Rio Olympics 2016

Olympic Games are the world’s biggest sports MEDALS: Winners of different events are awarded extravaganza held every four years to recognize and three medals - Gold, Silver and Bronze. The gold honour world’s best in various sports events. They medals are made with silver at 92.5 per cent are also known as Summer Games. Two years after purity, coated with at least 5 gram of pure gold. these games, Winter Olympics are held at a different Each medal weighs around 500 gram. The medals venue, a cold place, at four year intervals. depict picture of Nike, Greek Goddess of victory, with the inscription of particular games. For example, Next Summer Olympics will be hosted by Tokyo, this time the inscription is: “XXXI Olympiada Rio Japan in July, 2020. 2016”. Back of the medals features laurel leaves – a symbol of victory in the ancient Greece, in the form HISTORY of the wreaths awarded to competition winners. According to historical records, the first ancient They surround the logo of the respective games, this Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They year – logo of the Rio 2016 Olympics. were dedicated to the Olympian Gods and were held in the city of Olympia in Greece. They continued for RIO OLYMPICS 05 to 21 August at Rio de nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius Janeiro, Brazil decreed in 393 A.D. that all such "pagan cults" First step to beginning of Summer Olympics started (referring to religions other than Christianity) be with the traditional flame-lighting ceremony in banned. Olympia (Greece) at the Temple of Hera on April 21, 2016. The torch is lighted with the help of focusing MODERN OLYMPICS of sun rays. The torch is carried in relay by Several attempts were made after 400 AD to restart prominent sports persons to the main Olympics the Olympic Games but none could succeed for a venue. It will reach at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio long time. The breakthrough came in June, 1894 on 5 August for lighting of the cauldron during the when International Olympic Committee was formed Opening Ceremony of the Games. in Paris as an independent not for profit organization It will have 42 games, 306 events, 37 venues. committed to build a better world through sports. More than 10,000 participants from 206 countries The 1st Olympic Games of the modern era opened in will be competing for 812 gold, 812 silver and 864 bronze medals. Athens, Greece on 6 April 1896. 241 athletes from 14 nations took part in 43 events of the first Olympics. Headquarters of IOC are located at THE MASCOT: Vinicius, Lausanne, Switzerland and it is headed by its the mascot for the Olympic President, Thomas Bach. Games Rio 2016 is made up of a blend of animals OLYMPIC SYMBOLS native to Brazil, and Main symbol of Olympic Games is a set of five symbolises the energy and interlaced rings of equal dimensions, in five different enthusiasm exuded by the colours, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, Brazilian people. It has black, green and red on a white background. It is been named after one of said that they represent the five continents – Brazil’s most prominent Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania; but in 20th century cultural icons, no particular order or colour association. They also great musician Vinicius des represent the colours of the flags of almost all the Moraes. participating countries. Official slogan: A New World Olympics Flag: It is in white colour with five Olympic rings in the middle. AT OLYMPICS: India is sending its biggest The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin ever contingent of 106 sportspersons for Rio words: Olympics. They will compete in 63 events. Ace Citius - Altius - Fortius. These words mean shooter Olympian Abhinav Bindra will be the India’s Faster - Higher - Stronger. flag bearer. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 1 GENERAL AWARENESS

SEPTEMBER 2016 Vol. 5, Issue 03

A PUBLICATION OF GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD. ND SCO 13-14-15, 2 FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH Contents NATIONAL NEWS

JULY 2016

CURRENT AFFAIRS 01-34 MAY TO JULY 2016 PM VISITS 4 AFRICAN COUNTRIES BULLET NEWS 35-57 FEB 2016 TO APRIL 2016 Prime Minister made a five days visit to four-nations - Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and . The visit aimed at shoring up economic ties, firm LATEST 100 GK MCQs 58-64 up maritime security and counter balance China’s growing influence in the GENERAL SECTION 65-70 resource-rich continent. A deal was signed with Mozambique to import 1lakh tonnes of pulses. A set of 30 SIX MONTHS GK BYTES 71-100 SUVs was handed over to them for their local use. With South Africa four MoUs were signed for bilateral cooperation in information FIGURES TO REMEMBER and communication technology, grass root innovation and tourism, arts and culture. REPO RATE (05.04.2016) 6.50% A Line of Credit of US$ 92 million was agreed for Tanzania for strengthening of REVERSE REPO RATE 6.00% the water resources system in Zanzibar. MARGINAL STANDING 7.00% Seven pacts were signed with Kenya in the field of defence and security and FACILITY RATE avoidance of double taxation. STATUTORY LIQUIDITY RATIO 21.25% CASH RESERVE RATIO 4.00% ANSARI VISITS MONGOLIA BANK RATE 7.00% Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited Mongolia to attend the 11th BASE RATE(s) 9.30 to Asia -Europe Meeting at Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia. He also unveiled a (of various banks) 9.70% stone statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Pethub Monastery in the Capital.

INDIA’s RANK IN INDIA GETS 3 SITES IN HERITAGE LIST The ruins of ancient Human Capital Index 105th Nalanda Mahavihara Sustainable Development Goals 110th known as old Nalanda University of Bihar, Networked Readiness Index 91st Chandigarh’s Capitol Global Retail Development Index 02nd Complex and Sikkim’s Ranking in Total Wealth 07th national park, home to the Ranking in Attracting FDI 10th world’s third highest peak Global Peace Index 141st Mount Khangchendzonga, are the three sites that th Good Country Index 70 have been included in the Renewable Energy Index 3rd list of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. (Chandigarh High Court) World Press Freedom Index 133rd Rank in Manufacturing Countries 6th INDIA’s FIRST DIGITAL COURT World Happiness Index 118th Giving a kick-start to digital judicature, the first paperless e-court of India was Intellectual Property Index -2016 37th inaugurated in Hyderabad High Court. The court will use digitised case Overall Growth Prospectus 5th records thereby minimising the usage of man power. Global Talent Competitiveness Index 89th Nuclear Security Index 21st WORLD BANK’s PROJECT FOR YOUNG GIRLS Ease of Doing Business (Forbes) 97th The World Bank has approved a $ 63 million support for the project Tejaswini: Human Development Index 130th Socioeconomic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in ICT Development Index 131st Jharkhand. It is the first World Bank project in India that is solely focused on the welfare of adolescent girls and young women.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 2 LARGEST ‘CHARKHA’ AT DELHI AIRPORT PRIME MINISTER

Narendra Modi Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic energy; Department of Space; and all important policy issues, and all other portfolios not allocated to any Minister CABINET MINISTERS Rajnath Singh Home affairs

Sushma Swaraj External affairs A 17 ft tall and 30 ft long 4-tonnes Charkha made from Arun Jaitley Finance and Corporate Affairs high-quality Burma teak wood was installed at the Venkaiah Naidu Urban Development and Housing; Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Largest Urban Poverty Alleviation; of its kind in the world, it aims to promote the rich Information and Broadcasting cultural heritage of India. Nitin Jairam Road Transport and Highways; Gadkari Shipping OP. ‘SANKAT MOCHAN’ IN SOUTH SUDAN Manohar Defence Govt launched ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ by sending Parrikar two C-17 Globemaster aircrafts to Juba, capital of South Suresh Prabhu Railways Sudan to evacuate Indians from the war-torn country. DV Sadananda Statistics and Programme The operation was headed by the State Minister of Gowda Implementation External Affairs, Gen. (retd) V K Singh. Uma Bharati Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation NOT MUCH INDIAN MONEY IN SWISS BANKS Najma A Heptulla Minority Affairs As per the data released by the Swiss National Bank, India has slipped to 75th place in terms of money held by Ramvilas Paswan Consumer Affairs, Food and Public its citizens with banks in Switzerland, accounting for Distribution hardly 0.1 per cent of total foreign deposits of around $ Kalraj Mishra Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 1.45 trillion with SNB. U K is the top depositor with 25 Maneka Sanjay Women and Child Development Gandhi per cent share. Ananth Kumar Chemicals and Fertilizers;

Parliamentary Affairs MODI RESHUFFLES COUNCIL OF MINISTERS Ravi Shankar Law and Justice; Electronics and IT Prime Minister Modi expanded his Council of Ministers Prasad by inducting 19 new ministers in the government. The Jagat Prakash Health and Family Welfare new Ministers were administered the oath of office and Nadda secrecy by the President Pranab Mukherjee at Ashok Gajapathi Civil Aviation Rashtrapati Bhavan. Raju Pusapati Now there are total 78 ministers in the government of Anant Geete Heavy Industries and Public which 27 are of Cabinet rank. Enterprises Harsimrat Kaur Food Processing Industries Badal Narendra Singh Rural Development; Panchayati Raj; Tomar Drinking Water and Sanitation Chaudhary Steel Birender Singh Jual Oram Tribal Affairs Radha Mohan Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Singh Thaawar Chand Social Justice and Empowerment Gehlot Smriti Zubin Textiles Irani Harsh Vardhan Science and Technology; Earth sciences Prakash Human Resource Development Javadekar GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 3 MINISTERS OF STATE MJ Akbar External Affairs INDEPENDENT CHARGE Upendra Human Resources Development Kushwaha Rao Inderjit Planning ; Urban Development; Radhakrishnan P Road Transport and Highways; Singh Housing and Urban Poverty Shipping Alleviation Kiren Rijiju Home Affairs Bandaru Labour and Employment Krishan Pal Social Justice and Empowerment Dattatreya Jasvantsinh Tribal Affairs Rajiv Pratap Skill development and Sumanbhai Rudy Entrepreneurship Bhabhor Vijay Goel Youth Affairs and Sports ; Water Sanjeev Kumar Water Resources, River Development Resources, River Development and Balyan and Ganga Rejuvenation Ganga Rejuvenation Vishnu Deo Sai Steel Shripad Yesso AAYUSH Naik Sudarshan Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagat Dharmendra Petroleum and Natural Gas Pradhan YS Chowdary Science and Technology; Earth Science Piyush Goyal Power ; Coal ; New and Renewable Energy ; Mines Jayant Sinha Civil Aviation Rajyavardhan Information and Broadcasting Jitendra Singh Development of northeastern region ; Singh Rathore Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions; Babul Supriyo Urban Development Housing and Department of Atomic Energy; Urban Poverty Alleviation Department of Space Sadhvi Niranjan Food Processing Industries Nirmala Commerce and industry Jyoti Sitharaman Vijay Sampla Social Justice and Empowerment Mahesh Sharma Culture ; Tourism Arjun Ram Finance; Corporate Affairs Manoj Sinha Communications ; Railways Meghwal Anil Madhav Environment, Forest and Climate Mahendra Nath HRD Dave Change Pandey MINISTERS OF STATE Ajay Tamta Textiles Krishna Raj Women and Child Development VK Singh External affairs Mansukh L Road transport and Highways, Santosh Kumar Finance Mandaviya Shipping; Chemicals and Fertilizers Gangwar Anupriya Patel Health and Family Welfare Faggan Singh Health and family welfare Kulaste CR Chaudhary Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Mukhtar Abbas Minority Affairs; Parliamentary Naqvi Affairs PP Chaudhary Law and Justice; Electronics and Information Technology SS Ahluwalia Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Parliamentary Affairs Subhash Ramrao Defence Bhamre Ramdas Social Justice and Empowerment Athawale Ram Kripal Rural Development CHILD CAN WORK IN ‘HOME BASED BUSINESS’ Yadav The Parliament has passed the Child Labour Haribhai Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016, Parthibhai seeking to prohibit employment of children below 14 Chaudhary years in any “profession”, but allows them “home-based Giriraj Singh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises work”, such as helping their families in forests, Hansraj Home Affairs agricultural fields and small family-run units. Gangaram Ahir GM Siddeshwara Heavy Industries and Public INDIA PRETTY LOW IN HUMAN CAPITAL Enterprises The Human Capital Index released by the World Ramesh Drinking Water and Sanitation Chandappa Economic Forum for 130 countries has placed India at a th Jigajinagi low 105 place. The index measures countries’ ability to Rajen Gohain Railways nurture, develop and deploy talent for economic Parshottam Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; growth. Finland topped the index while countries like Rupala Panchayati Raj China (71) and (104) were ranked above India. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 4 INDIA WORST COUNTRY FOR RETIREES:  India and Japan have signed a Social Security Agreement for benefit of the Indian and Japanese professionals and skilled workers working in each other’s country.  For the first time in India, a local zoo, ’s Byculla Zoo, has received eight medium size Humboldt penguins from Seoul, South Korea.

JUNE 2016

MODI MAKES FIVE NATION VISIT Prime Minister made a five-nation visit to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico, starting from June 4. The visit aimed at broadening

The Global Retirement Index compiled by the Natixis bilateral trade, energy and security cooperation and Global Asset Management places India at the bottom, push for India's bid to become a member of Nuclear making it world's worst country for retirees. The best Suppliers Group (NSG). country is Switzerland, followed by Norway and Iceland. In Afghanistan, he was conferred with Amir Amanullah Khan Award, country’s highest civilian honour. He also INDIA FARES POORLY IN SDGs inaugurated the Friendship Dam in Herat province in India has ranked a low 110 out of 149 nations surveyed Western Afghanistan. for their achievements in the Sustainable Development Goals prescribed by the UNO. was ranked at In Qatar, seven MoUs were signed to promote assistance number one, followed by Denmark and Norway. The on matters pertaining to customs administration goals have to be achieved by 2030. through exchange of information and intelligence. In USA he addressed the special session of Congress.

INDIA LAGS IN TECHNOLOGY READINESS The annual Networked Readiness Index released by the US APPLAUDS ‘MODI DOCTRINE’ US administration has termed the Prime Minister Modi’s World Economic Forum to assess the countries in terms vision of Indo-US ties that has overcome the “hesitations of their readiness for transition to a digitised economy, placed India pretty low at 91st rank in a study of 139 of history” and working for the betterment of the global countries. The index is topped by , followed good as “Modi Doctrine”. It envisages a joint effort by by Finland. India and USA in promoting peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa, from the Indian Ocean to  The second BRICS Youth Summit was held in the Pacific, including safety and freedom of navigation Guwahati , Assam. The theme of the summit was on the seas. “Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges”.  The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group on PRESIDENT VISITS AFRICA “Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency” was held in President Pranab Visakhapatnam. Mukherjee made a six-day  BRICS policy planning dialogue meeting was held in trip to Ghana, Ivory Coast Patna on July 26. and Namibia to boost trade  The first-ever meeting of BRICS Employment Working ties with these countries. Group was held on July 27 in Hyderabad. The trip began with Ghana where he signed three  India has set up an apparel training centre in Nigeria agreements for mutual to support textiles industry of the West African cooperation. country. In Cote D’Ivoirie (Ivory  India to give $ 318 million loan to for Coast), he was awarded the improving railway lines and for supplying required highest honour of that country - Grand Cross National locomotives, bogies and tankers, etc. Order of the Republic of Cote D’Ivoirie.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared India free from Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus and MODI ATTENDS SCO SUMMIT Yaws, an infection of the skin and bones. Prime Minister Modi visited Tashkent, Uzbekistan to  Union Cabinet has approved an Air Services attend the two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Agreement with Mozambique to start the flights to Organisation (SCO). The summit approved India and Mozambique. ’s case for the full membership of the SCO.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 5 ANSARI VISITS , TUNISIA INDIA 10TH IN ATTRACTING FDI Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited As per the World Investment Report 2016 by the United Morocco and Tunisia. He arrived in Rabat, capital of Nations Conference for Trade and Development Morocco on May 30. On June 2 he reached Tunis, capital (UNCTAD), India is the 10th largest receiver of FDI in the of Tunisia, and met Tunisian Prime Minister Habib world, with inflow of $44 billion in 2015. USA tops the Essid. He met President Beji Caid El Sebsi on June 3. A ranks by attracting $380 billion. number of MoUs were signed on mutual cooperation between the two countries. INDIA WORST IN HUMAN SLAVERY According to the Global Slavery Index 2016 of 167 INDIA JOINS MTCR GROUP countries, India has largest number of people in modern slavery, around 18.4 million people, accounting for about 40 per cent of world’s slave population. The modern slavery refers to practices like forced labour, bonded labour, human trafficking, child labour and exploitation of migrant workers in situations where a person cannot leave because of threats, violence, coercion and abuse of power or deception.

 General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Prime Minister of arrived in New Delhi for a three day visit to India with a high level delegation.

 India signed two agreements with Thailand for India has been admitted as the 35th member of the boosting cooperation in culture and educational elite 34 nations group on the Missile Technology Control sectors. Regime (MTCR). This would make it possible for India to  India and USA have signed an agreement for buy and sell missile technology to other nations, exchange of terrorist screening information, in wake including the supersonic Brahmos missile. It will also of the recent terror attacks. enable India to buy the state-of-the-art surveillance  A special commemorative silver coin was released by drones, such as the US predator. the govt to mark the 300th martyrdom day of Sikh MTCR is an anti-proliferation group of 34 nations that General Banda Singh Bahadur. aims to limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other  As a goodwill gesture, the US has returned over 200 unmanned delivery systems that could be used for stolen cultural artifacts to India, some dating back chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks. 2,000 years, valued at around $100 million.

INDIA FAILS TO ENTER NSG, DESPITE SUPPORT  All India Radio celebrated completion of 80 years of The plenary meeting of the 48-member Nuclear its existence on June 8. On this day in 1936, the Suppliers Group, NSG was held in Seoul, South Korea on Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India June 23. A large number of countries supported India’s Radio. request for membership to NSG. However, the same  Ex-Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian submitted could not be approved as a few countries led by China its report on the New Education Policy to the Ministry of HRD. objected to India’s membership because she has not signed the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, NPT.

INDIA SECOND IN RETAIL DEVELOPMENT According to 2016 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), which ranks top 30 developing countries for retail investment worldwide, India has jumped 13 positions from last year to rank second, next only to China.

INDIA RANKS 7TH IN TOTAL WEALTH According to the report by New World Wealth, India has been ranked seventh in the list of top 10 wealthiest countries in the world, with total individual wealth of $5,200 billion. Total wealth is more because of large population. USA with total individual wealth of USD 48,700 billion is at the top, followed by China and Japan. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 6  Champaran Satyagrah Express train has been started 4 INDIAN CITIES IN TOP 5 POLLUTED CITIES from Bapudham, Motihari (Bihar) to Anand Vihar, Delhi.  Gandhiji started his first Satyagrah in April 1917 from Champaran to support the cause of Indigo growers of the region.  MoU signed with Switzerland for cooperation in the fields of skills development and professional education and training.  Mumbai is the most expensive city in India though ranked 82nd in world, according to the 2016 Cost of Living Survey by Mercer of USA.

 Globally, Hong Kong topped the list of most Of the five cities in the world with the worst air expensive cities. pollution, four are in India, says a report by the World Health Organisation. The 4 cities are Ludhiana, Khanna, MAY 2016 Amritsar and Gobindgarh. The dirtiest air was recorded at Zabol in Iran while Delhi was ranked at 9th place. SOLAR TRAIN TRIAL IN JODHPUR

RAIL HUMSAFAR SAPTAAH The Ministry of Railways launched Rail Humsafar Saptaah from May 26 to June 1 to highlight significant achievements made by Indian Railways in all spheres. Every day of the week will be devoted to a particular aspect of passenger service.

