EBD_9008

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For further information about the books from DISHA, Log on to www.dishapublication.com or email to [email protected] CONTENTS

Current Affairs with MCQs CA-1–CA-32

Indian Railways 1-30 General Science 31-74 Computers 75-104 Indian Panorama 105-120 World Panorama 121–136 Indian History 137-155 Indian Polity 156-166 Economy 167-176 Geography 177-186 Ecology and Environment 187-190 Art, Culture & Tourism 191-197 Communication, Media and Transport 198-204 Healthcare 205-208 Sports & Games 209-212 MCQs 213-235 • Railways • General Knowledge EBD_9008 Current Affairs with MCQs

INDIAN RAILWAYS SWOT INTRODUCTION from general finances. In 1904, the idea to electrify the rail network was • It is the state owned railway company proposed. of India, overseen by the Ministry of • In 1925, India’s first ever railway Railways. budget was presented. • The first time a rail locomotive was • The first electric train on Feb 3, 1925 used in India on 21st Dec. 1851 over ran on Mumbai Victoria Terminus (VT) Ganga Canal near Town Rurki. - Kurla branch line, a distance of 16 • First train in India ran between Bori kms. Bunder, Bombay to Thane on Saturday • In 1951, these 42 companies were 16th April 1853, with 14 carriages/ nationalised as one unit. coaches and 400 guests and journey of • On April 14, 1951, Southern Railway 33.81 kms taking 1:15 hrs. It was the was formed. first commercial passenger service. • On April 14, 1952, Northern Railway • By 1947, there were 42 rail system or was formed. railway companies. • In 1970, the last was • The Great Indian Peninsula Railway rolled out of Chittaranjan Locomotive was the first railway company of India. works. By 1985, steam Locomotives • The first train was hauled by three were phased out. engines - Sindh, Sahib and Sultan, the • The third class in the Indian Railway Steam Locomotives. was abolished in 1974. • The Great Indian Peninsula Railway • Railway Fund to assist victims of took a set of 8 locomotives from Vul- railway accidents was set up in 1974. can Foundry, England in the beginning • In 1977, India got its first Railway of operation in India. Museum spreading over 10 acres in • In December 1851, first steam engine New Delhi. Thomason was operated in Roorkee, • On March 31, 1978, Railways were second was named after Bombay Gov- split into 9 zones. ernor as Lord Falkland, and third was • On October 24, 1984, became used as trial run of the passenger train the first Indian city where first metro in Nov. 1852. rail ran 25 kms from Calcutta to • On August 15, 1854, the first passen- Dumdum. ger train in eastern section ran be- • In 1985, steam locomotives were tween to Hooghly (24 miles). replaced by diesel and electric • On March 3, 1859, North India got its locomotives. first passenger train ran between Al- • In 1987, computerization of lahabad and Kanpur (180 Kms). reservation was first carried out in • In 1895, India started manufacturing Bombay. its own locomotives. • In 1989, Indian train numbers were • In September 1921, Acworth Com- standardised to 4 digits. mittee headed by William Acworth • On 24 march 1994, first live telecast of decided to separate railway finances railway budget took place. EBD_9008

