CONTENTS

Honours & Awards - 2 News Makers - 4 Appointments - 6 Science Snippets - 7 Defence - 8 Space Science - 8 Summits - 10 Deaths - 11 Economic Scenario - 12 Corporate Briefs - 14 Schemes - 15 Sports - 16 NationalRound-Up - 18 International Round-Up - 21 Knowledge Capsules - 24 Banking Awareness - 26 (For Bank PO & Clerks Exams) Current MCQ Capsules - 28

Disclaimer : All Readers of this book undertake responsibility for the relevance and accuracy of its content. The Publisher cannot Guarantee the accuracy and Reliability of Content Current News & Events 2 Latest Current Affairs Statistical Institute won the Gulzar nominated for Honours & Awards prestigious prize. Sandip Basu of the 27th Indira Gandhi Award Radiation Medicine Centre at for National Integration Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Prize 2012 bagged the prize in the medical Renowned poet and film- sciences category. maker Gulzar has been nominated Eleven scientists have been In physical sciences, for the 27th Indira Gandhi Award for selected for Shanti Swarup Arindam Ghosh of IISc and National Integration. Congress Bhatnagar Prize-2012, India’s Krishnendu Sengupta of the Indian President Sonia Gandhi will give premier awards in the field of Association for the Cultivation of away the 27th Indira Gandhi Award science and technology. Science won the prize. for National Integration to the 75- Shantanu Chowdhury of the The winners were Institute of Genomics and year-old lyricist and writer on announced by Samir K Integrative Biology and Suman October 31 in recognition of his Brahmachari, Director General of Kumar Dhar of the Special Centre yeoman work in promoting and Council for Scientific and Industrial for Molecular Medicine at the preserving spirit of national Research at a function here to mark Jawaharlal Nehru University integration in the country. the 70th foundation day of Council. bagged the prize in the field of The Award consists of a The prize is named after the biological sciences. citation and cash of Rs. 5 lakh. founder-Director General of CSIR In the area of chemical Before Gulzar, some of the other and carries a cash component of sciences, the prizes went to Rs five lakh. It is given annually to film personalities who received the Govindsamy Mugesh of the Indian young scientists below the age of award are director Shyam Benegal, Institute of Science, Bangalore 45 who have made outstanding lyricist Javed Akhtar, music (IISc) and Gangadhar J Sanjayan contributions in any field of science composer AR Rahman and writer of the CSIR National Chemical and technology. Mahashweta Devi. Laboratory, Pune. Ravishankar Narayanan of IISc and Y Shanthi Pavan of Indian Waheeda Rehman to receive Lifetime Achievement Institute of Technology-Madras won the prizes in the engineering Award sciences category. In the field of Waheeda Rehman, the veteran actress of Bollywood has been mathematical sciences, Siva nominated to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will Ramachandran Athreya and be presented to the actress during the forthcoming 14th Mumbai Film Debashish Goswami of the Indian Festival going to start from 18 October 2012 and end on 25 October 2012. C.I.D. (1956), Pyasa (1957), Solva Saal (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962), and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962), Kohra (1964), Guide (1965), Teesri Kasam (1966), Mujhe Jeene Do (1966), Neel Kamal (1968) and Khamoshi (1969) are some important films by her name. The committee chaired by Filmmaker, Shyam Benegal in presence of Ramesh Sippy, Sudhir Mishra, MAMI trustee and Amit Khanna, chairman, Reliance Entertainment stated that they have made their decision to award Waheeda Rehman with life time achievement award for her contributions to Indian Cinema. Current News & Events 3 Former Presidents APJ Abdul Kalam and Shankar Dayal Aung San Suu Kyi got US Congress Highest Honour Sharma, late Prime Minister Rajiv The Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi received, the US Gandhi, late Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, the former head of Congress highest Civilian Honour at a ceremony organized in the Ramkrishna Math and Mission Capitol Rotunda on 19 Swami Ranganathananda, September 2012, before musician MS Subulakshmi, Aruna her meet with the US Asaf Ali, PN Haksar, Acharya Shree president Barack Obama. Tulsi Ji, Bishambar Nath Paride Before her, the recipient of and Natwar Thakkar are among the this award includes other awardees. The award George Washington, instituted in the name of late Indira Pope John Paul II and Gandhi is given in recognition to Dalai Lama-the Tibetan outstanding contribution to this Buddhist Leader. During cause by individuals or institutions. her 15 year long house arrest against the military rule in Myanmar, she Haryana Government received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008. instituted Awards to Virat Kohli became the Other players awarded at Felicitate Women the award function were ICC ODI Cricketer of the Haryana government on 18 1. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) September 2012 instituted four Year - The ICC Cricketer of the year, ICC Test Cricketer of the Year state-level awards to felicitate The Vice-Captain of Indian women who have done and the People`s Choice Cricket team, Virat Kohli was Award outstanding work in different fields. named as the ODI Cricketer of the 2. Richard Levi (South Africa) - The Three of the awards include Indira year at ICC Awards Function held ICC Twenty20 International Gandhi Mahila Shakti Award, at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 15 Performance of the Year Kalpna Chawla Shaurya Award and September 2012. He was picked 3. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) - Bahin Shano Devi Panchayti Raj ahead in the competition from The Spirit of Cricket Award Award. The fourth award comprises Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kumar 4. Sunil Narine (West Indies) - The of two awards, Life time Achievers Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga. He was awarded with this title for Emerging Cricketer of the Year Award and Women Outstanding scoring 1733 runs in 31 matches 5. Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) - Achievers Award. These awards at an average of 66.65, which The Women`s ODI Cricketer of would come into effect from the included eight centuries and six the Year current financial year 2012-13. half-centuries. During this period 6. Sarah Taylor (England) - Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti of consideration for the title, he Women`s T20 Cricketer of the Award, would be given to the scored his career best of 183 runs Year women who has done exemplary in 148 balls against Pakistan in 7. George Dockrell (Ireland)- work in rehabilitation of destitute Asia Cup. Associate and Affiliate Cricketer women and children, widows, of the Year victims of atrocities and conflict disabled women and children, KC Abraham awarded aged women. Kalpna Chawla Shaurya with Business Excellence Award named after astronaut Award Kalpna Chawla, would be given to Managing Director of those who perform acts of bravery Kunnath Pharmaceuticals and the and meritorious services. The producer of world famous Musli award would carry a cash prize of Power X-tra won Switzerland 51000 rupees and a citation. Business Excellence Award 2012 Life Time Achievement on 8 September 2012 at Zurich, Award would given to woman of 60 Switzerland. He got shortlisted for years of age or above, who has the award because of his visionary excelled in administrative skills, leadership skill, hard working career or profession, leadership nature and dedication. The award quality, courage and creative work. has helped Kunnath Pharma It would carry a cash prize of Rs ceutical to become a name of 21,000 and a citation and a shawl. rapport across the nation. Current News & Events 4 Lakshmipathy elected as specialised presses, research News Makers groups, companies and chairman of the PTI Government and non- Katy Perry becomes R Lakshmipathy, the governmental organisations. Billboard's woman of the publisher of Tamil daily Dinamalar, New Member of UPSC was elected as the Chairman of the year Board of Directors of Press Trust Manbir Singh, Former Pop star Katy Perry has of India (PTI) on 24 September Secretary (Economic Relations), been named the Woman of the Year 2012 after the company's Annual Ministry of External Affairs, took the by Billboard and will accept the General Meeting (AGM). oath of office and secrecy as award at the 2012 Billboard Women Lakshmipathy, has served as PTI Member, Union Public Service in Music event in New York this Chairman twice earlier and is also Commission on September 3. The November. a member of press council. He is oath was administered by Prof. D.P. This award honors the succeeding M P Veerendrakumar, Agrawal, Chairman, UPSC. achievements of a trailblazing Chairman and Managing Director An officer of Indian Foreign female recording artist over the of Mathrubhoomi group of Service of 1976 batch, Manbir Singh past 12 months and acknowledges newspapers.Alomg with him K N has held several important her overall success in the music Shanth Kumar of Deccan Herald positions which incudes business and her leadership in was also elected as the Vice Counselor (Commerce & embracing the changing industry. Chairman of the Board. Economics) in former USSR and Since the release of her first K. N. Shanth Kumar is a later the Russian Republic, mainstream album, "One of the director of The Printers (Mysore) Minister at the Embassy of India in Boys," in 2008, Perry has continued Private Limited, publishers of the United Arab Emirates, Chief of to top the Billboard charts, setting “Deccan Herald,“Prajavani,” Protocol at Headquarters, New a number of records along the way. “Sudha” and “Mayura.” He earlier Delhi, Ambassador of India in the The 27-year-old singer is was the president of the Audit countries of Hungry, Iran and the only woman to score five Hot Bureau of Circulations which Netherlands. Singh has also 100 No.1's from one album verifies circulation data published served as India’s representative to "Teenage Dream" in the chart's 54- by newspapers and periodicals. ‘Convention on Prevention of year history. Press Trust of India (PTI) is India’s Chemical Weapons’ and the The album spent more than premier and largest news agency, ‘International Court of Justice’. 100 weeks on the Billboard 200 which employs more than 400 Jaideep Sarkar Appointed and has sold 2.5 million copies in journalists and 500 stringers to the US, according to Nielsen Sound cover almost every district and as new Envoy to Israel Scan. Perry has also sold 48 small town in India. On an average Jaideep Sarkar on 27 million tracks in the US, with four of it puts out more than 2,000 stories September 2012 was appointed as them - 'Firework', 'California Gurls', and 200 photographs a day which the new Indian Ambassador to 'ET' and 'Hot N Cold' - among the caters the needs of the diverse Israel. The IITian and diplomat, is top 30 selling downloads of all time. subscribers, including the a private secretary to Prime Minister Perry holds the record for the mainstream media, the Manmohan Singh and a joint most consecutive weeks (69) with at least one title in the Hot 100's top 10. Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Takes Ove Vice Admiral SPS Cheema has taken over as the Chief of Inte- grated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) August 31. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1977. He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasala, the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and the College of Naval Warfare (CNW), Mumbai. A specialist in Missile and Gunnery, who has spent majority of his time on afloat appointments. He was the commissioning Com- manding Officer of Missile boat INS Nishank, Mauritian Coast Guard OPV Vigilant and the stealth frigate INS Trishul. He also commanded missile corvette INS Khanjar and the India`s only aircraft carrier INS Viraat. His appointments ashore include the Commandant of the Na- val Academy and Commanding Officer INS Mandovi. He also has the unique distinction of wining both the Lentaigne and Scudder Medal at DSSC. Current News & Events 5 secretary of external affairs ministry, has replaced Navtej Mamta Banerjee listed among 50 most influencing Sarna, the former ministry finance personality spokesperson. The ‘Bloomberg Markets’ magazine has included West Bengal Ramesh Abhishek Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee in the list of appointed as FMC 50 most influential people in the finance category. The other leading personalities Chairman included in that category were Business Ty- An IAS Officer of 1982 Batch coon Warren Buffet, Founder of Facebook Bihar Cadre, Ramesh Abhishek on Mark Zuckerberg and Hyundai’s chairman 24 September 2012 was appointed Chung Mong Koo. to be the Chairman of Forward Mamta Banerjee is included in the Markets Commission (FMC). His policy-makers section and is sharing space pay-scale and rank has been with US federal chairman Ben S Bernanke, elevated to that of the additional European Central Bank’s President Mario secretary and FMC Chief Draghi and Burmese opposition leader respectively. Aung San Suu Kyi. The selection was decided on the ability of leader to move markets and shape ideas and policies and his or her influence C.P. Joshi Appointed as in affecting the price of a security or the structure of a deal. New Railway Minister Two other people of Indian origin who were included in the list were Anshu Jain, Co- CEO of Deutsche Bank and Preet Bharara, US C.P. Joshi, the Union Road Attorney for the southern District of New York. Mamta banerjee was Transport and Highways Minister placed in 21st position. Earlier in April, she was also ranked among on 24 September 2012 took an 100 most influential personalities of the world by the Time magazine. additional charge of the Railway Ministry after the exit of Mukul Roy. With this responsibility in the hands country director for India on 10 of C.P. joshi, the railway ministry September 2012. He will replace has landed down in the hands of the retiring N Roberto Zagha in Congress after 17 years. The last October 2012. His appointment at railway minister from congress this post will help the bank to was C.K. Jaffer Sharief (1991-95). formulate and implement Joshi is a congress MP from developmental programs and Bhilwara in Rajasthan. His primary steps in the nation. and secondary education was President of Tajikistan completed from his place of birth in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. He Visited India graduated from M.B. College The President of Tajikistan, Udaipur with a B.A. degree in Law. Emomali Rahmon visited India He completed his masters’ degree in Physics and holds a Ph.D in from 1 to 4 September 2012. This Psychology. Mukul Roy, leader of was the fifth visit to India by Trinamool Congress and a President Emomali Rahmon. member of Rajya Sabha resigned During this visit, India and Tajikistan from the position on 21 September Ranking on 19 September 2012. signed six agreements in the field 2012 after his party withdrew Gates, succeeded in winning the of sports, health, culture, education, support from the government. top position for 19th time in a row labour, textiles and energy. It was Mukul Roy replaced Dinesh Trivedi with his net worth of $ 66 billion. also decided that India would as railway minister on 14 March Bill Gates at present is the chairman 2012. of Microsoft and co-chair for Bill and increase training slots for Tajikistan from 100 to 150 under India Bill Gates Still Richest Melinda Gates Foundation. Onno Ruhl Appointed as Technology and Eco Training Person in America Programme. In the course of his India's Country Director Microsoft Co-Founder, Bill visit, President of Tajikistan also Gates remained at the top position for World Bank addressed a business meeting in the list of 400 richest Americans World Bank appointed Onno jointly organised by ASSOCHAM, CII released by Forbes Annual Ruhl a Dutch National to be the and FICCI. Current News & Events 6 further orders, whichever event Appointments takes place earlier. Altamas Kabir sworn in Kaushik Basu appointed new Chief Justice of India as World Bank Chief Justice Altamas Kabir was Economist on September 29 sworn in as the The main focus of Mrs Rai On 5 September 2012, The 39th Chief Justice of India by Bachchan will be to advocate for World Bank appointed Kaushik President Pranab Mukherjee. He the Global Plan towards the Basu, as its chief economist and took over the post from Justice S.H. elimination of new HIV infections senior vice president. Basu, an Kapadia, who served as the CJI for among children and keeping their Indian national and a Cornell nearly two-and-a-half years. mothers alive. This plan was University professor most recently Justice Kabir, 64, took the launched at the United Nations in served as chief economic adviser oath at a brief ceremony in the June 2011. The Global Plan of the India's Union Ministry of focuses on 22 countries including Finance. India, which account for more than He has to take over as the 90% of all new HIV infections chief economist at the World Bank among children. Twenty one of on October 1. Kaushik Basu, 60, them are in sub-Saharan Africa, holds a doctorate from the London where the estimated number of School of Economics and has also children newly infected with HIV fell founded the by 25%, from 360 000 in 2009 to Centre for 270 000 in 2011. Progress in sub- Development Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Saharan Africa has been made Economics at Bhavan. possible through rapid the Delhi Justice Kabir was appointed improvement in access to services School of Supreme Court judge on that prevent new infections in Economics in September 9, 2005. He has children. There was a dramatic 1992 is also delivered several landmark increase in coverage of services in a founding member of the Madras judgements, including on human the 21 sub-Saharan African School of Economics. rights and election laws. He will countries between 2009 and 2011: He had his wide serve a tenure of nine months till from 34% to 61%. HIV transmi contributions in the field span July 18, 2013. He is part of the bench ssion rates from mother-to child development economics, welfare hearing the case of the two Italian have also declined since 2010 with economics, industrial organisation Marines who allegedly shot dead the introduction of more effective and public economics. He has two Kerala fishermen taking them prophylaxis regimens. earlier served as chairman of as pirates.Justice Kabir headed a Cornell's economics department bench which recently decided the Rajiv Mehta to be the New and was a director of its Center for case of disqualification of MLAs by Director General of NCB Analytic Economics. He was the Speaker of the Karnataka awarded with one of the country's Legislative Assembly. The bench Rajiv Mehta, IPS has been highest civilian awards, the Padma quashed the Speaker’s order on appointed as Director General, Bhushan in May 2008. In his two- disqualification of the MLAs who Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). and-a-half-year stay in the Union had defected from the BJP. His appointment will be on finance ministry, Basu gave some deputation basis for a period of five constructive thoughts on food Aishwarya Rai appointed years from the date of assumption coupons and innovative ways to Goodwill Ambassador for of charge of the post or till the date tackle corruption among other UNAIDS of his superannuation or until advices. The United Nations Pakistani-origin women appointed as Norwegian Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) hasappointed Bollywood actress Cultural Minister Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as its A 29 year old women of Pakistani origin Hadia Tajik was ap- International Goodwill Amba pointed as Norwegian Cultural Minister on 24 September 2012. Nor- ssador. She will raise global wegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg appointed her to this post awareness on protecting children during the cabinet reshuffle activity. She is the youngest minister and from HIV infection and increasing first Muslim in the Norwegian Political history. access to antiretroviral treatment. Current News & Events 7