100 CR PENALTY FOR WRONG INDIA MAP

According to the draft 'The Geospatial Information The Indian Railways plans to conduct trial of its first Regulation Bill 2016', wrong depiction of the map of solar panel-powered train in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. India could land the violators in jail with a maximum Though the train would be pulled by conventional term of seven years and fine up to Rs 100 crore. diesel-run engines, the solar energy will be used for internal electricity gadgets. LODHA COMMITTEE TO REVIEW MCI The Supreme Court has appointed a three-member WORLD’s LARGEST AIRCRAFT LANDS IN INDIA panel headed by former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha The world’s largest cargo aircraft, Ukraine’s Antonov AN to review the functions of the Medical Council of India - -225 Mriya — or the Dream, made its first landing in the regulator of medical profession and education in India on May 13 at the Rajiv Gandhi International India. Airport at Hyderabad. The wide body aircraft is  President Pranab Mukherjee visited China from May powered by six turbofan engines and is the longest and 24 to 27, starting his trip from the highly heaviest airplane ever built, with a maximum takeoff industrialised Chinese city Guangzhou. weight of 640 tonnes.  President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena arrived in New Delhi on May 13 for a two day visit. INDIA HAS 248.8 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS  International Vichar Mahakumbh was held in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh from May 12 to 14.  The H.R. Nagendra Committee on Yoga Education in Universities has recommended seven programmes for implementation in Indian universities.  To mark the 155th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, India organized a cultural festival in Cairo, from May 8 to 12.  A study by Assocham-KPMG shows that India is the

A latest release of the Census 2011 data shows that fifth largest producer of e-waste, discarding roughly there are total 248.8 million households in the country 18.5 lakh metric tonnes of electronic waste each year. of which 202.4 million are of Hindus, 31.2 million belong  Govt has granted status of ‘classical language’ to six to Muslims, 6.3 million belong to Christians, 4.1 million languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, of Sikhs and 1.9 million belong to Jains. Sanskrit and Odia. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 7 The case pertained to restoration of the Congress govt. NEWS FROM STATES lead by Nabam Tuki in Arunachal Pradesh which was dismissed on January 26, 2016 as it lost majority because 14 rebel MLAs were dismissed by the Speaker. JULY 2016 PURI HOLDS ANNUAL ‘RATH YATRA’ TAMIL NADU TOPS IN ATTRACTING TOURISTS The world famous Rath Yatra was held in the coastal Data released by the Ministry of Tourism shows that the city of Puri, Odisha. It marks the nine day annual number of domestic tourists increased by 11.63 per cent journey of Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balbhadra during 2015 to 1432 million. Tamil Nadu attracted and sister Subhadra in three specially built huge highest - 333 million tourists, followed by wooden Rathas (chariots) from the 12th century and Andhra Pradesh. Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple and back. About ten lakh devotees took part in the celebrations.  A three-day Woodpecker Environment and Wildlife Film Festival was held in Shimla.  India’s first ever Water Metro project, comprising of two hi-tec catamarans has been launched in .  Madhya Pradesh has passed a law as per which flush toilet in a residential premise will be mandatory for contesting panchayat elections in the state.  Govt has approved Rs. 1,600 crore for Jammu and Kashmir under skill development initiative 'Himayat' to train 1, 24,000 locals in vocational courses. Country received 23.3 million foreign tourists in 2015,  As a measure to tackle the increasing rate registering a poor growth of only 4.4 per cent. Tamil of obesity, Kerala plans a 14.5% ‘fat tax’ on junk Nadu again topped attracting 4.7 million foreign tourists, food like burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, etc. followed closely by Maharashtra.  Assam govt and the Armed Forces jointly launched exercise ‘Jalrahat’ to efficiently coordinate the rescue INDIA’s FIRST COMMERCIAL COURT operations during the floods. Country's first commercial dispute resolution centre  Odisha to provide education loan up to Rs 10 lakh at and a commercial court was inaugurated in Raipur, 1% interest rate to poor students aspiring to pursue Chhattisgarh. It will focus on resolving disputes of professional and technical education. investors to promote ‘ease of doing business’ in the  Madhya Pradesh has become first state in India to set state. up Happiness Department in the state. It will work as

resource centre on the subject of happiness. AIIMS TO BE OPENED IN GORAKHPUR  Kerala Tourism won two Gold Awards at the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of an All India prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur for awards for its excellence in marketing initiatives. the benefit of the people in eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining parts of Bihar.

NGT SAYS ‘NO’ TO OLD DIESEL VEHICLES With a view to curb air pollution in Delhi, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Government to cancel the registration of all diesel-powered vehicles that are more than 10 years old with immediate effect and these shall not be allowed to operate in the city. There are 2.82 lakh diesel vehicles registered in Delhi.

CONGRESS GOVT RESTORED IN ARUNACHAL In a historic first time decision, a five judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous verdict, circumscribed the powers of the Governor to interfere in the matter of political parties. It said that the Constitution does not enjoin upon the Governor the authority to resolve disputes within a political party, or between rival political parties. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 8 JUNE 2016 GOVERNMENT ANDHRA GETS TELECOM LICENCE Andhra Pradesh has become the first State to have INITIATIVES obtained a telecom license from the Telecom Ministry. Now the state can issue phone numbers starting with JULY 2016 the ‘797’ series from August this year.

23.5% SALARY HIKE FOR GOVT EMPLOYEES NAGPUR SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH JINAN Implementing the Seventh Pay Commission’s Nagpur and the Chinese city of Jinan (capital of recommendations, Central govt has announced an Shandong Province) have signed the agreement of overall increase of 23.5 per cent in salary of over one 'sister cities' for the exchange of ideas and technology in crore government employees and pensioners. Increased the field of education, urban planning, youth affairs, and salary will be effective from January 01, 2016. sports. First revised salary will be payable from the month of

August, 2016.  Kerala Tourism won four awards at ‘FilmAT’, one of the biggest international film festivals dedicated to tourism, art and ecology, held in Poland.  Sikkim has become the first state in India to have an open government data portal to facilitate free usage of govt data by general public.  Maharashtra government has decided to celebrate the 21st of every month as Yoga Day across all schools, colleges and universities in the state.  Odisha has become first state in the country to give social welfare benefits - such as a pension, housing and food grains to transgender people.

has become first Union Territory in India to assure 24x7 power to its residents. The minimum basic pay for the peons, drivers, etc has been fixed at Rs 18,000 and the maximum goes up to Rs

MAY 2016 2,50,000 for the Cabinet Secretary. The 7th Pay Commission was headed by Justice A K 5 STATES ELECT THEIR CHIEF MINISTER Mathur. The Pay Commission is constituted every ten  Tamil Nadu: Jayalalitha reelected leading the years to review the salary structure and pension pay outs AIADMK - All India Anna Dravida Munetra for Central Government employees. Kazhagam.  West Bengal: Mamta Banerjee reelected leading INSURANCE FOR RAIL PASSENGERS the Trinamool Congress. Railway passengers, booking tickets through the Indian  Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal becomes the first BJP Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, IRCTC, Chief Minister. website can now avail a travel accident cover of 10 lakh  Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan of the CPI (M) led the left rupees at a premium of one rupee, from Sept. 2016. democratic front – LDF to become the Chief Minister. NOW A LAW FOR GANGA  Puducherry: V. Narayanasamy of Congress elected With a view to provide a legal framework to the mission as the new Chief Minister. for cleansing of river Ganga, Ministry of Water Resources has constituted a committee headed by The World’s largest Single Rooftop Solar Power Justice Girdhar Malviya to prepare a draft of Ganga Act. Plant with capacity of 11.5 MegaWatt (MW) has been installed at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh of Radha Swamis at RIGHT TO PEOPLE AGAINST IAS OFFICERS Beas, in district Amritsar, Punjab. Govt has issued guidelines for the people who want the  Madhya Pradesh Tourism has won the award for the government’s permission to prosecute IAS officers. The Best Indian Destination for Wildlife. The state has 25 guidelines have been issued in terms of the Supreme wild life sanctuaries including nine National Parks. Court’s directions in the matter.

 Rajasthan State Transport Corporation has launched Under the law, public servants cannot be prosecuted 20 Nirbhaya buses with multiple safety measures to without the government’s approval to protect the better protect women passengers. innocent from unnecessary harassment.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 9 PORTAL LAUNCHED FOR FARMERS ‘PRASHIKSHAK’ TO TRAIN SCHOOL TEACHERS HRD ministry has launched a teacher education portal ‘Prashikshak’, for District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) for collecting and reporting data from all DIETs for improved monitoring. At present there are 646 DIETs in the country for imparting quality training to government school teachers.

PERSONALIZED STAMPS FOR Rs12 LAKH Department of Posts has announced that any individual

or a corporate entity can now get their photo or logo A new online portal - kvk.icar.gov.in has been launched printed inside the postage stamp for Rs 12 lakh. to provide district specific agriculture related Department will provide 5000 sheets, each with 12 information to the farmers through the 645 Krishi stamps. Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), known as farm-science centres, spread across the country. The portal will provide  Govt has released the National Mineral Exploration information related to all farm schemes, Policy to adopt comprehensive exploration of non fuel market development, weather updates, besides advisory and non coal mineral resources. to farmers.  Railways has launched an online portal named ‘Nivaran’ to address the service related grievance SAGARMALA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY of serving and former railway employees. The Union Cabinet has approved the incorporation of  Govt has launched an online portal 'Transforming Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) under the India', a repository for real-time sharing of the administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping. The impact of various governance initiatives with citizens. Sagarmala Project was launched for promoting port-led  Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas economic development in India. Yojana with an outlay of Rs.12000 crore to impart skilling to one crore people over the next 4 years. CLEANLINESS DRIVE FOR 10 ICONIC SPOTS  Union Ministry of Health launched nationwide Govt has decided to undertake a clean-up initiative at “Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF)” from 100 iconic heritage, spiritual and cultural sites under July 11-23. the Swachh Bharat Mission. In the beginning, 10 sites  Cabinet approves establishment of an All India have been selected that include Taj Mahal, Golden Institute of Medical Sciences - AIIMS at Bathinda Temple, Tirupati Temple, Ajmer Sharif Dargah and under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Chhatrapati Shivaji Rail Terminus in Mumbai. Yojana.  The holy Gangajal brought from Gangotri and P M SURAKSHIT MATRITVA ABHIYAN Rishikesh would be delivered through post offices at It is a new government initiative for boosting the health the doorsteps of people at nominal prices. care facilities for the pregnant women, especially the poor. They will be given free health check-up and JUNE 2016 required treatment on 9th of every month in all the government hospitals and health centers. SMART CITY PROJECT LAUNCHED IN PUNE Prime Minister Modi formally launched the ‘Smart City NATIONAL GREEN HIGHWAYS MISSION Project’ in Pune Maharashtra. Total 69 Smart City projects will be launched in 20 cities with a total investment of about Rs. 1,770 crore. These projects are related to solid waste management, water supply projects, sewage treatment plants, housing projects for urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

NEW AVIATION POLICY NOTIFIED

Govt has launched the National Green Highways Mission Government has approved the National Civil Aviation for undertaking plantation drive on 1,500 kilometers of Policy 2016, capping fares at Rs 2,500 for one-hour National Highways at a cost of about 300 crore rupees. flights and Rs 1200 for flights up to 30 minutes. It also It has been decided to make it mandatory to set aside waived the 5/20 norm for new airlines to fly abroad. one per cent of the total project cost of any National The 5/20 Rule says that an airline can fly to international Highway contract to a Green Fund corpus that will be destinations only if it has served within the country for used for plantation purpose. five years and has a 20-aircraft fleet. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 10 ‘’ TO SUPPORT GOVT SCHOOLS ‘SURYA MITRA’ APP FOR SOLAR ENERGY Government has launched a GPS based mobile app named ‘Surya Mitra’ developed by National Institute of Solar Energy to facilitate repair and maintenance of solar equipments, awareness about availability of solar power capacities and other related issues. The app will be supported by the trained ‘Surya Mitras’ to support the users of the app.

DELEGATION POWERS OF MINISTERS HIKED Making changes in the delegation of financial power rules, 1978, the Finance Ministry has advised that now

To boost community participation in government the Ministers can approve non-plan expenditure schools, HRD Ministry has launched Vidyanjali scheme proposals of up to Rs. 500 crore as against the earlier inviting volunteers to hold public speaking, storytelling, limit of Rs. 150 crore. acting sessions and participate in other co-scholastic Proposals up to Rs. 75 crore can be approved by the activities. secretary of the administrative ministry or department. Proposals beyond 500 crore and up to 1,000 crore rupees AADHAAR TO BE LINKED WITH STUDENTS shall be sanctioned jointly with Finance minister. Government has asked all state governments to link Proposals exceeding 1000 crore will be sanctioned by the Union Cabinet. Aadhaar number with caste and domicile certificates of school students studying either in Class V or VIII. This is  TRAI has launched a mobile app for telecom to ensure that the scholarships to the SC/ST students subscribers to register their complaints against pesky are granted in time without any harassment. calls and SMSs to tighten the noose on telemarketers.

DLAMC TO MONITOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT  Govt has decided to enhance the age of retirement of all doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years To promote people centric planning, execution and with immediate effect. monitoring of new urban development schemes, govt has approved setting up of District Level Advisory and  Railway has started India's first timetabled freight Monitoring Committees with the elected representatives train, named ‘Cargo Express’, from Delhi to of the people across the country. Senior most MP of the Bengaluru. area will head the committee.  Government has launched a pilot programme to run two-wheelers on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN New Delhi to curb air pollution in cities. India’s first ever NDM plan, which aims to make the  The government has exempted PF withdrawals of up country disaster resilient and reduce loss of lives was to Rs. 50,000 from tax deduction at source. released on June 1. The plan is based on the four priority  Government has launched a campaign ‘Swachh Yug’ themes of the “Sendai Framework.” to make villages located along Ganga free from open defecation by motivating people to achieve this goal. PPF WITHDRAWAL ALLOWED AFTER 5 YEARS The Finance Ministry has allowed the subscribers of the Public Provident Fund (PPF) to prematurely close their account after completing five years for reasons such as higher education or expenditure towards medical treatment.

THE UNION MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS has launched three passenger service initiatives namely- a Janani Sewa for mothers, optional catering in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains, and a children’s menu on trains.

IRCTC LAUNCHES ‘TIGER EXPRESS’ Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation – IRCTC launched a special tourist train - Tiger Express to spread awareness among people regarding tiger conservation. It will take tourists to various Tiger Parks on a six day trip. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 11  Govt plans to raise a new Indian Reserve Police NITI AAYOG TO LAUNCH 15 YEAR PLAN Battalion in Rajasthan named after Maharana Govt has decided to replace the five year plans with 15 Pratap, the great Rajput warrior of Mewar region. year vision documents. The NITI Aayog has been  Govt has sanctioned Rs. 10,000 crore 'Fund of Funds directed to prepare a vision document for this purpose. for Startups' to boost self-employment in the country It will be implemented after the 12th five year plan by supporting the ‘Startup India Action Plan’. which is ending in March, 2017.

PORTAL LAUNCHED FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS MAY 2016

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development ‘UJJWALA’ TO GIVE LPG TO BPL FAMILIES (HRD) has decided to launch ASMITA, an online student tracking system for 25 crore students of India from class I to XII. ASMITA is acronym for All School Monitoring Individual Tracing Analysis and shall be launched under Shala Asmita Yojana (SAY).

COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FRBM Govt has constituted a five Member Committee headed by former Revenue and Expenditure Secretary N.K.

Singh to comprehensively review and give The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was recommendations on the Fiscal Responsibility and formally launched by the Prime Minister at Ballia, Uttar Budget Management (FRBM) road map for the future. Pradesh. The scheme aims to provide cooking gas connections to five crore below-poverty-line UNIQUE BUSINESS IDENTIFICATION NUMBER beneficiaries over the next three years. The connections The Government plans to issue a UBIN for budding will be given in the name of women beneficiary. entrepreneurs to start up their new businesses without any delay. The number will be issued by the Department MULTILINGUAL PORTAL ‘BHARATAVANI’ of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Ministry of HRD has launched the portal ‘Bharatavani’ - the largest online repository of dictionaries in India. It LOK SABHA PASSES BANKRUPTCY BILL is a single point source for multiple language learning, The Lok Sabha has passed the Insolvency and content and technology in 22 scheduled languages, Bankruptcy Code Bill 2016. The bill aims to improve which will be extended to 100 more languages. conditions for ‘Ease of Doing Business’. Broadly speaking, Insolvency is a financial NATIONAL IPR POLICY ANNOUNCED situation where a person or business entity is not in a The govt has approved the National Intellectual position to repay its debts. When this status is confirmed Property Rights (IPR) policy with a view to promoting by courts, it is called Bankruptcy, a legal status. creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. The policy aims to push IPRs as a marketable financial asset, SINGLE EMERGENCY NUMBER - 112 promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Govt has approved the single emergency number ‘112’ to help people access directly emergency services like UJALA SCHEME LAUNCHED FOR LED BULBS police, ambulance and fire fighting. The number will be operational throughout India from January 1, 2017.

COMMITTEE FOR TAXI OPERATORS The Union Government has constituted a committee headed by Sanjay Mitra, Secretary of Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to prepare a policy framework for taxi and other transport operators. Union Minister of State for Energy and Coal Piyush  A Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by J C Goyal formally launched the energy-efficient LED bulbs Divakar Reddy, MP has been formed to tackle distribution scheme UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable misleading advertising as well as to fix liability LEDs for All) at Bhopal for the state of Madhya Pradesh on endorsers/celebrities. and Maharashtra.  Parliament has passed two Bills- The Appropriation The scheme aims to replace all the conventional bulbs Acts (Repeal) Bill 2015 and The Repealing and with the LED bulbs for reducing drastically power Amending (Third) Bill, 2015 to repeal outdated 1053 consumption and emission of carbon gasses. old laws which had become redundant legislations.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 12  The trial run of India's first ever Metro train equipped  As per RBI data, country’s foreign exchange reserves to run in the driverless mode was conducted in New rose by $1.407 billion to $363.351 billion in the week Delhi on May 18 by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. ended July 15.  Cabinet approved national policy on capital goods  The country's industrial production grew 1.2 per cent aimed at creating more than 2 crore new jobs and in May this year, mainly due to an uptick in consumer tripling the production of capital goods to Rs 7.5 lakh durables output. crore by 2025.  Eight core sectors of the economy posted a 2.8 per  The Department of Empowerment of Persons with cent year-on-year growth in May due to a decline in Disabilities will now be known as 'Divyangjan' output of refinery and steel products.

Sashaktikaran Vibhag in , dropping the word

'viklangjan' from its previous nomenclature. JUNE 2016  Govt has constituted the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority to strengthen the GDP GROWTH RATE JUMPS TO 7.9% framework for safeguarding the interest of investors.  The Income Tax department has launched an electronic grievance redressal system named ‘e- nivaran’ to fast track taxpayers’ complaints..  Government has selected 13 more cities for the smart cities mission. The list is topped by Lucknow. Already 20 cities have been selected for this mission.  Moving towards environment friendly solutions, Prime Minister Modi launched e-rickshaws and solar

powered boats in .  EPFO has decided to increase benefits under the Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance scheme from Rs shows that the economy grew at an accelerated pace of 3.60 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2015-16, taking the overall GDP growth to a five-year high of 7.6% for the year ended March 31, 2016. ECONOMIC INDICATORS India’s per capita income rose by 7.4% to Rs 93,293 in 2015-16 from Rs 86,879 in 2014-15.