CA-2 Current Affairs with MCQs

• In 1995, entire railway reservation was • Its production units produce complete computerised through the railways range of products in its area of internet. operation, i.e., DG sets, loco components • In 1998 was opened and sub-assemblies. for public. • Indian railroad network (66,030 kms) is • In 1999, bagged the the largest in Asia and 4th largest in the National Tourism Award for most world followed by China(3rd), Russia innovative and unique Tourism Venture. (2nd), USA (1st) and Canada (5th). • In 2000, Mamta Banerjee became the • It is the world’s second largest under first woman Railway Minister of India. one management. • On December 24, 2002, • It has taken steps to conduct all Rail Corporation (DMRC) began its examinations online as a measure operation in Delhi. against malpractices. • Six times Rail Budgets were presented • It permits Railway Recruitment Board by the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad (RRB) candidates to keep the question Yadav from 2004 to 2009. booklets. • On Monday, February 1, 2010 Wi-Fi • It permitted RRB candidates to upload facility was first launched at Mysore answer keys and cut-off marks in 2014-15. Railway station. • In 2014-15, it conducted examinations • On October 20, 2011, Bengaluru got for 48, 822 vacancies in 284 categories. Namma Metro. • It has its own Indian Railways Institute • On June 8, 2014, Mumbai got Mumbai of Civil Engineering Forum to study its various projects and its execution. Metro and Mumbai Monorail. • Total locomotives are 10822 (Steam 43 • The largest platform in India is + Diesel 5714 + Elec. 5065) in which Kharagpur (W.B.), i.e. 2733 feet long. broad gauge 10391 + Metre gauge 233 • The longest railway tunnel is Konkan in the year 2014-15. (Maharashtra), i.e. 65 km. • Total passenger coaches are 67308 • The longest rail bridge is across (EMU 8475 + Conventional 51833 Godavari river i.e. 10052 feet long. +s Other 7000) with a capacity of • Chenab Railway Bridge Kalra (J&K) 1920768 accomodation in 2014-15. 359 metres/1177 feet will be • Total freight cars/ wagons are 2,54,006 world’s highest bridge by Dec. 2016. (Broad gauge 250,711 + Metre gauge It will surpass current tallest over 3,139 + Others) Beipanjiang river in China (i.e. 275 • Total tracks are 108706 kms (BG-86,526 meters high). kms + MG-18,529 kms + NG-3651 kms) • The largest marshalling yard is at • Total Routes are 66,030 kms (BG 58825 Mughal Sarai. km + MG 4908 km + NG 2297 km) 2014-15. • Seven classes are at present: (1) AC- • Total double/multiple tracks are 20,633 1T, (2) AC-2T, (3) AC-3T, (4) Sleeper, kms i.e., 31.25% of total Route kms (5)C A chair car, (6) First class and (7) (2014-2015) SecondSWOT class. ANALYSIS • Total Route electrified are 22,224 kms Strengths out of total 66,030 kms (i.e., 33.66% of total), 2014-15. • Now it carries over 1.30 crores passengers • Indian railways is the lifeline of the nation. & 13 lakh tones of freight every day. • Indian railways has largest land • It runs about 20,038 trains daily property in the country. (passenger -12,617 (freight-7421) • It is the largest employer in India • It has most powerful locomotive, i.e. followed by Defence. Electric Locomotive WAG-9/ WAP-7 • 13.36 Lakh gazetted and non-gazetted (Modified version) capable of hauling 24 workers are currently employed. coaches at a speed of 140 to 160 km/hour. Current Affairs with MCQs CA-3

• It has solar power run trains. • Freight train speeds lowest in the world, • It has almost 7500 railway stations. i.e. 25km/hr. • It manufactures locomotives and engines • Poor track record of project completion. indigenously. • Lacklustre growth in revenues - both • Its Electric Locomotives are manufactured passenger and freight. at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (W. • Poor operating ratio (i.e. % age of Bengal) revenues account for expenses) which is • Its Diesel Locomotives are manufactured expected to be 92% for 2016-17 which in Varanasi. was 90% in 2015-16. • Soon India is going to get the first • Unhygienic condition of pantry car. Bullet train from Japan to run between • Poor quality of food supplied to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. passengers. • Indian railways networks are divided • Dirty toilets into 16 zones. • Toilet facilities are absent in EMU trains. • Fairy Queen - the oldest working steam • Stations are not clean. locomotives engine in the world and it • Toilets at stations are in very bad conditions. is the oldest steam engine in operation • Maintenance and overhead expenses hauling luxurious train from Delhi to are very high. for tourists. It secured a place • Lack of flexibility in routes and turnings. in the Guiness Book of World record • Lack of door to door services. and got Heritage Awardat Int’l Tourist • Inefficiency and high costs are due to Bureau, Berlin in March, 2000. lack of competition. • Electric Multiple Units (EMU) coaches • Unsuitable for short distance and small are used in large cities -mainly roads. Mumbai, , Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, • More time & Labour required in booking Hyderabad, Bangalore, etc. & delivery of goods. • In 2016, the fastest train in India is the • Not rural area oriented. Bhopal Shatabdi that runs with a top • Under-utilisation of its capacity. seed of 150 km/h. • Over centralised administration • ‘’ first proposed in • It is a hostage of vote bank politics to July 2014, India’s first semi-high speed offer populist measures. bullet train had a successful trial run • Free travels for politicians, government from Delhi to in 90 minutes. Its employees and ministers is negative for maximum speed will be 200 km/h. It its economy. will run at a speed of 160 km/h. • Reserved seats for politicians and higher Opportunities • Darjeeling Himalayan Railways attained dignitaries reflects bad impressions. the World Heritage` status from UNESCO. • Indian Railways revenue estimates of Weaknesses2016-17 is 1,84,820 crore. • Indian Railways can capture large chunk of container traffic by introducing block container trains at passenger speeds. • Indian Railways Passenger sector is • Its 70% revenue comes from freight loss making, i.e. among the lowest of sector and has scope to add more passenger fare in the world. companies. • Accidents and delays cause a dent to the • Its Operating Ratio (OR) has been image. decreasing drastically in last 10 years • Facilities not comparable to international has further scope. standards. • Monetisation from non-tariff measure- • Unorganised railway stations, i.e. dirty advertising, leasing of land adjacent to and poor in infrastructure. rail network, date analytics with the • Infrastructure Bottlenecks leading to available data. low average speeds. • Asset monetisation EBD_9008