Science Snippets Gene Therapy that can Restore the Sence of Smell Australian scientists Developed Scientists of the University of Michigan developed a gene therapy Discovered Alzheimer's which they claimed could restore the sense of smell in human beings Treatment who lost the ability to sniff odours from birth. The scientists used gene therapy to re-grow cilia, cell structures that are important for olfactory Australian scientists along with US experts claimed that they function. These results could result in to one of the first therapeutic are a step closer to create a options for treating people with congenital anosmia. They also set the treatment for Alzheimer patients stage for therapeutic approaches to treating diseases which involve following a study finding a link to cilia dysfunction in other organ systems. Many of these diseases can abnormalities inside brain cells. In be dangerous if left untreated. Olfactory dysfunction can be a symptom a joint study, researchers at of a class of genetic disorders, known as ciliopathies. It includes Queensland Brain Institute and diseases as diverse as polycystic kidney disease and retinitis Havard medical School team found pigmentosa—an inherited, degenerative eye disease- that causes that when a toxic protein builds up, severe vision impairment and blindness. it starves brain cells of energy, causing them to die. According to framed policies framed aims to which is known by Vienna ABC online report, in the study of phase out the issues related to convention for the protection of over three years, scientists tried to nuclear power of the country for next ozone layer. unveil the mystery surrounding three decades. Great Indian Buster Got Alzheimer’s disease and a section of the brain cell called the International Day on Shonkaliya Region to Breed mitochondria, the part responsible Preservation of Ozone The endangered birds, for metabolising energy, was analysed. This is the first study to Layer Celebrated Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican have got a dedicated land directly link toxic levels of Tau, a On 16 September every for breeding in the Shonkaliya protein in the brain that is related to year, from 1995 onwards the Region of Ajmer District, dementia, to abnormalities in the International Day for the Rajasthan. The villagers of Ajmer mitochondria, which starves them Preservation of the Ozone Layer is of energy and destroys brain cells. celebrated. This date was District have agreed for conserving Researchers claimed that the latest designated by the United Nations the grounds for these endangered development was a promising step General Assembly in its resolution birds. Population of the Great Indian towards developing an effective 49/114, to memorialize the signing Bustard (the state bird of treatment for sufferers. of the Montreal Protocol on Rajasthan) is reportedly not New Nuclear Safety Substances that Deplete the Ozone sizeable with six males seen in the Agency Launched in Japan Layer. With this, The Montreal area. The Great Indian Bustard Protocol is celebrating its 25th needs to lure with at least three to Japan launched a new anniversary this year. four females in number for making Nuclear Safety Agency on 18 The ozone layer is a layer of the family. Nests of the Great September 2012. The formation of in Earth's atmosphere which Indian Bustard have been noticed this fivemember Nuclear contains relatively high in the crop fields of the area. Regulation Authority was done after concentrations of ozone (O3). The The Lesser Floricans are the country was hit by Tsunami in ozone layer is mainly found in the available in a large number as the year 2011 resulting in major lower portion of the stratosphere compared to the Great Indian breakdown and leakage of the from approximately 20 to 30 Bustards’ in the region. Nest of Nuclear Power Plants in the kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above lesser Floricans have also seen tsunami-stricken-area of Fuku Earth. It protects the earth from around the crop lands of the area. shima Dai-Ichi Plant. Headed by harmful ultraviolet radiation. Floricans make a visit to this north- the nuclear Physicist, Shunichi Scientist in the 1970’s discovered western Tanaka, this agency is responsible that the layer was thinning as a region of the for reviewing of the nuclear policies result of the release of CFC’s which of the country. Before the incident, resulted in the development of country during Japan relied on nuclear power for ozone hole. In 1985 national their breeding at least one-third of its energy around the world signed an season of requirements but now it’s planning agreement and developed a advancing to increase it to a level of 50 percent framework for cooperative activities monsoons. of its total energy requirements. The to protect the ozone layer in Vienna Current News & Events 8 November and add 30 Defence Space Science transponders to the domestic INSAT system, Indian Space India successfully test- India’s heaviest satellite Research Organisation (ISRO) fired Agni-IV Missile said soon after the launch. The GSAT-10 launched ISRO launched the 3.4-tonne India on 19 September GSAT-10, the country's spacecraft on the European Ariane 2012 test fired its nuclear-capable newest and heaviest satellite, was 5 rocket as the agency cannot surface-to-surface Agni-IV missile launched September 29th from the currently launch satellites of such from Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Kourou launchpad in French mass on its own vehicles. The Coast. Fitted with composite rocket Guiana in South America. It will satellite and the launch fee cost the motor technology, the missile was directly boost telecommunications agency Rs. 750 crore. The ISRO test fired from the road mobile and direct-to-home broadcasting called its 101st mission "a grand launcher. The full range of the among others. success," adding that the satellite missile is 4000 kilometer. The The satellite, 9th in ISRO's was in good health. launch was declared to be present fleet, will be operational in It carries 30 communication successful after the missile transponders - 12 in Ku-band, 12 succeeded in hitting the pre- in C-band and six in extended C- decided target after taking a flight band. The ISRO is currently leasing of 20 minute at an altitude of about 95 foreign transpondes to meet 800 kilometer in the atmosphere domestic demand. The INSAT/ at a roasting temperature of about GSAT system has 168 trans 3000°C. The support of Micro ponders. GSAT-10 also has the Navigation System (MINGS) along second GAGAN payload which with the Ring Laser Gyro based augments or finetunes the US GPS Inertial Navigation System (RINS) signals into far more accurate ensured the two digit perfection in readings. GAGAN, a venture of the Department of Sapce and Airports making the missile reach its target. authority of India, is primarily meant The 20 meter long, 1.5 to benefit airlines and their aircraft meter broad and 17 ton in weight, flying into and out of India. GSAT-8, is capable of carrying about 1000 launched in May 2008, carried the kilogram of explosives along with first GAGAN payload. Built for 15 it. Light in weight, this missile is years, GSAT 10 will be co-located fitted with two stage solid with InSAT-4A and GSAT-12. propulsion with a payload for re- entry into the heat shield. One of its kinds, Agni-IV Missile India’s first China included Liaoning as its first Aircraft Carrier indigenously developed ballistic China on 25 September 2012 launched its first aircraft carrier missile is embedded with 5th giving a push to its fast expanding navy's blue-water capability beyond Generation on Board Computer its territorial waters. The aircraft state-of-the-art Avionics and a finely carrier is a former Soviet ship with a distributed architecture, which capacity of 60000 tonne that is brought allows correction and guidance from Ukraine and later renovated in during in-flight disturbances. China. The carrier is capable of accommodating 33 fixed wing aircraft. It is named as 'Liaoning', after a Chinese province liberated from Japanese occupation in 1945. The aircraft carrier came amid high end dispute between China and Japan on East China Sea islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. The aircraft carrier, which is formerly known as the Soviet ship Varyag, underwent about seven years of refitting efforts to install engines, weapons, as well as a year-long sea trial. With this advancement China has become the tenth country in the world and the last among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to have an aircraft carrier in active service. Current News & Events 9

ISRO scores a centum Sunita takes over command at space station A Polar Satellite Launch Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams has taken over the Vehicle (PSLV-C21) blasted off from Sriharikota on September 9 and command of the International Space Station placed two foreign satellites in orbit, (ISS), becoming the second woman in history. A accomplishing the Indian Space three-member crew of the Expedition 32 returned Research Organisation’s 100th safely to earth, wrapping up a mission lasting mission, a milestone in the more than four months. country’s space journey. The three-man crew onboard a Russian- After a 51-hour countdown, made Soyuz capsule touched down successfully the PSLV lifted off at 9.53 a.m., two in central Kazakhstan steppe on Monday minutes behind schedule, to avoid morning after spending 123 days at the Space any collision with space debris. Station. Just after the Soyuz spacecraft separated from the space station. In the textbook launch, it NASA astronaut Sunita Williams took over command of Expedition 33 at carried SPOT-6, a 712-kg French the station from Commander Gennady Padalka, becoming the second earth observation satellite and woman in history to do so. 46-year-old Williams will be sharing the Space injected it into an orbit of 655-km Station with veteran Russia cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Japanese altitude, inclined at 98.23 degrees astronaut Akihiko Hoshide until mid-October, when three more astronauts, to the equator. Proiteres, a 15-kg including NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, will arrive and round out the full Japanese microsatellite, was put crew of Expedition 33. into orbit as an additional payload. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Proiteres is meant to study and a host of dignitaries watched when ISRO started launching the powered-flight of a small the flight path on electronic satellites owned by foreign satellite by an electric thruster and screens, as the 44-metre tall PSLV agencies. The successful launch to observe Japan’s Kansai district accomplished its task, reinforcing of SPOT 6 would make ISRO's with a high-resolution camera. the fact that it is the ISRO’s PSLV rocket a strong contender to PSLV-C21 mission, the workhorse, with 21 successful carry SPOT 7 planned by French ISRO has launched 62 satellites missions in a row. company Astrium SAS soon. and 38 rockets. It has so far The four-stage ignition and According to ISRO, the injected 28 foreign satellites into the injection of the satellites into satellite launch agreement orbit, beginning with Germany’s the orbit took 18 minutes and 37 between Antrix and Astrium is part 45-kg DLR-TUBSAT aboard the seconds. As Proiteres separated of the long-term agreement signed PSLV-C2 in 1999. SPOT-6 is the the at the final moment, the scientists between the two agencies in PSLV’s biggest commercial lift so erupted into joyous applause. September 2008. The space far. At a press conference, Dr. SPOT-6, an optical remote- agency has also jointly built two Radhakrishnan said the financial sensing satellite capable of heavy satellites - 3,453 kg W2M and matters relating to the launch could imaging the earth with a 1.5-metre 2,541 kg Hylas - for the French not be disclosed, but the cost of resolution, is built by Astrium SAS, agency. the vehicle was recovered. The a European space technology India has the largest ISRO also sent its own payload, company. constellation of remote sensing ‘Mini Resins,’ for demonstration of satellites in the world providing an instrument called Redundant imagery in a variety of spatial Strap down Inertial Navigation resolutions, from more than a System. metre ranging up to 500 metres, Manmohan Singh watched and is a major player in vending the historic 100th mission of the such data in the global market. Indian space agency and With 12 remote sensing/ scientists at Indian Space earth observation satellites orbiting Research Organisation's (ISRO) in the space, India is a world leader rocket's mission control room kept in the remote sensing data market. an eye on the rocket that escaped The 12 satellites are TES, the earth's gravitational pull. Resourcesat 1, Cartosat 1, 2, 2A Interestingly SPOT 6 is the and 2B, IMS 1, Risat-2, Oceansat heaviest foreign satellite to be 2, Resourcesat-2, Megha- carried by a PSLV rocket since 1999 Tropiques and Risat-1. Current News & Events 10 continent. South Africa also carries Fifth WHC - Port of Spain Summits the profound memories of (Trinidad & Mahatma Gandhi’s association Tobago) : 4-8 Ninth World Hindi with that region. April, 1996 Conference held at The 9th World Hindi Sixth WHC - London (UK) : Conference would deliberate on a 14-18 September, Johannesburg series of traditional and 1999 The Ministry of External contemporary themes related with Seventh WHC - Paramaribo Affairs, Government of India with the both classical and modern aspects (Suriname) : 6-9 support of Hindi Shiksha Sangh, of Hindi. The theme of the June, 2003 South Africa and other conference this year will be Eighth WHC - New York (USA) : stakeholders is organizing the “Bhasha ki Asmita Aur Hindi Ka 13-15 July, 2007 Ninth World Hindi Conference Vaishvik Sandarbh”. The Joint Committee on (WHC) in Johannesburg, South conference would also have nine Africa from 22-24 September, 2012. academic sessions on such defence cooperation from The Conference will be held at subjects as Mahatma Gandhi’s Saudi Arabia and India Johannesburg, South Africa. linguistic vision; Hindi and modern The tradition of the World technology; role of Indian epics in The Joint Committee on Hindi Conferences began with the propagation of Hindi; contribution defence cooperation from Saudi first conference having been of foreign scholars in disse Arabia and India met for creation of organized in Nagpur in the year mination of Hindi; Mass media and defence ties on 11 September 1975. Since then, these Hindi, etc. 2012. Decisions for this conferences have achieved a The last eight World Hindi establishment of joint committees global profile and momentum of Conferences have been held at the was decided during the visit of their own. The subsequent eight following places: Indian defence minister A.K. Antony World Hindi Conferences were First WHC - Nagpur (India) : to Saudi Arabia and his meet with organized in different world cities, 10-12 January, the Crown Prince and defence namely, twice in Port Louis 1975 minister of Saudi Salman bin Abdul (Mauritius), twice in India, Port of Second WHC - Mauritius : 28 - Aziz Al Saud in February 2012. The Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), 30 August, 1976 11 member team from Saudi Arabia London (UK), Paramaribo Third WHC - New Delhi was headed by the Chief of the (Suriname) and New York (USA). (India) : 28-30 Armed Forces Operations of Saudi All these conferences have always October, 1983 Arabia Maj Gen Suleiman Saleh Al- attracted a galaxy of renowned Fourth WHC - Mauritius : 2-4 Khalifa. The Indian side was scholars and followers of Hindi. In December, headed by the Joint Secretary, keeping with this growing reach 1993 Ministry of Defence. and popularity of this event, the Government has decided to organize the next conference in Mekong–Ganga sixth Cooperation meeting Johannesburg, South Africa, which Mekong–Ganga sixth Cooperation meeting was held in New would also be an apt recognition of Delhi on 3-4 September 2012. Senior official meeting was held on India’s historic, close and growing September 3 whereas the Foreign Ministers meet was held on 4 Sep- ties with the whole of the African tember 2012. The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established on November 10, 2000 in Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Repub- lic with a purpose of cooperation amongst India and the five Mekong region countries - Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. It was basically established to emphasize on four areas of co- operation, which are tourism, culture, education, and transportation linkage, in order to build strong foundation for future trade and invest- ment cooperation among the region. This is the first time that the Mekong Ganga Cooperation meeting was hosted by India. India had earlier chaired the 5th MGC Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN- India Meetings. Five Mekong Ganga Cooperation ministerial meetings has held so far, In Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Rebuplic on November 10, 2000; In Hanoi, Vietnam on July 28, 2001; In Phnom Penh, Cambodia June 20, 2003; In Cebu, Philippines on January 12, 2007 and in Manila, Philippines on August 1, 2007. Current News & Events 11