JULY 2016 MAY 2016

EXPORTS LOOK UP AFTER 18 MONTHS INDIA POISED TO GROW BY 8% In its latest Global Economic outlook, Fitch Ratings, USA has said that it expects India's real GDP growth to rise to 8 percent by 2018-19, from 7.9 percent in 2017-18 and 7.7 percent in 2016-17 driven by the gradual implementation of structural reforms, higher disposable income and improvement in economic activity.

UN REPORT PUTS INDIA’S GROWTH AT 7.3% A UN report ‘The World Economic Situation and Prospect’ says that notwithstanding delays in domestic

policy reforms, India’s economy is “slowly gaining Reversing the 18-month downward trend, India’s momentum” and is projected to grow by 7.3 per cent exports in June rose 1.27% to $22.57 billion. Imports in this year and is expected to achieve a growth of 7.5 per June were at $30.68 billion, down 7.33% from last year. cent in 2017. The trade deficit in June sunk to $8.11 billion. IMF KEEPS INDIA’s GROWTH RATE AT 7.5% INDIA JUMPS IN TRADE HANDLING The IMF has retained its growth forecast for India at India has improved its ranking in the World Bank 7.5% for the year 2016-17, largely driven by private Group's bi-annual Logistics Performance Index 2016 by consumption even as weak exports and sluggish credit jumping to 35th position from 54th in 2014. The index growth weigh on the economy. It said structural studies 160 countries on the basis of efficiency of trade reforms, including GST and in areas like land and labour, performance. will be the key to boost India’s economic growth.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 13  The retail prices of non-urea fertilisers including DAP ECONOMY & INDUSTRY have been slashed by up to Rs 5,00 per quintal

following a drop in global prices of raw materials.

JULY 2016  India’s first Green Rail Corridor has been started on the Rameswaram-Manamadurai stretch in Tamil JNU PORT STARTS RFID TRACKING Nadu. It ensures zero toilet discharge on rail tracks.  Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has joined hands with State Bank of India to promote booking of rail tickets through banking channels.

JUNE 2016

MSP HIKED FOR KHARIF CROPS On the recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), government has hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of pulses by up

Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai has become the first to Rs 425 per quintal for the coming season 2016-17, port in India to start RFID (Radio Frequency effective from Oct 1, 2016. Identification) tag based tracking of containers. This Crop Rs/qtl hike will facilitate importers and exporters in easy and quick Paddy–common 1470 60 tracking of their goods in transit. Paddy–grade A 1510 60 Jowar 1625 55 ONLY 7 INDIAN COMPANIES IN TOP 500 Bajra 1330 55 In the latest Fortune 500 `list of the world's biggest Maize 1365 40 corporations in terms of revenue, there are only seven Tuar daal 5050 425 Indian companies. Top most Indian company is Indian Moong daal 5225 375 Oil Corporation at 161st rank with revenue of $54.7 Urad 5000 375 billion. The list is topped by the retail giant Walmart Groundnut 4220 190 with revenue of $482,130 million. Sunflower 3950 150 Sesamum 5000 300 RAILWAYS TO GET HI-TEC EYES Cotton 3860 60 Railways plan to install TRI-NETRA (three eyes) vision The MSP is the assured rate at which the government system on locomotives for enhancing the driver’s vision buys the grain from farmers. Paddy is the main crop in inclement weather. It will be made up of high- grown in the kharif (summer) season. resolution optical video camera, high sensitivity infra- red video camera and a radar-based terrain mapping system. WORLD BANK FUNDING FOR CITY TRANSPORT  The Bombay Stock Exchange has introduced 'Paperless SIP' that would allow mutual fund investors to make transactions through various modes of payments.  Govt allows oil companies to raise the price of kerosene by 25 paise a litre each month for 10 months to cut the subsidy burden, beginning from July 1, 2016.

 Nirma, the Ahmadabad-based detergents and chemicals giant has agreed to acquire Lafarge India’s The World Bank has agreed to provide a $ 9.2 million cement assets for about $1.4 billion (Rs.9,400 crore). grant for financing the Efficient and Sustainable City Bus  Bangladesh and India have signed a mega deal for Service Project in selected Indian cities like Chandigarh, the construction of a 1,320 megawatt Maitree Super Jaipur and Mira Bhayandar in Thane, Maharashtra. Thermal Power Project at Rampal, Bangladesh.  ADB has granted $ 100 million loan to strengthen key NEW AVENUES FOR 100% FDI irrigation and drainage system in the Cauvery delta With an aim to give impetus to job creation and ease of in Tamil Nadu. doing business in the country, Government has  The World Bank has announced $ 1 billion support approved 100 per cent FDI in Aviation, Defence and e- for India’s ambitious solar energy generation plans. commerce sectors under the govt. approval route. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 14 LOANS GRANTED BY ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK Loan amt Granted to Purpose (in $ million) 120 Odisha to improve irrigation and water management infrastructure 100 Tamil to strengthen and improve water Nadu management in the Vennar sub- basin of Cauvery Delta 200 Jharkhand to upgrade 176-kms of rural roads 500 Bihar to build a 9.8 km long bridge (longest in India) across the Ganges River

 The Japan International Cooperation Agency has granted a loan of Rs. 1,548 crore to Tamil Nadu for improving the quality of urban healthcare services.  Work has started on the 'Jal Marg Vikas' (National Waterway-1) for developing a 1620 km waterway RAJASVA GYAN SANGAM HELD IN DELHI between Allahabad and Haldia in West Bengal. A high level summit of the top brass of the two revenue  Railways have started a new weekly train from collection arms of the government—CBDT and CBEC Kamakhya (Seat of Black Magic), Assam to Vaishno was held in New Delhi by the name ‘Rajasva Gyan Devi Katra (J&K), linking the prominent pilgrimage Sangam’. Addressing the summit, Prime Minster Modi centers. appealed the officers to widen the tax payers base to 10 The Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the US crore.  firm Westinghouse have agreed to begin engineering

work for six nuclear power plant reactors in India. TRIAL RUN OF HIGH SPEED TALGO TRAIN  India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s third-largest oil consumer, consuming 4.1 million bpd in 2015, after USA and China. Bpd= barrels per day  To promote and facilitate South Korean Investments in India, the two countries have launched a joint forum named ‘Korea Plus’.

MAY 2016

WB LOAN FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER

The World Bank has approved $625 million loan to Trial of the lighter and faster Spanish train Talgo, with India to support the rooftop solar power generation speed up to 115 km per hour, was conducted between across the country. The project will be implemented Bareilly and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh as part of the through the State Bank of India, which will on-lend the Railways' strategy to increase the speed of trains. funds to solar photovoltaic developers and end-users.

FSSAI BANS USE OF POTASSIUM BROMATE PURCHASES OF OVER 2 LAKH TO ATTRACT TCS After the alert raised by the Centre for Science and Payment in cash for buying goods and services worth Environment (CSE) that 84 per cent of the 38 popular more than Rs 2 lakh with the exception of jewellery will brands of breads contained cancer-causing chemicals, attract 1 per cent tax collected at source (TCS) wef June the Food Safety and Standards Association of India 1. In case of jewellery, the cut off is at Rs. 5 lakh and (FSSAI) has recommended banning Potassium Bromate over Rs 2 lakh for bullion. as a food additive.

SERVICES TO COST MORE WEF JUNE 1 PRESIDENT HONOURS EXPORTERS The Krishi Kalyan Cess of 0.5 per cent on the service tax, President Pranab Mukherjee presented Niryat Shree announced by Finance Minister in the current budget, and Niryat Bandhu Awards in New Delhi to honour became effective from June 1. The consumers will now exporters for their excellent business achievements. have to pay an extra 50 paise per Rs 100 or Rs 5 per Rs Both Awards were instituted by the Federation of Indian 1,000 spent on any taxable item like various utility bills, Export Organization (FIEO) in the year 1995-96 with the parlours, restaurants, AC rail tickets, etc. aim to motivate exporters.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 15 ‘DHAN WAPSI’ SCHEME wef JUNE 1 BANKING & FINANCE

JULY 2016

COMMITTEE TO EMPOWER MONETARY POLICY Govt has cleared the formation of a six-member Monetary Policy Committee to bring in “value and transparency to monetary policy decisions”. The committee will comprise three members from RBI,

including the Governor, who will be the ex-officio The govt has announced The Income Declaration chairperson, a Deputy Governor and another one officer Scheme, 2016 – ‘Dhan Wapsi’, an amnesty scheme for of the central bank. declaring domestic black money, from June 1 till Sep 30. The other three members will be appointed by the Individuals willing to declare their black money in the government. They will be the experts in the field of country will have to pay tax and a penalty, totalling 45 economics or banking or finance or monetary policy. per cent. 3% INTEREST SUB-VENTION ON FARM LOANS INDIA RANKS 9TH IN ‘CRONY CAPITALISM’ A study by the leading financial magazine, The Economist shows that in terms of ‘crony capitalism’, India is ranked at ninth position with crony sector wealth accounting for 3.4 per cent of the GDP. tops the list where wealth from the country's crony sectors amounts to 18 per cent of its GDP. Crony capitalism is a kind of economy where success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials as the later shower favours on the selected few corporates. Farmers repaying their bank loan in time will get short- term crop loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at a subsidised INCOME TAX DATA MADE PUBLIC interest rate of 4 per cent in 2016-17, against the In a landmark development towards greater trans- normal rate of 7 per cent. The 3 per cent difference will parency, the income tax department has released its key be provided as the interest sub-vention to the banks by data, though after a lapse of 16 years. Taxpayers account the government. for just about one per cent of India's population. Total income tax collections in 2015-16 were 2.86 lakh crore FRESH CAPITAL FOR 13 PSBs rupees. The Ministry of Finance has announced capital infusion of Rs 22,915 crore towards the recapitalisation of 13 NEW DTAA SIGNED WITH MAURITIUS public sector banks during 2016-17 to provide liquidity India and Mauritius have signed a protocol amending support for lending operations as also to enable banks the double tax avoidance arrangement between the two to raise funds from the market. countries. Now India gets the right to tax capital gains on investments routed through Mauritius, from April 1, ONLY RBI TO ACCEPT PRE-2005 NOTES 2017. The Reserve Bank has announced that from July 1 onwards pre-2005 banknotes will be accepted only at  MMTC has launched in collaboration with Swiss gold its select branches as majority of the old series company Pamp, a new gold coin ‘Tola’ of 11.6639 banknotes have been withdrawn. grams on the occasion of ‘Akshya Tritya’, May 9. The pre-2005 banknotes are being withdrawn because of  World Bank has agreed to provide $ 100 million loan fewer security features in them compared to banknotes to support ‘ Urban Water Supply printed after 2005. Modernization project’.  The Tata Group has made a foray into the e- FREE EXCHANGE OF SOILED NOTES commerce market through TataCLiQ.com to sell The RBI has asked banks to exchange up to 20 pieces of apparel, electronics and footwear, etc. soiled currency notes, up to a maximum value of Rs  India and have signed a protocol to amend 5,000, free of charge. Banks may recover reasonable the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) to service charges for exchanging notes beyond these include exchange of information to curb tax evasion. limits. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 16 SBI TIES UP WITH IIT FOR START UPS SCHEME FOR HIGH VALUE BAD LOANS State Bank of India has signed a MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), its technology business incubator, to promote innovation by startups in the financial sector.

SBI LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA BANKING State Bank of India has launched a social media banking platform called 'SBI Mingle' which will enable the Facebook and Twitter user customers to use a host of banking services on their social media accounts.

 RBI has imposed a penalty of five crore rupees on Bank of Baroda for the lapses in the 6,100-crore rupees scam that was unearthed last year.  RBI has constituted a Working Group to study the RBI has announced the Scheme for Sustainable entire gamut of regulatory issues relating to financial Structuring of Stressed Assets, S4A, to handle the high technology and digital banking in India. value bad loans. Under the scheme, a portion of the debt  Reliance Industries has signed an agreement with will be converted into equity under supervision of State Bank of India to start the proposed Payment Indian Banks Association. The scheme will be applicable Bank. to those projects which have started commercial operations and have outstanding loan of over 500 crore.  World Bank to provide Rs 4200 crore to the State

Bank of India for financing of grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects in India. NRIs ALLOWED TO OPEN NPS ACCOUNTS Government has allowed non resident Indians (NRIs) to  Cabinet approves setting up of India Post Payments open National Pension Scheme (NPS) accounts online if Bank with 650 branches to begin with, to be they have Aadhaar Card or PAN card. Till now, NRIs functional by September 2017. could open NPS accounts only through paper

applications by approaching Bank offices. JUNE 2016

SBI TO MERGE ASSOCIATE BANKS CABINET NOD FOR INDIA POST BANK The Union Cabinet has approved the merger of State Bank of India (SBI) and its five subsidiaries — State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad. The merged entity will create a banking behemoth, which can compete with the largest in the world with an asset base of almost Rs 37 trillion, 22,500 branches and 58,000 ATMs as on December 2015.

AXIS BANK LAUNCHED ‘GREEN BONDS’ The Union Cabinet has given its approval for setting up the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) as a Public Ltd Axis Bank raised $500 million at the London Stock Company under the Department of Posts. Exchange after it launched India’s first internationally- Bank’s 100% equity will be held by the Government of listed certified green bond to finance climate change solutions around the world. India. The Bank is likely to get license from RBI by March 2017 and plans to operationalise 650 branches by Green bonds are the one where funds raised are used September 2017. exclusively for renewable energy projects or some other clean energy project. RBI AIMS AT ‘LESS-CASH’ INDIA RBI has released the ‘Payment and Settlement Systems  Latest RBI data shows that banking transactions in India: Vision-2018’ that aims at building best of class through mobile apps have increased seven-fold in payment and settlement systems for a ‘less-cash’ India three years, between 2013 and 2016. and ensuring access of mobile banking services to even  RBI plans to put into circulation Rs.10 coins bearing basic phone users. The document focuses on 5 Cs - the portrait of Swami Chinmayananda to coverage, convenience, confidence, convergence & cost. commemorate his birth centenary. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 17 MAY 2016 DEFENCE, SCIENCE INDIA’s FIRST ‘MOBILE ONLY’ BANK & TECHNOLOGY

JULY 2016

NAVY GETS THE POWER OF ‘VARUNASTRA’ crossed another milestone in its fire power as it inducted indigenously-built heavyweight anti- submarine torpedo Varunastra.

Only seven more countries have such capability. It is The DBS, Singapore's largest bank, has launched India’s capable of targeting quiet and stealthy submarines in first mobile only bank named ‘digibank’. It uses intense counter-measure environment. technologies such as bio metrics and artificial intelligence, to enable paperless, signature less and DEFENCE COMMUNICATION NETWORK branch less banking. Defence Minister launched India's first Integrated Defence Communication Network. The network WILFUL DEFAULTERS OWE Rs. 66,190 CRORE provides online connectivity to all the 111 As per a written statement made in Rajya Sabha by establishments of the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and Union Minister of state for Finance, there were 7,686 the Special Forces Command to share situational wilful defaulters owing Rs 66,190 crore to state-owned awareness for a faster decision-making process. banks as of December 2015. The cumulative gross NPAs of 24 listed public sector ARMY GETS ITS OWN BOFORS GUN banks, including SBI group, stood at Rs.3,93,035 crore as on 31 December 2015. As per RBI, an asset becomes non-performing when it ceases to generate income for the bank or the repayment due is delayed for more than 90 days.

BANKS ASKED TO SHIFT TO EVM CARDS The Reserve Bank of India has instructed banks to shift from magnetic stripe based ATM and debit cards to EMV chip and Pin based cards to ensure protection of cards from cloning, skimming and other forms of frauds which

can happen on a magnetic strip. The Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory has handed NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK SELECTS ICICI over three indigenously developed 155 mm ‘Dhanush’ The ICICI bank has become the first financial institution artillery guns for trial to the Army. It has a strike range in the country to be selected by the BRICS’s New of 38 kms. The gun has been developed following Development Bank to explore opportunities around transfer of technology from the Bofors of Sweden. bond issuance, co-financing, treasury management and human resources in India.  India successfully test-fired the medium range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) – Barak-8, developed  Union Bank of India has launched e-SBTR (Electronic jointly with Israel, from the Integrated Test Range Secured Bank Treasury Receipt), a single window (ITR) near Chandipur, off Odisha coast. facility for payment of both - stamp duty and  In a major milestone in the military aviation in the registration fee for home purchase in Maharashtra country, the first squadron of home-grown Light  based Islamic Development Bank has Combat Aircraft Tejas became operational in the announced to open its first branch in India at India Air Force at Bengaluru. Ahmadabad, Gujarat to offer interest free banking  INS Tarasa, an indigenously built Water Jet Fast services as per the Muslim law – Shariat. Attack Craft was inducted in Indian Navy. It is named  UK based HSBC Holding Plc has decided to close its 24 after an island in the Andaman and Nicobar. branches in India, out of total 50.  Indian Navy launched country’s largest ever search  A commemorative coin of 100 rupees and a operation named ‘Operation Talash’ over the sea to circulation coin of ten rupees have been released on trace the missing AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air the 475th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap. Force. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 18 JUNE WAS THE HOTTEST MONTH National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA in its 137 years of record keeping has found that the June 2016 combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces was 0.90 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average, hottest recorded till date.

JUNO SUCCEEDS IN ORBITING JUPITER NASA achieved a big breakthrough on July 5 when it succeeded in putting the solar powered 1,600 kg spacecraft Juno in the orbit of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The maneuvering was conducted some 870 million kilometers away from the earth.

Juno is a spinning, robotic probe as wide as a basketball  India has signed a one-billion dollar deal with Boeing court. It will circle Jupiter 37 times for 20 months, diving company of USA for procuring four long-range down to about 4,500 kilometers above the planet's dense maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare clouds. It will help scientists better understand the aircraft, Poseidon-8I. planet's origin, structure and atmosphere.  Indian Navy has started INS Karma, a dedicated base for Marine Commandos (MARCOS) in Vishakhapatnam. It is a Special Operation Force of  Of the total 10,135 bird species in the world, about 12 Indian Navy. per cent of them, 1263 are found in India. This has been confirmed in a scientific study conducted by a  Armed forces of 26 nations from around the world, group of ornithologists (bird watchers) in India. including India, took part in the Exercise RIMPAC 2016, held near Hawaiian Islands, USA.  Social media giant Face Book has successfully tested its solar-powered craft Aquila that will be used to  China has built its largest ever transport aircraft Y- beam internet to remote parts of the world. 20 Kunpeng, nicknamed “chubby girl”,to transport cargo and troops over long distances in diverse  Google has announced that the next version weather conditions. of Android, 7.o, codenamed “N”, will be called Nougat. China has successfully launched its second Shijian-16  China has made the world’s largest amphibious  series satellite for space research and experiments. aircraft, AG-600, to fight forest fires and perform marine missions. It can go up to 4500 kms without refueling and can carry up to 53.5 tons of load. JUNE 2016

CHINA BUILDS WORLD’S LARGEST TELESCOPE FIRST WOMEN FIGHTER JET PILOTS The crossed another milestone on June 18 when for the first time three women fighter jet pilots - Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh - were commissioned in the operations in Air Force.