CA-4 Current Affairs with MCQs

• Creation of dedicated freight corridors • Indian Railways has proposed and increased focus on containerisation. e-ticketing to be opened to foreign cards • Improving traveller amenities and for tourists, NRIS. customer experiences. • It has proposed 44 new partnership • Website of Indian Railway catering and works valued at about `92,714 crore to Tourism Corporation can be exploited Threatsbe implemented. for economic activities. • Green track for Road Railer Service can increase penetration into non-freight • Open railway tracks can cause any segment of companies/regions. disaster for trains, travellers, goods, etc. • Technological upgradation (i.e. Wi- • Chain-pulling to stop train anywhere is Fi, Mobile applications, e-commerce a serious threat by terrorists. platform, etc.) can improve customer • Unchecked boarding at majority of interface and monitoring of project stations can cause major mishappenings. implementation. • h Very hig competition from road and • 2016 budget puts spotlight on over- low cost airlines in passengers and stressed suburban (EMU) train services freight. in metros like Mumbai, Kolkatta & Delhi. • Over dependence on low yield bulk • Railways Minister has proposed to cargo (currently 10 commodities revive the Ring Rail network in Delhi account for 80% of the freight). and two new corridors in Mumbai. • Increase in allowable gross weight of • Rail Budget 2016 has proposed to road vehicle. develop 3 freight corridors, draft a • Possible introduction of double road freight train timetable, increase the trailers. speedo t 50 kms/hr and build rail side • Finding the money over Rs.1.21 lakh logistics parks & ware houses. crore that is targeted to be invested in • Rail Budget 2016-Vision 2020 for on 2016-17. demand reservation, technology for • High democratic /political presence safety, Punctuality -95%, Freight trains against higher tariffs. time-table, increased average speed, etc. • Indian Railways has faced twin • By 2020 there will be zero direct headwinds from the tepid economy discharge of human waste. and the impact of 7th pay commission • By 2020 unmanned crossing will be award. eliminated. • The operating ratio improved from 98% • Budget 2016 has proposed new in o 2001 t 76% in 2008. But now it has structure for railways by - Cooperation, again reached to 92% for 2017. Collaboration, Creativity and • Tatkal ticket booking is not working Communication. either on window or on e-ticketing for • The IR minister Prabhu’s 3 pronged direct general public. strategies to overhaul the operating • e There ar 10000 unmanned railways efficiency are Reorganise, restructure crossing all over the country. and rejuvenate. • Corruption at every level is a threat for • 1.21 lakh crore Rupees proposed its development, services, security and investment for 2016-17 should facilitate safety. modernization of the Railways. • Passengers especially older people, • Railway Budget 2016 has proposed women and children are not safe. to start- – a long • There is security threat in IT system of distance, unreserved, superfast-train. railways. • Indian Railways has proposed to launch • is most 3 select train services – Humsafar, Tejas severe overcrowding accident prone in and UDAY. the world. Current Affairs with MCQs CA-5