Deaths Verghese Kurien, father of White Revolution, dies Indian first National Verghese Kurien, the father of White Revolution in India and the founder of Amul, died after a brief spell of illness at Nadiad in Gujarat. Security Advisor Brajesh He was 90. Mr Kurien's body has been kept at the Sardar Hall of Amul Mishra died dairy in Anand for people to pay their last respects. Mr Kurien, the man behind Operation Flood, was the chief The first National Security architect who made India the largest milk producer in the world. He Advisor of India, Brajesh Mishra helped modernise the Anand model of cooperative dairy development died on 28 September 2012 at New and engineered the White Revolution in India. Today over 10 million Delhi after suffering from a heart farmers at 200 dairies across the country produce over 20 million litres ailment. Mishra (84) played a of milk every day. pivotal role in making of the foreign policies during the NDA regime of In 1949, Mr Kurien decided to quit a lucrative government job to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was a join a small-time dairy cooperative. Since then, milk procurement of trouble shooter to him. the cooperative grew from a few hundred litre a day to over 90 lakh litre a day now under one of India's most popular brands - Amul. Urdu Poet Muzaffar Razmi died arrested and sent to Juvenile jail character was as Kallu Varkey- he for 16 days. He was expelled from played role of a drunkard in The famous Urdu poet his college, Maharaja College at Kolangal in 1981. For his role in Muzzaffar Razmi died on 19 Pudukottai after making protests Yavanika, he got his first state September 2012 in Kairana in against the Diwan of Travancore, award in 1981 followed by two Shamli district. Razmi (76) suffered Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer. Gopu more state awards in the year 1994 a brief illness and is now survived was brought to Chennai by CPI and 1998, Santhanagopalam and by his two daughters and three leader K. Balathandayutham to be Gamanam respectively. Some of sons. Razmi wrote three books of a member of the party’s body his notable works include Randam Urdu Poetry. His book, Lahmon ki Janashakti. Bhavam, Sphadikam, Namukku Khattah released in the year 2004 Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, was uncovered by Prime Minister First laptop designer Bill Moonnam Pakkam, Panchagni, Manmohan Singh. Moggridge dies Dhwani, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Mookkilla Rajyathu, Former Sarsanghchalak British-born industrial Kaattu Kuthira and Yavanika. of RSS KS Sudarshan died designer, who created the clamshell-shape design for KS Sudarshan, the former Sardar Man Singh Batra computer laptops, has died from RSS Sarsanghchalak died on 15 cancer. He was 69. Moggridge Died September 2012. He suffered a designed the Grid Compass Former footballer from heart attack at the Nagpur computer in 1979. Delhi, Sardar Man Singh Batra died headquarters of RSS. He was in on 19 September 2012 following a Nagpur for release of a book written Malayalam Actor prolonged illness. Batra (88) is by Gopal Vyas a Rajya Sabha MP Thilakan Died now survived by his wife, a from Chhattisgarh that was held on daughter and two sons. 14 September 2012. Surendranatha Thilakan, the Malayalam film actor and Communist leader A.M. Veteran Communist winner of National Award died due Leader Govindarasu Died Govindarasu passed away to multiple organ failure, at the age of 77 on 24 September 2012 at A.M. Govindarasu (A.M. A.M. Govindarasu (A.M. Thiruvananthapuram. He also was Gopu), the veteran communist Gopu), the veteran communist an acknowledged theater artist. In leader and the Freedom Fighter leader and the Freedom Fighter the year 2009, he was awarded passed away on 13 September passed away on 13 September with Padma Shri (the fourth highest 2012 at Chennai. He became a part 2012 at Chennai. The 83 year old, civilian award in India) for his of the freedom movement, when he who survived six bullet shots by the contributions to the (film) form of was in class ninth in the year 1942. police in 1950, is survived by his art. He made his debut in the Supported by three more industry in the year 1972 with daughter. Following his wish of not classmates, he came on the Periyar, followed by Gandhar being cremated, his family streets at Tiruvidaimarudur vakshetram and many more in a members donated his body to the shouting slogans against British row. His first movie as a lead Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital. government, where he was Current News & Events 12

Economic Scenario Shimla Municipal Corporation introduced Green Tax India ranked 111th in Shimla Municipal Corpo economic freedom list ration on 15 September 2012 introduced Green Tax on Shimla India ranks very low at 111th entry of vehicles not registered in position in terms of economic Himachal Pradesh. The freedom, behind countries like Corporation Commissioner M.P. China, Nepal and Bangladesh, a Sood stated that the vehicles global study has claimed in a (8.36), Switzerland (8.24), Australia crossing the entry points of the town worldwide index of 144 nations. and Canada (each 7.97), Bahrain will have to pay the imposed tax. The annual ranking, titled (7.94), Mauritius (7.90), Finland The tax will be imposed on 'Economic Freedom of the World: (7.88) and Chile (7.84). automobiles on both commercial 2012', is topped by Hong Kong, The report noted that on an and non-commercial category. By followed by Singapore, New average, the poorest 10 per cent of imposing the tax, the corporation Zealand, Switzerland (8.24) and people in the freest nations are will increase its revenue by Rs 6 crore per year. The taxes will be Australia in the top-five. The index nearly twice as rich as the average has been prepared by Canada- charged on the four entry points of population of the least free based public policy think-tank, the city namely, Totu, Tara Devi, countries. Fraser Institute, in cooperation with Dhalli and Mahali. Interestingly, the US, which independent institutes in 90 NSIC Empowering Women nations and territories, and claims is considered a champion of to measure the degree to which the economic freedom among large for Self Employment industrial nations, continues its policies and institutions of National Small Industries countries support economic protracted decline in the global Corporation has launched freedom. rankings. This year, the US plunged specialised Incubation Program for India's ranking has fallen to its lowest-ever ranking of 18th, Unemployed girls and Women to from 103rd last year, while Hong after being ranked at as high as take up their own ventures. Kong has retained its top slot, the second position in 2002. Speaking at the “12th Global report said. Canada is ranked sixth The decline is attributed to Conference on “Trade on the list, while others in the top- higher spending and borrowing on Liberalization and its impact on ten include Bahrain, Mauritius, the part of the US government. Women Entrepreneurs, Dr. H. P. Finland and Chile. The countries The rankings and scores of Kumar, CMD, NSIC stated that with lowest level of economic other major economies include - NSIC has set up Incubation freedom are -- Myanmar, Centres all over the country and Japan (20th), Germany (31st), Zimbabwe, Republic of Congo and invited young girls, aspiring Korea (37th), France (47th), Italy Angola. Women Entrepreneurs to join the (83rd), Mexico (91st), Russia (95th) India shares its 111th NSIC-Incubation program free of position with two other countries, and Brazil (105th). Iran and Pakistan, while those ranked lower include Guyana, Syria Prime Minister led National Investment Board and Nigeria. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on 15 September 2012 India has scored an overall pitched for institutionalization of a National Investment Board under rating of 6.26 in the economic the leadership of Prime Minister. The formation of the board will help in freedom index as against an speeding the approval of the proposals, for the mega projects and average global scrore of 6.83. their implementation. Formation of the board will help the country in In the economic freedom achieving the targeted growth for the twelfth five year of 8.2 percent. index, China is at 107th position At the meeting of the full planning commission under the with a score of 6.35, Bangladesh chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the finance minister at 109th with a score of 6.34 and expressed his concern on the delayed implementation of the mega Nepal is at 110th position (6.33). projects and stressed on the fact that the decision made by the National The report said that Hong Investment Board (NIB) to be taken as the final decision. Chidambaram Kong offers the highest level of also insisted interference by any other authority on the approvals and economic freedom worldwide, with decisions made by the NIB will be entertained. He also added to his a score of 8.90 out of 10, followed statement that NIB’s role will be limited to the projects with investments by Singapore (8.69), New Zealand of Rs 1000 crore or more. Current News & Events 13