DEAL OKAYED FOR 145 ARTILLERY GUNS Ministry of Defence has approved the purchase of 145 artillery guns meant especially for deployment in the Himalayas by the upcoming Mountain Strike Corps of the . The 155 MM, M777 ultra light howitzer (ULH) will be supplied by The BAE systems of

USA and will be assembled in India in collaboration with The world's largest radio telescope has been built by Mahindra Defence Systems. China in Pingtang County in the southwestern China. It has reflector of the size of 30 football fields, with a BRAHMOS INTEGRATED WITH SUKHOI-30 diameter of 500 meters, aptly named Five-hundred- BrahMos Aerospace successfully tested the integration meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). of the supersonic cruise missile system BRAHMOS on The project will help to better understand the origin of the supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30. This is for the the universe and boost the global hunt for extraterrestrial first time in the world that a supersonic cruise missile life (aliens). has been integrated with a supersonic fighter aircraft. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 19  Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), the two- FIRST ANIMAL TO BE DECLARED ‘EXTINCT’ seater basic trainer aircraft designed and developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited made its inaugural flight successfully.  It will be used for the first-stage training for all flying cadets of the three services.  Govt has taken a considered decision to allow export of 'Akaash' missile systems to 'certain' countries that have friendly relationship with India.

 Exercise Desert Eagle II was held between Indian Air Force and United Arab Emirates Air Force in Abu A small rodent (rat) named the Bramble Cay Dhabi in last week of May. Melomys found only on a single island off Australia  India has joined The Hague Code of Conduct against is the world's first mammal to be declared as extinct Ballistic Missile Proliferation, a voluntary legally non- as none of them has been sighted by the locals after binding multilateral body in Vienna, for preventing 2009. the spread of ballistic missiles. Main reason for this is the abnormal rise in sea level  A joint military exercise named ‘Malabar’ was held due to global warming, submerging parts of Bramble between the naval forces of India, Japan and the US Cay Island off the Okinawa coast in Japan.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization members  China launched its 23rd satellite to support its global and partners launched their biggest ever joint navigation and positioning network- BeiDou military exercise in Poland, named Anaconda-16 Navigation Satellite System. Exercise.  Google has tied up with Tata Trusts to launch  Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest annual security ‘Internet Saathi’ programme to empower rural meet held in Singapore to discuss the security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. women by enabling them to use Internet in their daily lives. ISRO LAUNCHES RECORD 20 SATELLITES  Russia launched the world’s biggest nuclear The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created icebreaker ship 22220 Arktika. It has a two-reactor a record on June 22 by launching 20 satellites in one go, power unit of 175 MW with a displacement of 33,540 including 17 foreign ones, using its flagship rocket Polar tonnes. Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C34 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikotta.  US scientists team has created the world's first microchip that has 1,000 processors and is thought to NEW RICE VARIETIES DEVLOPED be the fastest chip designed in a university lab. Researchers at Assam Agricultural University have  Asia’s largest technology trade show COMPUTEX developed two rice varieties, namely Ranjit Sub-1 and started in Taipei, capital of Taiwan on May 31. More Bahadur Sub-1 that can be grown successfully even in than 1,600 companies from 30 countries took part. submerged conditions that are frequent in Assam due to common flash floods. MAY 2016

CHINA HAS WORLD’s FASTEST COMPUTER NAVAL EXERCISE WITH ASEAN FORCES Chinese supercomputer Sunway TaihuLight has been The ADMM-Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting declared as the world’s fastest supercomputer, Plus) Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter achieving a speed of up to 93 petaflop/second. The Terrorism (Ex MS & CT) was held in Brunei. The nine selection was made by the International day naval exercise aims to strengthen the strong Supercomputing Conference held in Frankfurt, bilateral ties and extensive maritime interactions Germany. between India and ASEAN countries.

MICROSOFT TO ACQUIRE ‘LINKEDIN’ INDIA TEST FIRES ANTI-BALLASTIC MISSILE In one of the largest acquisitions in the social media India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed space, Microsoft has announced to acquire professional supersonic interceptor missile, capable of networking website LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. LinkedIn destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile. The with its over 430 million users will retain its distinct Advance Air Defence (AAD) missile dubbed as Ashwin brand, culture and independence. was fired from the Adbul Kalam Island (formerly known as Wheeler Island), off the Odisha coast. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 20 IAF LAUNCHES E-MAINTENANCE SYSTEM ISRO TESTS RE-USABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE Indian Air Force launched an Electronic Maintenance India successfully tested its first-ever indigenously built Management System (e-MMS), one of the biggest space shuttle - the Re-Usable Launch Vehicle - automated military maintenance systems in the world, Technology Demonstrator or RLV-TD on May 23 from at the Air Force Station in Pune. The system would Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Re-usable technology seamlessly connect all the squadrons, wings, commands aims to help reduce the cost of launching satellites by 10 with the Air Headquarters, after its implementation. times.

PRITHVI II MISSILE TESTED BY DRDO WHO TO PROMOTE ‘AYUSH’ India successfully test fired its indigenously developed India and the World Health Organization have signed nuclear weapon capable Prithvi-II missile from the an agreement in Geneva for cooperation in promoting Abdul Kalam Island, off Odisha coast. It has a strike quality, safety and effectiveness of service provision in range of 350 kilometer. traditional Indian systems of medicine, called AYUSH.

NAVY SAYS GOOD BYE TO ‘SEA HARRIERS’ GOOGLE CHROME IS TOP BROWSER As per a global market research, Google Chrome, claiming 41.7 per cent of desktop browser share has become the top Internet browser, ending the long reign of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Mozilla’s Firefox browser stands at third place.

 In the first global assessment of the world's flora by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London), it is estimated that there are about 390,900 plants.  In a rare astronomical phenomenon, planet Mercury was seen as a moving dot on the solar disc, from various places of India, on May 9.

The Indian Naval Air Squadron 300- ‘White Tigers,’ bid  University of Cambridge researchers have built the farewell to the British Sea Harriers fighter aircrafts on world's smallest working engine. The device, powered May 11. They will be replaced by the new generation by light, is just millionths of a millimeter in size. MiG 29K/Kub fighters. Sea Harriers joined the Indian  China successfully launched its remote sensing Navy in 1983. satellite ‘Yaogan-30’ into space atop a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.  Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha became the first Chief of Air Staff to fly the indigenously designed and produced Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru.  Indian Army conducted its major military training INTERNATIONAL

exercise ‘Chakravyuh-II’ in Suratgarh, Rajasthan.  INS Kalvari (sea tiger shark), the first of the six JULY 2016

indigenous Scorpene-class submarines set out for sea FAILED COUP ATTEMPT IN trials off the Mumbai coast.  India signed 4 MoUs for cooperation in defence sector with in .  The indigenously built Offshore Petrol Vessel ICGS Shaurya joined the at Vasco, Goa. ICGS = Indian Coast Guard Ship  Indigenously built Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Arush joined the Indian Coast Guard at Cochi, Kerala.  The 27th edition of the India-Indonesian CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) between their navies was held off the coast of Belawan, . Turkey witnessed a failed coup attempt on July 15 by a faction of its Armed Forces to overthrow the  India’s first indigenously built fast attack waterjet government. Loyal forces and the public lead by the craft INS Tarmugli was inducted in Indian Navy at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thwarted the attempt, Visakhapatnam. terming the attempt as an incident of treason. Around  The Indian Navy has decided to decommission two of 300 persons were killed and several hundred wounded its warships – INS Veer and INS Nipat. seriously in the aftermath. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 21 WORLD COURT RULES AGAINST CHINA  The 2-day long NATO Summit was held in Warsaw, Poland. Heads of nations of 28 member countries took part in this biennial summit.  Finance Ministers from the Group of 20 major economies met in Chengdu, China for a two day summit.

JUNE 2016

ICELAND IS THE MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRY In a ranking of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index compiled by Institute for Economics and Peace, has been named as the least peaceful country, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. On the other hand, Iceland was ranked as the world’s most

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, the tribunal based peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria. in The Hague, has ruled that there was no evidence that India ranks a low at 141. China had historic rights to the waters of South China Sea or resources that fell within its "nine-dash line", and SWISS REJECT FREE INCOME was violating the Philippine's sovereign rights with its In a referendum held in Switzerland, 77 per cent Swiss operations there. The case was brought before the voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to introduce tribunal by . a guaranteed basic income for all. The proposal had called for adults to be paid an unconditional monthly IMO JOINS UNO income, whether they worked or not. The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution to treat the ‘International Organisation for BRITAIN VOTES TO LEAVE EUROPEAN UNION Migration’ – IOM, as a related organisation of UNO. The 65 years old IOM assisted over 20 million migrants in 2015.

4 NEW MEMBERS IN UNSC Ethiopia, Bolivia, Sweden and Kazakhstan have been elected by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a period of two years beginning Jan 1, 2017. In the referendum held on June 23 in Britain to decide SHORTEST AND TALLEST IN WORLD whether Britain should remain with European Union or A survey done in 200 countries to study the average leave it, British people voted to leave the European height of persons has found that shortest women are Union to take greater control of its economy and its found in Guatemala, with an average height 150 cms borders, shattering the stability of the continental unity while shortest men are from East Timor – 160 cms. forged after World War II.

Tallest men are from Netherlands – 182.9 cms and The ‘Leave’ side secured 51.9 per cent votes as against tallest women are from Latvia at 167.6 cms average 48.1 per cent vote for ‘Remain’. height. Prime Minister David Cameron, a passionate supporter of AMAZON IS THE SMARTEST COMPANY ‘remain’ announced that as a measure of respect for the E-commerce giant Amazon has been ranked number one “will of the people” he would be stepping down as prime in the annual list of the world’s 50 smartest companies minister in October. of 2016 compiled by the MIT, USA on the basis of use of innovative technology for an effective business model. SWEDEN IS THE BEST COUNTRY According to the 'Good Country' Index 2015 which  According to a survey of millions of airline passengers surveyed 163 countries to measure how countries conducted by UK based research firm Skytrax to contribute to the global good, Sweden is the world’s best select the best airline, Emirates, the Dubai based country, followed by Denmark and Netherlands. India airline has been selected as best. was placed at 70th spot.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 22 WORLD’s LONGEST RAIL TUNNEL  The World Bank has slashed its 2016 growth forecast The world’s longest rail tunnel, Gotthard Base Tunnel, for the world by 0.5 per cent to 2.4 per cent, citing 57 kms long under the Alps Mountain in Switzerland, disappointing growth in major emerging market was opened on June 1 for running of trains. Set of two economies including China and Brazil. tunnels, it is also the deepest train tunnel of world,  Global aircraft company Airbus has unveiled the going up to 2300 mts below the surface. It will reduce world's first 3D-printed aircraft THOR - Test of High- the train journey from Zurich (Switzerland) to Milan in tech Objectives in Reality. northern down to two hours and 40 minutes,  The World Health Organization on June 01 has roughly an hour less than it currently takes. declared the end of Ebola virus transmission in Guinea, one of the three West African countries AIIB APPROVES FIRST GLOBAL LOANS hardest hit by the epidemic in 2014. Bangladesh has become one of the first countries to get  Norway has become the first country in world to a loan from the China-led Asian Infrastructure prohibit deforestation of rain forest to preserve the Investment Bank. The country will get $165 million for a balance of ecosystem. power distribution system upgrade and expansion  Colombia signed a historical ceasefire agreement project. The other three borrowers are Pakistan, with the guerrilla organization FARC to put an end to Indonesia and Tajikistan. more than 50 years of bloodshed. FARC: The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia PAK TOPS IN MALWARE THREATS

MAY 2016

KENYA DESTROYS HUGE STOCK OF IVORY In one of the largest stockpile of elephant tusks (ivory) destroyed in Africa, Kenya's president set fire to 105 tonnes of elephant ivory and more than one tonne of rhino horn, seized from smugglers and poachers. The ivory is reported to be worth over $150 million in the

open market and the rhino horn could raise as much as Malware Infection Index 2016 released by the Microsoft $80 million. Asia to identify the key malware threats in Asia Pacific region has revealed Pakistan as the location with the WB LAUNCHES EMERGENCY FUND FOR ZIKA highest malware encounters followed by Indonesia, World Bank Group has launched the Pandemic Bangladesh. India stands at no. 8 in region. Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) to protect and support poorest countries against deadly pandemics  World Health Organisation has recognised Thailand, like Ebola, Zika. The PEF will ensure fast disbursement Armenia, Belarus and Moldova for eliminating of global financing. mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis.  The Forbes “100 Most Powerful Women” in the world ROYAL CAMPAIGN FOR MENTAL HEALTH list 2016, topped by German Chancellor Angela British Royals Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Merkel, includes SBI Chief Arundhati Bhattacharya at Harry launched the ‘Heads Together’ campaign in 25th rank. London to spread and promote public awareness about mental health and wellbeing.

 Heads of state from G-7 nations, USA, Britain, , Germany, Italy, and host Japan held their meet in the Japanese city of Ise Shima.  Finance ministers and central bank governors meet of G-7 nations held in Sendai, Japan.  A two day International Buddhist conference was held at the birth place of Lord Buddha, Lumbini, to celebrate his 2,560th birth anniversary.  The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit was held in Istanbul from 23 to 24th May.  The First World Conference on Tourism for Development was held in Beijing from May 18-21.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 23  Harmony of the Seas, world’s biggest-ever cruise ship, DAVID CAMERON: Prime Minister of capable of accommodating more than 8,000 resigned from his post after he lost the campaign to passengers and crew in the most luxurious conditions, ‘remain’ with European Union.

was unveiled in France. JIM YONG KIM: President of the World Bank Group was  USA decided to fully lift its embargo on sales of lethal in India for a two day official visit. weapons to its one-time arch enemy, Vietnam, after a gap of over 32 years. FEDOR KONYUKHOV: 64 years old Russian adventurer  Kenya to close World's biggest refugee camp in has set a world record for circumnavigating the globe Dadaab, citing threat to internal security. About solo in a hot air balloon in a time of just over 11 days, 3,28,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia are staying in covering over 34,000 kms.

this camp.  USA has approved selection of animal ‘Bison’ as the JUNE 2016

first national mammal of the country. This is in NIKESH ARORA: One of the highest paid CEO of the addition to the present national symbol - Bald Eagle’. world heading the SoftBank Group Corp. was in news as  The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to stop he resigned abruptly just after two years stay at the printing of the 500 euro banknote by the end of 2018 corporation. with a view to curb illicit activities.  It is one of the highest value (Rs 380,000 S. K. ROY: Chairman of public sector insurance giant roughly) circulating banknotes in the world. was in news as he resigned nearly two years ahead of  The International Bank Note Society has declared completion of his five-year term. Mr. Roy, who has been New Zealand’s five-dollar note as the Banknote of the with LIC since 1981, took charge as chairman in June Year for 2015 in a study of 40 notes from 20 2013. countries. NITA AMBANI: The chairperson and founder of Reliance Foundation, has become first Indian woman to be nominated to the International Olympic Committee PERSONS IN NEWS (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic Movement.

HILLARY CLINTON JULY 2016 Democratic Party candidate for US Presidential elections

IROM SHARMILA CHANU: created history by becoming the first woman to lead a Famous as ‘Iron Lady of major American political party for President’s post in Manipur’, she was in news the 240 years of democracy in USA. as she decided to end on August 9 her 15 year old MAY 2016 hunger strike in protest of UDAY KOTAK: Kotak Mahindra Bank Chief, is the only AF(SP)A in Manipur to Indian in Forbes' 'Money Masters: The Most Powerful contest state elections, instead. In 2000, when she People in the Financial World' list of 40 persons. embarked on her hunger strike, she also had taken a vow to neither enter her house nor meet her mother till the Lt. Col. RANVEER JAMWAL: An officer in the Jat government repealed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) regiment of Indian Army successfully completed his Act, 1958. third Everest expedition, the earlier ones being in 2012 RADHIKA MENON: The first woman captain of Indian and 2013. Merchant Navy was in news as she became the first YASH CHOPRA: A life size bronze statue of the late woman in the world to receive the Award for film-maker was installed by the govt of Switzerland in Exceptional Bravery at Sea from the International Kursaal area to honour the film maker who shot most of Maritime Organisation for saving the lives of seven his romantic dramas in the lush mountains of fishermen. Switzerland. K P OLI: Nepalese Prime Minister stepped down from RISHI NAIR: A 6th grade Indian American student won his post before facing a vote of trust in the Parliament. It the prestigious National Geographic Bee competition is reported that he lost the support of the ally parties. 2016 at Washington DC, USA. DONALD TRUMP: The billionaire businessman from FATMA SAMOURA: The Senegalese UN diplomat was USA has been officially declared as the Republican named as the first ever female Secretary General of the party’s candidate for US President elections to be held in international football body, FIFA. November this year. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 24 DILMA ROUSSEFF: 68 years old Brazilian President ANNE HATHAWAY: Famous US actress and singer has was suspended on May 12 after several weeks of been appointed as global Goodwill Ambassador for the nationwide protests for her removal. Senate has United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the decided to initiate impeachment proceedings against Empowerment of Women. her on charges that she broke budget accounting laws. PETER THOMSON: Permanent Representative of Fiji, CRAIG WRIGHT: The Australian entrepreneur has was elected as the President of the upcoming publicly identified himself as creator of virtual 71st session of UN General Assembly. cash/currency – Bitcoin, under the fake name of Satoshi Nakamoto. PEDRO PABLO KUCZYNSKI: Elected new President of Peru LHAKPA SHERPA: A 42-year-old Nepalese woman of USA climbed Mount Everest for the seventh time on May HANI Al MULQI: Appointed as new Prime Minister of 20, creating a record for the most summits of the . world’s highest mountain by a woman.

MAY 2016

3 NEW CHIEF MINISTERS APPOINTMENTS Sarbananda Sonowal: Assam, from BJP

Pinarayi Vijayan: Kerala, from CPI (M) JULY 2016 V. Narayanasamy: Puducherry, from Congress N S VISHWANATHAN: Appointed Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India in place of H R Khan who retired KIRAN BEDI: Appointed as the new Lieutenant on July 3. Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry.

VICE ADMIRAL SUNIL LANBA: Appointed as the next AJAY BHUSHAN PANDEY: Appointed as the chief Chief of Indian Navy, in the rank of Admiral. executive officer of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) S K BHAGAT: Appointed as Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). PEMA KHANDU: Sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, after the Supreme Court verdict on S K SHARMA: Renowned scientist has been appointed restoration of earlier CM, Nabam Tuki. the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). RAKESH KUMAR CHATURVEDI: Appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education, ANURAG THAKUR: The BJP M P from Hamirpur in CBSE Himachal Pradesh, was elected as the President of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).

THERESA MAY: Elected as the new Prime Minister of SHASHANK MANOHAR: Former BCCI President, who United Kingdom resigned recently, was elected unopposed as the first

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Re-elected as the Prime independent Chairman of International Cricket Council, for two years. Minister of Australia. ATMA RAM NADKARNI: Appointed as the Additional GUDNI JOHANNESSON: Elected as the new President of Solicitor General in Supreme Court for a period of three Iceland. years.

JUNE 2016 BINALI YILDIRIM: Elected as the new Prime Minister of Turkey. ASHOK LAVASA: Appointed as the new Union Finance Secretary Ms. TSAI ING-WEN: elected as the first women President of Taiwan Ms SUPRIYA SAHU: Appointed as the Director General of Doordarshan BACIRO DJA: Appointed as the new Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau, a small country in Western Africa. DIA MIRZA: actress has been named the ambassador for Swachh Bharat Mission's youth-based RODRIGO DUTERTE: Elected as the New President of 'Swachh Saathi' (student internship) programme. the Philippines. He is the Mayor of Davao City in Philippines. He is very popular and is known as ‘Digong’. SUNIL MITTAL: Chairman of Bharti Enterprises (Airtel), elected as the Chairman of International ENDA KENNY: Re elected as the Prime Minister of Chamber of Commerce (ICC) based in Paris. Ireland GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 25 SCHOLASTIC ASIAN BOOK AWARD: won by Aditi AWARDS & HONOURS Krishnakumar for her manuscript “Love of Indian History".

