt during So far, Commercial Tax Departments of 13 training to discharge their duties in some states have signed MoU with DGFT for of the most difficult locations in the receiving e-BRC data for VAT refund Himalayan ranges. purposes. These are: (i) Maharashtra, (ii) This is the first time that India is deploying Delhi, (iii) Andhra Pradesh,(iv) Odisha, (v) women troops right at the front, one which Chhattisgarh, (vi) Haryana, (vii) Tamil is considered to be the most arduous and Nadu, (viii) Karnataka, (ix) Gujarat, (x) tricky given the harsh climatic conditions Uttar Pradesh, (xi) Madhya Pradesh, (xii) and extreme mountainous terrain along Kerala, (xiii) Goa. the India-China border. In addition, Ministry of Finance, ITBP, raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Enforcement Directorate and Agricultural Chinese aggression, has also begun & Processed Food Products Export creating logistical and residential facilities Development Authority (APEDA) have also for its women personnel at these posts and signed MoU with DGFT for receiving e-BRC it is expected to be completed by early data. March. The force plans to have women personnel make up at least 40 per cent of its strength at these forward posts. Madhya Pradesh inks pact with IFC to set up world's largest solar plant
Bihar commercial Tax dept. and DGFT signed The Madhya Pradesh government has inked a pact MoU to share Foreign Money statistics with IFC, member of the World Bank Group, to set up the world's largest solar energy plant with a The Commercial tax department of Bihar has capacity of 750 MW. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
BankExamsToday.com Page 12 The Rewa Ultra-Mega Solar PowerGK Digest Project– JanuaryIndia is2016 home to the fourth largest population of will be set up in Gurh tehsil of Rewa district millionaires in the Asia-Pacific region, with 2.36 over an area of 1,500 hectares at an lakh such high net worth individuals, while Japan estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore. topped the list with 12.60 lakh people, a report The Memorandum of Understanding says. (MoU) was signed between Madhya Pradesh Renewable Energy Development According to the Asia Pacific 2016 Wealth Corporation and IFC. Report, by New World Wealth, India was ranked among the top five Asia-Pacific World’s largest Tricolour to be hoisted in Ranchi countries in terms of the number of high net worth individuals (HNWIs). Ranchi is all going to beat a record set by a flag in HNWIs (millionaires) were defined as Faridabad, Haryana in March 2015 by getting the individuals with net assets of $1 million or world’s largest Tricolour flying atop the country’s more. tallest flagpole at the Pahari temple in Ranchi. At the end of 2015, there were 12,60,000 millionaires in Japan, while China ranked The 99 by 66 feet measuring flag will be second with 654,000 HNWIs and Australia hoisted from a height of 293 feet. was at the third place had 290,000. Others in the top 10 in terms of number of Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates ‘Hall of Nuclear HNWIs in the Asia-Pacific include, Power’ in Delhi Singapore at the fifth place with 224,000 millionaires, Hong Kong (sixth, 215,000), The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) South Korea (seventh, 125,000), Taiwan Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), (eighth, 98,200), New Zealand (9th, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, 89,000) and Indonesia (10th, 48,500). Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the “Hall of Nuclear Power” India slips to 89th rank in global talent here today. competitiveness: Report
This is Northern India’s first permanent India has slipped 11 places to rank 89th on a global exhibition on nuclear power, built in the index of talent competitiveness, a list which has national capital which is going to be been topped by Switzerland. opened to the public at National Science Centre (NSC). India’s ranking is worst among the five The gallery has been set up at a cost of Rs. BRICS countries, with China leading the 2.5 crore at NSC, Delhi, a unit of NCSM, the pack with a global rank of 48. apex organisation engaged in popularisation of science through its Ministry of Shipping initiates Project Green Port science centres spread all over the country. Weighing in the environmental perspective for The gallery has been set up in technical and sustained growth, the Ministry of Shipping has financial collaboration with NPCIL. started ‘Project Green Ports’ which will help in making the Major Ports across India cleaner and India has 2.36 lakh millionaires: report greener.
BankExamsToday.com Page 13 ‘Project Green Ports’ willGK have Digest two– January 2016and from the fair grounds to the nearest verticals - one is ‘Green Ports Initiatives’ point in central Kolkata. related to environmental issues and second is ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’. Bihar Cabinet approved 35 % reservation for The Green Port Initiatives include twelve women in govt. jobs initiatives which will be implemented under strict time bound fashion in order to The Bihar Cabinet formally approved 35 percent achieve the targets. reservation for women in all government jobs in the state. The decision was taken in the cabinet Jayalalithaa launches Amma Call Centre meeting presided by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
In an initiative aimed at quick delivery of The 35 percent reservation for women will government services, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J be applicable to in all government jobs Jayalalithaa today launched a round-the-clock call including reserved and unreserved centre for ensuring fast response to grievances. category. The ‘Amma Call Centre’, which will work all The Bihar Government is already providing through the year, was launched by the Chief 35 percent reservation for women in Minister here through video-conferencing. recruitment as police constables and sub- inspectors and 50 percent reservation as Jayalalithaa is fondly addressed as ‘Amma’ primary school teachers and in the (mother) by her supporters and her Panchayati Raj system. government is already running many initiatives named after her, including the hugely popular ’Amma Canteens’ which provide subsidised food, and ‘Amma Mineral Water’, among others. Cabinet approves new power tariff policy International Kolkata Book Fair on Jan 25 The Cabinet today approved a new power tariff The 40th edition of the International Kolkata Book policy that aims at promoting clean energy, better Fair – the world’s largest non-trade fair,starting regulation of discoms, and faster roll-out of from Jan 25 – is all set to bring to life a slice of investments. history. The Union Cabinet today approved a new Bolivia will be theme country while power tariff policy which will promote Vietnam will be the guest country in the clean energy, support the Swachh Bharat fair. programme, better regulation for discoms, Incidentally, the fair is also expected to go and encourage faster roll-out of hi-tech this year. An application (mobile investments in the sector. app) that can be downloaded on smart- Under the policy, the power plants will phones to locate the book stalls. Around have to use processed municipal waste 600 (book) stalls and 200 ‘little magazines’ water available in their vicinity (in 100 km will be there in the 40th edition of the fair. radius). The proposed policy will bring in This apart, special shuttle buses will ply to several unique aspects which have not
BankExamsToday.com Page 14 been touched in the past.GK It willDigest allow– January 2016the PSLV-C31. The Polar Satellite Launch distribution companies to buy any amount Vehicle (PSLV)-C31 was the 32nd of power produced from the waste. consecutively successful mission of the PSLV. The 'XL' configuration of PSLV was Light combat aircraft, Tejas to fly at Bahrain Air used for this mission. Show Govt Announces National Award For The Most Country’s own fighter aircraft light combat aircraft 'Film-Friendly' State In India (LCA), Tejas, will take part in the three-day Bahrain International Airshow starting from Thursday In a move to encourage states to promote and (January 21 to 23). embrace films from various genres, the information and broadcasting ministry has “Two limited series production (LSP) decided to introduce a new category at the aircraft will take part in the Bahrain National Awards and it will be for the 'Most Film- International Air Show to enthral the Friendly State/UT'. visitors from various countries during the flying display through a series of aerobatic Sunil Arora, secretary of information and manoeuvres such as 8-g pull, vertical loop, broadcasting said that the award will be slow fly past, barrel roll”, said T Suvarna conferred for the first time at the 63rd Raju, CMD, HAL. National Film Awards to be in Delhi on 3 Tejas is a single engine, light weight, highly May 2016. The statement was issued by agile, multi-role supersonic fighter. The the Press Information Bureau on their Tejas light combat aircraft is a 4.5 official website. generation aircraft with supersonic Film Facilitation Office was to be set up at capability at all altitudes. It has the fly by the National Film Development wire, state of the art open architecture Corporation of India (NFDC) under the computer for avionics and better weapon supervision of the Ministry of I&B. and combat capability. With the advanced avionics, the pilot load is also reduced.
PSLV-C31 successfully launched IRNSS-1E Wattan Ko Jano initiative: A programme that satellite aims to expose youth from J&K to rest of India
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wattan Ko Jano, an initiative being carried out by 20 January 2016 successfully launched the Indian the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-E with the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government, satellite. The satellite will provide navigation, was in news on 6 January 2016. The initiative came tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub in news after more than 240 youth in the age- continent. group of 15 to 24 from J&K met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The satellite is the fifth of the IRNSS constellation. It was launched from the Watan Ko Jano initiative was conceived by Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), the J&K State Rehabilitation Council in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on-board 2011. It essentially is a Youth Exchange
BankExamsToday.com Page 15 Programme under which theGK children Digest of– January 2016will be undertaken on priority, the militancy-hit victims, orphanages, and statement said. weaker sections of society are identified by "River Information Systems are Jammu and Kashmir State Rehabilitation combination of modern tracking Council as beneficiaries under the equipment related hardware and software programme in the state. designed to optimise traffic and transport The initiative aims at exposing youth from processes in inland navigation. the state to the vibrant development and vitality of culture of people residing in Union Government allowed traditional bull- other states of the country.Earlier on 29 taming sports Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu December 2015, a group of 250 such youngsters participated in the Watan Ko The Union Government on 8 January 2016 allowed Jano tour and met Home Minister Rajnath the conduct of the traditional bull-taming sports, Singh. Jallikattu, in Tamil Nadu.
Paramilitary forces to have 33% reservation for The ban on the sports was lifted few days women in constable level position before the traditional harvest festival will begin in Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu is Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved celebrated around pongal in southern 33% reservation for women in Central Armed state of Tamil Nadu. Police Forces (CAPFs) at constable-level positions. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a gazette There will be 33% reservation for women notification with regard to holding at constable-level posts in Central Reserve traditional sports that use bulls as Police Force and Central Industrial Security performing animals including Jallikattu Force, and 14-15% reservation at the across India. constable level in border guarding forces The notification said that bulls can be i.e. Border Security Force, Sashastra exhibited and trained as performing Seema Bal and Indo Tibetan Border Police, animal at different events of different starting immediately, according to an states as per the customs or tradition of official statement released by the Ministry any community.The notification also of Home Affairs. specifies that bullock cart race shall be organised on a proper track, which shall Gadkari launches India's first River Information not exceed two kilometers. On the other System hand, in case of Jallikattu, the moment the bull leaves the enclosure it shall be tamed Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on within a radial distance of 15 metre. Wednesday inaugurated the River Information System (RIS) - the first of its kind in India - to Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry, MEA merged facilitate safe and accurate navigation on National Waterway-1 (the Ganga River). In order to avoid duplication of work and to improve efficiency, the government merged the Phase-II of the system from Farakka to Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) with Patna and Phase-III from Patna to Varanasi the Ministry of External Affairs. Announcing the
BankExamsToday.com Page 16 merger, External Affairs Minister SushmaGK Digest Swaraj– JanuaryAs a 2016 major initiative towards fast track tweeted on Thursday, “As Minister of External implementation of Namami Gange Programme Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs, I realised that the first company of Ganga Task force Battalion a substantial work of MOIA is done through our was deployed at Garhmu kteshwar yesterday. missions abroad. Therefore, I proposed to Hon’ble Speaking on the occasion Union Minister of Water Prime Minister that MOIA should be merged with Resources, River Development and Ganga the Ministry of External Affairs.” Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti said that three such companies will be deployed soon at Kanpur, Sources, however, indicated that the Varanasi and Allahabad. decision to merge MOIA with MEA was taken as senior diplomats wanted officials In the first phase of the progamme 200 dealing with foreign workers-related villages have been selected. In these issues and emergencies to have better villages open drains falling into river Ganga diplomatic back-up and coordination. will be diverted and alternative arrangements for sewage treatment will Indo-French military exercise Shakti-2016 be made. The villages will have toilets in started every house hold. It is proposed to incur and expenditure of India and France on 8 January 2016 started their Rs. One crore on every village. eight-day counter-terrorism and counter- insurgency joint exercise Shakti-2016 in Rajasthan. This is the third edition in the series of bilateral exercises under this banner and is being held in French soldiers to march down Rajpath on Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan's Republic Day 2016 along with Indian troops Bikaner. The French soldiers will march down the Rajpath The exercise will be focused on counter on Republic Day along with Indian troops in the terrorism operations in backdrop of semi- presence of President Francois Hollande. Hollande urban terrain under United Nations is the Chief Guest for 26 January 2016 Mandate. It is an important step for the celebrations. This is the first time that a foreign armies to train together and gain from army will participate in the 26th January Parade, each other's rich operational experience. since 1950.
The Indian contingent to participate in the A French contingent, comprising 56 exercise will be the 2nd Battalion of personnel of 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Garhwal Rifles, part of the Sapta Shakti Armoured Brigade, is already in the Command. Both countries have troops country to take part in a joint exercise, deployed in counter-insurgency and Shakti 2016, which began in Rajasthan on counter-terrorist operations and therefore 8 January 2016. Some soldiers will also fly sharing each other's military experiences down from France to form a proper will pay meaningful dividends. marching contingent.
Ganga Gram Yojana launched Earlier similar event occurred in France when Indian troops drawn from the three
BankExamsToday.com Page 17 services (Indian Army, IndianGK NavyDigest and– January 2016Singh also referred to the plan for Indian Air Force) marched down the constructing alternative road highway to Champs Elysees in Paris along with French Gangtok in Sikkim via West Bengal and two Army on the Bastille Day. The event was ropeways that will serve the purpose of held on 14 July 2009 and saw participation both tourism as well as transport. of the Maratha light infantry, which is one of the oldest regiments of Indian Army. Smriti Irani inaugurates 43rd New Delhi World Bastille Day (French National Day) is Book Fair celebrated on 14 July each year. The French National Day commemorates the Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, an the 43rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair important event in Paris that was the which commenced here with China as the guest of symbolic start of French revolution. honour country and a theme presentation of the cultural heritage of India. Modi to be chief guest at sustainable agriculture meet in Gangtok The nine-day fair, touted as the largest in Asia, is hosting about 30 countries in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief a series of programmes including panel guest at the National Conference on Sustainable discussions, dramas, classical and folk Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare being held in dances, workshops, discussions, authors’ Gangtok on January 17-18, the Agriculture meets, conferences, seminars and cultural Ministry said in a statement. programmes will be held. Talking about the Chinese participation, The conference is being held in Sikkim, Irani said, “I believe that 50 publishing which has taken the lead on organic houses and 9 eminent authors bring with farming, Agriculture Minister Radha them to this World Book Fair around 5,000 Mohan Singh, said, adding that the titles so that through this exchange our conference will be attended by State people across both nations can be government representatives, scientists, enriched.” academics, bankers, experts and China was invited to be the guest country practitioners. after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping here last year where he signed a Jitendra Singh, Minister for Development memorandum of understanding with of North East (Independent charge), said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. the green field airport at Pakyong near This year the fair has introduced a special Gangtok is expected to be complete and ‘Navlekhan’ programme which seeks to become functional by 2017. promote and publish young authors under He said there are also plans to connect the age of 40 writing in Indian languages. Sikkim with the country’s rail network, Referring to the same Irani said, while this which would be the third North-Eastern year they are being published in 6 regional State after Meghalaya and Arunachal languages by next year she assured that Pradesh to be brought on the rail map of books in 22 languages recognised by the India. Constitution of India will be published.