Cost. The NSIC Incubation program is a integrated support by Telecom base to cross 1-billion mark by March way of providing hands on training Despite the sharp 20.7 million fall in telecom subscriber base on working projects, it provides last month, the first time since the mobile revolution in 1997, the indus- necessary facilities for prospective try is expected to touch 1,042 million users by the fiscal-end, CMIE has entrepreneurs and start up said. “The total subscriber base is expected to reach 1,042 million by companies to learn product March 2013,” economic research agency Centre for Monitoring Indian manufacturing processes coupled Economy (CMIE) said in its monthly report. with technology development and The telecom subscriber base fell to 944.81 million in August business development. from 965.52 million in August, according to TRAI data. Market leader Kelkar for hike in PDS Bharti lost a net 1.9 million customers in August, Vodafone 1.56 million and Idea Cellular lost 1.65 million. These control 67 per cent of the price mobile market. RCom, which is yet to report its August numbers, had In its report on the road map lost a whopping 20.5 million customers in July. Tata Teleservices, which to fiscal consolidation, the three- has also not reported its August numbers, had lost over 2.4 million member committee headed by the wireless customers in the month. Uninor lost over 1 million, Videocon former Finance Secretary and 13th 0.41 million, Loop and state-run MTNL each lost around 0.15 million in Finance Commission Chairman, July. However, the new wireless subscribers for the fiscal are likely to Vijay L. Kelkar, has suggested a decline by nearly 14 per cent, CMIE said. host of “bold reform” measures on “Wireless service providers are expected to add 92.7 million ways of slashing the subsidy bill new subscribers this fiscal, significantly lower than the 107.6 million which, it admitted, would result in they added in FY12,” the agency said. some short term pain and hardships. contained to 5.2 per cent with the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), The committee’s reco proposed reforms. The committee Cooperatives Banks and NABARD mmendations also include sale of also recommended that over the enabling them to provide short- surplus land with public sector next two-three years the term crop loans of up to Rs 3 lakhs undertakings (PSUs), fast-tracking government should raise to farmers at 7% p.a. during the year of the Centre’s disinvestment resources by selling unutilised and 2012-13. programme, expansion of the under-utilised land of the PSUs, It was also decided to service tax net to raise revenue as Port Trusts, and the Railways, to provide additional interest subsidy also an overhaul of the Direct Taxes fund infrastructure sector. of 3% p.a. to those farmers who Code (DTC). As for disinvestment, it said repay loans within one year of The government has that in the absence of adequate disbursement in the current fiscal reiterated its intention to implement steps the government will be able year. The Cabinet allowed the the promise of food security for all. to raise around Rs. 10,000 crore, release of 10901 crore Rupees as While taking a final view on the as against the target of Rs. 30,000 interest subvention for 2012-13. various recommendations, “the crore. Interest subsidy is allowed for government will bear in mind that With regard to petroleum small and marginal farmers having the goal is to achieve high growth, subsidy, it suggested that the Kisan Credit Cards for loan. The inclusive development, and government should seek to Cabinet approved the release of economic and social justice for all.” eliminate diesel subsidy by 2013- 442 crore rupees as interest In its report, the committee 14 and “our policy goal should be subsidy to small and marginal suggested phased elimination of to eliminate the LPG subsidy by farmers having Kisan Credit Cards subsidy on diesel and LPG in the 2014-15 by reducing it by 25 per against negotiable warehouse next four years and reduction in cent this year, with the remaining receipts, for post-harvest. kerosene subsidy by one-third by 75 per cent reduction over the next Centre has subsidized 2014-15. As for food and fertilizer 2 years.” short-term crop loans to farmers subsidies, it has sought an since 2006-07 to ensure the increase in the urea price and a Union cabinet approved availability of crop loans to farmers hike in the issue price of foodgrains interest subsidy for of upto Rs.3 lakh at 7% p.a. Banks at ration shops. have been consistently meeting the Alongside, it cautioned that farmer loans target set for agriculture credit flow in the past years. For the year 2012- without these measures, the fiscal The Union Cabinet on 6 13, the target for agricultural credit deficit of the government could September 2012 gave its approval flow has been raised to Rs 575000 shoot up to 6.1 per cent of the Gross to continue interest subsidy to Domestic Product (GDP) in the crore from Rs 475000 crore in the Public Sector Banks (PSBs), current financial year. It can be year 2011-12. Current News & Events 14 Deepak Parekh, eminent authors Tata Steel won High Corporate Briefs Gurcharan Das and Rama Bijapurkar were also nominated as Speed Rail Contract in BoI opened its first members of the EPAG of the France Commission. Others on the ten- branch in South Africa Tata Steel, the Indian major member panel comprises former, Bank of India (BoI) opened iron and steel making company, Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar its first branch in South Africa in a received a letter of intent from Shaw, CAG V N Kaul, NGO activist move to enhance the relationship French, Eiffage Rail on 19 Rohini Nilekani and former RBI between South Africa and India September 2012 for supplying high while contributing to the overall Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan. quality rails for the 182 kilometer development of the BRICS HDFC Bank announced to high speed line. The line will grouping. BoI opened branch in Johannesburg which is in South launch of credit card for connect the cities named Rennes Africa. teachers and Le Mans. The project with its value Rs 315.15 Crore and will have HDFC Bank on 5 to supply 50,000 tonnes rails for September 2012 announced to making of the Brittany-Loire Valley launch of credit card for teachers, line. The rail line that is an extension coinciding with the celebration of of the high-speed link in existence Teachers Day. The card offers will reduce the travel time by 37 special features like multiple reward points, weekend bonanza minutes in between Rennes and points, petrol surcharge waiver and Paris. 500 special gift reward points to be DMRC won work in credited annually on the Teachers During state visit of then day. With a combined market size Jakarta Metro Project Indian president Pratibha Patil to of more than 450 million students The Delhi Metro Rail South Africa in May 2012, both and growth rates of 10-15 per cent Corporation (DMRC) on 23 countries agreed to increase two- September 2012 was awarded way trade to 15 billion US dollars with the work of Management by 2014 from 10.64 billion US Consulting Services by Jakarta dollars. Metro Rail Project. Before this, India can take advantage of DMRC assisted them in the huge opportunities on the preparation of SAPI (Special African continent, particularly in expected over the next decade, Assistance on Project infrastructure and communication. education is one of the largest Implementation). The work in its South Africa and India both are service sectors in India. In fact, it is first phase will be done in a members of BRICS, which also the largest issuer of credit cards in distance of 15.7 kilometer. DMRC includes Brazil, Russia and China. the country with a customer base will be working in a joint-venture Deepak Parekh nomi- of 5.60 million as of 31 March, 2012. with eight international companies. nated to Competition Commission of India Financial action task force The Union government of Financial action task force is an inter-governmental body India on 31 August 2012 nominated responsible for setting global standards on anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism. The FATF Secretariat is housed industry leader Deepak Parekh to at the headquarters of the OECD in Paris and after long wait, India has Competition Commission’s finally become a full-fledged member of the FATF. Eminent Persons Advisory Group (EPAG). The group advises the History of the FATF antitrust regulator on good global In response to mounting concern over money laundering, the practices and other issues. The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) was group was constituted in a way that established by the G-7 Summit that was held in Paris in 1989. CCI could avail from the advice of Recognising the threat posed to the banking system and to financial eminent persons representing a institutions, the G-7 Heads of State or Government and President of the wide arena from the Corporate European Commission convened the Task Force from the G-7 member Sector. Along with HDFC Chairman States, the European Commission and eight other countries. Current News & Events 15

Schemes Schemes to Financially Help BPL Widows National Family Benefit The Government in the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing through State Governments and UT Administrations the Scheme major schemes /programmes namely Mahatma Gandhi National Rural The Ministry of Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Development is implementing, Yojana (SGSY)/ National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) for providing wage, self employment and houses in through State Governments and UT rural areas respectively. These schemes have specific provision to Administrations, a scheme namely provide benefits to rural women including widows to enhance their National Family Benefit Scheme income and living standard. Besides, Indira Gandhi National Widow (NFBS). Under this scheme, earlier Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) is also implemented in urban and rural a provision of grant of Rs. 5,000/- areas for Below Poverty Line (BPL) widows, between the age groups of was made in case of natural death 40 to 59 years. of BPL primary bread winner. The primary BPL bread winner specified death during the period of District hospitals existing in the in the scheme, whether male or coverage, under this scheme. states and union territories of Goa, female, had to be a member of the However, there is no proposal to Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, household whose earning introduce a special package for Mizoram, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, contributed substantially to the total Indian workers returning to India Tripura, Lakshadweep and household income. The death of from conflict-ridden countries. Puducherry had been co-located such primary bread winner There is also no plan to start a with AYUSH facilities, whereas, the occurring whilst he/she was in the “Pravasi Bank” for Overseas states having more than 50% of the age group of 18 to 64 years. In the Indians by the Ministry. District hospitals co-located with year 1998, the amount of benefit AYUSH facilities were has been raised to Rs. 10,000/- in Integration of Ayush in Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Madhya case of death due to natural causes Health Care System under Pradesh, and Uttarakhand., There as well as accidental causes. The National Rural Health had been no co-location of AYUSH funds are released to State facilities in the Districts hospitals Governments and UTs by Ministry Mission of the remaining 12 states and of Finance as Additional Central After the launch of NRHM, union territories. Assistance. The National Family the Ministry of Health and Family Benefit Scheme is a sub-scheme Welfare has taken several steps for Rashtriya Swasthya of the National Social Assistance strengthening health care facilities Bima Yojana Programme (NSAP) and details of by integrating AYUSH systems in Rashtriya Swasthya Bima funds released sub-scheme wise national health care delivery Yojana has been extended to to State/UTs are not maintained. systems. The integration is licensed porters, licensed vendors These sub-schemes are only for facilitated by appointing or co- and licensed hawkers on the BPL families. locating AYUSH doctors & Railways in consultation with supporting staff and creating Mahatma Gandhi Ministry of Labour & Employment. infrastructure according to local Railways are facilitating below Suraksha Yojana needs. poverty line beneficiaries for The Government has There were 640 districts, launched a scheme called 6431 blocks and 638588 villages coverage under the scheme being ‘Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi incorporating 605 District Hospitals implemented by the concerned Suraksha Yojana’ (MGPSY) for (DHs), 4535 Community Health State Governments. In the case of Indian workers holding Emigration Centres (CHCs) and 23673 above poverty line beneficiaries, 75 Check Required (ECR) passports Primary Health Centres (PHCs) till per cent of the premium will be and a valid work permit in an ECR March 2011. Out of these, AYUSH borne by the Railways subject to a country. This scheme encourages facilities had been co-located with maximum of Rs. 565/- per family and enables Overseas Indian 416 District Hospitals, 2942 per annum, whichever is less and Workers to save for their return and Community Health Centres and the remaining 25 per cent to be resettlement and to save for their 9559 Primary Health Centres contributed by the beneficiaries, old age by providing a co- during 2011. About 68.76% District who will also have to pay an contribution from the Government. hospitals had been co-located with amount of Rs. 30/- per family per This also provides a free Life AYUSH facilities till 2011. All the year as registration/renewal fee. Insurance Cover against natural Current News & Events 16 Sandeep Patil appointed 2014 FIFA Sports World Cup: a as the Chief for BCCI unique Australian eves beat Selection Committee Brazilian three-banded England to win Women’s Former Cricketer and all- armadillo (the World T20 championship rounder, Sandeep Patil was Tolypeutes appointed as the Chairman of the tricinctus), a Australian women five member senior selection creature that is produced an impressive committee of indigenous to Brazil.FIFA has performance to edge out their BCCI on 27 announced the tournament's English counterparts by four runs September mascot -- an endangered Brazilian in an exciting final of the ICC 2012. The other armadillo.The yet to-be-named Women’s World Twenty20 here on four members of armadillo was revealed by former October 7. the committee Brazil soccer star Ronaldo. The three-banded armadillo, which is Put into bat, Australia put up include Saba Karim, Roger in danger of extinction, rolls up into a competitive 142 for four in 20 Binny, Vikram Rathour and the shape of a ball when overs with almost all the Rajinder Singh Hans. threatened and is commonly found batswoman getting runs. Jess The four members of the in northeastern Brazil. Cameron with 45 was the top previous panel that was headed by The mascot carries the scorer but openers Meg Lanning K. Srikkanth departed from the colors of the Brazilian flag. It is (25), Alyssa Healey (26) and Lisa office after completion of their four yellow, with green shorts and a blue Sthalekar (23 not out) all chipped years tenure. Mohinder Amarnath, shell and tail. It is dressed in a white shirt with the words "Brazil in with useful contributions. the selector from North Zone 2014" written on it. In reply England could departed from his office after serving the selection panel for one "The fact that the three- manage 138 for nine as Australian banded armadillo is a vulnerable year of his tenure. bowlers got wickets at regular species is very fitting," FIFA intervals. Needing 16 of the last Brazil Picks Endangered Secretary General Jerome Valcke said in a statement. "One of the key over, England managed only 11 Armadillo as 2014 Mascot runs off spinner Erin Osborne’s objectives through the 2014 FIFA World Cup is to use the event as a over. England needed an over FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) are platform to communicate the boundary of the last delivery but excited to introduce one of the most importance of the environment and could manage a single as girls in high-profile ambassadors of the ecology. canary yellow celebrated enthusiastically. West Indies Wins T20 World Cup Scores: West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the ICC World Australia: Twenty20 final at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on October 7. Chasing the West Indies’ 137 for six, Sri Lanka was a nervous-wreck and 142 for 4 in 20 overs (Jess finished with a measly 101. Cameron 45, Alyssa Healey 26, The diverse challenges that a small target strangely evoke, Meg Lanning 25; Holly Colvin 2/21). were in full force once Ravi Rampaul cleaned up Tillakaratne Dilshan’s England: stumps. Mahela Jayawardene (33) had the onerous task of keeping his head and anchoring the chase while his nation, including President 138 for 9 in 20 overs Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Charlotte Edwards 28; Jess Marlon Samuels (78, 56b, 3x4, 6x6) waged a lone-battle while Jonassen 3/25, Lisa Sthalekar 2/ the Sri Lankan spinners buzzed around and nearly ruined Sammy’s 16). dreams of batting big on winning the toss. Scores: West Indies: 137/6 Sri Lanka : 101/10 Man-of-the-match: Marlon Samuels. Player-of-the-tournament: Shane Watson. Current News & Events 17