JULY 2016 MAY 2016 RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD FOR 2016: Six Asians ‘ORDER OF THE RISING SUN, GOLD AND SILVER’: selected for the prestigious awards for social work. Two Former bureaucrat and parliamentarian N. K. Singh was of them are Indians: selected for Japan’s highest civilian honour, for Bezwada Wilson, from Karnataka, a prolific promoting economic, educational and cultural ties campaigner for eradication of manual scavenging in between India and Japan. India, MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE: South Korean T.M. Krishna, Carnatic singer from Chennai, for author, Han Kang, has won the prestigious prize for her promoting peace and harmony through music. novel 'The Vegetarian'. The writer and her British translator Deborah Smith will share the $72,000 prize 51st Jnanpith Award: conferred on renowned Gujarati money. writer, poet and critic, Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari. This prize is given every year for the best book translated in English and published in U K. Gourmand World Cookbook Award for 2015-16: won by Nimi Sunilkumar, cookbook author and food MILLENNIUM TECHNOLOGY PRIZE: US engineer blogger, for her book “4 o’clock Temptations of Kerala”. Frances Arnold has become first woman to win this prize for pioneering directed evolution. ADITYA PURI: CEO and MD of the HDFC Bank has been The award, given by the Technology Academy, Finland, ranked as the best banking CEO in Asia by the investor carries a cash prize of Euro one million. community.

Palme d'Or: Award for the best film at Cannes Film Festival won by the film ‘I, Daniel Blake’ by British JUNE 2016 director Ken Loach.

INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY (IIFA) PEN’s LITERARY SERVICE AWARD: Won by British awards festival held in Madrid, Spain on June 23. author J.K. Rowling for her dedication to free speech and Best Feature Film: Bajrangi Bhaijaan by Kabir Khan social justice. The award is given by PEN, a USA based Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao NGO for excellence in promoting peace, harmony and Mastani human rights through literature. Best Actor: Ranvir Singh for Bajirao Mastani Best Actress: Deepika Padukon for Piku COMMONWEALTH SHORT STORY PRIZE: (for Asia region) won by Prashar Kulkarni for his story ‘Cow and

Company’. GD BIRLA AWARD FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: won by IIT-Kanpur professor Sanjay Mittal “NORTH STAR": Highest civilian award of Mongolia INDIA BIODIVERSITY AWARD: Won by the Pakke conferred upon two noted Indian scholars-Lokesh Tiger Reserve is in East Kameng district of Arunachal Chandra and Mansura Haider for their contribution to Pradesh. Mongolian studies.

ASIA NEW TALENT AWARDS: ‘Thithi’, a Kannada film Sudarsan Pattnaik: Renowned sand artist won the gold won the best film award and best script writers award medal at the 9th Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship th in Russia. at the19 Shanghai International Film Festival.

INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD: won by Akhil Sharma for his novel 'family life'. BOOKS & AUTHORS

PEOPLE’s CHOICE PRIZE: Gold medal won by the JULY 2016 renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik at the world championship festival of sand sculpting in Who Moved My Interest Rates by Former Reserve Bank Bulgaria. of India Governor, D Subbarao

FUKUOKA PRIZE: Awarded to renowned Indian music The Phoenix Moment by Praful Bidwai. composer A. R. Rahman for his outstanding contribution towards creating, preserving and showcasing South Myth Breaker by Seema Singh, a book about the life of Asian traditional fusion music. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, bio-tech queen of India, CMD of This prize is given by city of Fukuoka in Japan. Biocon. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 26 The Scout by Shirish Thorat, Sachin Waze SYED HAIDER RAZA: One of India’s most eminent painters, the modernist, passed away aged 94 in Delhi. The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Honoured with highest civilian award of France, he Carefree Days: Many Roles, Many Lives by Pran spent most of his life in France. He excelled in rare Nevile geometrical patterns, usually with iconic ‘bindu’ (point) at the fulcrum of his artistic odyssey. He was decorated Half-Lion: How PV Narasimha Rao Transformed India by with in 2007 and with Padma Vinay Sitapati Vibhushan in 2013. The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the MOHAMMED SHAHID: One of the greatest names in Unthinkable by Amitav Ghosh Indian hockey, died due to severe liver condition and Courage & Commitment: An Autobiography by kidney failure. He was 56. Margaret Alva, senior Congress leader, former Governor MUBARAK BEGUM (SHAIKH): Legendary Bollywood of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan playback singer and ghazal maestro passed away after The Wars of Reconstruction by Doughlas R.Egerton prolonged illness in Mumbai, at the age of 80. She will

always be remembered for her evergreen song "Kabhi JUNE 2016 tanhaiyon mein yoon hamari yaad ayegi" from the 1961

movie "Hamari Yaad Aayegi". Zindaginama by Krishna Sobti

Favourite Ghost Stories From Around The World by LACHHU MAHARAJ: World famous Tabla player of Ruskin Bond. Banaras Gharana passed away due to heart attack in Varanasi. He was 72 years old. Old History New Geography: Bifurcating Andhra Pradesh by Jairam Ramesh WILLIAM H. MCNEILL: World renowned historian who wove the stories of civilizations in his book “The Rise of A Life in Diplomacy by M K Rasgotra the West” and vivid account of epidemics in “Plagues

and People,” died at age 98 in USA. The Age of Genius: The Seventeenth Century and the Birth of the Modern Mind by AC Grayling. ABDUL SATTAR EDHI: Noted Pakistani philanthropist,

The Spy by Paulo Coelho social activist, ascetic passed away in . He was 88 years old. The Unseen Indira Gandhi by Dr. K P Mathur ABBAS KIAROSTAMI: Iran’s renowned filmmaker, Muslims Against Partition by Shamsul Islam. winner of several international awards, died at 76

The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf. fighting with cancer.

ELIE WIESEL: The Holocaust survivor, writer and

MAY 2016 Nobel peace laureate (1986) who worked to keep alive

the memory of Jews slaughtered during World War II, Vanishing Shangri La by K N Raghavan. died aged 87 in Israel.

The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan,

Blood on my Hands: Confessions of Staged Encounters by Kishalay Bhattacharjee

The Outside Lands by Hannah Kohler

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

OBITUARY

JULY 2016

MAHASWETA DEVI: Eminent Bengali litterateur and a social activist, Masiha for the welfare of tribals, Mahasweta Devi passed away at the age of 90. She was decorated with Jnanpith Award, Padam Vibhushan and honoured with Raman Magsaysay Award. She is best known for her iconic work "Hajaar Chaurasi Ki Maa". GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 27 JUNE 2016 PLACES IN NEWS NEIL O'BRIEN: An Anglo-Indian community icon and former Lok Sabha member, credited with pioneering the JULY 2016 quiz in the country, died in Kolkata. He was 82. His son Derek O'Brien is also a famous quiz master. PETRAPOLE: Town in West Bengal on India and

MUDRARAKSHASA: Distinguished Hindi writer and Bangladesh border was in news as a newly constructed veteran intellectual passed away at the age of 82 in modern integrated check-post was opened there. On Lucknow, following a prolonged illness. the Bangladesh side the link town is Benapole.

INDER MALHOTRA: Veteran journalist passed away at MAJULI: A big island in River Brahmaputra in Assam a Delhi hospital at the age of 68. He was associated with was in news as it has been up graded as a district, ‘The Statesman’ and ‘’. becoming the first island district in the country.

SULABHA DESHPANDE: Eminent actor and theatre personality passed away in Mumbai. She was 79.

SURESH CHATWAL: Veteran TV and film actor passed away in Mumbai after a brief illness.

MANOHAR AICH: India's first Mr. Universe (1952) passed away in Kolkata at the age of 104. Famous as the ‘Pocket Hercules’ due to his short height – 4’ 11”, he was a very popular figure in the world of body building. TOKYO: In one of the worst mass-casualty attacks, RAZAK KHAN: Veteran comedy actor who worked in nineteen disabled persons were stabbed to death and films like “Hera Pheri”, “” and several other were wounded seriously in a care home “Baadshah” among others, died in Mumbai. He was 65. for disabled persons, by a knife-wielding man apparently aggrieved at having been fired from his job. MUHAMMAD ALI: The three-time world heavyweight boxing champion who ruled the boxing world in late NICE: City in southern France was in news at least 84 sixties, died at the age of 74 in Phoenix, USA. Famous as people were crushed to death and over 200 seriously ‘the greatest’, he was suffering from Parkinson disease. wounded when a heavy 25 tonne truck was driven Before accepting Islam, his name was Cassius Clay. rashly at a high speed mowing down the people attending Bastille Day celebrations on the beach. VIKTOR KORCHNOI: Four-time Soviet chess champion, Grandmaster, died aged 85 in Switzerland where he had DALLAS: City in Texas, USA was in news as in a local lived since 1976 after defecting from the Soviet Union. racial crowd protest, snipers shot down five police officers and wounded another seven. The protest was against the killing of two black men a week ago by the MAY 2016 police. BABA HARDEV SINGH: Spiritual leader and Head of Nirankari Mission was killed in a road accident in DHAKA: Capital of Bangladesh was in news as a group Montreal, Canada. He was 62. of heavily armed terrorists barged into a posh city restaurant and took around 33 people hostage, mostly BALRAJ MADHOK: Former President of Bharatiya Jan foreigners and brutally slained 20 of them. Army Sangh (BJS) and veteran RSS leader died in Delhi. He commandos stormed the restaurant and succeeded in was 96. killing six terrorists and rescuing 13 hostages. TONY COZIER: Famous West Indian cricket writer, commentator and journalist passed away at the age of ISTANBUL: Suspected IS suicide attackers killed 41 75. persons and wounded scores of others at Europe’s third

busiest airport - Istanbul Ataturk.

JUNE 2016

PULGAON: The Central Ammunition Depot of Indian Army in Pulgaon, Maharashtra was in news as a massive fire in one of its bunkers destroyed huge quantity of precious ammunition. It also claimed 16 lives including

two Army officers and left 17 persons injured.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 28 MAHASTHANGARH: The 3rd century BC archaeological site in Bogra, Bangladesh, has been declared as the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation SPORTS WORLD (SARRC) cultural capital for the year 2016-17. JULY 2016

GUWAHATI: It became the first city in the country to have its own city animal. The city has adopted the NEERAJ CHOPRA scripted history by becoming the Gangetic River Dolphin as its mascot. first Indian to hold a world record as he smashed the

MATHURA: The temple town of UP was in news as junior world record in javelin throw while securing the about 3,000 members of a little-known sect that has gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships encroached upon 280 acres of government land Jawahar in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Bagh clashed with the police. The massive violence on DIPA KARMAKAR: Star Indian gymnast was named a June 3 claimed 29 lives, including an SP and SHO and the ‘Gymnaste de Classe Mondaile’ (World class gymnast) sect head, Ram Vriksh Yadav. by the International Gymnastics Federation. She also

ORLANDO: City in Florida, USA was in news as it became the first-ever Indian gymnast to receive this honour. witnessed one of the worst mass shootings in the US history as a solo gunman killed 50 persons in a gay night Rohit Khandelwal has become the first Indian to win club. the title of Mr. World at a grand ceremony at Southport

PARIS: Days of torrential rain forced river Seine in in England. He received a whopping cash prize of 50,000 US dollars. France to burst its banks causing heavy flooding in city of Paris. Floodwaters have forced thousands of people Harika Dronavalli, India's Grand Master won the Fide to evacuate their homes and claiming several lives. Women’s Grand Prix Chess trophy in Chendu, China.

Niranjan Mukundan, Bengaluru para swimmer won MAY 2016 eight medals, including three golds, at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports, U-23 World Games CYCLONE ROANU: A strong cyclone lashed the coastal held in Prague, . He suffers from areas of Andhra and Odisha causing heavy rains coupled dysfunction of spinal cord. with gusty surface winds affecting the normal life seriously. B Sai Praneet won the Canada Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament held in Calgary, Canada SRI LANKA: Severe flooding has forced half a million people to flee their homes in Sri Lanka as the torrential Sanjeev Rajput won the silver medal in men's 50-metre rains and landslides claimed over 100 lives. The worst- rifle 3 position event at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, hit areas were in Colombo's north-eastern suburbs Russia. along the Kelani River. Viraat Kohli, star Indian batsman became the first FORT MCMURRAY: City in state of Alberta in Canada Indian test captain to score a double century in an was in news as it suffered one of the worst wildfires, overseas match in past 84 years. He scored 200 off 283 torching over 1,600 homes and other buildings and balls with 24 boundaries playing against West Indies in forcing more than 80,000 residents to flee. The local Antigua. govt has declared state of emergency to handle the situation effectively. Ravichandran Ashwin, Indian offspinner, has become the number one Test bowler after taking 7 wickets in the 1st Test against West Indies

Naman Ojha, wicketkeeper-batsman has been named captain of the India A team for the four-nation One-day tournament in Australia, starting August 14.

Vijender Singh won the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title of boxing in Delhi by beating Kerry Hope of Australia.

73rd Senior National Squash Championship, Mumbai: Dipika Pallikal won the women's title while men’s title was won by Saurav Ghosal.

India will be hosting the world’s first Mixed Martial Arts ‘Super Fight League’ from August 26 to October 1.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 29 P R Sreejesh, goalkeeper of the Indian Hockey team will RUSSIA FACES OLYMPICS BAN captain the team in Olympics. Women’s team will be World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has called for a ban captained by Sushila Chanu. on all Russian competitors and officials at the upcoming Rio Olympics and other international sports as they The 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics were found guilty of state-run doping at the 2014 Sochi Championships were hosted by Hyderabad. nd Winter Games and other events. India made a big leap of 11 places to occupy 152 spot in the latest world football rankings issued by FIFA. IOC TO LAUNCH ‘OLYMPIC CHANNEL’ The International Olympic Committee plans to launch OLYMPIANS FORM AN ASSOCIATION the Olympic Channel on August 21st, after the Rio All sportspersons who have represented India in Olympics are over. The channel will be available online, Olympics have got together to form The Olympians worldwide via an app for Android and iOS devices, as Association of India. Five-time Olympian, Luge well as on YouTube and social media - Facebook, champion Shiva Keshavan will serve as the association's Instagram and Twitter. first President.

JUNE 2016 SUPREME COURT REINS IN BCCI The Supreme Court delivered a historic judgment Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal won the Australian accepting most of the recommendations made by the Open Super Series Badminton tournament title by Justice R M Lodha Committee on the functioning of BCCI. defeating Chinese Sun Yu in Sydney.

Major changes include an age cap of 70 years and a Grand Master Harika Dronavalli won the best tenure cap of three terms of three years each. Also, women's player award in the Eurasian Blitz chess ministers and serving bureaucrats have been barred tournament in Kazakhstan. from holding BCCI positions. Anil Kumble: Former spinner has been selected as the Keni Harrison, American hurdler, broke a 28-year-old new coach of Indian Cricket Team for one year. world record in the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.20 seconds at the London Anniversary Games. Tintu Luka won a silver medal in 800 metres in the Josef Odlozil Memorial Athletics Meet in Prague, Czech Chris Froome of Britain won the world’s most Republic. challenging cycle race, Tour de France after a three- Seema Punia won a gold medal in the women’s discus week rocky ride. The 23 day long race covers roughly throw at the Pat Youngs Throwers Classic in California, 3500 kms in various terrains and stages. USA, securing her quota in Rio Olympics. Lewis Hamilton of Britain won the Hungarian Grand The Indian recurve team of Deepika Kumari and Atanu Prix F 1 championship at Budapest, . He also Das won the silver medal at the Archery World Cup in won the British Grand Prix title of Formula One at the Antalya, Turkey.

Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, United Kingdom and Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod have become the the Austrian Grand Prix F1 Championship at Spielberg, first Indian couple to climb the Mount Everest on May Austria. 23. Both are Constables in Maharashtra Police.

Pakistan’s captain Misbah-ul-Haq became the oldest Ceat T20 Player of the Year - 2016: Star batsman captain to score test hundred at the age of 42 years and Virat Kohli 47 days, playing against England at Lord's. Ceat Lifetime Achievement Award: Former Indian Captain, Dilip Vengsarkar. WIMBLEDON TENNIS GRAND SLAM Men’s title – won by Britain's Andy Murray beating Hero Hockey Champions Trophy Tournament: Milos Raonic of Canada Australia defeated India 3-1 in the final played in Women’s title – won by Serena Williams of USA by London. beating Angelique Kerber of Germany India won the three-match One-Day International (ODI) cricket series against Zimbabwe 3-0 and also the three Euro Cup Football Championship: Portugal lifted the day T-20 series by 2-1. cup at Saint-Denis in Paris beating France 1-0. This Portugal’s first major international victory in past 95 NATIONAL RECORD BY MEN’s RELAY TEAM years. The Indian men's 4x400m relay team created a new national record in relay race at the International Sprint International Hockey Federation Champions and Relay Teams Cup at Erzurum, Turkey. The team Trophy (women) won by Argentina by defeating surpassed the 18 year old record created at Asian Netherlands in the final played in London. Games, Bangkok in 1998 by clocking 3:02:17 minutes against 3:02:62 of old record. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 30 The Indian women’s 4x400m relay quartet of Jauna Shocked with the defeat, the Argentine star player Murmu, Ashwini Akkunji, Anilda Thomas and MR Lionel Messy announced his retirement from the Poovamma won the gold medal at the PTS athletics international football. Grand Prix in Samorin, Slovakia.

IXth Indian Premier League: Sunrisers Hyderabad FRENCH OPEN CONCLUDES defeated Royal Challengers to clinch their Men’s singles: won by Novak Djokovic of Serbia by maiden title in the finals played at the Chinnaswamy beating Britain's Andy Murray stadium in Bangalore. Women’s singles: Garbine Muguruza of Spain defeated Serena Williams of USA to clinch her maiden French The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has chosen Open title. Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra as the flag- Mixed doubles: won by Leander Paes with Swiss bearer of the Indian contingent at the Rio Games’ partner Martina Hingis opening ceremony on August 5. Latest FIFA rankings have placed Argentina at top, The junior men's hockey World Cup will be hosted by followed by Belgium and Colombia at 2nd and 3rd rank, Lucknow from the 8th of December this year. respectively.

Rahul Johri: Appointed first ever chief executive officer The Rio 2016 Olympic organizing committee released (CEO) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) the official slogan for the forthcoming Olympic Games - in Mumbai on the recommendations of the Justice Lodha “A new world”. Committee. A cheerful white tiger cub, named ‘Soohorang’ has been N Ramachandran, the President of Indian Olympic selected as the official mascot for South Korea’s 2018 Association (IOA) was awarded the prestigious Olympic Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Euro 2016: Europe's biggest football extravaganza his outstanding services to the Olympic movement. began in Stade de France, Saint Denis (France) on June All India Football Federation plans to launch ‘Mission 10.

11 Million’ in 30 Indian cities with the support of FIFA Wimbledon Tennis Championships begin in London to engage more than 11 million children in football- on June 27. This is the 130th edition of the third Grand related activities. Slam of the season.