BankExamsToday.com Page 18 Oil Ministry launches e-initiative toGKimprove DigestLPG – JanuaryJammu2016 and Kashmir on Saturday came under customer service governor's rule as process of new government formation following the death of chief minister The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will take some time. launched an online initiative to seek suggestions from LPG consumers across the country, which The President cleared the will help in providing efficient and friendly recommendation of the Union home service. ministry for imposing governor's rule on the basis of a recommendation from J-K Two online discussion forums - Citizen- governor N N Vohra. Friendly Services and Increasing LPG Governor's rule had to be imposed in view Coverage in the Country - have been of the reluctance of Mufti's daughter launched and are available on myGov.in Mehbooba to take oath during the and mylpg.in, an official press statement mourning period though her party has said. already conveyed to the governor that 28 MLAs of the PDP legislature party backed The initiative is part of steps being taken to her for the chief minister's post. observe 2016 as the 'Year of LPG Sayeed died on Thursday after a brief Consumers'. illness and since then there is a "LPG consumers/ citizens are requested to constitutional vacuum. PDP's coalition ally participate and share their thoughts on the BJP has also indicated that it would take a respective forums online. Valuable decision on new government formation suggestions/ comments are welcome and once the four-day morning period is over will be considered for improving the on Sunday. customer oriented services related to LPG coverage and delivery," it said. 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas held in New Delhi
After Delhi, now odd-even formula for Rohtak, The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held Haryana in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Odd even formula will be next applied in Rohtak, attended by Priti Patel, MoS for Employment, Haryana to check rising level of pollution in the United Kingdom. city. Apart from the main event in New Delhi, In Haryana, unlike Delhi, the formula will the day was celebrated by the MEA, across be applied only on auto rickshaws on trial the world, through its missions/posts basis. The Haryana government discussed abroad. about implementation of the scheme with On this occasion, Sushma Swaraj auto organizations and has reportedly announced that the government is received a nod for it. considering Aadhaar cards to non-resident Indians (NRIs) and allowing women Governor’s rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir workers to Gulf countries only through the government agencies to ensure they were not duped by recruiting agents or firms.
BankExamsToday.com Page 19 International Kite festival started inGKAhmedabad Digest – January 2016noted scholar, Haraprasad Shastri in Nepal in 1907. Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on 10 January 2016 inaugurated the 28th edition of International Kite Festival at Sabarmati River front in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Kite festival of Gujarat marks Uttarayan, the day when winter begins to turn into summer, according to the Indian calendar. Telangana became first State to make gender The five-day annual event saw education compulsory at graduate level participation of about 98 foreign kite flyers from 28 different nations and 55 Telangana became the first State in India to participants from 8 different states and 28 introduce compulsory gender education at the kite flyers from Gujarat. graduate level. In this regard, the state in second While inaugurating the festival, Chief week of January 2016 introduced a bilingual Minister Patel claimed that the festival has textbook titled, Towards a World of Equals. The boosted the kite-making industry along book was introduced on a pilot basis in with attracting foreign tourists in Gujarat. engineering colleges affiliated to the Jawaharlal She also said that in last one decade the Nehru Technological University (JNTU- business of kite making has grown from Hyderabad). 100 crore rupees to 750 crore rupees. The international kite festival is The book discusses gender in its composite simultaneously organized in other cities of form without limiting itself to crime the state including Surat, Vadodara, against women. The book attempts to Rajkot, Porbandar, Mandvi, Botad, cover information on unacknowledged Surendra nagar, and Modhera. women writers of Telangana to problems of sex selection and women’s work in President of India inaugurates 88th Annual politics and economics. Conference of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya The book is coupled with a collection of Sammelan visual teaching tools which include documentary films. The book is being The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee taught over 14 weeks in a semester at the inaugurated the three day long 88th annual rate of two classes per week. conference of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelanon January 10, 2016 at Ranchi, Union Railway Ministry inaugurated Jharkhand. Implementation of E-enabled Track Management System Speaking on the occasion, the President said the great traditions of Bengali Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu literature, language and culture originated on 11 January 2016 inaugurated implementation from the period of 'Charyapada' a Bengali of E-enabled Track Management System (TMS) compilation that was discovered by the and Mobile Application of TMS on Indian Railway at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi.
BankExamsToday.com Page 20 Along with these two initiatives,GK Digest the– January 2016culmination of its 'Athulyam' programme minister also inaugurated pilot aimed at ensuring Total Primary Education implementation of Track Inventory in Kerala -- equivalent to Standard IV of Management System on Northern Railway formal education. to track materials inventory, construction and track machines organization in entire National Institute of Visual Science inaugurated 225 units of Northern Railway. It is an important milestone in promoting The K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual e-working in civil engineering department Science and Arts was inaugurated by Vice- of Indian Railways. It is implemented on all President M. Hamid Ansari at Thekkumthala, 27 the 68 divisions of Indian Railways. With km off Kottayam, on 11 January. the implementation of this system, various activities of Track Inspection, Monitoring Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister and Maintenance came on IT platform. It is Oommen Chandy said that the the first of its kind Organization Wide Asset Government is taking necessary steps to Management IT Application. make the institute a deemed university. He also said that the institute is planning to Kullu’s Folk Dance Finds Place in Guinness Book create a film hub linking the nearby tourist of World Records spots Munnar, Vagamon, Kuttikanam and Kumarakom. The institute will hold The colourful Kullu folk dance (Nati), which saw cultural exchange programmes with participation of 20,000 dancers during Kullu foreign universities. Dussehra festival on October 26 last year, has entered the Guinness book of world records. 20th National Youth Festival inaugurated in Naya Raipur In the Nati, 9892 women attired in traditional Kullu dress performed at The 20th National Youth Festival was on 12 Dhalpur Ground during Kullu Dussehra January 2016 inaugurated by Union Road festival on October 26 last year. Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at Rajyostav Sthal in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh to Kerala Declared First State to Attain Total mark the National Youth Day. Primary Education The five day long annual festival is Vice President Hamid Ansari today declared Kerala celebrated by the Union Government in as the first state in the country to attain 'Total partnership with a state government on Primary Education', and described the the occasion of the birth anniversary of achievement as 'historic.' "I believe that the date Swami Vivekananda. For the 20th National today is as historic for Kerala as April 18, 1991, the Youth Festival, Chhattisgarh was chosen as day Kerala was declared to be a fully literate the partner state with the theme India state," he said. Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony. Noting that the achievement was another feather to the state's educational cap, he said the state was marking the successful
BankExamsToday.com Page 21 Union Govt unveils National BiotechnologyGK Digest – January 2016The NaiManzil Scheme is designed as an Development Strategy 2015-2020 integrated education and training programme that provides youth from Union Government has unveiled National minority communities skills needed for Biotechnology Development Strategy (NBDS) different tasks in a rapidly changing world. 2015-2020 to establish India as a world-class bio- The agreement was signed by Mr. Kumar manufacturing hub. and Michael Haney, the World Bank’s Operations Adviser in India. It was unveiled by the Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in Ambitious odd-even scheme of Delhi New Delhi. government started off in New Delhi
Union Cabinet approves Raptor MoU for The ambitious odd-even scheme of Delhi conservation of migratory birds of prey government, a first such intervention in the country to combat spiralling air pollution, got off The Union Cabinet has given its approval to sign to a decent start on new year with volume of cars Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on the on the city roads coming down significantly amid Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa deployment of thousands of policemen and and and Eurasia. moderately augmented public transport.
With signing it, India will become the 54th As the clock struck eight, the vehicular signatory to the MoU.The Raptors MoU restriction policy came into effect with extends its coverage to 76 species of birds thousands of volunteers carrying roses of prey out and an action plan has been also taking to the streets to assist traffic formulated that envisages the police in enforcing the pilot plan that will conservation action for Raptor species. stay in force till January 15. It is an agreement under Article IV Under the scheme, cars bearing odd- paragraph 4 of the Conservation of numbered registration plates shall ply on Migratory Species (CMS) and is not legally city roads while those with even number binding on signatory parties. plates, if taken out, will attract a penalty of The MoU seeks willingness of the signatory Rs 2,000 under relevant sections of the states for working for conservation of the Motor Vehicles Act. It will be vice-versa on raptor species and their habitats. Saturday. Also, 25 categories of people are being given exemptions including the VIPs. Union government and the World Bank signed a $50-million credit agreement LRSAM test-fired from INS Kolkata
The Union government and the World Bank signed Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), the a $50-million credit agreement for a project aimed missile co-developed by India and Israel, was at helping young people from minority successfully test-fired on the Western Sea Board. communities complete their education and The missile was fired from INS Kolkata and it improve their employment opportunities named successfully intercepted an aerial target at NaiManzil Scheme. extended ranges.
BankExamsToday.com Page 22 The test-fire was jointly carriedGK out Digest by the– January 2016Kerosene subsidy outgo for the financial Indian Navy, Defence Research and year 2014-15 was ₹ 24,799 crore. The Development Organisation (DRDO) and government expects DBT in kerosene to Israel Aerospace Industries. ensure that genuine beneficiaries get the This was the first test for LRSAM or BARAK subsidy benefit while preventing illegal 8 missile in India. Earlier, on 11 November diversion. 2015, it was successfully test-fired from a range in Israel. Telangana become first state to accept e-motor The missile was developed by the DRDL, insurance policies Hyderabad in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries. It has been Electronic motor insurance policies are legally manufactured by M/s Bharat Dynamics accepted by the police and transport authorities in Limited, India. Telangana from today, making it the first state in the country to do so. The e-Vahan Bima, an Pakistan's Singer Adnan Sami gets Indian electronic motor insurance policy issued in digital Citizenship form with Quick Response (QR) code, has been formally launched here by the Minister for IT, K T The Union Home Ministry cleared the proposal to Ramarao. grant Adnan Sami the citizenship of India. Mr Sami, who has been staying in India since 2011, "The launch of e-Vahan Bima and digital will now have to fill a citizenship form at the Home acceptance will help the poor accident Ministry’s office in Delhi. victims in the state and also ensure better compliance,’’ Ramarao said after formally Lahore-born Sami first arrived in India on launch of the initiative here on March 13, 2001 on a visitor’s visa with a Saturday.Going forward, registration validity of one year. It was issued by the certificates of vehicles and driving licences Indian High Commission in Islamabad. should be verified electronically, he added. The initiative was a joint effort by the Eight states to implement DBT in kerosene from Insurance Regulatory and Development April 1 Authority (IRDA) of India, Department of Information Technology, police and Eight states have agreed to implement direct transport departments of the state. benefit of transfer in kerosene in 26 districts, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on NABARD, NRSC signed MoU for monitoring Friday. The scheme will be implemented from Watershed Projects April 1, 2016 and till then state governments will be consulted in the run up to the scheme. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on 1 January 2016 signed The scheme will be implemented in three the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with districts of Chhattisgarh, two in Haryana, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for web- three in Himachal Pradesh, six in based monitoring of Indo-German Watershed Jharkhand, four in Madhya Pradesh, two in Development projects. Maharashtra, three in Punjab and three in Rajasthan.
BankExamsToday.com Page 23 The web-based monitoringGK ofDigest Indo-– Januarypremium2016 is payable for a limited period while risk German Watershed Development projects is covered for the whole policy term. will happen in three states- Gujarat, Rajasthan and Telangana. The plan is available from ages 8 to 59 years with a choice of policy term of 16, 21 India successfully test-fired indigenously and 25 years and premium-paying terms of developed MBRL Pinaka II at Pokhran 10,15 and 16 years respectively. The maximum age at maturity is 75 years, Amament Research and Development said Shaji M Shankar, Senior Divisional Establishment (ARDE) in the last week of Manager, LIC, Thiruvananthapuram December 2015 successfully test-fired Pinaka II Division. multi barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) System. The three-day long user assisted trials were conducted ArunimaSinha scaled Mount Aconcagua in at Pokhran in Rajasthan. Argentina
Pinaka is an unguided rocket system and Arunima Sinha, the amputee mountaineer who capable of neutralising large areas with set a record by climbing the Mount Everest on 25 rapid salvos. Range of Pinaka II is 20 km December 2015, conquered Mount Aconcagua in more than the Pinaka I version, which has Argentina. Arunima started her mission on the a 40 km range and has already been morning of 12 December 2015 and hoisted the inducted into the forces. Indian tricolour on 25 December 2015. The system acts as a force-multiplier while supplementing the artillery guns of the With this, Arunima has successfully armed forces. It is capable to incorporate completed the 5th summit of the Mission several types of warheads, which make the 7 Summits and also became the first weapon deadly for the enemy as it can female amputee to climb 5 Mountains of even destroy solid structures and the World. The four other peaks bunkers.The system proved its mettle conquered by her include Everest in Asia, during Kargil war while neutralising the Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, and mountain peaks off the enemy. They are Kosizko, Australia, as the world's four developed at a very low cost vis-a-vis other highest peaks. such rocket systems in the world bestowed Arunima who lost her left leg in a train with shoot and scoot capabilities. The accident in 2011 surprised the world by Pinaka MBRL System has been climbing Mt. Everest on 21 May 2013. She indigenously developed by the ARDE, was awarded the Padmashree for her Pune. achievement.
LIC offers longer cover under ‘Jeevan Labh’ Toilets made mandatory to contest Panchayat polls in Bihar LIC is offering a ‘New Year gift’ to the public in the form of a limited-premium, non-linked and with- State election commissioner (SEC) Ashok Kumar profit endowment assurance plan ‘Jeevan Labh’ Chauhan on 4 January 2016 announced that from Monday. The highlight of the plan is that toilets will be mandatory requirement for eligibility to contest panchayat elections. This
BankExamsToday.com Page 24 declaration means that no one canGK contest Digest the– JanuaryJharkhand2016Government inaugurated land bank Bihar panchayat elections scheduled in 2016 web portal jharbhoom.nic.in without having a toilet at their home. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on 4 SEC said that candidates have to give an January 2016 inaugurated the state's land bank undertaking regarding status of toilet by 1 web portal, jharbhoom.nic.in, that will help January 2016 in their home. He also said to investors know land-related information. ensure free and fair polling the elections will be held in 10 phases. The notification With this, one would be able to get of the elections and dates will be issued on information about the land which is 15 February 2016. available at the district and the circle area level with a click of a mouse. This land bank PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Indian Science will help investors get information through Congress in Mysuru district-wise nodal officers. For this purpose, district wise nodal Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the officers have been appointed whose annual Indian Science Congress (ISC) at University mobile numbers and email ids will also be of Mysore campus in Karnataka on Sunday. Theme available on the website. of this edition (103rd) of the ISC is "Science & Technology for Indigenous Development in India". Cabinet okays India-Singapore MoU on civil The Congress will continue till January 7. aviation
Over 100 eminent scientists from different The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its ex-post universities and research institutions will facto approval for a memorandum of deliver plenary talks on subjects like Nano understanding (MoU) that was signed with Science, Space Science, Technology & Singapore in the field of civil aviation. Applications, Diabetes, Evolution: The Frontiers, Atomic Energy, Safe water and The objective of this MoU is to establish sanitation, Diseases and drug mutual cooperation in the field of civil development, Public-Private partnership aviation, which will cover, to begin with, for the Swachh Bharat Mission initiative the airports of Jaipur and Ahmedabad. This during the five-day meet. cooperation will be extended to other airports with mutual consent. As part of Indian Science Congress, the This MoU was signed in November 2015 Children Science Congress will be between the Airports Authority of India inaugurated by Nobel Laureate John B (on behalf of the Government of India) Gurdon (Nobel Prize in Physiology or and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (on Medicine in 2012) on January 4 at the behalf of the Government of Singapore) amphitheatre, Manasagangothri inside the during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's University campus. visit to Singapore.