US OPEN 2012 Girisha bags silver at Paralympic Games WINNERS Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda gave India its first medal Andy Murray with first at the Paralympic Games after bagging silver in the men’s high jump grand slam title: F42 event in London. The 24-year-old from Karnataka, who has an impairment in his left leg, sailed over a height of 1.74m using scissors It had been 76 years since technique in the final of the event to finish second in the presence of an a British man won a Grand Slam 80,000 capacity crowd. singles championship Ending a Iliesa Delana of Fiji won the gold, while Lukasz Mamczarz of nation’s long drought Andy Murray Poland settled for bronze. Although Delana finished on the same height won the US Open 2012 beating of 1.74m as Girisha and Mamczarz but won gold on the basis of taking Novak Djokovic 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, less jumps. 3-6, 6-2. The 25-year-old also India at Paralympics became the first man in history to win Olympic singles gold and the Games Place Gold Silver Bronze Total US Open in the same year. Serena Williams wins 1960 Rome did not participate 2012 U.S. Open: 1964 Tokyo did not participate 1968 Tel Aviv 0 0 0 0 Serena beat top-ranked 1972 Heidelberg 1 0 0 1 Victoria Azarenka, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, 1976 Toronto 0 0 0 0 Sunday night for her fourth 1980 Arnhem 0 0 0 0 championship at Flushing 1984 Stoke Mandeville Meadows and 15th Grand Slam /New York 0 2 2 4 title overall. Williams(31) is the first 1988 Seoul 0 0 0 0 30 year old woman to win the US 1992 Barcelona 0 0 0 0 Open since Martina Navratilova in 1996 Atlanta 0 0 0 0 1987.She won her very first major 2000 Sydney 0 0 0 0 championship at age 17 at the 2004 Athens 1 0 1 2 1999 US Open. 2008 Beijing 0 0 0 0 Bob and Mike Bryan lifted 2012 London 0 1 0 1 doubles title: Total 2 338 Bob and Mike Bryan raised tournament. To qualify for this and England along with one a record-equalling 12th Grand round, Indu succeeded in lop-sided nominated South African player as Slam men's doubles title with victory pre-quarterfinals over Russian a whole. The team was selected over Leander Paes and Radek Aziyata Khomushku. by the a panel headed by the former Stepanek at the US Open. The Dhoni named as Caotain for West Indian Captain Clive Lloyd that second-seeded American brothers included other members like Carl defeated Leander Paes and Radek ICC ODI team of the Year Hooper (Former Skipper-West Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 in the US Open Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indies), Marvan Atapattu (Former final. The victory gave the Bryan captain of Indian Cricket team has Captain Sri Lanka), Tom Moody twins their 12th Grand Slam title, been named as the Captain of (former Australian all-rounder) and the most by any team in the Open ICC’s ODI team of the year. Virat Clare O’Connor (Former Captain era, which began in 1968. Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are two of England’s women team). Indu's triumph with a more players from Indian squad to Indian Women won SAF Foot be selected in the ICC’s ODI team bronze at world junior for the year. Dhoni has been Ball Championship 2012 championship nominated to be a member of the Indian Women registered a Indu Choudhary, the 20 year team for fifth consecutive year in a thumping win over Nepal in the final old Indian grappler won Bronze in row. of SAF Football Championship in the World Junior Championship at The complete team of Colombo. India defeated Nepal by twelve members selected for the Pattava on 6 September 2012. She 3-1. India had defeated Bhutan and won bronze in the women’s 44 kg ICC’s One Day International team Sri Lanka in the league stage and category after defeating Turkish of the year includes three Indians thrashed Afghanistan 11-0 in the Evin Demirhan. With this medal and two members from each of the semis to romp into the final. India opened its account in the team Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan Current News & Events 18 standard IS-10500. He said, the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Green National Ministry of Drinking Water and groups have been demanding a Sanitation assists the State blanket ban on plastic bags in the Round-Up Governments technically and capital for long. financially through the centrally Following a Delhi High World's first Bamboo sponsored National Rural Drinking Court order, the government had in Water Programme for January, 2009 imposed a ban on guitar to be launched in supplementing their efforts in the use of plastic bags in various Nagaland providing safe drinking water in the markets, shopping malls, hotels rural areas of the country. The and hospitals but it has not The first ever bamboo guitar NRDWP guidelines clearly produced any desired result. The will be launched on the occasion mention that IS-10500 standards government has now decided to of 'World Bamboo Day' at the state- have to be followed regarding impose the ban as per provision of level celebration of the Nagaland quality specifications of drinking the Environment (Protection) Act, Bamboo Resource Centre (NBRC) water being supplied in the rural 1986 under which the violators in Dimapur, Nagaland. areas of the country. Most of the could face imprisonment up to five The much anticipated developed countries like Australia, years and fine of upto Rs 1 lakh or 'Bamboo Guitar' is made of UK and USA have already decided both. laminated strips of the bamboo the quality standard of potable species 'Bambusa Tulda' and water. India’s first multi-lateral 'Schizostachyum Dullooa.' Social Science research Bambusa Tulda is also called Delhi govt imposes blan- 'Khoprei/Rietho' in Angami or ket ban on plastic bags collaboration with four 'Longmei' in Ao dialect and the European Nations electric guitar is made out of this. In a major environment- The box guitar is a friendly initiative, the Delhi India has managed to enter combination of Bambusa Tulda government on September 11 into its first multi-lateral Social and Schizostachyum Dullooa. decided to impose a blanket ban Science research collaboration Schizostachyum Dullooa is Anih in on manufacture, sale, storage and with four European Nations by the Ao and Ah in Phom dialect. use of plastic bags in the national approval of projects for networking This is the third year running capital. The decision was taken at and social science research since the first World Bamboo Day Cabinet meeting presided over by cooperation in between the celebration was held in Nagaland, at Kisama, near Kohima in 2010. This year’s commemoration First time in 44 years a Speaker resigns under the theme 'Green Future With the resignation of Assembly Speaker D. Jayakumar, it was 2012' has on the tray a food court after a gap of 44 years that a Speaker had chosen to quit the post. with bamboo based food The last time a Speaker resigned was August 1968 when S.B. delicacies, bamboo craft sale and Athithanar stepped down to become Minister. exhibition and an interesting After the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam captured power in 1967, competition on innovative bamboo products and applications from Athithanar was elected Speaker. In February 1969, he became various entrepreneurs and cooperation minister. craftsmen from the eleven districts In the 1950s, two Assembly Speakers had left the post. J. of the State. Sivashanmugam Pillai, in his second term as the presiding officer of BIS maintains quality of the Assembly, resigned the post in August 1955. He held the post since May 1946. Subsequent to the 1951-1952 Assembly elections, water for rural areas Pillai was again elected Speaker in May 1952. He was the only person The Government has to hold the post for nine long years at a stretch. Pillai was succeeded informed that Bureau of Indian by N. Gopala Menon in September 1955. Standards (BIS) has the mandate Menon’s election was marked by a contest in which he got 134 of setting up standards for various votes as against 64 votes secured by S. Swayamprakasam. A year products and services in the later, Menon resigned from the post as his constituency was merged country. The Minister for Rural with the State of Kerala. K.A. Mathialagan was the only Speaker to have Development and Drinking Water been removed through a motion adopted in December 1972 amid and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh uproarious scenes. Mathialagan became the Speaker in March 1971 said that BIS has published on DMK retaining power in the Assembly elections held that year. Drinking Water Specifications in its Current News & Events 19 researchers of these nations on 5 September 2012. The French Delhi CM, Sheila Dikshit green signaled the Ladies Agence Nationale de la Recherche Special Buses (ANR), the Deutsche For schungsgemeinschaft (DFG, Delhi Transport Corporation green signaled Ladies’ Special German Research Foundation), Buses with women conductors on 27 September 2012 from 11 different the UK Economic and Social points across the city. Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit flagged off the bus from Delhi Secretariat. All this has been done to ensure safe Research Council (ESRC) and the and comfortable journey for the ladies during the peak office hours in Netherlands Organisation for the city. Chief Minister Delhi informed that the number of buses will Scientific Research (NWO) are the increase in accordance to the frequency of the commuters in the near four bodies with which India has future. been successful in created tie-ups. The social scientists will get members. In its third academic national funds for creating Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi year (2012-13), the University has collaborations with European enrolled over 300 students and has scheme Launched Partners via a scheme. This is help 48 faculty members. The University in eradication of bureaucratic The State Health Ministry of is currently functioning from Akbar Arunachal Pradesh launched restrictions and obstacles. It’s Bhawan premises in New Delhi. expected to economise and Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi scheme in rationalize the efforts of Europe Study on Women Death Itanagar on 14 September 2012. towards production of high impact due to Child Birth The scheme which is under the and quality research on social Union Ministry of Health and Family science that can address to the As per the latest data on Welfare provides financial challenges forwarded by the global Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from assistance up to 1.5 lakh rupees arena in terms of growth, economy, the Sample Registration System of to BPL patients suffering from life development, climate change, well Registrar General of India (RGI- threatening diseases in the form being and health. As per the SRS), MMR in the country is 212 of a one-time grant. In the event of scheme the proposal can be made per 100,000 live births for the the treatment cost exceeding 1.5 on any hemisphere of social period 2007-09 which translates lakh rupees, the patients can avail science that can be of a help in into an approximate number of the assistance from the Central understanding the social and 56,000 maternal deaths in one Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi scheme. individual behavior of a person and year. As per SRS 2010, the Infant The Central government’s influence the policies beyond the Mortality Rate (IMR) is 47 per 1000 contribution to the scheme for boundaries. The targeted six live births which translates into Arunachal Pradesh, will be two proposals that have been awarded approximately 12.5 lakh children crore rupees. with the funds after being mapped dying before they reach their first EC Prohibited use of in the month of May 2011, will deal birthday. in the aspects of wellbeing, ageing, As per the report titled animals in Campaigns “Maternal Mortality in India: 1997- bullying, mapping the cultural The Election commission authority of science, globally 2003 trends, causes and risk on 27 September 2012 directed the accessible medicine, climate factors” published from the same Political Parties and candidates not governance and pupil-safety. source, major causes of maternal to use birds and animals in the deaths in the country are SAARC University campaigns. The commission also Haemorrhage (38%), Sepsis directed that in case the use of (11%), Hypertensive Disorders SAARC University esta animal is unavoidable then the (5%), Obstructed Labour (5%), blished in the country has started party or candidate will have to Abortion (8%) and “Others” (34%) functioning. The South Asian ensure that no harm is caused to which includes Anaemia. University (SAU) is functional since the animal including violation of any The main reasons for Infant August 2010. It commenced its first law as well as cruelty towards the Mortality in India as per the academic session with an intake creature. Registrar General of India (2001- of 50 students in two Masters To justify the decision the Courses (Development 03) are perinatal conditions (46%), commission pointed towards Economics and Computer Respiratory infections (22%), Article 51(g) of the Indian Applications). In its second Diarrhoeal diseases (10%), other Constitution that states academic year, the SAU enrolled infectious and parasitic diseases compassion for all living creature 170 students (from all eight SAARC (8%) and Congenital anomalies as well as Prevention of Cruelty of member States) and 30 faculty (3.1%). Current News & Events 20 Animals Act, 1960. The Punjab Government Amended A.P. to setup 15 Marine commission also pointed towards the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 that Canal & Drainage Act Police Stations prohibits overloading and torturing Punjab state government The Andhra Pradesh state of the animals. The Election on 11 September 2012 amended government on 19 September 2012 the section 70 of Canal and Commission has also sent letters decided to set up 15 marine police Drainage Act, 1873 to punish the to the political parties as well as stations along its coastline in offence of canal water theft. As per the Chief Electoral Officers of every addition to the existing six ones. The state and union territories. The the amendment, those who puncture a canal to irrigate their decision was taken in a bid to beef decision was made following the fields will face a fine of 5000 up security along the 974 km long representations received by the rupees, imprisonment or both. election commission by some coastline of the state. The For the second offence of organization and individual stating government also decided to canal water theft, water supply appoint special police officers the cruelty that animals suffered would be ceased for full term (SPOs) in coastal villages. Police during the election campaign of the during the crop season. In case any political parties. person still continues to use water sources said marine police will NDMA observed it's 8th in an unauthorised manner, they conduct patrolling in the deep sea would be excluded from the Formation Day within their jurisdiction in command area of the canal for a coordination with the Coast Guard, The National Disaster period of two years. Before this but SPOs will play a major role and amendment, there was a provision Management Authority (NDMA) on keep a constant watch on the 28 September 2012 observed its of Rs 1,000 fine or 1 month coastline activities in their villages. 8th Formation day at Vigyan imprisonment or both. Bhawan, New Delhi and reaffirmed UP Launched Samajwadi Haryana Signed MOU its commitment towards making Swasthya Seva Haryana government had Disasters in India resilient. During signed a Memorandum of Uttar Pradesh state the ceremony, the vice-chairman of Understanding with four NDMC M. Shashidhar Reddy threw government on 14 September independent power producers for light on some of the contributions 2012 launched the Samajwadi setting five bio-mass power made by the authority in all these Swasthya Seva, the biggest projects. The capacity of power years and the management system emergency medical transport developed by them to control the service in the country. The projects is of 51 MW and required situation of disaster. The Chief ambitious service was launched in an investment of 230 crore. Out of 13 districts - Mainpuri, Etawah, Guest and the Guest of Honour on four, two projects is going to be Lucknow, Kannauj, Saharanpur, this occasion were the Union commissioned soon. Haryana is Meerut, Rampur, Moradabad, Minister of Water Resources and Muzaffarnagar, Sambhal, Shamli, among the leading states in Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Baghpat and Ambedkarnagar - in implementing energy conservation Bansal and Minister of State in the the first phase. The facility can be programmes. The memorandum Ministry of Home Affairs Mullapally availed free of cost by dialing 108. was basically signed to tackle with Ramachandran respectively. The ambulance service was the prevailing power crisis in the NDMA was constituted on launched with the help of a private state 30 May 2005 with its notification service provider. done on 27 September 2006 by the Prime Minister of India as its Barfi nominated as India's entry to Oscars 2013 Chairperson. The organization is responsible to ensure the Bollywood film "Barfi" has got an official entry to the Oscars, and prevention measures along with actor Ranbir Kapoor said he has high hopes from the film even though preparedness, mitigation, at the moment it has not reached the nomination stage. "So far in the generation of awareness, recovery history of Indian cinema, only three Bollywood films, including Mehboob and rehabilitation along with fine Khan's "Mother India" (1957), Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay" (1988) recommendations related to fund and Ashutosh Gowariker's "Lagaan" (2001), have made it to the allocation at times of all types of nomination stage. Directed by Anurag Basu, "Barfi" features Ranbir manmade and natural disaster Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz among others. across the nation. Current News & Events 21