Novak Djokovic: World number one tennis player from MAY 2016

Serbia became the first tennis player in the history to cross the $100 million prize-money mark in his career Saroha, Indian para athlete from Haryana of 13 years. The record was created in a match in French won the gold medal in men's club throw (F-51) at the open in Paris by beating Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut. French Open Athletics Championship in Paris.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Star footballer from Real Madrid, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam has been selected to captain of Portugal team, has become the first athlete captain Indian women's hockey team for a four-nation from a team sport in almost 20 years to top Forbes tournament in Darwin, Australia. annual list of the World's 100 Highest Paid Athletes, India's ace cueist Pankaj Advani has created history in earning $88 million in 2015-16. There is no Indian in Abu Dhabi by clinching the Asian 6-Red Snooker title, top 100. becoming the first in the world to hold both world and Lewis Hamilton (Britain) of Mercedes team won the continental titles in 6-red snooker at the same time.

Formula 1 Canada Grand Prix title at Montreal, Canada and also the Monaco Grand Prix.

Nico Rosberg won the European Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan.

England captain Alastair Cook became the first English cricketer and also the youngest one to reach the 10,000 runs milestone in Test cricket on May 30, playing against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street, England. Earlier, this record was in Sachin’s name.

Copa America Football Championship: won by Chile by defeating Argentina in the finals played at East Rutherford, New Jersey (USA). It is the popular most sports event of USA. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 31 Garima Chaudhary won gold medal at the 2016 Italian Open Tennis Championship: Andy Murray Commonwealth Judo Championship finals at Port defeated Novak Djokovic to win Men's Singles title. Elizabeth in South Africa. 7th Asian Youth Championships: Indian boxers Indian boxer Sonia Lather won a silver medal at the bagged three silver and one bronze medal in the games AIBA Women's World Championships in Astana, held in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan. Madrid Open Tennis: Novak Djokovic of Serbia Sprinter Dutee Chand bagged two gold medals by defeated Andy Murray of Briton to win the finals. winning the women's 100m and 200m race at the Women’s title was won by Simona Halep defeating Taiwan Open Athletics Championships. Dominika Cibulkova

The Indian women’s 4x100m relay team broke the 18- World Snooker Championship title was won by Mark year-old national record, though they stood fourth at the Selby of England by defeating China’s Ding Junhui in IAAF World Challenge in Beijing. finals played at Sheffield, UK.

Indian women's squash team won the Silver medal in Asia Badminton Championships at Wuhan, China: the Asian Team squash Championships at Taipei,China, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei defeated the world No. 1 Chen losing gold to Malaysia. Long of China in the finals.

Indian shooters claimed three gold medals and a Tobago batsman Iraq Thomas created a record by bronze in the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. scoring 21-ball century in the Tobago Cricket Association’s T20 tournament at Louis D'or, Tobago Federation Cup: Football, Mohun Bagan clinched the th (West Indies) title for the 14 time by defeating Aizawal FC in the Final played in Guwahati. The International Cricket Council has suspended the Cricket Association of Nepal due to a ‘vacuum of cricket IOA APPOINTS 4 GOODWILL AMBASSODORS leadership’ in the country. The Indian Olympic Association has appointed four Goodwill Ambassadors for Rio Olympics. They are - Renowned music composer A R Rahman, DAYS & DATES Bollywood actor Salman Khan, Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and JULY

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. JULY 01: NATIONAL DOCTORS’ DAY India and Japan have agreed for mutual exchange of The day is observed to honour legendary physician, sports persons, coaches, experts and administrators to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy whose birth and improve the standard of the sports between the two death anniversary falls on July 1. nations.

Nico Rosberg, the Formula One champion from JULY 11 - WORLD POPULATION DAY Germany, won his seventh race in a row at the Russian An annual day observed around the world to bring Grand Prix in Sochi, Russia. awareness about Population growth and its related issues. Current world population is estimated at 744 cr. Eric Dusingizimana: Captain of cricket team of Rwanda has set a new Guinness world record by batting JULY 12- MALALA DAY out a straight 51 hours, the longest individual net Observed every year on the birthday of Malala session, beating the record set last year by India's Virag Yousufzai, the Pakistan born young crusader for the Mane, who had batted a straight 50 hours. promotion of girls' education. Max Verstappen: 18 year old F1 driver from Netherlands representing the Red Bull team has become JULY 15 - WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY the youngest formula 1 winner as he won the title in Observed globally with UN support to raise awareness Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain. about the importance of investing in youth skills Thomas Cup: Denmark won the men’s badminton title, development. This year’s theme is Skills Development overcoming record champion Indonesia in the final to Improve Youth Employment. played in Kunshan, China. JULY 26: KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS Uber Cup: (women badminton), China claimed the cup The day is observed every year in honour of the Kargil 14th time by routing South Korea in Kunshan, China. War Heroes. It was on this day in 1999 that the Indian French Open, Second Tennis Grand Slam –started in Armed Forces, as part of Operation Vijay, recaptured Roland Garros in Paris on May 22. This is the only grand Indian posts in Kargil which had been occupied by slam played on clay court. Pakistan's army. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 32 JULY 28: WORLD HEPATITIS DAY JUNE 23: UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE DAY; Supported by the WHO, this day is observed to raise Celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters in New awareness about viral hepatitis, and to call for access to York with a high-level knowledge sharing panel treatment and better prevention programs. on Leaving No One Behind: Innovative Institutional Approaches and Public Service Delivery. JULY 29: INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY It is held annually on to give worldwide attention to the JUNE 23: THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC DAY conservation of tigers. It is estimated that hardly 3,500 Celebrated every year on 23 June to mark the occasion or so tigers are now left on earth. of the commencement of modern Olympic Games on this day in 1894 at Sorbonne in Paris. JUNE JUNE 23: INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY JUNE 1: WORLD MILK DAY Supported by the United Nations to raise public Observed across the world to increase awareness on use awareness on the hardships faced by the widowed of milk and to promote activities connected with milk women. and the milk industry. It is supported by Food and

Agriculture Organisation of UNO. MAY

JUNE 5: WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY MAY 01: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY Observed globally to promote awareness for Observed across the world to promote and protect preservation of environment. The theme for this interests of labour class., supported by the ILO. The environment day is "Go Wild For Life - Zero tolerance theme for 2016 is Celebrating the international labour for the illegal wildlife trade." movement.

JUNE 8: THE WORLD OCEANS DAY MAY 03: WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY Observed globally to raise awareness of the current Observed across the world to celebrate freedom of press challenges faced by the international community in and defending the media from attacks on their connection with the oceans. The theme this year is independence. This year’s theme is ‘Access to “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet”. Information and Fundamental Freedoms - This Is Your

JUNE 12: THE WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR Right!’ Observed globally with the patronage of International Supported by UNESCO, this day was proclaimed by the Labour Organisation to spread awareness about the UN General Assembly in December 1993, on the abuse of child labour. This year’s theme is ‘End child anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, Namibia. labour in supply chains - It's everyone's business!’ MAY 11: NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY

JUNE 14: WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY Observed all over India to hail the technological Observed across the world to raise the awareness about achievements and developments in the country. This the need for safe blood donation. The theme for the year year’s theme is ‘Technology enablers of Startup India’. 2016 is - “Blood connects us all”. It was on this day in 1999 that the first, indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was test flown at Bangalore and the JUNE 20: WORLD REFUGEE DAY Trishul missile was test fired successfully. On the same Observed around the world supported by the United day in 1998, three successful nuclear tests were carried Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to out at Pokhran, Rajasthan. raise the public awareness about refugees. According to UNHCR, number of refugees rose by 5.8 million last year MAY 12: INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY to reach 65.3 million. Celebrated all over the world to commemorate Florence Nightingale’s birthday. honoured 35 JUNE 21: INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY nurses with the National Florence Nightingale Millions of people around the world celebrated Yoga Awards on this day. Day by organising mass yoga sessions at various places. In India, main function was held in Chandigarh where MAY 17: WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY Prime Minister Modi himself led a gathering of over This year’s theme is "Know Your Numbers", with the 30,000 people for a mass yoga session. goal of increasing awareness about high blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is defined as an average reading JUNE 21: WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY no higher than 120/80 mm Hg. A readings of 140/90 or Observed world over to highlight the role of oceans and higher is considered high blood pressure. seas in human life. This year’s theme was ‘Hydrography - the key to well-managed seas and waterways’. It is also ALL THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN SOURCED the establishment day of International Hydrographic FROM VARIOUS NEWS PAPERS AND GOVT. PRESS RELEASES.

Organization 95 years ago. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 33

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 34

Bullet News

(FEB 2016 – APRIL 2016)

For details visit – www.gyanm.in

 Best University: The Indian Institute of NATIONAL NEWS Science, Bangalore  Top Pharmacy Institute: Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal APRIL 2016 ]  World Bank has agreed to provide a $1.5 billion  The First Maritime India Summit was held in loan for the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Goregaon, Mumbai, from April 14 to 16 to focus on  BRICS New Development Bank has started giving port based economic growth of the country. loans. India is among the first four countries to get  For the first time, United Nations observed the birth a loan, receiving $ 250 million through Canara Bank anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar on April 14 at its  A study of 180 countries by the Paris-based headquarters in New York. Reporters Without Borders to study the functioning rd  India has been ranked sixth among the world's Top- of journalists has placed India at a lowly 133 place. Ten largest manufacturing countries.  President Pranab Mukherjee went on a six-day trip  The Unique Identification Authority of India has to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand on April 27. generated over 100 crore Aadhaar numbers in a  Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Kate span of five-and-a-half years. Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,  India signed the Paris Climate Agreement at United visited India on a week’s goodwill tour. Nations in New York along with 175 nations.  India and France have launched a programme with  President nominated the six personalities from $1 trillion Potential Solar Programme under the different fields to the Rajya Sabha (House of Elders) International Solar Alliance (ISA). following the recommendations of the government.  India, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed for joint  As per a report from the security solutions firm work on development of Chabahar port in Iran. Symantec, India ranks third among countries with  India and Mauritius have signed an MoU on high number of financial Trojan infections cooperation in the field of traditional system of  India has joined hands with Germany for the medicine and Homoeopathy. mission ‘Namami Gange’ by adopting strategies  The first ever two day North East-ASEAN used for cleansing German rivers like Rhine and (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business Danube. Summit was inaugurated in Centre in Imphal,  The Supreme Court has allowed the holding of the Manipur. National Eligibility Entrance Test, NEET for medical  3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on the Tiger courses across the country. Conservation was held in New Delhi on April 12.  The HRD ministry released National Institutional  First National Tribal Carnival held in Delhi from Ranking Framework for ranking the higher April 29 to May 02, 2016 to showcase and promote education institutions in the country. various facets of tribal culture on a large scale.  Top Management Institute: IIM Bangalore,  India and South Korea have signed a MoU for followed by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta cooperation and mutual assistance in port related  Top Engineering Institute: IIT Chennai, matters and their developments. followed by IIT Mumbai and IIT Kharagpur.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 35  India has signed an agreement with the Islamic  National Conference of Women Legislators held in Development Bank for a $100 million line of credit New Delhi, March 5-6, with theme Women to facilitate exports to IDB's member countries. Legislators-Building Resurgent India.  Govt has released a commemorative coin of Rs.200  India signed a MoU with on cooperation for and a circulation coin of Rs.10 to mark the 200th martyrdom day of Tatya Tope, a war hero of prevention of human trafficking, especially in 1857 war of independence. women and children, their repatriation and  A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be installed in rehabilitation. France's Saint-Tropez town in September this year.  India has signed an agreement with for

avoiding double taxation of income from MARCH 2016 international air transport.

 A new direct shipping service launched between  First meet of World Sufi Forum was held in New Krishnapatnam in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi from March 17-20. Sufi leaders from over 20 Chittagong in Bangladesh. countries took part in it.  India will host the eighth annual summit of BRICS  The India Aviation 2016, an international exhibition from October 15-16 in Goa on civil aviation held in Hyderabad, Telangana with  Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for a three - over 200 participants from across the globe. nation tour to Belgium, the US and Saudi Arabia from March 30 to April 2.  Parsi Zoroastrians of India celebrated their Navroz  on March 6 flew the “world’s longest” all- festival on March 21to mark beginning of their new women operated and supported flight, nonstop, year. from New Delhi to San Francisco, USA.  Germany has assured its support for developing  The first World Culture Festival, a three-day event three Indian cities as smart cities. The selected celebrating cultural diversity was held on Yamuna cities are - , Bhubaneswar and Coimbatore. bank in New Delhi on March 11-13.  Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi ranked  Supreme Court has now allowed use of pictures of first in 25-40 million passengers per annum Chief Ministers, Governors and Cabinet ministers in the government's media advertisements. category by the Airports Council International.

 The Raisina Dialogue, a joint initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs and a leading think tank, FEBRUARY 2016

Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi on March 2.  Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India.  India lags behind China, Pakistan and Bangladesh, ranking 118th in a study of 156 nations, according to  Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the Quality The World Happiness Report 2016 Council of India has ranked Mysuru at number one, followed by Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli.  As per the Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2016 report of 36 countries, Russia topped with 45% of senior-business roles occupied by women.  Global Energy Architecture Performance Index compiled by the WEF placed India pretty low at th 90 rank and Switzerland at top.  Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations was held Pokhara, Nepal.  Union Ministry of Shipping will host ‘Maritime India Summit’ at Mumbai from 14 to 16 April, with Republic of Korea as the partner country.  India hosted a three-day conference in New Delhi with IMF on the theme of 'Advancing Asia: Investing for the Future' from March 12 to 14.  6th National Community Radio Sammelan held in New Delhi. The theme was ‘Community Radio in India: Towards Diversity and Sustainability’.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 36  Vice President Hamid Ansari paid a five day (Feb 1-  (BHU) founded by 5) visit to South East Asia covering Brunei and Freedom fighter Pt Madan Mohan Malviya has

Thailand. turned 100 years old on 13th February 2016.  The 4-day National Arogya Fair organised by the  The 42nd Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous central and state government in collaboration with annual classical dance festival, was held in the CII was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand temple town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.  Govt sanctioned Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala  The biennial automotive show Auto Expo was held (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link, a project in Greater Noida in the National Capital Region. that was finalized in January 2010.  The 47th two-day Conference of Governors of all  First National Deworming Day observed on Feb 10 Indian states and Lt. Governors of UTs was hosted in schools and anganwadis to combat parasitic by the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. worm infections among children. India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the rail  Free Albendezole deworming tablets were  provided to children across the country. communication agreement by mutual consent for  The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to three years from 19 January 2016. discuss politico-security, economic and socio-  The 6th National Science Film Festival & cultural engagement with ASEAN. Competition was held at Nehru Science Center in  Govt released a commemorative coin of 150 rupees Mumbai. and a circulation coin of 10 rupees on the occasion  13th World Spice Congress was held in Ahmadabad of 150th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai. from Feb 27-29 with the theme 'Target 2020: Clean,  The Road to Resilience, an initiative of the World Safe and Sustainable Supply Chain'. Bank to survey the entire Indian coastline was completed on 15 February 2016.  A group of students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, NEWS FROM STATES New Delhi raised anti national slogans, leading to arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, President of JNU students union. APRIL 2016  Number of billionaires in India has risen to 111,  Jharkhand govt launched the Bhimrao Ambedkar placing India third, after China and the US, Awas Yojana for construction of houses for widows. according to Hurun Global Rich List 2016.  Any male person desiring to contest for Urban Local  Birdwatchers from all over India took part in four Bodies in Haryana will now have to be matriculate day annual Great Backyard Bird Count and shared and have a functional toilet at home. the information online.  Women and a SC candidate will be required to be at least 8th pass while SC women candidates  In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the have to be 5th pass. protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), India ranked 37th  The Uttar Pradesh government has directed all the district magistrates for plantation of 5 crore trees at  Anti-Leprosy Day was observed on 30 January 6,500 sites in 24 hours on a date fixed in month of nationwide in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who July under the ‘Green UP - Clean UP’ programme. attained martyrdom on 30 January 1948.  World’s maiden white tiger safari was opened up at  Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli arrived in New Mukundpur in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. It Delhi on Feb 19 on a six-day visit to India. The two is a rare breed of tiger, found only in India. countries signed 7 agreements for cooperation.  Rajasthan has become the first state to pass land  India and Afghanistan have agreed to allow visa- title bill to verify land documents with landowners free travel for diplomatic passport holders of the with the state records. two countries.  To promote the Swachh Bharat Mission, 20  India has extended one million dollars assistance to ‘Namma’ toilets were established in Delhi. cyclone-hit Fiji. The category five cyclones Winston had wind speed of upto 325 km per hour.  Bihar has become the fourth state in the country to ban sale and consumption of liquor. The other three  Global brand valuation firm Brand Finance has states are Mizoram, Nagaland and Gujarat. rated Tata Consultancy Services as the World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services.  The European Investment Bank has agreed to give Euro 450 million (Rs. 3,300 crore) towards  The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment constructing a 23-km long Lucknow Metro rail line. Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) completed ten years in  Germany’s Development Bank KfW will provide first week of February. loan assistance of 3750 crore rupees for the development of metro system for Nagpur city. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 37  Asian Development Bank has approved a project loan of $300 million for upgradation of over 400 km GOVT INITIATIVES of major district roads in Uttar Pradesh.