BankExamsToday.com Page 25 GK DigestTrade/Business– January 2016
Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank sets up cell to 3 Indians Make It To The List Of 50 Richest monitor govt schemes People In The World The Dharwad-headquartered Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB) has set up a separate cell A study done by Wealthx in partnership with for monitoring progress under all the government- Business Insider reveals the top 50 richest people sponsored schemes, according to Ashok Reddy, in the world. Chairman of the bank. According to a press release from the bank While Microsoft founder and renowned here on Saturday, Reddy received the philanthropist Bill Gates retains his spot ‘runner-up’ award of the ‘ASSOCHAM as the richest person in the world with a Social Banking Excellence Award 2015’ net worth of US$87.4 billion, there are under the ‘regional rural banks’ category in some new names on the list. Mumbai on Friday. The Minister of State Reliance group chairman Mukesh Ambani for Finance, Jayant Sinha, gave away the is the richest Indian and 27th richest man award to Reddy. in the world with a net worth of $24.8 billion. Wipro founder Azim Premji and Goa launches project tracking portal Dilip Shanghvi, founder of Sun pharma, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today were ranked at the 43rd and 44th place launched Goa e-Suvidha Portal, an online project with assets worth $16.5 billion and $16.4 tracking mechanism to fast track projects. billion respectively. This also makes them It aims at resolving a variety of issues in the top 3 richest Indians. setting up infrastructure and other large projects , both in the public and private sectors, with targeted investment India, Armenia sign protocol amending DTAC between ₹50 crore and ₹1,000 crore. India and Armenia signed Protocol amending the Cognizant acquires KBACE Technologies India-Armenia Double Taxation Avoidance United States (US) based software services Convention in New Delhi. exporter Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) has acquired cloud-based computing firm KBACE The Protocol amends the Article on Technologies. exchange of information for tax purposes This acquisition will help Cognizant to to bring it in line with the updated strength and expands its digital capabilities provisions in the Organisation for from its critical business applications to Economic Co-operation and cloud-based IT infrastructures. Development, OECD Model. As part of the acquisition, KBACE It will enable the two countries to Technologies’ 400 consultants and exchange information related to financial implementation experts will become part and banking transactions and facilitate of Cognizant. them in addressing tax evasion.
BankExamsToday.com Page 26 It is also expected to further GKstrengthen Digest – January 2016Teabox Founder and CEO Kaushal Dugar India’s efforts to curb generation of black said: “We have grown up admiring and money. respecting his (Tata’s) vision and business acumen on scaling the Tata group to a global level. His direct guidance and experience in the tea industry will surely HCL Tech acquires P2P, HCLTSS for Rs 101 crore help us grow Teabox to be the first global HCL Technologies, one of the leading software premium tea brand from India.” exporters, announced has acquired 100 percent Founded in 2012, Teabox delivers teas stake in Point to Point and Point to Point from Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri and Nepal Products (jointly referred to as P2P) and HCL to the entire world. Within three years of Training and Staffing Services (HCLTSS) for a its existence, Teabox claims to have consideration of approx Rs 101 crore. delivered over 30 million cups worth of tea to customers in 93 countries. The company has acquired P2P for approx Rs 77.98 crore (GBP 8 million) and HCLTSS for Rs 23. India-France inked 16 pacts including chopper venture RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan joins WEF task India and France on 24 January 2016 inked 16 force agreements at the India-France Business Summit in Chandigarh. The Memorandum of Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan Understanding (MoUs) covered a wide range of has joined a World Economic Forum task force to sectors like urban development, urban transport, examine the future of the global financial system. water and waste treatment and solar energy. The agreements were signed in the The task force also includes Bank of presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi England Governor Mark Carney, along and French President Francois Hollande, with bankers and policymakers from who began his three-day visit to India. across the world. Hollande is the Chief Guest at the 67th The task force will continue to explore India’s Republic Day (26 January 2016) these themes and others throughout celebrations. He is the fifth French leader 2016, with the ultimate objective of to be a chief guest at India’s Republic Day publishing a more comprehensive suite of celebrations, maximum number from any recommendations and actions during the country so far. Annual Meeting 2017 in Davos,” the WEF said.
Ratan Tata invests in start-up Teabox Airbus Group & Mahindra to manufacture helicopters Ratan Tata has invested in specialty tea firm Teabox, thereby continuing his long series of As part of ‘Make in India’ initiative, an agreement investments in various start-ups globally in the was signed between Airbus Group and Mahindra recent past. to manufacture helicopters.
BankExamsToday.com Page 27 The deal was signed in presenceGK ofDigest – January 2016The facility was launched here on Sunday Francois Hollande and Narendra Modi. by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. Pradhan said his ministry is also considering creating an EMI payment model for new France to assist India to develop 3 smart cities gas connections bought by non-bpl customers. Three MoUs were signed under the ‘Smart city’ The ministry is already running a pilot theme for city-specific urban development programme that gives a 50 per cent between French Development Agency with the government rebate to below poverty line state governments for the cities of Chandigarh, families when they buy their first gas Nagpur and Puducherry. connection.
TranServ launches India's first social mobile India, France sign Rafale fighter plane accord wallet Udio India’s digital payment startup company TranServ India signed an inter-governmental agreement has launched country’s first Social Mobile Wallet today to buy 36 French-built Rafale fighter planes named Udio. at Hyderabad House in Delhi. It enables users to do squaring of dues, sharing dinner bills or a cab ride and also to pay electricity The deal, worth an estimated $9 billion, and gas bills and make DTH & mobile recharges. was to have been the centrepiece of a MSDE, DoT signed MoU to develop National visit to India by French President Francois Action Plan for Skill Development in Telecom Hollande, invited as guest of honour for Sector Tuesday’s Republic Day parade. The Union Ministry of Skill Development and India had scaled back the original plan to Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Department of buy 126 Rafale jets to meet its air force’s Telecommunication (DoT) on 22 January 2016 urgent needs, but Modi and Hollande had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to step into the deal after commercial to develop and implement National Action Plan negotiations between plane-maker for Skill Development in Telecom Sector. Dassault Aviation and Indian officials The MoU was signed by Secretaries of the collapsed. Union Ministry of Communications and Information and Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. MSDE and DoT together have agreed to Now, you can pay online for LPG refills make concerted joint efforts towards skill Now, LPG users can pay online for their cylinder development by facilitating mobilization of refills on the website www.mylpg.in soon after financial support under the National booking their refill for delivery. This is the latest Ecosystem for Development of Telecom part of the online refill booking facilities that the Skills. They will suggest PSUs under DOT to three public sector oil marketing companies have utilize at least 20 percent of their CSR introduced in the past two years. funds for skilling purposes.
BankExamsToday.com Page 28 The two ministries will alsoGK Digest to make– January 2016trends available, the percentage of coordinated efforts to utilize old telephone accounts with ‘Zero Balance’ have actually exchanges which are no longer in use for shown a significant decline. skill development initiatives and upgrade Accounts with no balance in them were as the same on need basis. National Institute high as 76.81 per cent of the total opened for Policy Research Innovation and under the scheme as on September 30, Training (NTIPRT) will be developed for 2015. They have come down to just about training and skill up gradation in Telecom 32 per cent at the end of December. Sector by leveraging the infrastructure and The Finance Ministry data further showed facilities. that 8.74 crore of the accounts were seeded with Aadhaar and 17.14 crore Govt. mobilises 900 kg of gold under account holders were issued RuPay cards. monetisation scheme
The government on Saturday said it had netted a hefty 900 kg of idle household and temple gold Union Government signed a loan agreement under the monetisation scheme and is hopeful with World Bank for Neeranchal National that the number would rise further in future. Watershed Project
Under the monetisation scheme, Union Government on 14 January 2016 signed a launched on November 5, banks were loan agreement with World Bank in New Delhi for authorised to collect gold for up to 15 the Neeranchal National Watershed Project. years to auction them off or lend to jewellers from time to time. All 28 states which implement the Depositors will earn up to 2.50 per cent watershed projects will benefit from this interest per annum, a rate lower than project. However, the nine states, Andhra savings bank deposits. Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana will benefit more Jan Dhan accounts deposits cross Rs. 30,000 cr from the project as they are Deposits in accounts opened under the implementation of large number of government’s flagship financial inclusion watershed schemes in their states. programme Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana The project was approved by the Union (PMJDY) have crossed the Rs. 30,000 crore mark. Cabinet in October 2015 with a total As many as 20.38 crore bank accounts budget of 2142 crore rupees in which India were opened under the PMJDY as on the would bear 1071 crore rupees and the rest January 20, as per the latest data available. 50 percent cost will be borne by the World These bank accounts had deposits of Rs. Bank. It will be implemented by the 30,638.29 crore (about $4.5 billion). Ministry of Rural Development over a six- The accounts that can be opened under year period (2016-21). PMJDY are Basic Savings Bank Deposit Around 12 percent of the area of Accounts (BSBDA) which can be of zero wasteland will be targeted through this balance, as per RBI guidelines. As per the project to make about 336 lakh hectares of land arable. The Minister said that the
BankExamsToday.com Page 29 effective implementation ofGK the Digest scheme– January 2016He is the fourth Indian to receive this will go a long way in strengthening the fellowship. Previously, former vice- economic conditions of the farming chairman of Planning Commission Montek community. Singh Ahluwalia, former union minister for investments Arun Shourie and chief Madhya Pradesh Government signed four MoUs minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh with Singapore Chandra Babu Naidu had received this fellowship. Madhya Pradesh (MP) Government on 14 January 2016 signed four MOUs with Singapore to SBI launched India’s first start-up focused bank collaborate in urban planning, skill development, branch SBI InCube clean energy and food processing. India’s largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), on The MoUs were signed in Singapore in the 14 January 2016 launched and inaugurated India’s presence of MP Chief Minister Shivraj first start-up focused bank branch called SBI Chouhan, who was on four day visit from InCube in Bangalore, Karnataka. The specialized 12 January 2016 branch aims to understand and address banking The MoU on setting up 1000 megawatt needs of a Start-up Business. wind energy plant in western part of the state was signed between the Department The bank also launched the wealth of New & Renewable Energy and management service SBI Exclusive, which Singapore corporation unit, Sembcorp is targeted at the fast-growing affluent Green Infra Ltd. It was the biggest of the segment in the country. investment proposals. The SBI InCube branch will work towards The MoU covering urban planning was fulfilling the specific financial needs of the signed between the Directorate of Town & start-ups. The service will provide advisory Country Planning and Singapore services to the budding entrepreneurs Cooperation Enterprise. The MoU on under one roof. It will assist start-ups in capacity building and skill training was cash management, regulations, taxation, signed between the Department of mentoring, foreign exchange and Technical Education and Skill Development remittances and other financial services. and ITE Education Services of Singapore The branch, in its current form, will not The MoU covering food processing was fund start-ups i.e. it will not provide loans. signed between India’s LT Food Ltd and However, it will give them loans when they Singapore-based DSM Nutritional turn more mature. Products. Earlier, Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan was Chinese President Xi formally launched Asian awarded with Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Infrastructure Investment Bank Fellowship for his contribution in development and international harmony. China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment It was by awarded Fellowship Chairman Bank (AIIB), in which India and 56 countries have Mr. Eddie Teo in Singapore on 13 January joined as founding members, was formally opened 2016. here today by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
BankExamsToday.com Page 30 The bank was formally establishedGK Digest in– JanuaryFlipkart2016ties-up with Mahindra for KUV100 Beijing on December 25, 2015. Chinese online bookings Finance Minister, Lou Jiwei, was elected as the first Chairman of the AIIB council. Online marketplace Flipkart has tied up with auto China’s former Finance Minister, Jin Liqun, major Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd to exclusively was elected the first AIIB president. launch the latter's newest SUV- KUV100. Consumers can book the SUV on Flipkart from January 18th, 2016.
Anil Goteti, Vice President - Business, Flipkart said, "Online today is a must have World Bank to be main investor in Rail strategy for all players to respond to the Development Fund growing demand of their customers who are spread across different cities and The World Bank would be the anchor investor in towns in the country. First time in the the new Railway Development Fund, which would automobile category, this exclusive tie-up be used to fund the modernisation of Indian will allow Mahindra access Flipkart’s Railways, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has extensive reach and network to connect said. with their customers and provide them the ease to book Mahindra KUV100 online.” He also said the World Bank leadership has Flipkart launched Automobiles as a realised that based on the performance in category last month with a vision to the past one year, Indian Railways is in the change the way vehicles are bought in “right direction”. However, Prabhu did not India. The association with Mahindra is divulge the size of the fund, but indicated another step in that direction. The two that it would be the largest ever provided entities have come together to deliver by the World Bank to the Indian Railways. superior customer experience with Prabhu is here to attend a World Bank assured in-a-month delivery. Flipkart meeting on transportation. During his stay currently also offers a wide range of in the US capital, he also met officials of automotive accessories as part of its the International Finance Corporation, the endeavour to become a destination for all US Transportation Secretary Anthony automotive needs. Renard Foxx, and some of the think-tanks. During his meeting with Secretary Foxx, World Bank released report titled World the two leaders decided to create an Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends umbrella agreement with the Department of Transportation about the transportation The World Bank on 14 January 2016 released a sector in general. “Today we also agreed to report titled World Development Report 2016: make a Railways-specific umbrella Digital Dividends in Washington DC, the USA. The agreement with the Transport report explored the impact of the internet, mobile Department, which would help to work on phones, and related technologies on economic many things,” Prabhu said. development across the world including India.
BankExamsToday.com Page 31 Further, it concluded that potentialGK Digest gains– JanuaryState Bank2016 of Travancore (SBT) has teamed up from digital technologies are high, but with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to often remain unrealized and proposed provide customers of the state utility online policies to expand connectivity, accelerate facility for remittance of electricity charges. complementary reforms in sectors beyond Jeevandas Narayan, Managing Director, SBT, and information and communication M Shivasankar, Chairman, KSEB, jointly technology (ICT), and address global announced the launch of the facility at a function coordination problems. here. The world’s offline population is mainly in India and China, but more than 120 million The online system facilitates immediate people are still offline in North America credit of remittance through the SBT and the digital divide within countries can internet banking platform free of any be as high as that between countries. additional charges, a spokesman for SBT said. NITI Aayog collaborated with IDFC for Enterprise This will enable consumers to pay their Survey of Manufacturing Firms monthly bills without going to the KSEB offices. They will get confirmation of the The National Institution for Transforming India remittance from the bank as well as KSEB. (NITI) Aayog on 17 January 2016 announced that it collaborated with the IDFC Bank Ltd to conduct an enterprise survey of manufacturing firms.