International US, India and Afghanistan held its First Trilateral Round-Up Discussion US, India and Afghanistan held its first ever trilateral meeting on France to ban words 25 September 2012. The major point of discussion was on the situation in Afghanistan along with the issue of terrorism. The discussion marks 'mother' and 'father' from the strengthening of Afghanistan relation with India and US who are official documents totally behind the vision of a secure, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan living in peace, security, friendship and France is set to ban the cooperation with its region and the wider world. words 'mother' and 'father' from all The meeting was held at the Afghan Mission in New York and official documents underits was attended by Joint Secretary (Pakistan/Afghanistan/Iran) Y K Sinha controversial plans to legalize gay and Joint Secretary (America) Jawed Ashraf from the Indian side, Afghan marriage. The move, that has Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin, US Special Representative for outraged certain sections, means Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman and Assistant only the word 'parents' would be Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake. The used in identical marriage discussions also mark the beginning of a series of consultations ceremonies for allheterosexual and among the three governments, who share common interests across same-sex couples. The draft law South and Central Asia and who have pledged to work together on states that "marriage is a union of common challenges and opportunities including combating terrorism two people, of different or the same and violent extremism, reviewing cultural exchanges and increasing gender". All references, according regional trade, investment and economic integration. to the draft, to 'mothers and fathers' in the civil code - which enshrines India, Myanmar and Anand Sharma, Union Minister for French law - will be swapped for Commerce, Industry & Textiles simply 'parents'. The law would Thailand decided to imple- said that India-Czech partnership also give equal adoption rights to ment Trilateral Connectiv- can become the harbinger of a new homosexual and heterosexual ity Project by 2016 growth story in these times of couples. economic stress. Leading a New Nuclear Safety India, Myanmar and business delegation of over 135 Thailand on 10 September 2012 Indian Engineering companies, Agency launched in Japan reviewed the eagerly awaited Minister Sharma signed the Japan launched a new trilateral connectivity project and minutes of the India-Czech Joint Nuclear Safety Agency on 18 decided to make all efforts to Commission which took place September 2012. The formation of implement this by 2016. This was earlier, during which he set a target this five-member Nuclear done at the meeting of the India- of doubling bilateral trade taking it Regulation Authority was done after Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task to a level of USD 2 billion for the the country was hit by Tsunami in Force, which met in New Delhi. It India-Czech bilateral trade by 2015. was also agreed during the the year 2011 resulting in major Minister Anand Sharma also meeting that steps be initiated to announced the participation of the breakdown and leakage of the address issues related to Czech Republic as partner country Nuclear Power Plants in the harmonisation of customs and in the 2013 edition of the India tsunami-stricken-area of immigration procedures at border Engineering Sourcing Show. The Fukushima Dai-Ichi Plant. Headed check-posts to enable seamless event was also addressed by by the nuclear Physicist, Shunichi movement of goods and people to Minister of Industry & Trade of the Tanaka, this agency is responsible realise the full potential of the Czech Republic, Mr. M Kuba. Two for reviewing of the nuclear policies trilateral highway. MoUs were signed between the of the country. Before the incident, Czech Export Bank and Export Japan relied on nuclear power for Czech Republic to be the at least one-third of its energy Partner Country in the requirements but now it’s planning India Engineering Sourc- to increase it to a level of 50 percent of its total energy requirements. The ing Show 2013 framed policies framed aims to Speaking at the India-Czech phase out the issues related to Joint Commission and the nuclear power of the country for next concurrent business seminar at three decades. Brno on September 11, 2012, Shri Current News & Events 22 Import Bank of India and between bilateral ties apart from deciding to politically connected with an EEPC India and the Confederation elevate it to "strategic partnership" information and management of Industry of the Czech Republic. which will include cooperation in a technology firm having four wide spectrum of areas, including contracts of several million dollars Russia's Oldest person political, economic, defense and potentially in the year 2011. Being dies at 122 counter-terrorism. an engineer with license, she Both the countries agreed to founded Spaan Tech in the year A man thought to be enhance their trade and 1998 and since then has been a Russia's oldest person has died investment relations. MoU was great participant in the success at the age of 122, authorities in the signed between India and story of the company. The Chicago North Caucasus region of Tajikistan in the field of sports also. born is serving as a Chairman with Dagestan said on September 11. Both the countries also agreed to Delhi–Chicago Sister Cities Magomed Labazanov, a retired explore the possibilities to develop Committee. To promote the labourer who lived in Serebrya transport corridors. In an attempt exchange of values in relation to kovka village close to the city of to intensify developmental culture, social and economy in Kizlyar, died early Friday, the local partnership, India has offered to between the two nations, she government said on its website. undertake a series of development guided the Chicago’s Mayor Labazanov was reportedly born in projects in Tajikistan. Richard M Daley trade mission to Dagestan and worked in a sawmill India. and later on a farm. He never First Indian American at learned to read and write. The date Worldwide Protests against of his birth has not been DNC Parliamentarian authenticated as he did not have Smita Shah a close the film Innocence of an original birth certificate. supporter of US President Barack Muslims Labazanov was one of the Obama became the first person Innocence of Muslims, thousands of people in North from Indian-American origin to written and produced by Sam Caucasus republics who were serve as a parliamentarian for Bacile turned up to be the reason uprooted during World War II on Democratic National Convention on for protests across the Islamic Stalin's orders and deported to 6 September 2012. As per the nations. The movie has claimed Central Asia, returning only in the publically available documents, lives of many including the US 1950s. Smita has been an applauded Ambassador to Libiya, Chris donor to the campaign of the Stevens. The film has seen protests India and Tajikistan sign Democratic Party and Obama. She in Libiya, Egypt, India and the Arabic is the Vice-Chair at Chicago Plan new pacts speaking world. Producer of the Commission. Smita heads Spaan Tajikistan, a key partner of film, Sam Bacile with original name Tech, a unit that was described by India in the Central Asian region, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula hired The Chicago Tribune to be signed several agreements with India for enhancing cooperation in various areas like health, Forbes released the Annual Ranking List of 400 education, industry, energy, labour, richest Americans employment and culture. Prime Minister Manmohan Forbes on 19 September 2012 released the list of 400 richest Singh and President of Tajikistan Americans. Bill Gates with his total net worth of $ 66 billion managed to Emomali Rahmon held talks on key remain at the top position for 19th year in a row. Warren Buffet of Berkshire regional and international issues Hathaway with net asset of $ 46 billion was at second position in the and reviewed the current status of list. Larry Ellison of Oracle remained at third position with net asset of $ 41 billion. Some of the known names in the list include: 1. Jeff Bezos, at No. 11, with estimated net worth of $23.2 billion 2. Steve Ballmer at 19th position with net asset of $15.9 billion 3. Paul Allen grabbed 20th position with net asset of $15 billion 4. Mark Zuckerberg of facebook, slipped from his previous year’s 11th position to 36th position with net asset of $17.5 billion 5. James Jannard secured 150th position with his net asset of $2.8 billion 6. Craig McCaw was placed at number 311 in the list with his net asset of $1.5 billion 7. Bruce Nordstrom remained at. 360th position with net asset of $1.2 billion Current News & Events 23 the director of many soft-core porn flicks to do the job. Some of the MIT Topped on the World University Rankings Chart films of the Robert include The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) topping the list of Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood, best universities issued by the QS World University Rankings for 2011- Lost at War and Zombie Wars. The 2012 for the first time that there is a massive rise in the tech-based reason of protests against the film universities of the world. Cambridge University that had managed to be is the insult of Prophet Mohammad. at second position in the list has seen a slight depression from its first The director of the film, who is an slot, whereas Harvard University was ranked to be at third position in Israeli-American, has portrayed the list. University College, London (UCL), Oxford and Imperial are the Prophet to be a philanderer, fool and ranked to be at fourth and fifth position. Four universities from United a religious fake. There are scenes Kingdom have taken the slot among six best universities of the world. in the movie that illustrates Prophet In the announced rankings, none of the Indian universities have been to be a fake person along with successful in managing a rank even in the top hundred. The published scenes that have thrown light on results are based on the QS Academic reputation survey in which 46,000 the sexual acts of Prophet. academics from across the world were engaged in identifying the lead- ing universities of their respective field. New President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud India & Pakistan Signed investment and increase imports from Sri Lanka. China and Sri won the presidential elections of MoU to Expand Business Somalia on 10 September 2012. Lanka agreed that holders of diplomatic and service passports He won the election by gaining 190 Base of the other nation will be exempt votes to 79 in the second round of The Islamabad Women’s from visa requirements. China-Sri competition. Alliances were formed Chamber of Commerce and Lanka bilateral trade volume between the Prime Minister Industry and the PHDCCI on 12 reached 3.14 billion dollars in 2011. Abdiweli Ali and Hassan Sheikh. September 2012 signed a MoU. His election as a President is The objective of the MoU is to US & Japan agreed deploy welcomed by many nations of the develop policies in trade, missile defence system world and there are expectations investment and tourism between Pakistan and India and expand the that Somalia will soon see a new The United States and existing business base and Japan on 17 September 2012, dawn. increase understanding. announced an agreement to set up US Diplomat to Libya The two chambers agreed second advanced missile defense to establish and develop radar on Japanese province. It is killed in Benghazi Attack commercial links between the an effort which is distinctively United State ambassador to business communities of both designed to counter the ballistic Libya, Chris Stevens with three countries and their members. missile threat from North Korea. According to the MoU, both trade The radar which is named as X- other embassy staff were killed on bodies will endeavour to improve band radar is meant to protect 9 September 2012 after some cooperation, assist trade Japan as well as the U.S. fundamentalist mobs fumed and missions, exchange information homeland. The United States and protesting over a film mocking and find methods for promoting its allies in the region have Prophet Mohammed, attacked trade. The two chambers will also expressed growing concern about Consulate building in Benghazi city organise seminars, exhibitions, North Korea's missile tests and nuclear arms programs. Despite of Libya. The said event happened trade fairs and other promotional warnings by the international on the day which is also marked activities. community, Pyongyang fired a as the 11th anniversary of 9/11. The China Signed 16 new rocket in April, saying it was meant US ambassador to Libya, Chris Agreements with to launch an experimental satellite. Stevens was the man who had But it was generally believed the helped Libyan opposition to SriLanka launch was a missile test. This deal came when China and Japan is on overthrow the Gaddafi regime. The China on 16 September dispute for an uninhabited, protest came after 14 minute trailer 2012 signed 16 major agreements resource-rich island chain known of the film posted on You Tube. The with Sri Lanka in Colombo on a as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku film named as Innocence of range of issues, from visa in Japan. The joint missile defense Muslims, was directed and exemption and marine system encourages Japan to keep produced by an Israeli- American development to economic and a forceful position in the Diaoyu real estate developer. It depicts the technology cooperation. China Islands dispute, which is sending Prophet in poor light. also promised to expand China a very negative message. Current News & Events 24 Knowledge Capsules Different Types of Awards (India & World)

Nobel Prize: • It is given annually to persons for outstanding contributions to the promotion of international • It is the most coveted international award of the understanding and goodwill among the people of world. the world. • It was instituted by the inventor of dynamite, Alfred Bernard Nobel (1833-96) Oscar Awards: • The award is given on Dec.10, which is the death • These awards were instituted in 1929 and anniversary of its founder. conferred annually by the Academy of Motion • Nobel made a trust from the money that he earned Pictures in USA. through the patent of his invention whose interest • These are considered the most prestigious award is used to give the money for the Nobel Prizes. in the cinema world. • Nobel Prize is given every year to those eminent • The first Indian to get an Oscar was Bhanu Athaiya person who have made pioneering achievements for the movie ‘Gandhi’. in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Peace, • Satyajit Ray was the First Indian who was awarded Literature and Economics. Oscar for lifetime achievements in cinema in 1992. • Apart from Economics, all other categories have Right Livelihood Award: been given since 1901. Economics Nobel Prize • It was instituted in 1980 by the Right Livelihood was in 1967 and was first given in 1969. Society, London. Pulitzer Prize: • It is renowned as alternate Nobel Award to promote and contribute in the field of environment and social • It was instituted in 1970 and named after the US justice. Publisher Joseph Pulitzer. • It is conferred annually in the USA for Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize: accomplishments in journalism, literature and • It was instituted in 1995 by the Government of India. music. • It is presented for international peace on the lines Magsaysay Awards: of Nobel Prize. • They were instituted in 1957 and named after UNESCO Peace Prize: Ramon Magsaysay, the late President of • It is presented by United Nation Educational, Philippines, who died in an air crash. Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for • This award is given annually on August 31, for extraordinary contribution for international peace. outstanding contributions to Public service, UNESCO Human Right Award: community leadership, journalism, literature and • It is also presented by UNESCO for contributions creative arts and international understanding. in the field of Human Rights Awareness. • They are often regarding as the Nobel Prize of • It is given every alternate year. Asia. UN Human Right Award: Booker Prize: • It is presented by United Nation (UN) for personal • It is the highest literary award given to the authors contribution for the cause of human rights. of British, Irish and Commonwealth countries. • It is presented every sixth year. • It is instituted in 1968 by the Booker Company and World Food Prize: the British Publishers Association along the lines • It is presented by Food and Agriculture of Pulitzer Prize of US. Organization (FAO), one of the branches of UNO, • Booker Prize has been renamed as Man Booker for the cause of agriculture and food development. Prize, as the sponsorship has been taken by the Indira Gandhi Award for International Man Group, an international stockbroker. Peace, Disarmament and Development: Jawaharlal Nehru Award for • It is presented by Indira Gandhi Memorial Fund for International Understanding: specialized contribution in the filed of International • It was instituted in 1965 by the Government of India. disarmament and development. Current News & Events 25 Bharat Ratna: Arjuna Awards: • It is the highest civilian award of India. It is • These were instituted in 1961and given by Sports presented by the Government of India. Ministry, Government of India. • It is presented for exceptional public service and • These are given for the special achievements in rarest achievements in the field of art, literature different types of sports. and science. Dronacharya Awards: • It was instituted in 1954 and the first recipient was Dr. Radhakrishnan. • These were instituted in 1985 and given by Sports • Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian Ministry, Government of India. award for distinguished services in any field • These are given to sports coaches. including Government service. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: • Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree are the other • The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (RGKR) is India’s important civilian awards. highest honour given for achievement in sports. Bhartiya Jnanpeeth Awards: The words "Khel Ratna" literally mean "sports • It was instituted in 1965 and is given for gem" in Hindi. The award is named after the late distinguished works in any reconised language Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India. It by a scholar. carries a medal, a scroll of honour and a substantial cash component. Up to 2004–05, the Sahitya Akademi Award: cash component was Rs. 500,000/- (c.11,500 • It was instituted in 1955 and is given for any USD).The money has been increased from Rs. exclusive writing in any of the 22 languages 500,000 to Rs. 750,000. including English literature during last 5 years. • It was instituted in 1962 and is presented for Murtidevi Award: commendable display by the players. • It was constituted in 1948 and is given in any Indian Gallantry Awards: language or English literature, for distinguished • Param Vir Chakra : It is India’s highest award for contribution to Indian values. bravery. Saraswati Samman: • Mahavir Chakra : It is the second highest gallantry award. • It was instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla • Vir Chakra : It is the third highest gallantry award. Foundation and is given for any distinguished • Ashok Chakra : It is the highest peace-time literary work made during last 10 years in any of gallantry award. the Indian language. Prime Minister's Shram Award: Tansen Awards: • The objective of the Prime Minister’s Shram Award • These awards are given by the Government of is to recognize the outstanding contribution made Madhya Pradesh for the outstanding contribution by workmen as defined in the Industrial Dispute in the field of music. Act, 1947, in organisations both in public and Vyas Samman: private sector and who have distinguished record of performance, devotion to duty. • It was instituted in 1992 by K. K. Birla Foundation for outstanding contribution to Hindi literature. Shaheed Niyogi Memorial Award for Iqbal Samman: Journalism: • These awards are given by the Government of • The award was instituted in 1998 to recognise the Madhya Pradesh for the outstanding contribution contribution of Journalists in upholding the legacy in the field of literature. of Shanker Guja Niyogi, the firebrand trade union leader and social activist from Chhattisgarh, who Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards: was murdered on September 28, 1991 by the • These awards are given to the Indian scientist for industrial mafia. their exceptional performance. Jamnalal Bajaj Awards: R. D. Birla Award: • In 1976, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation was • These awards are given in the field of medical established for promoting Gandhian constructive sciences. programmes and assisting constructive workers who devoted themselves to the national cause. Dhanvantri Award: The foundation has instituted four annual awards, • These awards are given for the extra ordinary each carrying a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000 or its performance in medical sciences. equivalent in foreign currency, a citation and a trophy. Current News & Events 26 Banking Awareness For Bank PO & Clerks Exams