APRIL 2016 MARCH 2016  The ‘Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan’ was  UNESCO has included Agasthyamala biosphere launched on April 14, the 125th Birth anniversary of reserve located in the Western Ghats, in its World Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Network of Biosphere Reserves.  25 Ministries and Departments of the Union  India’s largest heritage conservation project - Government signed a MoU to join IMPacting Muziris Heritage Project opened in Trissur in Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) Kerala. An ancient port city, it has up to 3000 years initiative. old monuments.  Govt has launched the mobile application 'Vidyut  Kerala has been declared as the first digital state of Pravah' to empower common people to demand India for achieving digital connectivity of all villages 24x7 power from the State. and panchayats.  The Nizamuddin-Agra Gatimaan Express that  Delhi has become the first state in the country to started on April 5 is the first semi-high speed train launch the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine as in India. It will run at a speed of 160 kilometer per a public health programme for school children.  Govt has set up a committee headed by Ashok  Surat, Rajkot railway stations in Gujarat stood first Dalwai, to suggest ways to double farm incomes by and second in terms of cleanliness, as per a survey 2022. conducted by the Ministry of Railways.  Govt has launched the Stand-up India scheme to  Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh is celebrating give a push to financial inclusion programme. 150 years of its existence.  Under the scheme, 1.25 lakh bank branches will  Kerala has started India’s first Gender Park to provide loans up to 1 crore rupees to SC/ST and promote the gender equality in development to women entrepreneurs. promote participation of women.  The Union Health Ministry launched third phase of  Kerala has taken first of its kind initiative by universal vaccination programme Mission launching the Air Ambulance in the state. Indradhanush to cover 216 districts.  Government has made it mandatory that mobile FEBRUARY 2016 sold in India from Jan 1, 2017 must have an in-built panic button.  Haryana suffered big loss due to widespread violent  Further, in-built GPS navigation system would agitation by its Jat community demanding be mandatory for all phones wef January 1, reservation for Jats in government jobs. 2018.  Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has  Govt has launched a tablet-based application approved construction of India’s longest 14 km ‘ANMOL’ that allows ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse railway bridge on Katni – Bina route in Madhya Midwife) to enter and update data for the Pradesh. beneficiaries.  As per the National Air Quality Indices (NAQI) for  Another web-based mechanism launched is ‘E-Rakt 24 cities, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Kosh’ that interconnects all the Blood Banks of the Muzzafarpur in Bihar topped the list for the worst State into a single network. air quality.  To facilitate online trading of commodities in 21  Haryana to become the first state in the country to markets from 8 states, an E-National Agriculture have aquifer mapping done for its groundwater Market was launched on April 14. resources by May 2016.  A portal for registration and allotment of  30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela began at International Standard Book Number was launched Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana on Feb 1. to facilitate publishers/authors to register for ISBN Telangana is the Theme State this time. online.  The World Bank to give $ 35 million credit for  Union cabinet has approved India’s formal the Citizen Access to Responsive Services Project membership of the regional group Sawen. of Madhya Pradesh.  SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network)  Haryana and the Province of Ontario in Canada have  The government has launched a portal ‘The Indian signed a MoU for enhancing commercial and IP Panorama’ which will act as a single window cultural ties between the two states. interface for information on intellectual property.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 38

 Union Government notified the Scheduled Castes  Govt plans to construct five lakh ponds under (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana by next year. Atrocities (PoA)) Amendment Rules, 2016.  Govt has formed a committee headed by former  Govt has launched its first online interactive Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta to suggest ways to heritage portal Sahapedia to serve as one point improve protection along the Pakistan border. resource for collaborative knowledge on the arts,  Union government plans to lay more emphasis on culture and heritage of India. promoting Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and  The Department of Disinvestment has been Events (MICE) tourism in India. renamed as Department of Investment and Public  Govt has launched a low cost micro solar Asset Management or 'Dipam' under the Finance device, Surya Jyoti, to light up homes without Ministry. electricity and save millions of units of power.  Railways to create a 1 lakh crore rupees ‘Rashtriya  Govt has issued a new set of income tax return Rail Sanrakshan Kosh’ to strengthen safety forms that require people with an income of Rs 50 measures on the rail network to prevent accidents. lakh and above per annum to disclose their assets.  Govt has launched a Twitter Seva Service, a special Twitter cell to respond to queries from start-ups, exporters and importer, within 48 to 72 hours. MARCH 2016  The ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ programme has been extended to 61more districts with low Child Sex  The NITI Aayog has launched the Women Ratio across 11 States/UTs. Already there in 100 Transforming India initiative in partnership with districts. the UN in India and MyGov.  Govt has decided to increase minimum wages of  Govt has launched the Setubharatam project to contract workers to Rs 10,000 taking into make all national highways free of railway crossings consideration the CPI and Dearness Allowance. by 2019.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 39

 Govt has launched the new four colour scheme for FEBRUARY 2016 re-classification of industries based on the Pollution  Central government has announced the names of Index (PI) scores. the first 20 urban areas that will be developed as Pollution Category P I Score No. of industries smart cities. covered  The ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Red 60 and Above 60 (rural-urban) Mission was launched from Orange 41 to 59 83 Green 21 to 40 63 Chhattisgarh's Dongargarh block. White Up to 20 36  The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment  Government has allowed women to be inducted as and Talent Utilisation (SETU) in NITI Aayog. officers in combat roles in the Indo-Tibetan Border  A mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ has been launched Force (ITBP), the last paramilitary force to do so. to facilitate the public to communicate their  The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of complaints about any unclean area/garbage piles in one crore houses in next three years in rural areas and around 25 listed prime tourist destinations. under ‘Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin’  Govt has decided to extend E-Tourist visa facility to  Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the 37 more countries from Feb 26, making the total ‘Paryatak Mitra’ programme to inculcate count of countries under the scheme 150. appropriate tourism traits and knowledge amongst  Govt has decided to halve the threshold for the college students. coverage of firms under the EPFO from 20 at  The Rajya Sabha passed the landmark Real Estate present to 10 workers. (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015 on March  Finance Ministry has launched its official YouTube 10 to address corruption and inefficiency in the channel with a view to disseminate information to sector. the public on a real-time basis.  Union Health Ministry has started, on trial basis,  Government has launched Project Sunrise for five healthcare ATMs in four states — Madhya prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North- Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Eastern states. Pradesh.  Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the 24x7  The Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and Toll Free Tourist Infoline in 12 International Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 Languages including Hindi and English in New Delhi has been passed by the Parliament.  Government plans to set up Special Unit for  The UGC has asked varsities and colleges to launch Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) a special page on their websites for checking headed by Ratan Tata for improvement in railways. discrimination against SC/ST students.  National Disaster Response Force has raised a  Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the Enemy squad of 162 dogs for rescuing people trapped Property Act, 1968 to cover properties left behind under debris in natural calamities like earthquake. by people who became Chinese or Pakistani after  India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near leaving India . Bagodara village in Ahmadabad to strengthen the  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India aviation sector. (FSSAI) has launched the 'Clean Street Food  National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016- Project' in Delhi to sensitise the street food vendors 2030 released to define the strategy for elimination about health and hygiene aspects of food. of the disease by 2030, in a phased manner.  Railways launched an online “clean my coach”  The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031 service that allows travellers to get their unveiled by the environment ministry to focus on compartments cleaned by sending an SMS to 58888 rehabilitation of threatened species of wildlife. or by using an app or a designated website.  Government has decided to digitally connect all the Post Offices in rural areas by March 2017. There ECONOMIC INDICATORS

are about 1,55,000 Post Offices in the country.

 The Telecom Commission has approved the idea of APRIL 2016

having a common number for emergencies such as Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has stated that India will police, fire, ambulance, etc. all over India. The achieve growth of 10% by 2032 to become a $10-trillion proposed number is 112. economy, leading to no BPL population.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 40  Railways have signed a contract to supply eighteen 3 MARCH 2016

Meter Gauge 1350 HP Diesel Electric Locomotives  Fitch Ratings has lowered India’s economic growth to Railways. forecast for next fiscal to 7.7%, but maintained the  International Finance Corporation launched its first GDP growth for current 2015-16 at 7.5%. Uridashi Masala Bonds (Japanese bonds) to mobilise Rs 30 crore from Japanese retail investors. FEBRUARY 2016  The government has decided to invest Rs. 69,575 crore towards increasing India’s quota in the  The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has marginally International Monetary Fund (IMF). revised downward the GDP growth for 2014-15 to  India’s quota increased from 2.44% to 2.75% to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3% have increased voting rights of 2.6% from the previous 2.34%.  India signed its biggest ever overseas credit line, ECONOMY extending $2 billion loan facility to Bangladesh,

repayable over 20 years. APRIL 2016 Maruti’s hatchback Alto has achieved cumulative  sales of three million units in the Indian market in  Companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or 15 years and 6 months. more will have to follow new Indian Accounting  Mahindra& Mahindra launched Trringo – a digital Standards (Ind AS) from April 1. app, to start online tractor rental business.  Blackstone, the New York based MNC in investment  The U.S. Agency for International Development and financial services has signed a deal to buy 60.5 (USAID) and the A have signed a MoU to provide $ % stake in Mphasis, a Bengaluru based IT company. 848 million to develop solar parks across India.  As per a World Bank report, India remained the  As per the Brand Trust Report, e-retailer Amazon world's largest remittance recipient in 2015 has been ranked as India's most trusted online attracting $69 billion, followed by China at $64 shopping brand, followed by Snapdeal and Flipkart. billion.  The World Bank to provide $250 million loan for  India to invest $20 billion in new petrochemicals, improving the performance of electricity fertiliser and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in distribution in Rajasthan. Iran.  The government has formally withdrawn the  The Shan-E-Punjab Express, country’s first train recognition of Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE) after it with CCTV cameras in all coaches, for safety of was de recognised by SEBI "serious irregularities". passengers, started from Delhi for Amritsar.  The govt has allowed 49% FDI in insurance sector  The Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. has become the without prior approval, as against 26% earlier. number one coal producer in the country by producing a record 137.90 million tonne of coal in  Railways have tied up with the ISRO to use space 2015-16. technology for providing the passenger information in all trains and to explore new route alignments.  The East Coast Railway has become the largest Freight Loading Railway Zone in 2015-16 with  India and France have signed a MoU for handling of 173.49 million tonnes of freight. construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.  The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched a new index Nifty Mid Smallcap 400 representing 150  World Bank to provide $ 35 million loan for Madhya midcap and 250 small cap companies. Pradesh citizen access to responsive services project.  Govt. has extended safeguard duty of 20 per cent on steel imports till March 2018 to protect Indian  World Bank to grant $ 300 million loan for the Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Quality industry from cheap China steel. Improvement Project

MARCH 2016 FEBRUARY 2016

 The government has allowed 100% foreign direct  In a bid to kick start manufacturing in the investment (FDI) in the marketplace format of e- electronics sector, government has launched a Rs. commerce via the automatic route 10,000-crore Electronic Development Fund.  To curb the menace of willful defaulters, the SEBI  P M Modi inaugurated the Make in India Week in has barred them from making a public issue or Mumbai. India is blessed with 4D - Democracy, acquiring another listed entity. Demography, Demand and Deregulation.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 41  As per the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the total number of companies registered in the country rose BANKING to more than 15.27 lakh in January 2016. APRIL 2016  The Intellectual Property Appellate Board has directed Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai  The RBI announced a 25 basis cut in its policy to issue ‘GI’ tag for basmati rice to 7 states. interest rate on April 5, lowering it to more than five-year low. The new repo rate now stands at 6.50  These states are Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh per cent. and Jammu & Kashmir.  The reverse repo rate has been hiked by 25 basis points to 6%. The new Marginal Standing Brahmaputra Cracker & Polymer Ltd started the  Facility and Bank Rate stand at 7%. Assam Gas Cracker project, the first ever  Short-term working capital loans are set to get Petrochemical project in the North East India. cheaper as banks start adopting the marginal cost of  Union Cabinet has approved Trade Facilitation funds-based lending rate (MCLR) from 1 April. Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO),  The new framework requires banks to set rates becoming 71st country to do so. based on their marginal cost of funds rather than their average cost of funds.  Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery in  Airtel M Commerce Services Limited (AMSL), a Paradip, Odisha started production of petrol from subsidiary of Bharti Airtel has been granted the the Rs. 34,555-crore facility. India’s first payments bank license by RBI.

 The TRAI has barred telecom companies from charging differential rates for data services, MARCH 2016 prohibiting Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel Zero RBI has asked banks to pay interest on savings platform.  accounts on a quarterly basis or a shorter duration  India has approved a $150 million credit line for the as against half yearly intervals at present. development of Iran’s Chabahar port.  The government has reduced interest rates payable  Bajaj Auto has launched a 150-cc motor bike named on small savings including PPF, NSC to 8.1% and ‘V’ that contains metal sourced from India’s first 7.8% on KVP wef 1st April. aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.  The two day meet of public sector banks and insurance companies - Gyan Sangam, was held in  For the first time, 6 metro coaches, each 75 feet Gurgaon, Haryana on March 5-6 long, were shipped to Australia from Mumbai port  RBI has come out with a draft regulatory framework as the first installment of 450 such coaches. for new kind of Account Aggregator Non-Banking  Govt has cut interest rates by 0.25% on short-term Financial Companies (NBFC) post office deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and other  They would act as an account aggregator to small saving schemes below five years of maturity. help people view their accounts across financial institutions in a common format.  Govt to set up the National Organic Farming  ICICI Bank has launched ‘iWork@home’ that uses Research Institute in Sikkim as the state is country's technology to enable women employees to work first organic farming State. from home for an extended period  Govt about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of its 5% stake  NPCI, issuer of Rupay card, plans to venture into the in the Maharatna PSU National Thermal Power credit card space by September 2016. It plans to Corporation-NTPC, through OFS (offer for sale). issue 100,000 such cards in the first year.  South Arabia emerged as the largest exporter of  The RBI has signed a pact with Bank of Israel for crude oil to India in Jan. 2016, exporting 9.4 lac exchange of information pertaining to banking barrels per day, followed by Iraq at 9.3 lac bpd. supervision.  Apprehensive of the name Zika, the virus, Tata  The Reserve Bank granted the first license for the Motors have decided to rename their latest Small Finance Bank on 4 March to the Capital Local hatchback model as Tiago instead of Zika. Area Bank Ltd to start operations as India’s first  Asian Development Bank will provide a $80 million SFB. loan for improving the infrastructure in the two  Indian Overseas Bank has become the first bank to North-Eastern cities of Agartala and Aizawl. commence the sale of Indian Gold Coin. The coins are available in the 5, 10 and 20 gram category.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 42  The 11th Indo-Mongolia joint army training exercise, FEBRUARY 2016 titled ‘Nomadic Elephant - 2016’ commenced on 25  RBI has asked banks to follow accounting standard April in Mongolia to share skills for ‘Ind AS’ converged with International Financial handling Counter Insurgency and Counter Reporting Standards (IFRS) from April 1, 2018. Terrorism events.  Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance  The 22nd Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) headed by M. Veerappa Moily submitted the report on the Net NPAs of Public Sector Banks (PSBs). was held from 19-27 April in the Andaman  As per the report, PSBs had gross NPAs of Rs Sea. Missile Corvette INS Karmuk and Dornier 369,990 crore and net NPAs of around 205,024 Maritime Patrol Aircraft took part in this exercise. crore rupees, till September 2015.  The Indian Army conducted its major war exercise  SBI has launched "FlexiPay Home Loan", offering named ‘Shatrujeet’ (winning the enemy) in the Thar higher amount and up to five years of interest Desert of Rajasthan. moratorium to professionals in the age group of 21  The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Sikkim to 45 years. has developed india’s most powerful  Govt to infuse Rs 5,000 crore as capital in the public supercomputer named ‘Param Kanchenjunga’. sector banks to strengthen their balance sheet for  Scientists of ISRO have developed the world's compliance of Basel III capital norms. lightest ever synthetic material called ‘silica aerogel’  RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap or ‘blue air’ or ‘frozen smoke’. arrangement to SAARC nations till mid-November  It has an excellent thermal resistance and if used as 2017 to enhance economic cooperation. filler in uniforms, it can save many lives at the  State Bank of India has started an exclusive ‘Japan Siachen Glacier. Desk’ as a single nodal point for attracting FDI  Asia's biggest telescope has been launched in India, worth $30 billion from Japan. by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of

Observational Sciences (ARIES) with the assistance of Belgium.  It is located at a height of 2,500 metres at DEFENCE, SCIENCE & Devasthal in Nainital district.  The Airports Authority of India has signed an MoU TECHNOLOGY with ISRO to provide scientific parameters for construction of airports across the country. APRIL 2016  India and the USA have signed an agreement for a new Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave  The Army has raised a new Gorkha battalion-First Observatory (LIGO) project in India.

Gorkha Rifles (6/1GR), christened “Kanchi Paltan” comprising entirely of Indian Gorkhas. MARCH 2016  India has finalised the deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation of France for  The multinational mega Military Exercise Force 18 7.89 billion euros (Rs. 59,000 crore). was held in Pune, Maharashtra from March 2 to 8.  India has successfully tested a long range  ICGS Arnvesh, the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) built by submarine-launched ballistic missile, codenamed K- the Cochin Shipyard was commissioned in the 4, capable of striking targets upto 3,500 kilometres Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in Visakhapatnam. away.  Iron Fist 2016 - Indian Air Force conducted its  India’s first indigenous composite sonar dome, a biggest fire power combat exercise at Pokhran in ship’s underwater eyes and ears, was launched at Rajasthan on March 18. Goa. Designed and produced by DRDO.  Indian army test-fired indigenously built nuclear-  India has become the world’s fourth largest spender capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a range of 700 on defence, following a 13.1% increase in its 2016- kms from Abdul Kalam Island on the Odisha coast. 17 defence budget of Rs. 2,58,000 crore.  Garuda Shakti, the 4th edition of joint army  12 IAF aircrafts will took part in the prestigious training exercise between India and Indonesia was 'Red Flag' air exercise alongside NATO forces from held at Magelang, Indonesia, from March 11 to 23. April 28 to May 13 in skies over Alaska.  Defence Ministry has issued the order for purchase  ICGS Shoor, an offshore patrol vessel was inducted of transport helicopters CH-47 Chinook and attack helicopter AH-64 Apache, from the Boeing, USA. in the Indian Coast Guard at it Mangalore base.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 43  A new 30MHz radar system, Gadanki Ionospheric  The 9th edition of India-Nepal Combined Military Radar Interfereometer (GIRI) has been established Exercise ‘Surya Kiran IX’ was held in Pithoragarh at National Atmospheric Research Laboratory district of Uttarakhand. (NARL) at Gadanki in Andhra Pradesh  The Ministry of Defence to locally produce 106  ExoMars 2016, an unmanned spacecraft was upgraded Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas Mark 1-A” launched jointly by Europe and Russia on a Russian jets to replace the ageing fleet of MiG aircraft. Proton rocket from Baikonur cosmodrome in  The 4th India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol(corpat) Kazakhstan was conducted by both navies in the Andaman Sea. Australian scientists have created the world’s   Japan joined the US, Russia, and China as one of the thinnest lens which is 2,000 times thinner than only countries to produce its own fifth-generation human hair, a breakthrough set to revolutionise nanotechnology. stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’

 Saudi Arabia launched a massive military exercise –

FEBRUARY 2016 ‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20 nations in King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia.  Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected  Govt has launched a device developed by the CSIR – the International Fleet Review 2016 held on 4 Feb CEERI, named ‘Ksheer-Scanner’ that detects the to 8 Feb at Visakhapatnam coast. adulterants like urea, salt, detergent, soda etc in  The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear milk. submarine INS Arihant is now ready for full fledged  YouTube has launched its YouTube Red service to operations. offer original movies and shows without ad breaks  After nearly 60 years of sailing across the oceans, to the public. the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat is  Scientists working with the LIGO [Laser destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016. Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory],  It was inducted in Indian Navy in May 1987 as USA, have detected for the first time, signals of refitted British warship – HMS Hermes. gravitational waves.  Andhra govt has agreed to base the ship off  These signals are emanating from two merging Visakhapatnam coast, converting it into a black holes 1.3 billion light years away. luxury hotel for promotion of tourism.  These ripples in space-time were predicted by  A study by the Stockholm-based think-tank SIPRI Albert Einstein, some 100 years ago. states that India is the world’s largest importer of  Union Cabinet has given ‘in principle’ approval for a arms, accounting for 14% of global arms imports. proposal to have a gravitational wave detector in  Indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile, capable of India under LIGO-India Project. carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads up to 350  The Japanese space agency has successfully kms, was tested successfully launched a new X ray astronomy satellite – Astro–H  'Exercise IBSAMAR' (India, Brazil, South Africa to study the origin of black holes. Maritime) between the navies of Brazil, India and  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has South Africa was held off the Goa coast launched the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic  India’s first indigenously developed lightest drug BGR -34 for Diabetes type 2 patients. revolver Nidar, weighing just 250 grams, was launched by the state-run Ishapore Rifle Factory in West Bengal.  Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 2016’ – the biggest military exercise hosted by Thailand, along with its counterparts from 35 countries  Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ in Chushul-Moldo area of Ladakh border with China.  BAE Systems, UK has announced selection of Mahindras’ as its Indian partner for the supply of 145 M777 ultra light howitzers to the Indian Army  LAMITYE 2016, the 7th joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) was held in Seychelles.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 44  Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company  The latest World Malaria Report from WHO says Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed that Europe has become the world’s first region to the world’s first vaccine for Zika virus. wipe out malaria with zero cases reported last year.  Mobile messaging app WhatsApp crossed the one  The 13th Islamic Summit Conference was held in billion user milestone globally on Feb 02. Istanbul, Turkey. This year’s theme was Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace.  The world’s first public dengue vaccination INTERNATIONAL programme was launched in the Philippines.  In UK, Britain's Royal Mail has launched a set of APRIL 2016 special postage stamps to mark the 400th death

 A massive leak of 11.5 million documents from a anniversary of William Shakespeare. law firm in Panama revealed how the world's super  Bangladesh’s top court has rejected a 28-year-old rich, politicians and celebrities hide their money in petition to remove Islam as official religion of the Panama. country, disappointing the activists who wanted the  In a study of 50 cities conducted by the IT firm Dell - country to remain secular. ‘Future-Ready Economies Model’, city of San Jose in  UNICEF launched a series of animated films, called California, USA has been placed at top. Unfairy Tales, to help frame positive perceptions  Australian scientists have reported that over 90 per towards the millions of refugees. cent of the Great Barrier Reef has been affected by  A US grand jury has slapped a $ 940 million fine on mass bleaching that is likely to destroy half the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Tata America coral. International Corp. in a trade secret case.  The World Trade Organization has revised its 2016  British Petroleum has agreed to pay over $20 billion global trade forecast downward by more than one to the American government as damages over the percentage point to 2.8 per cent. 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Conference on zero was held at UNESCO  Venezuela has ordered a two-day working week for headquarters in Paris, France to promote the public sector workers as a temporary measure to knowledge of Maths for greater global good. help it overcome a serious energy crisis.