The primary objective of this Survey is to assess the business regulatory Exim Bank inks MoU with AP Govt for environment in each State and Union promoting exports Territories (UTs) and identify policy and regulatory hurdles faced by businesses in Exim Bank of India and the Government of Andhra the States/UTs. Pradesh have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for promotion of exports Iran sanctions lifted, India can import oil freely from the state.
With international nuclear sanctions on Iran being The MoU was signed by Yaduvendra lifted on Sunday, India will resume its unrestricted Mathur, Chairman and Managing Director import of oil from the Persian Gulf nation. of the bank, and Shamsher Singh Rawat, Secretary and Commissioner for Industrial Iran is expected to increase its export of Promotion, Government of Andhra 1.1 million barrels of oil per day by 500,000 Pradesh. soon, followed by a further 500,000 bpd Exim Bank seeks to support exporters thereafter. having operations in Andhra Pradesh in achieving higher exports by facilitation of SBT launches online platform for KSEB bill market linkages through its market payments advisory services, which will assist in identifying suitable partners.
BankExamsToday.com Page 32 Somnath Temple to invest in Gold MonetisationGK Digest – January 2016not “put into question” the 35-hour Scheme workweek. He did not seek to assume any new emergency powers. The Somnath Temple is all set to become Gujarat’s The measures included a loosening of first temple to deposit its idle gold in the Gold some worker-friendly measures to Monetisation Scheme as its trustees including encourage companies to hire, and new Prime Minister Narendra Modi have given their training for half a million workers. nod to invest the yellow metal reserves in the scheme.
The trust has around 35 kg of gold and will IMF cuts global growth forecast as China slows deposit the gold which is not in day-to-day use of the temple. The decision was taken The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its during the recently held meeting of global growth forecasts for the third time in less trustees at Modi’s residence in Delhi on than a year, as new figures from Beijing showed January 12, said the trust secretary P K that the Chinese economy grew at its slowest rate Lahiri, who is also one of the trustees of in a quarter of a century in 2015. the Somnath Temple, situated in the Gir- Somnath district. The Fund forecast that the world economy “During the meeting, all the trustees have would grow at 3.4 per cent in 2016 and 3.6 agreed to the proposal of depositing the per cent in 2017, both years down 0.2 gold, which is not in day-to-day use of the percentage points from the previous temple, in the Gold Monetisation estimates made last October. Scheme,” said Lahiri. According to him, the The IMF projected 7.3 per cent GDP trust is having around 35 kg of gold, which growth for India in 2015-16 and 7.5 per is either in the form of pure gold or cent in 2016-17, levels unchanged from its ornaments. outlook released in October. In 2014-15, it Other trustees of the Somnath Temple estimates, GDP grew 7.3 per cent. trust include former Gujarat Chief Minister The IMF maintained its previous China Keshubhai Patel, who is also the chairman growth forecasts of 6.3 per cent in 2016 of the trust, veteran BJP leader L K Advani, and 6.0 per cent in 2017, which represent Harshvardhan Neotia and JD Parmar. All sharp slowdowns from 2015. these six trustees were present during the meet. Draft report of R V Easwar Committee to simplify Income-tax Act, 1961 released French President declared economic emergency Union Ministry of Finance on 18 January 2016 French President Francois Hollande has declared released the draft report of Justice R V Easwar what he called “a state of economic emergency” (Retd) Committee to simplify the provisions of and says it’s time to redefine France’s economic Income-tax Act, 1961. and social model. The draft recommendations of the 10- The first measures he proposed are member committee contain 27 relatively modest, and he said they would suggestions for amendments under the
BankExamsToday.com Page 33 Income-tax Act, 1961GK Digest and 8– January 2016As per the publication, international recommendations for reform through tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 percent in 2015 administrative instructions. to reach a total of 1184 million in 2015. In numbers, around 50 million more travelers Amendment to Section 255(3) to enhance were recorded in 2015 compared to that the monetary limit for Single Member 2014. Bench (SMC) cases before the Tribunal to rupees one crore from the present rupees World Bank to for reconstructing Indira Gandhi 15 lakhs. Amendment to Section 254(2) to Zoological Park reduce the time-limit for rectification of orders of the Tribunal from the present In a global first, the World Bank in third week of four years to 120 days. Deletion of section January 2016 decided to extend an assistance of 143(1D) – Avoiding undesirable delay in 20 million US dollar to help reconstruct the Indira issue of refunds Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP).
Eko launches Indo-Nepal remittance service It got devastated during cyclone Hudhud in with Prabhu Money October 2014, in Visakhapatnam.
Eko, a mobile-based Financial technology The funding is a part of the 370 million US company, today announced the launch of Indo- dollar Andhra Pradesh Disaster Recovery Nepal remittance services in partnership with Project for which the bank is extending Nepal's Prabhu Money Group. assistance of 250 million US dollars from 2015-2020. Citizens of both the countries can use the service in the form of cash-to-cash, cash- SBI offers loans for women entrepreneurs under to-bank account, cash-to-co- operative MUDRA scheme bank account and through top- upremittance cards. The ‘MUDRA' loan for women entrepreneurs or The service will benefit 50 Lakh Nepali Boutique Finance for Women Entrepreneurs – a migrants living across India," the company special loan scheme under Prime Minister MUDRA said. Yojana – has been launched for catering to the financial needs of women entrepreneurs.
Under the scheme, State Bank of India too has come forward to participate and provide loans to help women entrepreneurs in West Bengal who are UNWTO released World Tourism Barometer engaged in various handicraft activities. One such camp was organised by the bank, The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on 18 earlier this month., according to a release January 2016 released the World Tourism issued by the bank. Barometer, which reviewed trends in tourism at the regional and global level for 2015 and Union Government sanctioned 33000 crore enumerated prospects for 2016. rupees for infrastructure projects in Tamilnadu
BankExamsToday.com Page 34 Union Government on 19 JanuaryGK Digest 2016– JanuaryMRF becomes2016 global partner for ICC sanctioned 33000 crore rupees for the development of infrastructure projects in MRF Ltd has become a global partner for Tamilnadu. International Cricket Council (ICC) by signing a four-deal with the council that includes this year’s Union Road Transport, Highways and ICC World Twenty 20 in India, next year’s ICC Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari announced Champions Trophy and ICC Cricket World Cup in the sanctioned amount and at his 2019. discretion, he announced additional 17000 crore rupees. With this, the total amount As a global partner, MRF will have multiple sanctioned was raised to 50000 crore branding opportunities at all match venues rupees. during the ICC World Twenty 20 and future ICC events. Other global partners for ICC include Emirates, Oppo and Nissan, he told ICICI Bank opens its first branch in South Africa newspersons on the announcement of the partnership. ICICI Bank inaugurated its first full service branch at Sandton in Johannesburg becoming the first Indian private sector bank to open a branch in the African continent. Quikr acquired online real estate portal Commonfloor.com The branch was inaugurated by President of ICICI Bank, Vijay Chandok. Quikr on 7 January 2016 announced acquisition of ICICI Bank’s Johannesburg branch is an the property search website Commonfloor.com authorised financial services provider in for an undisclosed amount in a majority stock- South Africa licensed by the South African swap transaction. Quikr bought the website in a Reserve Bank, the bank said in a distress sale orchestrated by Tiger Global statement. Management Llc.
India among top 5 most promising markets After the deal, Quikr will be valued at globally about 1.5 billion US dollars based on the share-swap ratio. The merger is expected According to the annual Global CEO survey of to be completed over the next two to three consultancy giant PwC, India has emerged as one months. of the five most promising markets for businesses globally as it offers one of the best opportunities Miguel Tabuena won Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of for both domestic as well as global companies. the Month
The top five markets considered as most The Philippines' Miguel Tabuena on 7 January important for overall growth prospects by 2016 was voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the respondents are USA, China, Germany, Month for December 2015. the UK and India.
BankExamsToday.com Page 35 Tabuena won the awardGK ahead Digest of– January 2016 Thailand's Phachara Khongwatmai and India's Himmat Rai. The trio were ADB to fund $840-m corridor between Vizag, nominated by a selection panel before Chennai going into a voting process. Born on 13 October 1994, Miguel Tabuena The Asian Development Bank will extend a $625 is a Filipino professional golfer. As an million loan to the proposed $840 million amateur golfer, he won the events in Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor, Malaysia and Singapore and won the silver according to Teresa Kho, Country Director – India, medal at the 2010 Asian Games in the ADB. She said the industrial corridor, meant to men's individual event. boost manufacturing activity and help economic He turned professional in 2011. He has growth of the hinterland, will have four nodes: played on the Asian Tour since 2011 and Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Gannavaram- picked up his first win at the 2015 Kankipadu, and Yerpedu-Srikalahasti. Philippine Open. He became the first Filipino to win his The VCIC would be part of the proposed National Open since 2008. East Coast Economic Corridor, from Kolkata in West Bengal to Tuticorin in ICC announces Money Gram as Event Partner; Tamil Nadu, Kho said, addressing a plenary signs 8-year deal session, ‘Sunrise Andhra Pradesh: turning aspirations into reality’, at the CII The ICC and Money Gram International, a leading Partnership Summit now underway here. global provider of money transfer services, today He said that it’s a part of PM’s Act east announced an eight-year deal which confirms scheme.It will create 1.1 Crore jobs in next Money Gram as an event partner for ICC events 30 years. from 2016-2023. RINL inked MoU with Andhra Pradesh A media release by ICC stated, “The ICC Government for investment of 38500 crore and Money Gram recently completed a rupees successful five-year partnership, which began with the ICC World Twenty 20 West Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the Indies 2010, concluding with the ICC corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, on Cricket World Cup 2015. 11 January 2016 signed a Memorandum of “In the current eight-year cycle, the Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh alliance promises to reach greater heights, government. as the ICC will stage an impressive 17 tournaments, including six majors — two The MoU envisages investment of around ICC World Twenty 20 tournaments, two 38500 crore rupees to take up various editions of the ICC Champions Trophy and projects at Visakhapatnam. The deal was two ICC Cricket World Cups.” signed during the 22nd CII Partnership Summit & 1st Sunrise AP Investment Meet, which is being held in Visakhapatnam.
BankExamsToday.com Page 36 Illumina, Bill Gates & Jeff Bezos launchedGK Digest – January 2016India and Australia had started talks on the startup GRAIL to develop blood-based cancer Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in tests 2012 after Australia had lifted the long- standing ban on selling uranium to energy- Illumina, the world’s largest DNA sequencing starved India. company, on 10 January 2015 announced the India-Australia Nuclear Cooperation deal launch of the startup named GRAIL to develop follows similar agreements signed by India blood-based cancer tests. The company was with the US and France after western launched in association with Microsoft co-founder sanctions were lifted in 2008. Bill Gates, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezo’s venture fund Bezos Expeditions and Arch Venture Partners.
The company will develop blood tests that RBI asked the banks to open banks in villages cost 1000 US dollars or less for detecting with a population of more than 5000. many types of cancer before symptoms arise. The test, which is also called as liquid India’s central bank has asked the lenders to open biopsy, will use high-speed DNA more brick and mortar branches in villages with no sequencing machines to scour a person’s banking facilities and with a population of more blood for fragments of DNA released by than 5,000. The banking regulator has asked banks cancer cells. to submit a roadmap on how many branches they All the partners in the startup raised will be opening by 31 March 2017. Banks have to around 100 million US dollars among submit the roadmap by end of January 2016. themselves, in which Illumina will have the majority stake holder. The newly RBI observed that coverage of banking developed tests are expected to reach the services in unbanked villages is skewed market by 2019. GRAIL will operate from towards the BC model and the ratio of San Diego in California, the USA. branches to BC is very low. Therefore, it has been decided to focus on villages with population above 5,000 without a bank branch of a scheduled commercial bank. Union Cabinet gives nod for India-Australia Civil This will also enable banks to provide Nuclear Cooperation deal quality financial services and timely support to BC outlets that would help in The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister sustaining and strengthening the Narendra Modi approved the India-Australia Civil services provided through BCs and also Nuclear Cooperation deal that came into force on ensure close supervision of BC operations. November 13, 2015. Iran’s leading banks will soon open branches in The deal along with the administrative India arrangement for implementing the accord will bolster India’s energy security by Iran’s leading banks will open branches in India to supporting the expansion of nuclear power energise commercial ties between New Delhi and in the country. Tehran. The decision was amongst a slew of
BankExamsToday.com Page 37 commercial measures taken by the IndiaGK -DigestIran Joint– JanuaryThe Competition2016 Commission of India (CCI) on 5 Commission that met for the first time. January 2016 gave its approval to Reliance Capital Asset Management's proposed acquisition of After the meeting led by External Affairs Goldman Sachs' mutual fund business in India for Minister Sushma Swaraj and Iranian 243 crore rupees. CCI approved the acquisition as Finance Minister Ali Tayebnia, India the deal may not have an adverse impact on decided to allow the Pasargad Bank and competition in the country. Parsian Bank of Iran to set up branches in New Delhi and Mumbai. RCAM had announced the acquisition in A major beneficiary of normal is ation of October 2015. Under the deal, the banking channels between two sides will company will acquire all 12 onshore be India which has just begun settling mutual fund schemes of Goldman Sachs more than $6.5 billion energy- Asset Management India with total asset related pending payment, with Iran. under management of 7132 crore rupees. The deal will also make Reliance MF the CCI cleared Reliance Capital-Goldman Sachs deal exclusive fund manager for the government's ambitious Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) Exchange
Appointments
JS Deepak replaces Garg as Telecom Secretary Amid the high-decibel debate around Net Prior to this appointment, she was working neutrality, call drops and the upcoming mega at American Express (AmEx) as an spectrum auction, Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg executive vice-president of global on Friday was moved to the low-profile Minority advertising, marketing and digital Affairs Ministry, as part of a bureaucratic partnerships. reshuffle. JS Deepak, a UP cadre officer from the Gurdeep Singh appointed as CMD of NTPC 1982 batch, who is currently Secretary, Gurdeep Singh on 28 January 2016 was Department of IT (DeitY), will replace Garg. appointed as the Chairman and Managing This will be Deepak’s second innings in the Director (CMD) of NTPC Ltd. Singh will be the first Department of Communications (DoT). person to be appointed to the top job at a Maharatna company through a search committee Leslie Berland appointed as Chief Marketing route. Officer of Twitter Inc Gurdeep Singh is currently serving as the Leslie Berland was on 26 January 2016 appointed managing director of Gujarat State as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Twitter Electricity Company Limited (GESC). He Inc, an online social networking site. Before started his career in NTPC in 1987. Berland’s appointment, the marketing operations was overseen by the Twitter’s CFO Anthony Noto.