RAILWAY BUDGET 2016

Railway Budget 2016 was presented on • 1,600 km of electrification this year and February 25, 2016 by Suresh Prabhu, the 2,000 km proposed for the next year. Railway Minister of India. Here are the • Introduced 1,780 Automatic Ticket highlights of the rail budget 2016: Vending Machines, mobile apps & • No hike in passenger fares. GoIndia smartcard for cashless purchase • Swacch Bharat: 17000 biotoilets and of UTS and PRS tickets, enhanced additional toilets in 475 stations before capacity of e-ticketing system from the close of this financial year. 2,000 tickets per minute to 7,200 tickets • Wifi at 100 stations this year and 400 per minute and to support 1,20,000 stations next year. concurrent users as against only 40,000 • 33% reservation to women in reserved earlier. quota in Railways to be introduced. • Propose to invite FM Radio stations for • Deen Dayal coaches for long distance providing train-borne entertainment; trains for unreserved passengers. These extend ‘Rail Bandhu’ to all reserved coaches will include potable water classes of travelers and in all regional and higher number of mobile charging languages. points. • Janani Sewa: Children’s menu, baby • Security through helplines & CCTVs; foods, baby boards to be made available Safety - 350 manned level crossings for travelling mothers. closed, eliminated 1,000 unmanned • Overnight double-decker train Uday level crossings, 820 ROB/RUB Express to be introduced on busiest completed in the current year and work routes, carrying capacity to be 40% going on in 1,350 of them. more. • SMART (Specially Modified Aesthetic • Porters not to be called “coolies” but be Refreshing Travel) Coaches are called “sahayaks” now; will be trained in redesigned coaches with redesigned soft skills. bio-vaccum toilets, vending machines, • Railways to increase lower berth quota advertising boards, PA system, dustbins, for senior citizens by 50%. ergonomic seating. • Ajmer, Amritsar, Gaya, Mathura, Nanded, • Clean my Coach: Passengers will be Nashik, Puri, Tirupati, Varanasi, able to demand cleaning of a toilet via Nagapattinam and other pilgrim SMS. The audit will be done by third stations to be beautified. party and action to be taken based on • Bar-coded tickets to be introduced at passenger feedback. select stations on pilot basis to tackle • Tejas: It will showcase the future of train nuisance of ticketless travel. travel in India with operating speeds of • Two elevated suburban railway 130 kmph. corridors – Churchgate-Virar and CST- • Rail Mitra Sewa: Expanding Sarathi Seva Panvel to be constructed in Mumbai; in Konkan Railway to help the old and Ring railway covering 21 stations to be disabled passengers, strengthening revived with state participation. the existing services for enabling • GPS-based digital display in coaches for passengers to book battery operated showing upcoming stations. cars, porter services, etc. on a paid basis • North-East India, especially Mizoram and Manipur, to be connected through in addition to the existing pick up and broad gauge soon. drop, and wheel chair services. EBD_9008

CA-6 Current Affairs with MCQs Current Affairs with MCQs CA-7 EBD_9008

CA-8 Current Affairs with MCQs Current Affairs with MCQs CA-9 Update : Political, Economic, Industries, Art & Culture, Events 2016 Political • • • Union Government extended e-Tourist • Visa Scheme to 37 more countries to • The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) make the total 150. a part of National Command Authority • Faustin Archange Touadera won the (NCA) added to Second Schedule of • 2016 Presidential election of Central • the RTI Act, 2005 to exempt from RTI African Republic (CAR) purview. • NATO and European Union signed • First BRICS Employment Working Group agreement on Cooperation in Cyber • meeting held in Hyderabad, Telangana • Defence to counter modern forms of in July 2016. hybrid warfare. •• Haryana Government has launched • First Ministerial Meeting of Arab-India Pashudhan Bima Yojana. • Cooperation Forum held at Manama, • Maharashtra Govt. accorded minority capital of Bahrain. • status to Jews as per State Minorities • US lifts nuclear sanctions on Iran after Commission Act. • commitments to roll back its nuclear • Union Government banned potassium programme. • bromate (KbrO3) as a food additive as it • India decided to become member of is carcinogenic. • International Energy Agency – Ocean • The Union Finance Ministry announced Energy Systems. that NRIs can open National Pension • Justice Lodha Committee submitted its Savings (NPS) accounts online through • report to the Supreme Court on BCCI • eNPS if have Aadhaar Card or Permanent reforms. Account Number (PAN). • India and Pakistan exchanged the list of • Union Cabinet approved retirement age their nuclear installations and facilities • of Central Health Services doctors from • under the Agreement on the Prohibition 62 to 65 years. of Attack against Nuclear installations. • Lakshadweep became first UT in the • People of UK in a historic Brexit • counry to sign 24×7 Power for All • referendum have voted in favour of document. leaving European Union. • PM Narendra Modi & Sri Lankan President • Conservative party leader Theresa May • released Simhastha Declaration at Ninora • (59) became Prime Minister of United in Ujjain. Kingdom on 12 July 2016. • PM Narendra Modi invited to address a • Eminent Economist Arvind Panagariya has taken charge as first Vice-Chairman • joint meeting of the US Congress on June of the newly-created National Institution 8, 2016. • for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog on • India and Mauritius signed MoU to 13 January 2015. • promote cooperation in traditional •• Paolo Gentiloni became the new Prime medicine and homeopathy. Minister of Italy on 11 December, 2016. • The 13th edition of India-European • Antonio Guterres will be come the new • Union Summit was held on in Brussels, UN Secretary General on1st January, capital of Belgium. • 2017.Bill English became New Zealand’s • Supreme Court approved Union Govern- 39th Prime Minister. • ment’s guidelines to protect Good Sam- • High Court struck down aritans, who help road accident victims. Special Backward Classes reservation • Union Government approves winding • given to Gujjars and five other • up of National Manufacturing Competiti- communities in the state. veness Council. • Donald Trump on 7 December, 2016 was • President Pranab Mukherjee declares declared as Time Magazine’s person of Kerala as first digital state in the country. the year. EBD_9008