1. Which of the following is not 1) To provide banking services 1) Public Sector Banks required to open a bank with special focus on rural 2) Private Banks account? areas 3) RRBs 1) Identity Proof 2) To say Post Offices are not 4) Foreign Banks functioning in 2) Address Proof inferior to banks India 3) Domicile Certificate 3) To resist the dominance of 5) All the above 4) Latest Photographs Reserve Bank of India 12. Which of the following banks 5) None of these 4) To get the profits more than launched a dedicated 'Ajeevika' 2. 'www.paisaboltahai.rbi.org.in' is Banks cell to help alleviating poverty in a ? 5) None rural hinterlands on April 15, 1) Website of RBI to collect the 6...... became the first bank to offer 2012? donations from public 'RuPay Kisan Card' with 1) RBI 2) SBI 2) Website of RBI to bring the 'Aadhaar' authentication? 3) OBC 4) IDBI Bank awareness among public 1) SBI 2) OBC 5) NABARD about Base Rate of Banks 3) Syndicate bank 13. Khandelwal committee report 3) Website of RBI to bring the 4) Andhra Bank deals with? awareness among the public 5) ICICI 1) Banking sector human about detection of fake currency 7. Pratip Chaudhuri is the resource management notes Chairman of? 2) Poverty in rural areas 4) Website of Government of 1) SBI 2) NABARD 3) Railway Traffic India to tell the people to save 3) NHB 4) PFRDA 4) Human Trafficking money to counter Inflation 5) TRAI 5) None 5) None 8. The Union Cabinet on June7, 14.Banks usually share the information of CIBIL at the time 3. Which of the following public 2012 allowed capital infusion of of giving loans to the borrowers. sector banks has won the Best Rs.632 crore in which of the CIBIL stands for? Risk Master Award for its following banks? 1) Credit Inform Bureau (India) outstanding record in loan 1) SBI Limited appraisal standards, loan 2) SBI Associate Banks portfolio management, NPAs 2) Credit Information Bureau 3) All Public Sector Banks and restructured loan book (India) Limited 4) Private Banks management ? 3) Consumer Information 5) Regional Rural Banks 1) Indian Bank Bureau (India) Limited 9. Which among the following is 2) OBC 4) Credit Information Board not a foreign bank working in 3) Syndicate Bank (India) Limited India? 4) BOB 5) Collective Information 1) Standard Charted Bank 5) UCO Bank Bureau (India) Limited 2) HSBC 4. As per the RBI Governor 15. National Housing Bank (NHB) 3) Yes Bank statement, how much fund granted Rs...... crore under needed by the Indian Banking 4) Royal Bank of Scotland rural housing Fund on 13th Sector to fulfil the Basel -III 5) CITI bank September 2012. norms by 31st March 2018? 10. Reserve Bank Staff college is 1) 2500 2) 1500 1) Rs.5 Lakh Crore at ? 3) 6000 4) 4000 2) Rs.4 Lakh Crore 1) Hyderabad 2) Pune 5) 8000 3) Rs.8 Lakh Crore 3) Chennai 4) New Delhi 16.Name the new version of 4) Rs.15 Lakh Crore 5) Kanpur Automated Teller Machine 5) Rs.3.5 Lakh Crore 11. Which banks are insured by the (ATM) which will alllow common 5. Aim to establish the proposed Deposit Insurance and Credit ATMs that will be owned and Post Bank of India (PBI) by the G-uarantee Corporation managed by non-banking Department of Posts (DoP) is? (DICGC)? entities ? Current News & Events 27

1) Ezee ATM 3) Canara Bank 31.Which committee recomm 2) Clear Card 4) ICICI ended for the amalgamation of 3) Visa Card 5) State Bank of Bikaner & RRBs? 4) White- label ATM Jaipur 1) K.C.Chakravarthy 5) Smart Card 25. Punjab National Bank and 2) Usha Thorat 17. Which bank launched its online Central Bank of India will jointly 3) Vyas application service for Credit set up a bank in? 4) C.V. Anand Bose Card - Click2Card on 28th 1) Mozambique 2) Somalia 5) Ajay Kumar Seth August 2012? 3) Sri Lanka 4) Australia 32. RBI does not mint ...... paper 1) Bank of Baroda 5) South Africa currency. 2) Union Bank of India 26. Asian Development Bank (ADB) 1) Rs. 5 2) Rs. 10 3) State Bank of India headquarters is in? 3) Rs. 1 4) Rs.100 4) ICICI 1) Manila (Philippines) 5) Rs. 20 5) Axis Bank 2) Tokyo (Japan) 33. Which among the following one 18.Foreign Exchange Reserves 3) Mumbai (India) is not a Private Sector bank? are kept in the custody of? 4) Colombo (Sri Lanka) 1) ING Vysya Bank 1) RBI 2) SEBI 5) Beijing ( China) 2) HDFC 3) NABARD 27. If an account opened by Account 3) Punjab & Sind Bank 4) Ministry of External Affairs holder and written nominee 4) ICICI 5) None name, if nominee dies first 5) Yes Bank 19. Which is the largest commercial then? 34. Largest Private Sector bank in bank of the country ? 1) Account holder loose the India is? 1) RBI 2) PNB amount in the account 1) HDFC 2) ICICI 3) SBI 2) Account holder is not allowed 3) KVB 4) Canara Bank to write another's name as 4) City Union Bank 5) None of these nominee 5) Axis bank 20. From 1 April 2012, the validity of 35. Institute for Development and 3) Account holder must open cheque is? Research in Banking other account 1) 3 months 2) 6 months Technology (IDRBT) at? 4) Account holder is allowed to 3) 9 months 4) 12 months 1) Gurgoan 2) Jalandhar write another's name as 5) 18 months 3) Chennai 4) Hyderabad nominee 21. RBI has made it mandatory for 5) Pune 5) Account holder must close the all banks to print which of the 36. Which International Monetary account following on the Passbook and Organisation extended $ 150 28.The Reserve Bank of India Statement of Account of the million loan for 1st tranche of customers? issues notes under which one Railway Sector Investment 1) MICR code 2) IFSC code of the following methods ? Program in India on 10th July 3) PAN 4) Both 1 and 2 1) Fixed fiduciary system 2012? 5) None of these 2) Maximum fiduciary system 1) IMF 2) World Bank 22.The Reserve Bank of India 3) Minimum reserve system 3) ADB 4) IDA asked the banks not to levy any 4) Proportional reserve system 5) ODA penalty on pre-payment of? 5) None of these 37.Which co-operative bank 1) Commercial Loans 29.Government shareholding in applied for the license with RBI 2) Vehicle Loans Public Sector Banks cannot be to join the group of commercial 3) Loans given to Infrastructure below? banks on 12th June 2012? 4) NRI loans 1) 33% 2) 74% 1) APGVB 2) DGB 5) Housing loans 3) 51% 4) 100% 3) REPCO 4) CGGB 23.In the banking, we use the 5) 67% 5) SGB acronym PIN. PIN means? 30. Expand BRBNMPL ? 1) Pure Identification Number 1) Bharatiya Reserve Borrow 2) Personal Identification Noise Note Mudran Private Limited ANSWERS 3) Personal Ignorance Number 2) Bangalore Reserve Bank 1. 3 2. 3 3. 1 4. 1 5. 1 4) Personal Identification Note Mudran Private Limited Number 3) Bharatiya Resale Bank Note 6. 2 7. 1 8. 5 9. 3 10. 3 5) Phone Indemnity Number Mudran Private Limited 11. 5 12. 5 13. 1 14. 2 15. 4 24. On 8th August 2012, which bank 4) Bharatiya Reserve Bank 16. 4 17. 3 18. 1 19. 3 20. 1 introduced the First Financial Negotiable Mudran Private 21. 4 22. 5 23. 4 24. 5 25. 1 Super market at Jaipur? Limited 26. 1 27. 4 28. 3 29. 3 30. 5 1) Syndicate Bank 5) Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note 31. 3 32. 3 33. 3 34. 2 35. 4 2) Andhra Bank Mudran Private Limited 36. 3 37. 3 Current News & Events 28 Current MCQ Capsules

1. Kaushik Basu is recently 3) Usman Haider 14. Which of the following Indian appointed as the Chief 4) MA Yusuf Ali channels was granted Economist of? 5) None of these broadcast rights in China ? 1) World Bank 2) IMF 8. Which country has surpassed 1) Zee Tv 3) ADB 4) AFD Saudi Arabia to become the 2) Doordarshan 5) RBI world's largest holder of proven 3) Network 18 2. Theme of 'World Economic oil reserves? 4) SAB TV Forum on India' to be held 1) Canada 2) Russia 5) None of these between 6th and 8th 3) Iran 4) Venezuela 15. Vanuatu is the 157th member November 2012 is? 5) Kuwait of ? 1) Crisis to Revival 9. Which state celebrating 2012 1) UNO 2) WTO 2) From Weakness to Strength as 'Yuva Shakti Varsh' or the 3) World Bank 4) SAARC 3) From Damage to Repair 'Year of Youth Power' to 5) NATO 4) From Debilitation to Rise commemorate Swami 16. Which of the following districts 5) From Deliberation to Vivekananda's 150th birth of Bihar has achieved record Transformation anniversary? Paddy and Potato production? 3. Dr. Verghese Kurien passed 1) West Bengal 1) Nawada 2) Nalanda away on September 9, 2012. 2) Tamilnadu 3) Saharsa 4) Saran He is the father of India's? 3) Gujarat 5) None of these 17. John Baird visited India and 1) Green Revolution 4) Tripura held talks with S.M.Krishna in 2) Blue Revolution 5) Andhra Pradesh September 2012. Baird is the 3) Yellow Revolution 10. Expert Committee on GAAR Foreign Minister of which of the 4) White Revolution (General Anti- Avoidance following countries? 5) Golden Revolution Rules) headed by? 1) France 2) Argentina 4. The shooting World champion 1) K.C.Chakravarthy ship of 2018 was awarded to 3) Canada 4) U.K. 2) Vijay C. Kelkar 5) Australia which of the following country? 3) Montek Singh Ahluwalia a) Korea b)Thailand 18. World Bank has set up its first 4) C.V. Anand Bose Indian branch in Chennai. It is c) China d) Qatar 5) Parthasarathi Shome 5) None of these based in which of the following 11. Recently Delhi and Rajasthan 5. Which book won the Pulitzer Asian countries? extended the age bar on child Prize 2012, under the category 1) China 2) Sri Lanka labour from 14 years to? 1) An American Life 3) Singapore 4) South Korea 1) 16 years 2) 21 years 2) Life on Mars 5) Japan 3) 18 years 4) 25 years 3) A life of Reinvention b the Life 19. Micro Finance Companies 5) 30 years Manning Marble provide loans to? 12. How much percent of Foreign 4) Water by the Spoonful 1) Rich people Direct Investment (FDI) in 5) None of these 2) Government employees 6. Which of the following political insurance and pension sector 3) Poor class people party won the parliamentary proposed to allow by the 4) Billionaires elections in Jamaica recently ? Finance Ministry on 22nd 5) RBI 1) Jamaica Labour Party August 2012? 20. Miss World 2012 is? 2) People’s National Party 1) 100 2) 51 1) Sophie Moulds (Wales) 2) Jessica Kahawaty 3) New Nation Coalition 3) 49 4) 74 (Australia) 4) National Democratic 5) 41 3) Yu Wenxia (China) Movement 13. Which of the following 4) Vanya Mishra (India) 5) None of these schemes has been started to 5) Mariana Notarangelo (Brazil) 7. Name of the Kerala based UAE provide health services in the 21. Who was declared as the business magnate, who was rural areas? most powerful woman in the awarded with Inter Faith 1) Bharat Nirman world by Forbes magazine on Harmony Award at Kuala 2) Operation Flood 22nd August 2012? Lumpur ? 3) SGSY 1) Sonia Gandhi 1) A.S. Yasin 4) ASHA 2) Michelle Obama 2) Rafeeq Ahmed 5) JNNURM Current News & Events 29