BankExamsToday.com Page 38 He was earlier associated withGK Calcutta Digest – Januarycentre-2016right Social Democrats candidate and a Electric Supply Corporation, Powergen former journalist, won the election by securing 52 and IDFC Projects in different capacities. percent of votes. During his tenure at GESC, Singh The outcome is likely to help maintain spearheaded several key reforms in political balance after the inconclusive Gujarat, the major being innovative solar parliamentary ballot in October 2015. His power programmes such as the solar closest rival, Socialist Antonio Sampaio da power plant over the Sardar Sarovar Novoa, conceded defeat after picking up canal. around 23 percent of the vote. Left Bloc candidate Marisa Matias had 10 percent. Sousa, popularly known as ‘Professor Marcelo’ and aged 67 is the one-time SC Appoints Justice Sanjay Mishra as UP leader of the center-right Social Lokayukta democrats. He will succeed President Anibal Cavaco Silva. The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed Earlier in October 2015 presidential Justice Sanjay Mishra, a former judge of the election, a centre-right coalition won the Allahabad High Court, as the Lokayukta of Uttar most votes but lost its overall majority in Pradesh. November 2015. It was replaced by an alliance of left-wing parties that rejected The apex court bench comprising Justice its austerity programme in parliament. Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Prafulla C. Pant appointed Mishra as the Lokayukta and Alice Vaidyan, new CMD of GIC Re recalled the December 16, 2015, order Alice Vaidyan has been appointed Chairman and appointing Justice Virendra Singh for the Managing Director of General Insurance post. Corporation of India (GIC Re), the National Recalling the sequence of events leading Reinsurer. She will hold office till July 31, 2019. to the appointment of Virendra Singh as GIC Re is the 14th largest reinsurer globally the Lokayukta on December 16, 2015, the and is presently the only reinsurance court regretted that constitutional company in India. authorities -- the chief minister, Leader of Opposition (LoP), and the chief justice of Amit Shah re-elected BJP president the Allahabad High Court -- despite BJP chief Amit Shah became the party President prolonged meetings could not decide on a again today. Top party leaders led by Prime simple issue of the appointment of the Minister Narendra Modi, a bevy of Union Lokayukta. ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states proposed his name for the party president’s post during the nomination process. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won Presidential Among others who have proposed Mr. Election of Portugal Shah’s name are Union minister Rajnath Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on 24 January 2016 won Singh, Anant Kumar and J.P. Nadda, M. the Presidential election of Portugal. Sousa, a Venkaiah Naidu, besides BJP chief
BankExamsToday.com Page 39 ministers Vasundhara Raje, RaghubarGK Digest Das, – JanuaryPayU, one2016 of the world's largest payment services Shivraj Singh Chauhan and others. platforms, announced the appointment of Laurent Le Moal as its new global CEO. Paranjoy Thakurta appointed EPW Editor PayU has operations in 16 countries and is The Sameeksha Trust, which runs the Economic part of the leading global media and and Political Weekly has appointed senior internet group, Naspers. LeMoal would be journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta editor of the reporting directly to Naspers' Group CEO, journal from April 1. This follows the resignation Bob Van Dijk. of Rammanohar Reddy from the post early this Le Moal joins the team with an 11 year month. experience with rival company PayPal and would be building the company's position The EPW, headquartered in Mumbai, is in growing markets around the world and widely recognised as a unique journal- developing payment solutions which meet cum- magazine that combines popular market needs for both consumers and commentary with academic research merchants. articles in the social sciences. Halo Source appoints Tamal Chaudhuri as India head
Mindtree appoints Ravanan as CEO, Natarajan Halo Source Inc., a clean water technology as executive chairman solutions company trading on London’s Alternative Investment Market, has appointed Mindtree has appointed Rostow Ravanan as the Tamal Chaudhuri as General Manager, heading up CEO and managing director, and Krishnakumar the company’s India operations. Natarajan as the executive chairman of the company. Subroto Bagchi has stepped down as India is a key geographic region for the executive chairman but will continue on the Board company, where it has a long-standing as a non-executive director. All the changes will be relationship with Eureka Forbes and most effective April 1. recently signed a supply agreement with Panasonic India Pvt Ltd. He will be Ravanan, 44, is a member of Institute of responsible for driving all aspects of the Chartered Accountants of India, Institute company’s business in the region. of Company Secretaries of India and alumni of Harvard Business School. In April GuenterButschek appointed as CEO and MD of 2014, he stepped out of his role as chief Tata Motors financial officer and took over as head for Europe, service lines and key accounts. Guenter Butschek was on 18 January 2016 appointed as Chief Executive Officer and PayU appoints Laurent Le Moal as new global Managing Director of India's biggest auto maker CEO Tata Motors' Group.
He joins Tata Motors after his stint as the Chief Operating Officer at Airbus and
BankExamsToday.com Page 40 Member of the GroupGK ExecutiveDigest – January 2016Executive Diploma from George Committee. Prior to Airbus, He worked at Washington University in Project Daimler AG in international automotive Management, among others. management for more than 25 years. He was appointed after post of Managing Director of Tata Motors was vacant for two years since the death of Karl Slym on 26 AchyutaSamanta elected as General President January 2014. of 105th Indian Science Congress
Housing.com appoints co-founder Snehil Buxy Dr. Achyuta Samanta was on 6 January 2016 as its chief product officer elected as the General President of the 105th Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) that is Housing.com, an online real estate platform has scheduled for 2017-18. Samanta is also currently appointed co-founder Snehil Buxy as its new chief serving as member of Executive Council of Indian product officer. Science Congress Association (ISCA).
Since the company's inception, he has Samanta has set up institutions like Kalinga played key roles, including leading the Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) front-end team and spearheading product University and Kalinga Institute of Social development, while also overseeing and Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneshwar. driving different aspects of the business. He has been the member of Executive Mamta Binani elected President of ICSI Council of ISCA since 2011. He has also been the member of many prestigious Mamta Binani has been elected President of the educational and other national level apex Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for bodies, including UGC (2008-2014), AICTE, 2016. She took charge on January 19. National Coir Board, CAPART and NCTE.
Binani was also the first CS to be conferred Sam Pitroda appointed as Odisha Government’s the 'Bharat Nirman Awards' in 2010. Technical Advisor
J P Alex takes over as Airports Authority of India Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda, popularly known executive director as Sam Pitroda, on 6 January 2016 was appointed Technology Advisor to the Odisha Government. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) today said J P Pitroda was appointed as the technology adviser Alex has taken over as executive director of for development of telecom, electronics, IT, ITES operations. sectors of the state.
He has more than three decades of Pitroda will have a key role in Vision 2036 experience in diverse areas of aviation, for Odisha @100, as the state government including air traffic management and is making a vision document for 2036 to airport design & planning. celebrate the 100 years of state’s He holds an MBA in Airport & Aviation formation. Born on 4 May 1942 in Management and has done International Titilagarh, Odisha, Sam Pitroda is a telecom
BankExamsToday.com Page 41 engineer, inventor, entrepreneurGK Digest and– January 2016underway almost six months after its policymaker. In 1964, he travelled to reconstitution. Chicago to study electrical engineering. Sailesh appointed new Registrar General, Pavan Kapoor To Be India's Ambassador To Census Commissioner Israel Senior IAS officer Sailesh was today appointed as Senior diplomat Pavan Kapoor has been appointed Registrar General and Census Commissioner. India's ambassador to strategically important Israel, where he will succeed Jaideep Sarkar. Mr. Sailesh, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Assam- Kapoor, a 1990 batch Indian Foreign Service Meghalaya cadre, is presently Additional Officer, is currently India's High Commissioner in Secretary in Home Ministry. The Mozambique capital Maputo. "He is expected to Appointments Committee of Cabinet has take up his assignment shortly," the External approved the appointment of Sailesh as Affairs Ministry said in a statement. Registrar General and Census Commissioner for a period till July 28, The appointment assumes significance as 2017, an order issued by Department of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Personnel and Training said. is likely to visit India this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also pay a He has been appointed in place of C return visit to Tel Aviv. India's relations Chandramouli, who has completed his with Israel are on an upswing. President tenure. Pranab Mukherjee had visited Tel Aviv in October last year, becoming the first Devender Kumar Sikri appointed as Chairman of Indian Head of State to visit the Jewish Competition Commission of India nation. Devender Kumar Sikri was on 7 January 2016 appointed as Chairman of fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI). He succeeds Ashok Chawla, whose tenure as the Chairman of CCI ended on 7 January 2016 itself. Chauhan took charge as FTII Chairman Sikri will have a tenure of about two and Seething discontent, frenzied protests and half years, i.e. till he attains the age of 65 lathicharges marred TV actor and BJP hack years. Gajendra Chauhan’s first day as Chairman of the Sikri is a former Indian Administrative prestigious Film and Television Institute of India Service (IAS) officer of Gujarat cadre. He (FTII) even as 40 student protestors were allegedly has held various positions in Centre as well manhandled and detained by police. as in his cadre state Gujarat. He superannuated as Secretary, Department The protestors were being held at the of Justice on 31 July 2013. Shivajinagar police station as the first meeting of the new FTII society got Bhanumurthy is new COO of Wipro
BankExamsToday.com Page 42 The Bengaluru-head quartered companyGK Digest has– January 2016Saraf will look over the Group's existing elevated company veteran Bhanumurthy B M as Make in India initiatives and conceive new its chief operating officer (COO) and president ones for all the businesses of Airbus Group apart from handing over a new role to G K India with the aim to increase their Prasanna, who is presently heading Global industrial footprint in the country. The Infrastructure Services as president and chief move comes close on the heels of Airbus executive. Group uniting its Divisions in India under a single company. Under the new structure, Prasanna would Ashish Saraf holds an extensive experience head a newly created business unit, in offsets, industrial relations, green field marketing, innovations and technology start-up development and strategic (MIT) as the president. MIT will comprise partnerships. Prior to joining Airbus Group, of the offices of the chief technology he was the India head of the Tata Sikorsky officer, chief information officer, joint venture since 2010. He led Sikorsky's marketing, strategic engagements industrialisation and strategic partnerships (Advisor Relations and sales enablement in India. functions) among others. Binny Bansal appointed as CEO of Flipkart Urjit Patel re-appointed as RBI Deputy Governor for Three Years India's biggest e-commerce company, Flipkart, on 11 January 2016 announced the promotion of Union Government on 8 January 2016 re- current Chief Operating Officer Binny Bansal to appointed Dr. Urjit R Patel, as Deputy Governor of the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for a second three- year term. On the other hand, Sachin Bansal, who has been the CEO since inception, will now Patel who joined RBI on 11 January 11, take on the newly-created role of 2013 had headed a committee that paved Executive Chairman. the way for the proposed monetary policy committee. Patel, a doctorate from Yale PMO sets up panel to fast-track bullet trains University, also had a stint at IMF. The re-appointment of Patel assumes The Prime Minister’s Office has constituted a significance as in recent past, none of the committee under Arvind Panagariya, vice- deputy governors got a second term. chairman of the NITI Aayog, to hasten the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, Ashish Saraf appointed as Airbus Group’s vice meant for bullet trains between the two cities. president The panel will interact with the Japanese Airbus Group on 11 January 2016 announced the counterpart for taking the next step in appointment of Ashish Saraf as Vice-President - implementation. The Railway Board Industry Development, Strategic Partnerships and chairman, secretary in the department of Offsets. expenditure, foreign secretary and secretary (industrial policy) will be part of the panel.
BankExamsToday.com Page 43 GK Digest – January 2016
Dr Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan appointed DG of National Centre for Good Governance The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Government constitute Kamlesh Chandra (ACC) on 30 December 2015 approved the Committee to study wage structure of Gramin appointment of Dr Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan as Dak Sevaks the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance. The Union Government has constituted a committee to examine the wage structure, service He will be in the office for a period of three conditions of the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) in the years which is extendable by another two Department of Posts (DoP). It is one member years or up to 60 years of age, whichever is committee comprising of Kamlesh Chandra, earlier. Retired Member of Postal Services Board. The 54-year-old Bandgaiyan is a former IAS officer of the Union Territories cadre. He The Committee will be assisted by Senior hails from Madhya Pradesh. Administrative Grade Officer T.Q. Mohammad who will act as Secretary to Bjorn Isberg named as Tournament Director of the GDS Committee. The Committee will 2016 Hockey India League go into the service conditions of GDS and suggest changes as considered necessary. Sweden's Bjorn Isberg on 30 December 2015 was Examine the present system of Branch appointed as the Tournament Director of Coal Post Offices, engagement conditions and India Hockey India League (HIL), the premier existing structure of wage and enrolments league for hockey in India. paid to the GDS and recommend necessary changes. On the other hand, Muthukumar Balakrisnan from Malaysia was given the CMPDI Chairman assumes charge role of the Assistant Tournament Director in the 4th edition of the Coal India Hockey Shekhar Saran has taken over as Chairman-cum- India League. Managing Director of Ranchi-based Central Mine Andy Mair from Scotland was named as Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI) from this the umpire's manager for the league. month. Prior to this, he served as the Director (Technical) of CMPDI.
D.K.Hota to be the new CMD of defence PSU A mining engineer and MBA, he started his BEML Ltd career in the coal industry from Sohagpur area of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) The Public Enterprises Selection Board has in 1981. recommended D.K.Hota to be the new CMD of defence PSU BEML Ltd. He is currently Director Film-maker ShyamBenegal to head panel on (HR) of the Bengaluru-based BEML. He has been Censor Board revamp on deputation at BEML from oil marketing major HPCL for the past two years.
BankExamsToday.com Page 44 To put an end to recent controversiesGK surrounding Digest – JanuaryWipro 2016management changes, T K Kurien the Censor Board, the Centre has set up a elevated as Vice Chairman, COO becomes CEO Committee headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to work out a revamp plan and submit its India’s third largest IT services exporter – Wipro report within two months. has announced major management changes with the elevation of the chief executive officer (CEO) T The other members of the Committee are K Kurien as the executive vice-chairman and chief Hindi film director Rakesh Omprakash operating officer Abidali Neemuchwala as the new Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey, film critic CEO and member of the board. Bhawana Somaaya, Nina Lath Gupta of National Film Development Corporation Kurien who took over the role of CEO in and Joint Secretary (Films). February, 2011 will hold the executive vice Among other things, the committee would chairman position. be expected to take note of the “best He will hold this position until March 31, practices in various parts of the world, 2017. especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative LinkedIn names Akshay Kothari as India Country and aesthetic expression.” Manager The committee will also look into the staffing pattern of Central Board of Film Professional networking platform LinkedIn today Certification, known as the Censor Board, appointed Akshay Kothari as Country Manager for and recommend a framework to provide India, with immediate effect. India has one of the efficient/transparent user-friendly largest userbase for LinkedIn, which has more services. than 400 million members globally.
AtulSobti took charge as CMD of Bharat Heavy Kothari replaces Nishant Rao, who quit the Electricals Limited company in October last year to join cloud- based customer support software firm Atul Sobti on 1 January 2016 took charge as Freshdesk as its Chief Operating Officer. Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of state- Kothari will report to Olivier Legrand, owned power equipment maker Bharat Heavy LinkedIn's Managing Director for the Asia Electricals Limited (BHEL) for a period of five Pacific (APAC) region, and join the years.His appointment as CMD of BHEL was company's APAC senior management approved by the Union Government in September team, LinkedIn said in a statement. 2015. India has the second largest base of LinkedIn members globally, after the US. Prior to this appointment, Sobti was the Over the past six years, the member base Director on the board of BHEL, where he in India saw a ten-fold increase (which headed two crucial portfolios of Power and translates to a compound annual growth Finance. He also held Additional Charge of rate of 46 per cent) to more than 33 the post of Director (Engineering, Research million. and Development).