CA-10 Current Affairs with MCQs

• •

• BJP leader and former Union Minister • India and Bangladesh defence Sarbananda Sonowal (54) was sworn-in cooperation, strengthened with a joint as the 14th Chief Minister of Assam after military training exercise SAMPRITI • winning 2016 state assembly election which 2016 which started at Tangail with absolute majority. • in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 05 to 18 • The 2016 Group of Twenty (G20) Summit November 2016. was held in Hangzhou, China from 4th to • Kamala Harris, California’s Attorney 5th September 2016 to discuss efforts • General, is the first Indian- American to reform global economic governance. Senator in the US Congress. It was the eleventh meeting of the G20. • China once again blocked India’s effort It was the first ever G20 summit to be to join NSG in a meeting in Seoul on hosted in China and the second Asian • November 4, 2016. Out of 48 members • country after 2010 G20 Seoul summit of NSG 47 supported India except China. was hosted in South Korea. • Centreo t extend the Armed Forces • Veteran CPI (M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan was • Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in three sworn-in as 12th Chief Minister of Kerala districts of Arunachal Pradesh. • aftere th left Democratic Front (LDF) had • India for the first time hosted the won 2016 state assembly election. Second meeting of Communication •• Bernard Cazeneuve became the new Ministers of BRICS countries which was French Prime Minister. concluded in Bengaluru on November •• Jagdish Singh will be the 44th Chief 11,. 2016 The meeting aimed at framing Justice of India. new cooperation and collaboration • Chief Minister of , J framework among BRICS countries and • Jayalalithaa passed away on 5th discussed ways to improve collaboration December, 2016. • in the field of digital economy, future • O Panneerselvam was sworn in as the communications, mobile technology etc. • chief-minister of Tamil Nadu on 5th • Indian Navy is considering to select December, 2016. candidates into the 10+2 B Tech cadet • Rakesh Asthana was appointed as the • scheme through JEE (Main) ranks, • Intrim Director of Central Bureau of instead of class 12th. Investigation (CBI) on 3 December, 2016. • Guy Ryder was re-elected as Director- • The 6th Ministerial Conference of the General of the International Labour Heart of Asia Istanbul Process concluded • Organisation (ILO) for another five-year • on 4th December, 2016 after adopting term from October 2016. Amritsar Declaration. • A team of women commandos has been • 64 year old Crown Prince Maha inducted for the first time in Central Vajiralongkorn has become the King • Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to counter of Thailand, on December 1, 2016, 50 Naxal insurgency in Jharkhand. • days after the death of his father, King • The Union Cabinet has given its Bhumibol Adulyadej. approvalo t the constitution of “Special • Interim leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev Committee for Inter-Linking of Rivers” become the new President of Uzbekistan • in compliance with Supreme Court • after he 1 secured 88.6 percent of the judgment 2012. votes in the presidential election. • Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has •• Alexander Van Der Bellen Sworn in as signed an executive order announcing Austrian president in May 2016. Russia’s withdrawal from the •• Bindheswar Pathak appointed as Brand International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Ambassador of Swachh Rail Mission. Hague. This means crimes committed by • Former Prime Minister and leader of • Russian citizens will no longer fall under Lebanon’s Future Movement Saad Hariri the jurisdiction of the ICC. was named as Lebanon’s new prime • India has been ranked 20th on Climate ministery b the President Michel Aoun Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2017 on November 3, 2016: accordingo t Germanwatch and Climate General Knowledge And Awareness 2017 For RRB Railway Recruitment Exams

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