3) Angela Merkel 3) Sachin Gupta 1) 13 to 19 years 4) Hillary Clinton 4) Vinod Shankar 2) 11 to 18 years 5) Dilma Rousseff 5) None of these 3) 11 to 15 years 22. Which of the following 29. As per a report published 4) 12 to 19 years represents the ratio of equity recently by Save the Children, 5) 12 to 18 years of the Regional Rural Banks a global non-governmental 36. Which of the following is the (RRBs) held by the Central organi-zation, which country name of the norms by which a Government, the sponsor has the highest number of bank satisfies itself about the bank and the concerned State deaths due to premature customers' identity and Government respectively? births? activities? 1) 50:20:30 2) 50:35:15 1) Niger 2) Bangladesh 1) Lending norms 3) 40:35:25 4) 40:40:20 3) Somalia 4) India 2) Service norms 5) 50:30:20 5) Nigeria 3) Basal norms 23. Which Russian city hosted the 30. World Sepsis day observed for 4) KYC norms 24th Summit of the Asia-Pacific the first time on? 5) None of these Economic Cooperation 1) August 13 37. Which Stock Exchange and (APEC) in September 2012? 2) September 7 United Bank of India has 1) Yekaterinburg 3) September 13 signed a Memorandum of 2) Vladivostok 4) September 30 Under standing with for 3) Moscow 5) September 1 offering an internetbased 4) Novosibirsk 31. Which Indian chosen for the equity trading platform? 5) Saint Petersburg Ramon Magsaysay Award for 1) National Stock Exchange 24. Central Board of Direct Taxes the year 2012, for economic 2) Bombay Stock Exchange (CBDT) has made electronic empowerment of thousands of 3) Calcutta Stock Exchange Ltd filing of tax returns mandatory women and their families in 4) Madras Stock Exchange for individuals with income rural areas? 5) None of these above Rs? 1) Anna Hazare 38. SWIFT is an internationally- 1) 50 Lakh 2) 100 Lakh 2) Sundarlal Bahuguna recognized idenidentification 3) 10 Lakh 4) 15 Lakh 3) Kulandei Francis code for banks around the 5) 1 Lakh 4) Baba Ramdev world, which has 8 or 11 25. Disinvestment means? 5) C.Ranga Rajan alphanumeric characters. 1) Government put investment 32. The purchase of shares and SWIFT means? in Private Sector bonds of Indian companies by 1) Stand for Worldwide 2) Private Share holders buy Foreign Institu tional Investors Interbank Financial Tele the shares in PSU is called? communication 3) Government buys the 1) FDI 2) Society for Worldwide shares in Banks 2) Portfolio Investment Internal bank Financial Tele 4) Government withdraws its 3) NRI Investment commu nication share in PSU 4) Foreign Indirect Investment 3) Society for World Interbank 5) Foreign banks buy all the 5) None of these Financial Telecommunication shares in PSU 33. Who assumed charge as the 4) Society for Worldwide 26. The youngest country of the 18th Chief Election Commiss Interbank Financial Tele world, South Sudan, recently ioner (CEC) on June 11, 2012? communication choose ___ as its official 1) H.S.Brahma 5) None language? 2) S.Y.Quraishi 39. Pakistan and India held talks 1) French 2) Arabic 3) V.S.Sampath on Siachen during the month 3) English 4) Spanish 4) N.Gopalaswami of July 2012 at? 5) Swahili 5) None of these 1) Rawalpindi 2) New Delhi 27. Asia's first and largest, a 600 34. Iceland topped the Global 3) Mumbai 4) Tokyo MW solar power park situated Peace Index (GPI) for 158 5) Washington at which one of the following countries that was released on 40. where is India’s first radio places? June 12, 2012. What is India's frequency based toll plaza 1) Badmer, Rajasthan rank? located ? 2) Patan, Gujarat 1) 142 2) 137 1) Parwanoo 3) Anand, Gujarat 3) 149 4) 134 2) Zirakpur 4) Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 5) 135 3) Chandimandir 5) None of these 35. Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for 4) Sonipat 28. Who has been appointed as Empowerment of Adolescent 5) None of these CEO of Prasar Bharati ? Girls or 'SABLA' includes a 41. In which of the following states 1) Jawahar Sircar complete nutrition program for is the Pagladia Dam Project 2) Mohan Rawat girls in the age group of? located? Current News & Events 30 1) Arunachal Pradesh 48. Who was appointed as the 2) Camp David (USA) 2) Sikkim head of Rajiv Gandhi Khel 3) Seoul (South Korea) 3) Assam Ratna Awards Committee? 4) Los Cabos (Mexico) 4) West Bengal 1) Sachin Tendulkar 5) Cannes (France) 5) None of these 2) P.T.Usha 56. Which Private Indian Bank tied 42. Who won the112th U.S open 3) Rajyavardhan Singh up with Bahrain’s Ahli United golf tournament, which was Rathore Bank for inward remittances? played recently? 4) Sushil Kumar 1) Yes Bank 1. Tiger Woods 5) Abhinav Bhindra 2) ICICI Bank 2. Webb Simpson 49. Where was 100th Indian 3) Citi Bank 3. Graeme McDowell Science Conference held ? 4) Axis Bank 4. Lucas Glover 1) Chennai 2) Kolkata 5) None of these 5) None of these 3) Bhubneshwar 57. 'Kerosene-free' scheme 43. Christopher Stevens was killed 4) Jaipur recently launched by? during an armed mob attack in 5) None of these 1) Delhi Benghazi in September 2012. 50. Which Stock Exchange 2) Andrha Pradesh 3) Madhya Pradesh He was the ambassador of the became the world's largest 4) West Bengal United States to which of the bourse in terms of the number 5) Gujarat following countries? of trades in equity segment for 58. Bujar Nishani assumed office 1) Iran 2) Iraq the first six months of 2012? 1) BSE 2) MSE as the 6th President of which 3) Egypt 4) Libya of the following countries on 5) Afghanistan 3) NSE 4) SEBI 5) MCX-SX July 24, 2012? 44. "Prithvi II" was successfully 1) Montenegro 51. Effective from September 22, launched from the Odissa 2) Kosovo 2012 what is the Cash Coast. Which type of missile 3) Albania Reserve Ratio (CRR)? is Prithvi II? 4) Macedonia 1) 4% 2) 4.75% 1) Air-to-air missile 5) Turkey 3) 4.5% 4) 4.25% 2) Surface-to-air missile 59. World Bank appointed whom 5) 5% 3) Air-to-surface missile as the country director of India 52. Who headed the committee to 4) Surface-to-surface missile on 10th September 2012? 5) None of these review the structure of the 1) Vineeth Verman 45. The International Union for National Small Savings Fund 2) Raghuram Rajan Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (NSSF)? 3) Onno Ruhl released the Red List of 1) Y.V. Reddy 4) C.Ranga Rajan threatened species on June 2) C. Rangarajan 5) Y.V.Reddy 20, 2012. According to this list 3) U.K. Sinha 60. On 22nd August 2012, how many species of plants 4) Shyamala Gopinath Supreme Court banned the and animals from India are 5) Subir Gokarn tourism in the core areas of? Critically Endangered? 53. As per the statement given by 1) Crocodile Parks 1) 310 2) 132 Finance Minister on 25th 2) Lion Reserves 3) 282 4) 252 August 2012, Public sector 3) Western Ghats 5) 270 banks should disburse Rs...... 4) Rhino Parks 46. International donors meeting agriculture during the current 5) Tiger Reserves that pledged $16 billion fiscal year 2012-13. 61. Which of the following has contribution for development 1) 6 Lakh Crore become the first Indian state 2) 5 Lakh Crore aid to Afghanistan until 2015, to launch health insurance 3) 7 Lakh Crore held in? policy covering all its people ? 4) 2 Lakh Crore 1) New Delhi 2) Washington 1) Goa 2) Haryana 5) 1.5 Lakh Crore 3) Tel Aviv 4) Tokyo 3) Bihar 4) Kerala 54. Empowered Group of 5) Paris 5) UP Ministers (EGoM) on drought 62. Which among the following 47. Who was chosen as the official headed by? players did not get any medal Event Ambassador for the ICC 1) Sharad Yadav in Olympics 2012, from India? World Twenty20 Champion 2) Chidambaram 1) Sushil Kumar ships that is held in Sri Lanka 3) Man Mohan Singh 2) Saina Nehwal in 2012? 4) Sushma Swaraj 3) Abhinav Bindra 1) Ajanta Mendis 5) Sharad Pawar 4) Yogeshwar Dutt 2) D.Chandimal 55. The seventh G-20 summit 5) Gagan Narang 3) Lasith Malinga was held on June18-19, 2012 63. Guy Ryder was elected as the 4) Mahela Jayawardene in which of the following cities? tenth Director-General of which 5) Kumar Sangakkara 1) Chicago (USA) of the following organizations? Current News & Events 31

1) WHO 2) ILO 71. Which of the following ports is according to the Forbes 3) WTO 4) UNICEF called the "Offspring of magazine? 5) UNESCO Partition" as it was developed 1) Mahendra Singh Dhoni 64. Who was awarded the after the partition as a 2) Sachin Tendulkar Common-Wealth Book Prize substitute for Karachi port? 3) Saina Nehwal for 2012 for his debut novel 1) Paradip 2) Ennore 4) Vijender Singh 'Chinaman: The Legend of 3) Tuticorin 5) Baichung Bhutia Pradeep Mathew'? 4) New Mangalore 78. Karnal has been in news 1) Emma Martin (New 5) Kandla recently for setting Guiness Zealand) 72. Who was named One Day World record in making ? 2) Rana Dasgupta (UK-India) International Cricketer of the 1) World’s largest tree house 3) Alecia Mckenzie (Jamaica) Year at the ICC awards in 2) world’s largest radio 4) Shehan Karunatilaka (Sri September 2012? telescope Lanka) 1) Hashim Amla 3) world’s largest human red 5) None of these 2) Michael Clarke ribbon 65. Which committee submitted 3) Virat Kohli 4) world’s largest formation in recommendations to review 4) Sunil Narine air the guidelines on restructured 5) Kumar Sangakkara 5) None of these advances of banks and 73. TAPI gas pipeline passes 79. Who among the following has financial institutions? through? won the 26th Indira Gandhi 1) Janaki Raman 1) Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Award for National Integration ? 2) Upadhyaya 1) Javed Akhtar Panama and Iran 3) Mahapatra 2) Mahashweta Devi 2) Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, 4) Tarapore 3) Balraj Puri Pakistan and Indonesia 5) C.Ranga Rajan 4) Mohan Dharia 3) Turkey, Australia, Paraguay 66. Sunitha Williams is an? 5) None of these and India 1) Indo-Russian Painter 80. Asian Games 2014 would be 4) Thailand, Andorra, Pakistan 2) Indo-American Political held in? and Iran Leader 1) Japan 2) S. Korea 5) Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, 3) Indian origin governor of 3) China 4) India Pakistan and India South Carolina 5) None of these 4) Indo-American Astronaut 74. India's Gayatri Spivak, a literary 81...... launching is 100th mission 5) Indo-Srilankan Business critic and Professor at of ISRO. tycoon Columbia University, won 1) PSLV C-20 67. India's first Food Bank was which of the following prizes in 2) PSLV C-21 inaugurated as part of war June 2012? 3) SLV C-21 against hunger in June 2012 1) Templeton Prize 4) PSLV -21 in which of the following 2) Abel Prize 5) ASLV C-21 cities? 3) Pritzker Prize 82. GAAR means? 1) Chennai 2) New Delhi 4) Kyoto Prize 1) General Advantage- 3) Hyderabad 4) Chandigarh 5) Ondaatje Prize Avoidance Rules 5) Jaipur 75. The most important small 2) General Anti-Avoidance 68. G-20 Finance Ministers and scale indu stry in India is the? Rules Central Bank Governors Meet 1) Handloom industry 3) Government Anti-Avoidance 2014 will be held in? 2) Textile Industry Rules 1) USA 2) Australia 3) Jute industry 4) General Anti-Advantage 3) England 4) India 4) Paper industry Rules 5) France 5) None of these 5) None 69. Which one of the following 76. Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar 83. International Organization of state govt.s launched Panch Chaudhry and which of the Securities Commissions (IOS- Parmeshwar Scheme ? following Indians have been CO) is an international policy 1) MP 2) Bihar awarded the prestigious forum for securities market 3) UP 4) Kerala International Jurists Award regulators. Who has been re- 5) None of these 2012? elected Chairman of the Asia 70. ‘Bhagyam Oil fields’, which 1) Salman Khurshid Pacific Regional Committee of were recently in news, are 2) Sonia Gandhi the IOSCO? located in which of the 3) Mulayam Singh Yadav 1) D.Subba Rao following states in India? 4) Justice S.H. Kapadia 2) J.Harinarayan 1) Rajasthan 2) Gujarat 5) None of these 3) Rahul Khullar 3) Assam 4) Maharashtra 77. Who is the richest 4) U.K.Sinha 5) Karnataka sportsperson in India, 5) None of these Current News & Events 32 84. In the prestigious Yale 1) Y.B.Reddy 3) Aditi Mukherjee University's Environmental 2) Nandan Nilekani 4) Aditya Mukherjee Performance Index, India 3) Shyamala Gopinath 5) Kala Singham holds...... 4) C.Rangarajan 97. If a cheque bearing date prior 1) 140th rank 2) 15th rank 5) None of these to the date, when it was actually 3) 170th rank 4) 125th rank 90. Where was the 7th meeting of drawn, it is called? 5) 128th rank G-20 heads of Government 1) No date cheque 85. In which city ‘Indian Aviation held in 2012? 2) Every date cheque 2012 held? 1) Mexico 2) Canada 3) Last date cheque 1) Hyderabad 3) Paris 4) France 4) Anti-dated cheque 2) Bengaluru 5) None of these 5) Stale cheque 3) Chennai 91. Pakistan successfully test-fire 98. Who won the first gold medal 4) New Delhi which missile on 5 June of the 2012 London Olympic 5) None of these 2012? Games? 86. Which state has launched a) Hatf-VII (Babur) cruise 1) Yu Dan India's first river-lake linking missile 2) Yi Siling project? b) Agni –VI (air drone) 3) Katrina Emmons 1) Tamil Nadu c) Alacran missile 4) Sylwia Bogacka 2) Gujarat d) Velvet Glove 5) None of these 3) Maharashtra 5) None of these 99. Planning Commission 4) Madhya Pradesh 92. The labeling of Genetically approved Rudrasar Develop 5) Uttar Pradesh Modified (GM) foods has been ment Scheme. The scheme is 87. Who has been appointed as made mandatory. The amend- related to? ment will come into effect 1) Sikkim 2) Asom Chairman cum Managing from? 3) Manipur 4) Tripura Director of the Indian Trade 1) October 2, 2012 5) Madhya Pradesh Promotion Organisation 2) January 1, 2013 100. 11th Meeting of Conference of (ITPO)? 3) January 26, 2013 the Parties (CoP-11) to the 1) Rajeev Kher 4) April 1, 2013 convention on Biological 2) Chandra Bhushan Paliwal 5) December 1, 2012 Diversity will be held at ...... in 3) Rita Menon 93. September 29 is celebrated October 2012? 4) CS Verma every year throughout the world 1) Hyderabad 5) None of these as? 2) Pune 88. TRAI regulates the functioning 1) World Health Day 3) Mumbai of which of the following 2) World Heart Day 4) New Delhi services? 3) World Diabetes Day 5) Chennai 1) Trade 2) Transport 4) World Climate Day 3) Telecom 4) Insurance 5) World Anti-Corruption Day 5) None of these 94. India won Nehru Cup football ANSWERS 89. Who was the head of the panel tournament beating? 1. 1 2. 5 3. 4 4. 1 5. 2 which recommended direct 1) Israel transfer of subsidies on 2) Sri Lanka 6. 2 7. 4 8. 4 9. 3 10. 5 kerosene, LPG and fertilizer? 3) China 11. 3 12. 3 13. 4 14. 1 15. 2 4) Cameroon 16. 2 17. 3 18. 4 19. 3 20. 3 5) France 21. 3 22. 2 23. 2 24. 3 25. 4 95. Which two of the following 26. 3 27. 2 28. 1 29. 4 30. 3 credit cards HDFC launched 31. 3 32. 4 33. 3 34. 1 35. 2 recently for Doctors? 36. 4 37. 3 38. 4 39. 1 40. 3 1) Prescription & Doctor 41. 3 42. 2 43. 4 44. 4 45. 2 2) Platinum & Titanium 46. 4 47. 3 48. 3 49. 2 50. 3 3) Superia & Platinum 51. 3 52. 4 53. 1 54. 5 55. 4 4) Stethoscope & Me 56. 4 57. 1 58. 3 59. 3 60. 5 5) Call & Me 61. 1 62. 3 63. 2 64. 4 65. 3 96. Which Delhi based scientist, 66. 4 67. 2 68. 2 69. 1 70. 1 won the prestigious Norman 71. 5 72. 3 73. 5 74. 4 75. 1 Borlaug Award for her work in 76. 3 77. 1 78. 3 79. 4 80. 2 transforming access to water 81. 2 82. 2 83. 4 84. 4 85. 3 for thousands of farmers in 86. 4 87. 3 88. 3 89. 3 90. 1 West Bengal? 91. 1 92. 2 93. 2 94. 4 95. 3 1) R.Srinivasan Ph. No. 9030893956 96. 3 97. 4 98. 2 99. 4 100. 1 2) Panchala Gore