BankExamsToday.com Page 45 Mary Barra elected as Chairman ofGKGeneral Digest – January 2016earlier on Monday (January 4), takes up Motors Board of Directors the position at a time of unprecedented displacement challenges. Record numbers Mary Barra was on 4 January 2016 elected as of people globally are forced to flee war Chairman of General Motors (GM) Board of and persecution, including more than one Directors with immediate effect. Barra succeeds million refugees and migrants who crossed Theodore Solso, who will continue serving as the Mediterranean to Europe during the the Lead Independent Director of the Board. past year.
Earlier, Barra was serving as Chief Sachin appointed as brand ambassador for Novo Executive Officer (CEO) of GM since Nordisk's diabetes campaign January 2014.In August 2013, Barra was named as Executive Vice President, Global Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk Product Development, Purchasing& today announced Indian cricket star Sachin Supply Chain. Tendulkar as brand ambassador for the disease awareness campaign 'Changing Diabetes' initiated Filippo Grandi takes helm as UN High by it in India. Commissioner for Refugees Addressing a press conference here on Filippo Grandi, a UN official who has worked in Monday, Sachin Tendulkar advised people refugee and political affairs in the Middle East, to hit the gym or go for a long walk to keep Africa, and Asia, began his five-year term as UN away from diabetes. High Commissioner for Refugees on January 1, In India 69.2 million people have diabetes and by 2035, it is estimated that 123.5 He will Succeed António Guterreswhose million people will have diabetes. The more than 10 years in office ended last alarming fact is that almost half of the week. existing diabetes patients are unaware that they have diabetes, according to the High Commissioner Grandi, who arrived at company. UNHCR's headquarters office in Geneva
Sports
Angelique Kerber stuns Serena Williams to win and 22nd overall, which would have Australian Open moved her into a tie with Graf for the most Angelique Kerber became the first German to win Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era. a Grand Slam title since her childhood idol Steffi Graf in 1999 when she upset world number one Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to clinch the Australian Open on Saturday. Sania Mirza, Martina Hingis won 2016 The 34-year-old American had been Australian Open women's doubles tennis title seeking her seventh Melbourne Park title
BankExamsToday.com Page 46 Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner MartinaGK Digest Hingis – January 2016With this, he would be eligible to play a on 29 January 2016 won the 2016 Australian T20 tournament for retired cricketers Open title of tennis in the women’s doubles called Masters Champions League (MCL). category. It is the PCB’s policy that players who sign To win the title, the top seeded Indo- for the MCL have to completely retire Swiss pair defeated seventh seeded Czech from International Cricket. However, they duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie can play the domestic cricket. Hradecka 7-6, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. With the win over the Czech duo, they extended their unbeaten run to 36. Izumo Takuto and Zhu Chengzhu won ITTF For Sania-Hingis pair, it was their maiden World Junior Circuit Finals Australian Open title and the third Japan's Izumo Takuto and Hong Kong's Zhu successive Grand Slam doubles title after Chengzhu on 24 January 2016 became champions their victories in the 2015 Wimbledon and in the boys' and girls' categories, respectively, in US Open. the 11Even Sports 2015 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals at the Abhay Prashal Stadium, Indore, Ishika Shah won 12th Sub-Junior National Madhya Pradesh. Snooker championship title The three-day event came to its conclusion when Takuto hardly dropped a sweat 14-year old Ishika Shah won the 12th Sub-Junior beating Carlos Vedriel from Spain 4-0 in a National Snooker championship title in Indore, one-sided final while Zhu overcame stiff Madhya Pradesh. resistance to beat Park Seri of Korea 4-2. Each winner took home 3800 US dollars To win the title, she defeated Anushi Seth while the runners-up received 2100 US by 50-2, 50-33 in the final match. dollars each. To reach the finals, she defeated the The International Table Tennis Federation defending champion Doyel Dey in the is the governing body for all international semi-final. Incidentally, Ishika lost the title table tennis associations. The role of the to Doyel in the summit clash held in ITTF includes overseeing rules and Kolkata in 2015. regulations and seeking technological improvement for the sport of table tennis.
Pakistan Cricketer Imran Farhat retired from International Cricket PV Sindhu wins Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Pakistan Opener Imran Farhat retired from Gold Badminton title international cricket. He made the announcement after getting No-Objection India’s Ace Shuttler, PV Sindhu has won the Certificate from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Badminton title.
BankExamsToday.com Page 47 She defeated Scotland’s KirstyGK Gilmour Digest – January 2016It has been over a year since South Africa 21-15, 21-9 in the final at Penang this last won a Test match and that was against afternoon. the eighth-ranked West Indies. Even if they Sindhu had an easy final where she beat England in the fourth Test in dominated right from the start to seal the Centurion, they won't be able to improve match in straight games. This is Sindhu’s on their current third position. Since Fifth career Grand prix gold and first title January 2015, South Africa have lost five of the year 2016. out of nine games, besides accumulating four draws.
Australia clinched bilateral odi cricket series WWE returns to India after 14 years against series Former World Kabbadi League Champion, Australia has thrashed India by 4-1 in 5 match Lovepreet Sangha and two-time Kushti National one day international series played in Australia. Heavyweight Champion, Satender Ved Pal will make their in-ring World Wrestling Entertainment Indian batsman Rohit Sharma was (WWE) debuts when the premier sports declared man of the series for scoring 441 entertainment professional wrestling returns to runs including two centuries. India after 13 years on January 15.
Hosts of WWE superstars will showcase their acting-wrestling skills in front an Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis won Sydney expected packed crowd with the two new International title Indian inductees featuring prominently. WWE's own world champion Roman Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won their second Reigns, Big Show, Kane and Charlotte are trophy of the season with the WTA Apia some of the big names to enthrall Delhi International title after clinching their 30th win a crowd. row, in Sydney on Friday. Lovepreet, 6 feet, 225 pounds, was one of the top raiders in the World Kabaddi They defeated Caroline Garcia and Kristina League in 2014 and was a member of the Mladenovic United Singhs team that won the league championship.
Virat Kohli fastest to reach 7000 runs, 24 ICC Rankings: India become No. 1 Test side in centuries in ODI cricket the world Virat Kohli added another feather to his hat as he South Africa's 0-2 defeat in their home series became the fastest man to score 7000 one-day against England has pushed them off the top of international (ODI) runs and the fastest to reach the ICC Test Rankings. Now India, with 110 rating 24 centuries in the format. points, are at No. 1, with Australia one rating point shy in second place. Kohli reached the milestone during the course of India's third ODI against Australia
BankExamsToday.com Page 48 at the Melbourne CricketGK Ground Digest on– January 2016Chandila's co-accused Pakistani umpire Sunday. Asad Rauf till February 12, giving him a Coming into this match, he needed only 19 final deadline of February 9 to file his reply. to overtake South Africa's AB de Villiers. The 32-year-old Chandila, an off-spinner While the South African captain needed who was found guilty of spot-fixing during nearly a decade to get to 7000 ODI runs, his stint with Rajasthan Royals, was Kohli did it in less than eight years. handed a tougher punishment for violating The 27-year-old achieved the landmark in the codes pertaining to accepting bribes, his 169th match and in his 161st innings, fixing, underperforming, trying to induce a breaking the previous record set by De fellow player and betting. Villiers, who achieved it in his 166th innings and in his 172nd match. Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated Barry Hawkins to win sixth Snooker Masters title Delhi Acers defeated Mumbai Rockets to clinch Premier Badminton League title Ronnie O'Sullivan on 17 January 2016 won his sixth Snooker Masters title after defeating Barry Delhi Acers on 17 January 2016 emerged Hawkins 10-1 in the final at the Alexandra Palace victorious over Mumbai Rockets by 4-3 in the in London. summit clash to clinch the Premier Badminton League (PBL) title. The match was held at the Siri O'Sullivan had previously won the event in Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi. 1995, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2014, equalling the record set by Stephen Tommy Sugiar to, men's doubles pair of Hendry. Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, and Rajiv Ouseph won their respective Chris Gayle equals Yuvraj Singh’s T20 record; matches as Delhi grabbed the trophy and a scores fifty in 12 balls winner's cheque of 3 crores rupees. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is the Chris Gayle signed off from this year's Big Bash by brand ambassador of the league. equalling the all-time record for the world's quickest Twenty-20 half-century.Gayle smashed BCCI imposes life ban on Ajit Chandila his way past 50 from just 12 balls in Melbourne.
Haryana off-spinner Ajit Chandila was slapped He achieved the feat against the Adelaide with a life ban for his involvement in the 2013 IPL Renegades. spot-fixing scandal, while Mumbai batsman Hiken West Indies opener Gayle hit seven sixes Shah was handed a five-year suspension for and two fours on the way to 56 at the top making a corrupt approach to a fellow player as of the order, and joined Yuvraj Singh as the BCCI disciplinary committee sealed their fate scorer of the sprint format's fastest half- after a meeting here on Monday. century - the India all-rounder's innings at the 2007 World Twenty20 having included However, the committee, headed by BCCI six sixes in one over off England's Stuart President Shashan Manohar and Broad. comprising Jyotiraditya Scindia and Niranjan Shah,deferred a decision on
BankExamsToday.com Page 49 ICC launches Cricket for Good & TeamGKSwachh Digest – JanuaryIndia's 2016Siril Verma is badminton's new junior world campaign in partnership with UNICEF and BCCI No. 1.The 16-year-old climbed a whopping 11 rungs to occupy the number one spot in the junior The International Cricket Council (ICC) has men's singles category of the Badminton World reaffirmed its commitment to the Spirit of Federation (BWF) rankings on Thursday. Cricket and bringing about positive social change through the sport, by launching Cricket for Good, A finalist at the current World Junior it’s CSR Programme, in association with UNICEF. Championships, and regarded as the next big thing in Indian badminton, Verma is Team Swachh is the first of a series of ahead of second-placed Toma Junior collaborations between the ICC and Popov of France, while Chirag Sen, another UNICEF under the aegis of Cricket for Indian, occupies the No 3 ranking. Goodwith the aim of leveraging the vast Meanwhile, star Indian women's shuttler reach and power of cricket. This visionary and London Olympics bronze collaboration aims to build a social medaliistSainaMehwal continues to movement for sanitation and toilet use, occupy the No 2 ranking, behind Carolina thereby leading to an open defecation-free Marin of Spain, while Li Xuerei of China is India. third. The five-year global partnership was Saina's compatriot and two-time world announced in October 2015 in New York championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu and will be used as the ICC’s platform to remained static at No 12. advocate for children in India and other In the men's singles category, countries where cricket is a popular sport. KidambiSrikanth is the only Indian shuttler in the top 10, at No 9. Indian driver Jehan Daruvala won Lady Wigram Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold Trophy motor race medallistParupalliKashyap, who is back after an injury lay-off, is ranked No 15, Sahara Force India Academy racer Jehan Daruvala ahead of H S Prannoy (20) and Ajay Jayram on 16 January 2016 won one of New Zealand's (21). most prestigious events, the Lady Wigram Trophy. The 2011 World Championships bronze medallist pair of JwalaGutta and It was Daruvala’s maiden victory in AshwiniPonappa is at No 14 in the Formula cars since making the switch from women's doubles rankings, while the karting in 2015. men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and In August 2015, Daruvala won Rookie of Sumeeth Reddy occupy the 17th spot. the Year at the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC series championships in the Netherlands. National TT: PSPB men retain title, women regain crown
The formidable Petroleum Sports Promotion Indian shuttlerSirilVerma ranked world No 1 Board (PSPB) men trounced Haryana 3-1 to extend junior their reign over the Barna Ballack Cup for yet another year.
BankExamsToday.com Page 50 Their women regained theGK Jayalakshmi Digest – JanuaryStar Swiss2016 player Stansilas Wawrinka won his Cup after beating West Bengal 3-0 in the fourth title at the Chennai Open today, after team finals of the 77th Senior National comprehensively thumping Croatian Borna Coric Table Tennis Championship at the 6-3, 7-5 in straight sets. Hyderabad. It was the fourth title in five finals for 30- year-old Wawrinka, who had finished runner-up in 2010 and won his first title in Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis clinch Brisbane 2011 at the hard court venue. He also won International title in 2014 and 2015.
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis carried the dominance of 2015 into the new season, winning their sixth consecutive title by lifting the WTA Ashwin is ICC's No. 1 Test bowler, first Indian Brisbane trophy, here on Saturday. The top seeds since Bedi’s feat in 1973 quelled the challenge of German wildcards Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic 7-5, 6-1 in Star India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has mere 69 minutes. ended 2015 as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings on the back of his strong showing against Sania and Martina, the world number one South Africa in the recent home series.Ashwin, team, have now stitched a 26-match who took 62 wickets in nine Tests this year winning streak together, which has including 31 scalps in the four matches against brought them six titles in a row at the US South Africa, became the first India bowler since Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing, WTA Bishen Bedi in 1973 to achieve the milestone of Finals and now here. finishing the year on top.
Raonic beats Federer to win Brisbane title Bedi, an ICC Hall of Famer, is the only India bowler to ever top the Test bowling Milos Raonic got one back on Roger Federer to table.Australian captain Steven Smith is on start the new season. After losing coach Ivan top in Batting Chart. Ljubicic to the Federer camp leading into 2016, Raonic achieved something nobody else born in Magnus Carlsen won the Qatar Masters Open the 1990s has managed to do against the 17-time chess tournament major winner beat him twice. World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway won The 25-year-old Canadian broke Federer’s the Qatar Masters Open chess tournament, billed serve once in each set of a 6-4, 6-4 win on as the strongest Open in history. The top seed had Sunday night in the Brisbane International finished with seven points, the same as Yu Yangyi decider, reversing the outcome of their of China, seeded 11th. He drew his 10th and final meeting in last year’s final at the Australian round encounter with former World Open warmup tournament. champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, while Yu defeated Wesley So of the United States. Wawrinka thumps Coric to win 4th Chennai Open title
BankExamsToday.com Page 51 Surya Shekhar Ganguly wasGK theDigest best-– JanuaryThe Supreme2016 Court-appointed Lodha Committee placed Indian, at 10th. today recommended sweeping reforms for the controversy-ridden BCCI, suggesting a bar on Laxmi Ratan Shukla announced his retirement ministers from occupying positions, putting a cap on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and Former India player and Bengal captain Laxmi legalising betting. Ratan Shukla announced his retirement from cricket. Shukla, who failed to make it to the Bengal In a series of drastic reforms, the three- Ranji squad for most of the current season after member panel, headed by Justice (Retd) R making a comeback from injury, was included in M Lodha, also suggested one unit should the team that played its last league match against represent one state, while taking away the Assam earlier this month. But the player choose to voting rights of institutional and city-based call it quits as he was not getting enough units. The committee also suggested the “motivation” to continue. restructuring of the BCCI’s administrative set-up, proposing the position of a CEO The feisty all-rounder played 137 First accountable to a nine-member apex Class matches and accumulated 6217 runs council. and 143 wickets. “Regarding the IPL, the recommendation is that the chief governing body will be India beat Afghanistan 2-1 to lift SAFF Cup title known as the Governing Council, which for 7th time will comprise nine members. The Secretary and the Treasurer of the BCCI will be ex- India exacted sweet revenge of their last edition officio members of this IPL governing defeat as they beat defending champions council,” Justice Lodha said. Afghanistan 2-1 in the summit clash in a “The Governing Council of IPL will be dominating display to lift the South Asian Football entitled to take all decisions concerning Federation Cup for the seventh time on Sunday. IPL, which includes decisions relating to financial matters. However, the Governing India, who had lost to Afghanistan 0-2 in Council will be answerable to the general the final of 2013 edition in Kathmandu, body of the BCCI. So limited autonomy is were clearly the better side in the final proposed for the IPL GC,” he added. match between the two best teams of the regional tournament though they had to ONGC won 26th LalBahadurShastri Hockey come back from one goal deficit and had to tournament settle the match in the extra time. India, who were playing in the 10th final Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on 3 out of 11 SAFF Cup editions on Sunday, re- January 2015 won the 26th Lal Bahadur Shastri established their dominance in the Hockey tournament.To win the title, the ONGC regional tournament and are also likely to defeated Indian Railways 3-0 on penalties in the make a jump in the FIFA rankings which final match held at the Shivaji Stadium in New will come out on Thursday. Delhi.
Lodha panel proposes drastic reforms for BCCI, At the end of the stipulated time both the IPL CEO given clean chit teams stood at 2 points each. In the
BankExamsToday.com Page 52 shootout, Sumit Kumar, GurjantGK SinghDigest and– January 2016shooting of three foreigners, two of whom Vikramjit Singh scored for ONGC while the died. Railways players could not score a single goal. Wayne Rooney named 2015 England Player of the Year PranavDhanawade creates record, scores 1009 runs in single innings Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been voted 2015 England Player of the Year for the Mumbai school cricketer Pranav Dhanawade fourth time after breaking his country's scoring became the first player to score 1000 runs in a record, the Football Association announced on single innings.Batting for Smt KC Gandhi School, Tuesday, January 5. Kalyan, the opening batsman resumed the day from his overnight score of 652 runs and crossed Rooney, England's captain, received 37 the 1000-run mark after Lunch. percent of the votes in a poll of England Supporters Club members. He previously His school declared the innings at 1465/3 won the award in 2008, 2009 and 2014. with Parnav unbeaten at 1009 which he "To win this award is always a huge honour scored off 323 balls and at a strike-rate of and to win it for a fourth time is something 312.38. He played for a total of 395 I'm very proud of," Rooney said on his minutes.He broke Arthur Collins’s 117 personal website. years old record. Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has produced some impressive Australia pulled out of U-19 World Cup in performances this season, was elected the Bangladesh due to safety concerns Under-21s Player of the Year. Rooney and Butland, 22, will be presented with their Australia on 5 January 2016 withdrew from the awards prior to England's friendly against Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh. Germany in Berlin on March 26. It pulled-out citing security reasons. The decision was announced by Cricket Australia CEO James Apurvi Chandela sets a world record to win gold Sutherland who said the decision was taken after at Swedish Grand Prix monitoring the security situation in Bangladesh. Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela broke the world The tournament is scheduled to happen record on way to winning gold in the women's 10 from 22 January to 14 February 2016. ICC metre air rifle event at the Swedish Cup Grand announced that Australia will be replaced Prix. Chandela shot 211.2 in the event held on by Ireland team – the runners-up in the Tuesday to surpass the feat of Chinese Olympic qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur in gold medallist Yi Siling, who held the record with October 2015. 211. Earlier in October 2015, Cricket Australia had cancelled senior men's Test tour of The result marked a positive start for Bangladesh for similar reasons. It seems Chandela, who has already won an that the decision was made after a series Olympic quota place for the Rio Olympics. of militant violent attacks in the country The silver and bronze went to Swedish since September 2015, including the
BankExamsToday.com Page 53 shooters Astrid SteffensenGK (207.6) Digest and– January 2016from Rajasthan has stood me in good stead Stine Nielsen (185.0). in various international tournaments." An elated Chandela said: "This gold at Chandela had won the gold at the National Sweden has further strengthened my Championships in the Capital last month. resolve to bag a medal at the Rio Olympics She had won an Olympic quota place for this year. The support, encouragement India after winning a bronze at the ISSF and wishes received from my well-wishers World Cup in Changwon, South Korea, in April.
Awards
Social justice award for Nitish Kumar for outstanding achievements in medicine and public health worldwide. Nitish Kumar has been chosen for the K The award was presented on 29 January Veeramani Award for Social Justice 2015 for his 2016 at the Grand Palace in Bangkok by the contribution towards social justice as Chief Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on behalf Minister. The award is given away by Periyar of the King of Thailand Bhumibol International, a Chicago-based voluntary Adulyadej, who couldn’t attend the organisation. ceremony due to ill health. Mahidol Award was established in 1992 to The date and venue of the award function commemorate the 100th birthday are yet to be decided. During his visit to anniversary of Prince Mahidol of Songkla. Delhi in the first week of February, Nitish would meet some members of the award Nisid Hajari won 2016 William E. Colby Award committee and take a call on the venue, for Best Military Book from among Patna, Delhi and Chennai. Nisid Hajari on 28 January 2016 won the 2016 William E. Colby Award for his book, Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India’s Partition. Prince Mahidol Award 2015 conferred in Hajari will be presented with the award Bangkok and honorarium at Norwich University, Prince Mahidol Award 2015 was conferred upon the USA in April 2016. Professor Morton Mower and Sir Michael Marmot
BankExamsToday.com Page 54 The Midnight’s Furies: The DeadlyGK Digest Legacy – January 2016He will be conferred with the award at an of India’s Partition covers the 1947 official ceremony on 25 April 2016 at the partition of India and the violence that Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin, Germany. surrounded that event. Hajari oversees He is the founder of the organization Asia coverage for Bloomberg View, the People’s Watch, one of the most notable editorial page of Bloomberg News. human rights organizations in India. People’s Watch has been researching and documenting human rights violations, as well as providing legal representation to those affected, for over 20 years. The Naresh Bedi has been honoured with V organization also actively supports human rights education. Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award
Wildlife film maker & Padma Shri awardee Naresh Bedi has been honoured with V Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award during David Warner wins Allan Border Medal 2016 the inauguration of 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Australian batsman David Warner defeated Animation Films – MIFF 2016. captain Steve Smith for the prestigious Allan Border Medal for 2016. The award was presented by Maharashta CM Devendra Fadnavis and MoS for Warner polled 240 votes from players, Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan umpires and media representatives to Rathore beat 2015 winner and skipper Steve Smith The award is instituted in memory of on 219. Pace bowler Mitchell Starc was legendary film makerV Shantaram, who third on 183 votes. was head of the Films Division in the past. Warner also won the Test Player of the It is comprised of a trophy, shawl and a Year Award with 30 votes ahead of Smith cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs. on 24.
Henri Tiphagne selected for Amnesty International Human Rights Award 2016 Chennupati Jagadish awarded Australia’s highest civilian honour
Australia has awarded its highest civilian honour, Indian lawyer and human rights defender Henri the Companion of the Order or Australia (AC) to Tiphagne selected for the 8th Human Rights India-origin scientist and professor Chennupati Award by Amnesty International Germany. The Jagadish. award is a recognition of Tiphagne’s exceptional commitment to human rights. Professor Jagadish is currently the head of the Semiconductor Optoelectronics and Nanotechnology Group at the Australian
BankExamsToday.com Page 55 National University. He was givenGK Digest the – January 2016Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, actors Ajay award in recognition for his service to Devgn and Priyanka Chopra get Padma physics and engineering. Shri. Professor Jagadish’s projects include a Reliance Industries founder late Dhirubhai new class of lasers that can help in Ambani awarded Padma Vibhushan. telecommunications and “new lightweight solar cells with increased efficiency”.
Rekha conferred with Yash Chopra Marat Safin inducted into International Tennis Memorial award Hall of Fame
Veteran actress Rekha was honoured with the The Russian Tennis Federation on 14 January Yash Chopra Memorial Award on Monday evening 2016 announced that former World No.1 tennis in Mumbai for her contribution to the film player Marat Safin joined the International Tennis industry. Hall of Fame.
The award was presented by Maharashtra The official ceremony to induct Safin has Governor C. Vidyasagar. been scheduled for 16 July 2016. Rekha, 61, who worked with Chopra in 1981 romance “Silsila”, will be given the The Russian tennis player was announced honour on February 2 next year by the as a candidate for the induction into the Governor of Maharashtra in a glittering Hall of Fame in October 2015 together ceremony in Mumbai. with Belgium's Justine Henin, a former Previous recipients include Melody Queen women's singles No.1 and seven-time Lata Mangeshkar and megastar Amitabh major champion, and Helena Sukova from Bachchan. the Czech Republic, who won 14 major titles in doubles and mixed doubles.
Padma Vibhushan for Rajinikanth, Sri Sri Ravi MP bags Krishi Karman award for fourth year in Shankar row Actor Rajinikanth, media baron Ramoji Rao, former J&K Governor Jagmohan and spiritual guru Madhya Pradesh has bagged the Krishi Karman Sri Sri Ravi Shankar awarded Padma Vibhushan. award instituted by the Centre for the fourth Former CAG Vinod Rai, Bollywood actor consecutive year in recognition of the growth in Anupam Kher and singer Udit Narayan overall agricultural production in the state. awarded Padma Bhushan. Madhya Pradesh has chalked out roadmap Former US Ambassador to India Robert D for even more enthusiastic participation by Blackwill, sportspersons Saina Nehwal and farmers in agriculture. Sania Mirza and Indu Jain of Bennett The award was initiated in 2010-11. Coleman & Co get Padma Bhushan. Ranveer Singh, DeepikaPadukonewin big at Filmfare Awards
BankExamsToday.com Page 56 At the Filmfare Awards held in Mumbai,GK Digest Deepika– JanuaryRajannamed2016as The Banker's central banker of won the Best actor in female category for her film the year ‘Piku’, while Ranveer iwon t for ‘Bajirao Mastani’. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Amitabh bachchan and Priyanka Chopra Rajan was named The Banker magazine's Global were among other winners. and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year Here is the list of winners at the 61st 2015, for stabilising the Indian rupee, initiating key Filmfare Awards__ reforms to attract much needed foreign capital in the country and reining in a runaway price Award Winner appreciation. Best Actor Ranveer Singh Best Actress Deepika Padukone The RBI governor has been named central Best Film Bajirao Mastani bank governor of the year several times by Best Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali other international magazines. In October 2014, Euromoney and in January 2015, Best Actor Debut Sooraj Pancholi Central Banking awarded him the best Best Actress Debut Bhumi Pednekar central banker award for his contribution Critics’ Choice Best Film Piku in stabilising the Indian economy.After he Critics’ Choice Best Actor Amitabh Bachchan took over in September 2013, the first Critics’ Choice Best Kangna Ranaut priority for the RBI governor was to Actress stabilise the local currency, which hit a Lifetime Achievement record low of 68.87 a dollar on August 28. Moushumi Chatterjee Award The Banker is a prestigious monthly magazine of the Financial Times Group. Indian author Anuradha Roy wins DSC Prize for 'Sleeping on Jupiter' Tata Steel bags PM’s trophy
Anuradha Roy has been announced the winner of Tata Steel has been declared as the winner of the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Prime Minister’s Trophy for being the ‘Best Literature 2016 for her novel 'Sleeping on Jupiter' Performing Integrated Steel Plant’ in the country at the Fairway Galle Literary Festival in Sri Lanka. for the performance year 2013 – 2014.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, This Award has been conferred on the who was the chief guest on the occasion, Company for the eighth time. awarded 50,000 dollars as DSC Prize along with a unique trophy to the winner, The Company went through three rounds reports the Lanka Page. of rigorous assessment, adjudged by a Wickremesinghe also commented on the panel of distinguished judges. The importance of South Asian literature and enthusiasm and involvement of its the crucial role it plays to improve the lives employees including the Union Leadership of the people in this region. team was highly appreciated by the panel of judges for the Prime Minister’s Trophy, reaffirming the core strength of Tata Steel
BankExamsToday.com Page 57 – its skilled and motivated workforceGK Digest that– JanuaryBarcelona2016superstar Lionel Messi wins Ballon has a will to excel. d'Or award for world's best player for fifth time
Leonardo DiCaprio wins Golden Globe for film The Barcelona and Argentina forward finished drama actor ahead of Ronaldo and Brazil forward Neymar as he scooped the award for the fifth time overall, Leonardo DiCaprio won the Golden Globe award having previously won it four years in a row from for best dramatic actor in The Revenant. DiCaprio 2009 to 2012. Messi helped Barcelona to a Spanish was saluted with a standing ovation at the Beverly league, domestic cup and Champions League Hilton hotel. He beat out Bryan Cranston of treble plus the Club World Cup and also led Trumbo, Michael Fassbender of Steve Jobs, Eddie Argentina to the Copa America final, where they Redmayne of The Danish Girl, and Will Smith of lost to Germany. Concussion. He defeated three time winner Ronaldo The 41-year-old actor born in Hollywood and NEymar in the race to clinch the earned his third career Golden Globe. His award. earlier wins came two years ago for The Wolf of Wall Street and in 2005 for The Employees Provident Fund Organization won Aviator. the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 Awards At a glance: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization won Winner Category the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for Leonardo DiCaprio Best actor in The Revenant. launching the Universal Account Number (UAN). Brie Larson Best actress The Revenant Best motion picture UAN is an e-initiative of EPFO, launched in July 2014. In this initiative, all active Kate Winslet Best supporting actress employees are provided a universal Sylvester Stallone Best supporting actor number which can be linked to various provident fund account numbers provided Author Balkrishna Garg awarded H K Devsarev to them while working in different Baalsahitya award organizations. The EPFO bagged the national award in the Veteran poet Balkrishna Garg was today honoured ‘innovative use of technology in e- with the second Hari krishna Devsare Baalsahitya governance’ category and the retirement Award 2015 for his collection of poems for body will get a cash prize of 200000 children, titled Baal Geet. rupees.
Sahitya Akademi President Vishwanath Amitabh Bachchan made honorary life member Prasad Tiwari and National Book Trust of Mohammedan Sporting Chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma conferred the award comprising a cash prize of Rs Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan on 12 January 75,000, a shawl and a citation on Garg at a 2016 was bestowed honorary life membership of function here. Kolkata’s soccer outfit Mohammedan Sporting.
BankExamsToday.com Page 58 Sporting president Sultan AhmedGK Digest handed– JanuaryOther award2016 winners over the club’s life membership to Bachchan. 1. Syed Kirmani, C.K. Naydu Lifetime Bachchan was also invited to be the chief Achievement Award guest of the club’s 125th anniversary gala 2. JalajSaxena, Madhya Pradesh (Lala event to be held later in 2016. Amarnath award, best all-rounder in the Mohammedan Sporting along with Mohun Ranji Trophy) Bagan A.C. and East Bengal F.C. are tagged 3. Deepak Hooda, Baroda (Lala Amarnath as the Big Three. award, best all-rounder domestic limited over competitions) Subhashini Vasanthhonoured with Neerja 4. Robin Uthappa, Karnataka (Madhavrao Bhanot Award Scindia award, highest scorer in Ranji Trophy) Bengaluru-based activist Subhashini Vasanth on 5. R. Vinay Kumar, Karnataka and Shardul 13 January 2016 was honoured with Neerja Thakur, Mumbai (Madhavrao Scindia Bhanot Award. She was presented the award for award, highest wicket-takers in Ranji her endeavour to help people in distress and for Trophy) empowering widows of martyrs and their families 6. Almas Shaukat, Uttar Pradesh (M.A. across the country.Bollywood actor Sonam Chidambaram Trophy, best u-23 cricketer), Kapoor presented the award to Vasanth at a 7. Anmolpreet Singh, Punjab (M.A. ceremony held in Chandigarh. Chidambaram Trophy, best u-19 cricketer) 8. Shubman Gill, Punjab (M.A. Chidambaram She started the Vasantharatna Trophy, best u-16 cricketer) Foundationin memory of her husband. The 9. Mithali Raj, Railways (M.A. Chidambaram foundation provides education Trophy, best woman cricketer) scholarships, conducted empowerment 10. DevikaVaidya, Maharashtra (M.A. programmes and outbound learning Chidambaram Trophy, best Jr. woman programmes for women and children. cricketer) 11. O. Nandan (best umpire in domestic cricket).
BCCI’s top award for Kohli Harpal Singh Kumar received Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II India’s Test captain Virat Kohli has won the Cricketer-of-the-Year 2015 award. The award is An Indian-origin cancer research expert Harpal named after former India captain and all-rounder Singh Kumar received a Knighthood from Queen Polly Umrigar. Kohli will receive the award at the Elizabeth II for his influential work on prevention BCCI annual awards function here on January 5. and treatment of cancer. His name appeared in the annual New Year’s Honours list that includes The Karnataka State Cricket Association several other Indian-origin individuals. (KSCA) which won the Ranji Trophy, ZalIrani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the Among the Officer of the Most Excellent 2014-15 season has been declared the Order of the British Empire (OBE) list were best team. Kala Patel, managing director of Kiddycare
BankExamsToday.com Page 59 Ltd Nurseries, forGK Digest services– January 2016considerably in enhancing the brand image to childcare business and Daljit Lally, of our pharmaceutical exporters. deputy chief executive of Northumberland It will also provide simpler platform for the Country Council, for services to integrated regulatory agencies and consumer for care. establishing drug authentication. Under this project, the DAVA application has DAVA project bags 2015 eASIA award for trade been incorporated with value-added facilitation features like availability of stocks for a drug in an area/retailers/ wholesalers at a point The Drug Authentication and Verification of time. Application (DAVA) project of The Department of Using it drugs can easily be identified and Commerce has won the 2015 eASIA Award under recalled due to traceability of stocks which Trade Facilitation category. The award was in turn helps in prevention of black announced by Asia Pacific Council for Trade marketing which especially arises during Facilitation (APCTF) and Tehran based (Iran) epidemics. Electronic Business. Kate Atkinson wins Costa novel prize for A God The eASIA award is administered by AFACT in Ruins which aims to development and promotion of trade facilitation, electronic The pressure might have been too much for some business policies and activities in the Asia writers but not Kate Atkinson: just two years after Pacific region. winning the Costa novel award for Life After Life, DAVA project was launched by Union a major bestseller hailed as “astonishing” by Government in June 2015. It seeks to judges at the time, the novelist has landed the create an integrated platform for prize again for her follow-up, A God in Ruins. implementation of the Track and Trace system for exporters and domestic Described as a “utterly magnificent and in markets of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. a class of its own. A genius book” by the The project aims to cover all the drugs judges, A God in Ruins tells the story of the manufactured in India and contribute second world war bomber pilot.
Death
Former Army Chief Gen K V Krishna Rao passes Rao also served as the Governor of Jammu and away Kashmir at a time when militancy was at its peak Former Army Chief General K V Krishna Rao, who in the state. played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Rao was the 14th Chief of the Army Staff of Liberation War, died here today at the military Indian Army and had an illustrious career hospital following a cardiac arrest. He was 92. spanning over four decades in the force. He was commissioned into the Army on August 9, 1942. As a young officer, he had
BankExamsToday.com Page 60 served in Burma, North WestGK Frontier Digest and– January 2016was best known for her comic roles in Baluchistan during the Second World War. South Indian films.
Former Deputy Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Nirmala Gajwani died Former Deputy Speaker of Gujarat Assembly and Arindam Sen Gupta passed away Social Activist Nirmala Gajwani passed away on 21 January 2016 in Rajkot, Gujarat. She was 87. Arindam Sen Gupta, managing editor of The Gajwani was the first lady Deputy Speaker Times of India, passed away early on Thursday of Gujarat legislative Assembly. after a brief but brave battle against cancer.Sen Gupta had a long and distinguished association with the TOI group, which he rejoined in 1991 after a previous stint from 1988 to 1990. He British Actor Alan Rickman passed away joined The Economic Times as coordinating editor Actor Alan Rickman, known for films including Harry Potter, Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, died of cancer on 14 January 2016 in Malayalam actor Kalpana passes away in London, England. Hyderabad National award-winning actress Kalpana, who He had been conferred with Golden Globe appeared in 300 films including recent superhit Award, an Emmy Award and a Screen “Charlie”, died this morning in Hyderabad due to Actors Guild Award. a heart attack. She was 51. Kalpana Ranjani was in Hyderabad to shoot a Telugu film and was Lagaan actor Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay died scheduled to leave for Kerala later today. She was declared brought dead at a Bollywood actor Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay died on hospital around 7 am, sources told PTI. 14 January 2016 due to a heart attack in Kalpana had received the National award Hyderabad. He was 66. Rajesh was mainly known for best supporting actress for her for his roles in films like Lagaan and Swades. performance in “Thanichala Njan” (2012). Sister of actors Urvashi and Kalaranjini, He is also noted for his roles in the historic Kalpana forayed into Malayalam films as a TV series Bharat Ek Khoj. His best acting child actor in “Vidarunne Mottukul” in was seen in the TV Serial Aghori which is 1977. Among her other Malayalam hits are his horror best. “Ennum Eppuzhum”, “Karnavar”, “Dolfins”, “Bangalore Days” and “Spirit“. Former Sikkim Governor Ventrapragada Rama “Kakki Sattai”, “Idhaya Thiruda”, “Sathi Rao passed away Leelavathi” and “Chinna Veedu” are among her Tamil films. Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Malayalam actors K P A C Lalitha, Kaviyoor former Sikkim Governor Ventrapragada Rama Rao Ponnamma and Innocent, MP, expressed passed away on 17 January 2016 in Hyderabad shock at the demise of the actress, who after prolonged illness. He was 80.
BankExamsToday.com Page 61 Born on 12 December 1935,GK Rao Digest was a– January 2016All Time. The band was ranked number 75 lawyer by profession and practised at the on the magazine's 2004 list of the 100 Andhra Pradesh High Court. Greatest Artists of All Time. In October 2002, he was appointed by President of India as the Governor of Sikkim. He served as Governor of Sikkim from 2002 to 2007. Renowned film-maker Lakshman Rao Mohite alias Geethapriya died World’s oldest man dies at 112 in Japan Renowned Kannada lyricist and film-maker The world’s oldest man, Yasutaro Koide, died Geethapriya died of cardiac arrest on 17 January today at the age of 112 in central Japan, a local 2016 in Bengaluru. He was 84 and survived by official said. Koide, born just months before the wife, son and two daughters. Wright brothers made their first successful flight, died in hospital in the central Japanese city of Lakshman Rao Mohite was born on 15 June Nagoya, where he had lived for many years, said 1931 and became famous his pen-name the city official. Geethapriya. He penned lyrics for over 250 songs in Kannada and directed 40 films The super-centenarian, recognised as the including one Hindi film. world’s oldest male at 112 last year, died of heart failure and pneumonia, the official added. Koide, a former tailor who was born on Filmmaker Anil Ganguly passed away March 13, 1903 in Fukui prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, received a certificate Noted filmmaker Anil Ganguly passed away today from Guinness World Records confirming at his residence here after a brief illness.He was the achievement after another Japanese 82. man who was just a month older died in July. Ganguly is a noted director and screenwriter, who worked in Hindi cinema The Eagles' guitarist Glenn Frey passed away from 1970s to the 90s. He is best known for Jaya Bhaduri starrer, Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of "Kora Kagaz" and "Tapasya" both of which the Eagles, one of the most popular and won National Award. commercially successful artists of the 1970s, passed away on 18 January 2016 in New York, the Veteran journalist Aroon Tikekar passed away USA. He was 67. Senior journalist and scholar Aroon Tikekar passed At the end of the 20th century, two of their away on 19 January 2016 in Mumbai. He was 72. albums, Their Greatest Hits and Hotel Tikekar, who has written over 20 books, passed California, were ranked among the 20 away due to breathing-related complications. best-selling albums in the United States. Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Aroon Tikekar worked as a college teacher Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of for some years. Then, he became the
BankExamsToday.com Page 62 Language and Literature GK Expert Digest and– January 2016One of the most influence musical artistes Acquisitions Specialist at the US Library of of his generation, Bowie is known for his Congress Office in New Delhi. camelion-like qualities as a performer that often blurred the lines between genders in an illustrious career that spanned four decades. Hindi writer RavindraKalia passes away 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War Hero Noted Hindi writer and journalist Ravindra Kalia Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob Died passed away at a private hospital. He was 78. Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob (retired), hero of Kalia had been suffering from liver 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and former cirrhosis, according to family sources. Governor of Goa and Punjab, died on 13 January Known for his works like 'Nau Saal Chotti 2016 after prolonged illness. He was 92. Patni' and 'Ghalib Chutti Sharab', the former Bharatiya Jnanpith director was Jacob, who negotiated the surrender of also the editor of several literary Pakistani troops in Dhaka, was best known magazines, including Naya Gyanodaya. for his role in India's victory in the 1971 war. Formula 1: First female driver Maria Teresa de During the war, He served as the Chief of Filippis dies age 89 Staff of the Indian Army's Eastern Command by being the Major General. Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to race in a Formula 1 grand prix, has died aged 89.
The Italian started three grands prix for the Veteran CPI leader AB Bardhan passed away Maserati team in 1958 with a best finish of 10th at Spa in Belgium.She also failed to Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader qualify for the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away on 2 along with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. January 2016 after a long illness. He was 92.
British singer David Bowie dies at 69 He was the former general secretary of the CPI, which is one of the oldest political British singer-songwriter David Bowie has died at parties in India. the age of 69 after battling cancer for 18 months. He won an election just once, to the Maharashtra Assembly, in 1957 as an “David Bowie died peacefully today Independent. surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole passed While many of you will share in this loss, away we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief,” read a Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole passed away statement posted on the singer’s official on 31 December 2015 due to congestive heart social media accounts.
BankExamsToday.com Page 63 failure following complications fromGK aDigest kidney– January 2016Court, and in 1993, he was appointed as a transplant in Los Angeles. She was 65. Permanent Judge. In 2003, he was transferred to the Cole, daughter of late jazz legend Nat King Uttarakhand High Court, where he served Cole, was known for carving out her own a short stint as Chief Justice. On 18 success with R&B hits like Our Love and December 2003, he was appointed as a This Will Be. Cole broke out into the singing judge of the Supreme Court. On 12 May world in 1975 with the hit This Will Be, 2010, he was sworn in as the 38th Chief which won the Grammy Award for best Justice of India by the President Pratibha R&B female performance and also earned Patil. her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed dies Former Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi Kapadia died Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away of multiple Ex-Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi Kapadia organ failure in New Delhi on Thursday morning passed away on 4 January 2016 in Mumbai. He after nearly a week long hospital is ation. He was was 68. Kapadia is survived by wife and a son and 78. a daughter. MrSayeed, a two time chief minister of the Born on 29 September 1947, Kapadia state had started his second tenure on graduated from Government Law College, March 1st, 2015 in alliance with the BJP, Mumbai. He was enrolled as an advocate after having led the state government at the Bombay High Court in 1974. In 1991, between 2003-05 previously. he was elevated to the Bench as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High
Books
BJP leader ShatrughanSinha’s book launch present, as were CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Amar Singh and Congress leader A function to launch actor-MP Shatrughan Sinha’s Randeep Surjewala. biography Anything but Khamosh ended up showcasing the lines along which the Bihar defeat In the book, Shatrughan Sinha tells the has divided leaders in the BJP.The party’s most biographer, Bharathi S Pradhan, of prominent critics within — L K Advani, Yashwant “notable exceptions” to the rule of not Sinha, Kirti Azad —attended the event. Two Union granting a third term in the Upper House: ministers, Harsh Vardhan and V K Singh, were “Many party leaders like Arun Jaitley, and
BankExamsToday.com Page 64 my friends Ravi Shankar GK Prasad Digest and– January 2016The book, My India, Nobel India, will be Venkaiah Naidu were given a third term in available in four languages - English, Hindi, the RajyaSabha.” Gujarati and Marathi. The author through his book has ‘Azad Bachpan Ki Aur’ Chronicles Kailash highlighted various social evils, Satyarthi’s Journey deficiencies prevailing at individual level, and also expressed his anger about those The 2014 Nobel Peace laureate’s first book in evils. Hindi Azad Bachpan Ki Aur was launched on January 7. Book titled Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian Polity in Perspective released by Hamid Ansari The book is a selection of articles penned by Satyarthi on landmark movements, The book titled Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian judgments, events and prominent policy Polity in Perspective was released by Hamid Ansari intervention in his three-decade-long on 12 January 2016 by the Vice President of India struggle for child rights. Hamid Ansari at Thiruvananthapuram in Since the 1980s, the activist has been Kerala.The book was edited by Prof Alexander and fighting various issues related to children with contributions from eminent persons like and their rights. The book talks about Justice K T Thomas, Dr.Rajan Kurukkal, Dr B issues of child labour, rescue operations, Vivekanandan, M G Radhakrishnan and others. trafficking, child slavery, sexual abuse against children and illiteracy. The focus of the book is on the role of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Book titled MARU BHARAT SARU BHARAT Minister, on shaping the polity of modern authored by Jain Acharya Maharaj released India.It was published by T M Varghese Foundation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 January 2016 released a book titled “MARU BHARAT SARU BHARAT “. This is the 300th book of Book named ‘Turbulent years’ released Ratnasundersuriswar ji Maharaj. The book release The second part of President Pranab Mukherjee’s function was organized by Sahitya Satkar Samiti of biography ‘Turbulent years’ was released Ratnatrayee Trust in Mumbai. yesterday.
He has shared his political experiences in this book.
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