 The World Bank released the 2016 edition of the World Development Indicators (WDI). MARCH 2016  It includes 1400 indicators for over 200 economies to measure the 169 targets of the 17 Sustainable  The United Nations to set up 20 child and family Development Goals (SDGs) set by UNO. support hubs known as "Blue Dots" as special support centres for migrant children and families in  American business magazine Forbes has ranked Europe. some of the biggest names in business as the 'Global Game Changers'.  US President Barack Obama scripted history by  The list is topped by Marcs Benioff, CEO of becoming first US President to visit its island Salesforce.com, followed by Jeff Bezos of neighbour , after 88 years of strained relations. Amazon.com.  The World Trade Center Transportation Hub  The annual Spring Meeting of IMF & WB was held at was opened to public on March 3 at New York. Built at a cost of $ 4 billion, it took 12 years to complete. Washington. Finance Ministers and Governors of  World Congress of Biosphere Reserves was held at Central Banks from G-20 nations attended the Lima in Peru from 14-17 March 2016 meet.  The US continued to dominate the world of  Heads of about 53 countries took part in the innovation and inventions by filing 57,385 patent 4th Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington, applications last year, followed by Japan and China. USA.  Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates continues to be the  Nauru, the tiny South Pacific island nation has world’s richest person with a net worth of $75 billion, according to Forbes’ annual ranking of become the 189th member of the International billionaires. Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.  According to a new law in , parents who fail  Summit of the foreign ministers of the G-7 countries to vaccinate their children will face six months in was held at Hiroshima, Japan on April 11. jail.  Japan has become fourth country in world to  9th International Abilympics started at Bordeaux in successfully test its first stealth fighter jet – X 2, the France. It is a global work skills competition of other three being USA, Russia and China. disabled persons, held every four years. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 45  Changi Airport in Singapore has been voted the  A survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life by World’s Best Airport for the fourth year in a row at the global consulting firm Mercer has placed Vienna the 2016 World Airport Awards at the top, followed by Zurich.  The 59th Session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs  Finance ministers and central bankers from the was held in Vienna, Austria Group of 20 major rich and developing economies  World's first fully electric double decker bus service began a two-day meeting in Shanghai on Feb 26. was launched by London's transport authority. The  A two day summit between leaders from the ASEAN buses have been made by China automaker BYD. and the was held in California to dwell  China's National People's Congress has set the upon maritime security in the South China Sea. country's growth target at 6.5 to 7 % for 2016.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement

FEBRUARY 2016 to improve cooperation in cyber defense.  Apple notched a record $18.4 billion in profit for the  On Feb 1 MPs of National League for Democracy quarter ending 31st Dec 2015, the largest ever profit party lead by Aung San Suu Kyi joined the recorded by a single company in world's history. parliament, marking end to the military rule since  A Twin Otter plane of Tara Air crashed on Feb 24 in 1962. Dana of Myagdi district of Nepal, killing all 23  A landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect in people aboard. Syria at midnight of 26 Feb, supported by both –  On Feb 23, Pakistan’s parliament became the USA and Russia. world’s first parliament to run fully on solar power.  This is the first major truce in five years of civil  World Radio Day was observed globally by UNESCO war that has claimed more than 2.7 lakh lives. on 13 February 2016 with the theme ’Radio in  WHO has declared Public Health Emergency of Times of Emergency and Disaster’. International Concern over the explosive spread of  The UN World Day of Social Justice observed on the mosquito-borne Zika virus. February 20 to encourage people to look at how  United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has social justice affects poverty eradication. released a report called 'One Humanity: Shared  World Cancer Day was observed across the world Responsibility'. on 4th February. This year’s theme was – We can, I  The report calls for a global campaign to can. prevent the destruction of humanitarian laws and to protect civilians in conflict.  France has become the first country in the world to PERSONS IN NEWS legally ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food. APRIL 2016  The three day annual World Government Summit was held in Dubai. SACHIN TENDULKAR: The Ministry for Skill  The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, world’s largest Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has named solar power plant started operations on February 4 cricket icon as brand ambassador of the 'Skill India' campaign. in the Souss-Massa-Drâa area in Morocco.  The first cargo train under Beijing led-Belt and Road P SUSHEELA MOHAN: Renowned playback singer has connectivity initiative along the New Silk Road from been recognized by the Guinness World Records for China to Iran completed its first journey. singing the most number of songs in Indian languages - 17,695 solo, duet and chorus-backed songs in 12 Indian  The 10,400 kms trip from Yiwu near Shanghai languages. to Bander Abbas port in Iran took just 14 days, NITA AMBANI: Reliance Foundation Chairperson has a full 30 days shorter than the maritime voyage. been named the most powerful businesswoman in Asia  The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, lead by USA, one by Forbes, leading a list of 50 women leaders from the of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in region that includes only eight from India.

New Zealand on Feb 4. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: A host of celebrations were  Bank of Japan has imposed, for the first time, a held in England and several other parts of the world to negative interest rate of minus 0.1 per cent for observe 400th death anniversary of legendary certain bank deposits placed with it. playwright.

 Alphabet, the company that owns Google, has QUEEN ELIZABETH II: The world’s oldest-serving overtaken rival Apple Inc in terms of value of royal and the longest-reigning and longest-lived British market capitalisation on Feb 1 monarch turned 90 on April 21.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 46 MARCH 2016 APPOINTMENTS ARVIND KEJRIWAL has been ranked 42nd among the world’s 50 greatest leaders by Fortune magazine. He is APRIL 2016 the sole Indian on the list, topped by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. JUSTICE (retd.) PERMOD KOHLI: Appointed as the new Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). PM NARENDRA MODI is among “The 30 Most Influential People on the Internet” list compiled by the C P GURNANI: Elected as the new Chairman of the Time magazine, USA, describing him as an ‘Internet star’ National Association of Software and Services who often uses social media to conduct diplomacy. Companies (Nasscom) for 2016-17.

MOTHER TERESA: The Nobel Laureate was in news as MEHBOOBA MUFTI: Elected as the first woman Chief the Pope Francis, religious chief of Christians, Minister of Jammu and Kashmir announced to confer Sainthood on her on Sep 4, 2016. LOBSANG SANGAY: Re-elected as the Prime Minister ATIUR RAHMAN: Governor of Bangladesh Bank, of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharmsala, country’s beleaguered central bank, resigned after Himachal Pradesh. hackers stole over $100 million from its accounts CLEMENT MOUAMBA: Appointed as the new Prime maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank, New York. Minister of Republic of Congo.

AMAR SINGH: An Indian-origin Sikh has become the IDRISS DEBY: Elected for the 5th time as the Police Commissioner of Malaysia's capital Kuala President of Chad, a country in Central Africa. Lumpur, the first Sikh to achieve the top police post in the Muslim-majority country. BOUNNHANG VORACHIT: Elected as the new President of Laos SCOTT KELLY: The commander of the International Space Station, returned to earth on March 1, completing THONGLOUN SISOULITH: Elected as the new Prime 340 days stay in space, becoming the American with Minister of Laos longest stay in space. VOLODYMYR GROYSMAN: Elected as the new Prime Minister of Ukraine FEBRUARY 2016 SOORONBAI JEENBEKOV: New Prime Minister of U K SINHA: The government has extended Sinha's term Kyrgyzstan. as the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of HASHIM THACI: Elected as the President of Kosovo, a India (Sebi) till March 01, 2017. small country in southeast Europe.

SAMEER : Bollywood’s popular lyricist has SIGURDUR INGI JOHANNSSON: Elected as the new made into the Guinness Book of World Records for Prime Minister of Iceland writing the most number – 3524, songs for Bollywood films. NGUYEN XUAN PHUC: Elected as the new Prime Minister of Vietnam.

NEYMAR: Iconic football player from Brazil was in news TRAN DAI QUANG: Elected as the new President of as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze his assets Vietnam. worth almost $ 50 million. FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA: Elected as the new GEN. RAJENDRA CHETTRI: Nepalese Army Chief was President of Central African Republic. conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by the President Pranab Mukherjee. Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr: Appointed as the new Prime

Minister of THE ONLY THING THAT MARCH 2016 IS MORE EXPENSIVE VINOD RAI: Former Comptroller and Auditor General THAN EDUCATION IS (CAG) has been appointed as the first Chairman of Banks IGNORANCE…!! Board Bureau (BBB).

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 47 JUSTICE BALBIR SINGH CHAUHAN: appointed as the ARUNA SETHI: Appointed as the first women head of chairperson of the 21st Law Commission. the Indian Cost Accounts Services

HTIN KYAW: elected as the first civilian President of D J PANDIAN: Former chief secretary of Gujarat has Myanmar to lead the country after 53 years of military been appointed vice-president and chief investment rule. officer of the newly formed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

H DEEP SAINI: Noted Indian scholar and plant JAI KUMAR GARG: appointed MD and CEO of physiologist has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor Corporation Bank of the prestigious University of Canberra, Australia. ARCHANA RAMASUNDRAM, IPS: Appointed as the ASHLEY JUDD: The American actor and activist has Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal, SSB. been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the She is the first woman to head a paramilitary force. SSB United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA, (formerly guards Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. the United Nations Fund for Population Activities). K DURGA PRASAD, IPS: Appointed Director General of MICHELLE YEOH: Famous action heroine of Malaysia- Central Reserve Police Force. China has been appointed as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill K K SHARMA, IPS: Appointed Director General of the Ambassador. Border Security Force.

AHMED ABUL GHEIT: Veteran Egyptian diplomat and GURDEEP SINGH: Appointed as the Chairman and former Foreign Minister has been named as new Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC Ltd. For the first time Secretary General of the Arab League. a Maharatna company chief has been selected through a search committee route. ALI MOHAMED SHEIN: Re-elected as the President of Zanzibar. Amitava Bhattacharyya, IAS, Bimal Julka, IAS and D P Sinha, IPS have been appointed as the Information MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU: Re elected as the President Commissioners in the Central Information Commission Niger for a second term GIANNI INFANTINO: Elected as the new President of HASHIM THACI: Elected as the President of Kosovo, a world Football body –FIFA. He is a Football tiny country in southeastern Europe. administrator from Switzerland and is Chief of European Football body UEFA.

FEBRUARY 2016 FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA: Elected as the new

President of Central African Republic (CAR) JUSTICE H L DATTU: Former Chief Justice of India has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human YOWERI MUSEVENI: Elected new President of Uganda, Rights Commission. for the fifth time. RAJENDRA SINGH: Appointed as the new Director General of the Indian Coast Guard.

KALYAN SINGH: Governor of Rajasthan given the additional charge of Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

K N VYAS: Appointed new Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai

AMIT MITRA: West Bengal Finance Minister has been appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST).

KALIKHO PUL: New CM of Arunachal Pradesh.

PARAMESHWARAN IYER: Appointed as the new Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department to steer the Swachh Bharat Mission. He is the World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 48 ALBERT PAHIMI PADACKE: New Prime Minister of DADA SAHEB PHALKE AWARD - 2015: Awarded to the Central African country Chad. veteran actor and film maker Manoj Kumar who played the patriotic Indian in most of his films, becoming CHRISTINE LAGARDE: Re-appointed as the Managing famous as ‘Bharat Kumar’. Director of the International Monetary Fund for a second five-year term. ‘KRISHI KARMAN AWARD’: Given to Himachal

Pradesh for its landmark achievement in showing highest production of food grains in year 2014-15, AWARDS & HONOURS despite adverse weather conditions and rain-fed farming in the state.

APRIL 2016 CHAMELI DEVI JAIN AWARD: Priyanka Kakodkar and SARASWATI SAMMAAN: Prestigious prize for Raksha Kumar won the award for 2015-16 for their literature given to the Jammu-born poet and novelist excellent work in journalism to highlight social issues. Padma Sachdev for her autobiography ‘Chitt-Chete’ The award is given only to women journalists. written in Dogri language. The award carries award money of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque. SKOCH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu for his FBB FEMINA MISS INDIA WORLD 2016 contributions to inclusive growth and towards poverty Winner: Priyadarshini Chaterjee alleviation in India. First runners-up: Sushruthi Krishna ‘KAYAKALP’ AWARD: The PGIMER, Chandigarh won Second runners-up: Pankhuri Gidwani the award for best hospital cleanliness and infection

control, winning prize money of Rs 5 crore : won by renowned actor Manoj Bajpayee for the movie Aligarh. ABEL PRIZE (for maths): Sir Andrew Wiles, an Oxford Please note that this is NOT the national award rather it University professor has won the 5,00,000 pounds prize is the regional award in Maharashtra, given by Dada for cracking a 300-year-old mystery mathematical Saheb Phalke Foundation. theorem.

'Officier de l Ordre national de la Legion d GOLDEN CITY GATE AWARD: Prestigious award from Honneur’: (Officer of the Legion of Honour), highest the world's leading travel trade show Internationale French civilian honour conferred upon Former Army Tourismus-Borse Berlin (ITB-Berlin) 2016 won by Chief General (retd) J J Singh. Kerala Tourism's campaign on responsible tourism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour- the king Abdulaziz 88TH OSCAR AWARDS Sash. The award is named after Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Los Angeles, USA, Feb 29, 2016 founder of the modern Saudi state.

Given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, USA to recognize excellence in cinematic MARCH 2016 achievements, they are regarded as the highest recognition in world of cinema. rd 63 Best Picture: Spotlight by Tom Mc Carthy Best Feature Film: Baahubali - The Beginning by S S Best Director: Alejandro Iñárritu (The Revenant) Rajamouli Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant) Best Actress: Brie Larson (Room) Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for 'Bajirao Mastani'

Best Actor: for 'Piku' GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE: The one million dollar prize for innovative teaching has been won by Hanan Al Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut for 'Tanu Weds Manu Hroub of Palestine for her innovative approach in Returns' teaching. Best Hindi Film: Dum Laga Ke Haisha by Sharat Katariya Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur: (Knight of the Legion of Honour), one of the highest civil honour by the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome French government was conferred upon Anand Entertainment: Bajrangi Bhaijaan by Kabir Khan Mahindra, CMD, Mahindra & Mahindra. Most Film- Friendly State Award: Gujarat

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 49 BEST FIRST FOREIGN FILM AWARD: won by Titli, a FEBRUARY 2016 feature film by Kanu Behl. Award is given by the French ARYABHATA AWARD 2013: The prestigious honour by Syndicate of Cinema Critics. Astronautical Society of India given to Dr Avinash Chander, former Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister GREEN BOND PIONEER AWARD: won by Yes Bank for and ex-DRDO chief. being the ‘Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India’. Yes Bank had issued India’s first ever ‘Green Infrastructure Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Bonds’ for Rs. 1000 crore in 2015 Award for 2015-2016: (by Maharashtra government) won by Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan, a Padma CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT: Germany’s Vibhushan awardee. prestigious honour conferred upon Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences. Khuswant Singh memorial prize for poetry: awarded to Arundhathi Subramaniam for her poetry book 'When HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD: (by Amnesty International) God is Traveller'. won by Indian lawyer and human rights defender Henri

Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch. E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2015: Won by Vinita Gupta, CEO and Nilesh Gupta, MD of Lupin Ltd, a leading Pharma company of India. Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur: (Knight of the Legion of Honour), one of the France's highest civilian GOLDEN CONCH AWARD: (for the best documentary honour was given to Fashion designer Manish Arora film) won by Manipuri documentary film Phum-Shang from New Delhi. about the environmental problems of Loktak Lake, at the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP: Russia's top civilian awards V SHANTARAM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: given to Ramayah Shanmuga Sundar, Director of Conferred upon veteran wildlife filmmaker Naresh Bedi the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

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GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 50 CRYSTAL BEAR AWARD: Best film award in children GUY HAMILTON: Veteran British movie director, who category at the Berlin film festival won by Malayalam directed four hugely popular James Bond films, passed film Ottaal (The Trap) directed by Rajasekharan. away at the age of 93.

GOLDEN BEAR AWARD: Berlin film festival’s top prize ROGERS NELSON: Pop music superstar, popularly won by the Italian film Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea), a known as Prince in USA, died aged 57. He won seven harrowing documentary about Europe’s refugee crisis. Grammy Awards and earned 30 nominations.

VICTORIA WOOD: Popular comedian, singer and DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARD: (for best writer from BBC in United Kingdom, died at 62 after “a feature film) won by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for the short but brave” battle with cancer. film The Revenant DORIS ROBERTS: The popular TV actress from USA 58th GRAMMY AWARDS, Los Angeles, USA, Feb 15 who delighted audiences as the meddling mother next These are the highest awards given in the field of music. door on the popular TV soap Everybody Loves Raymond, died at the age of 90. Category Album Artist Record of the Uptown fund Mark Ronson BILL CAMPBELL: Silicon Valley’s veteran adviser who year mentored technology heavyweights like former Apple CEO late Steve Jobs and co-founder of Google, Larry Album of the year 1989 Taylor Swift Page, died at age 75. Song of the year Thinking Out Ed Sheeran & Loud Amy Wadge ZAHA HADID: Renowned Iraq-born British architect Best Rock Don't Wanna Alabama Shakes passed away due to heart attack. She was 65. She was Performance Fight world’s most famous female architect and was known for her neofuturistic designs which was her signature Best World Music Sings Angelique Kidjo architectural style. Album Best Music Video Bad Blood Taylor Swift IMRE KERTESZ: Hungarian author, 2002 Nobel Literature Prize winner, died aged 86 in Budapest, after th a long illness. 69 BAFTA AWARDS, London, Feb 14

British Academy of Film and Television Awards are the MARCH 2016 top film awards for Films screened in Europe. PARAMESH KRISHNAN NAIR: Indian film archivist and Best Film: The Revenant film scholar died on 4 March 2016. He was 82. Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room P A SANGMA: Former Lok Sabha Speaker passed away at the age of 68. He was co-founder of the Nationalist Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Mexico) - Congress Party and ex-Chief Minister of Meghalaya The Revenant Outstanding British film: Brooklyn KUMARIMUTHU: Famous Tamil Comedy actor died in

Chennai. He was 77.

Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan: Eminent Shehnai OBITUARY exponent died in Kolkata. He was 77.

APRIL 2016 LLOYD S. SHAPLEY: Veteran Mathematician from USA, winner of Nobel Prize in Economics for his study of POORNIMABEN PAKVASA: Great social worker from strategic decision-making called “game theory,” died in Gujarat, known for her exceptional work towards Tucson, USA. He was 92. educating tribal girls, passed away at the age of 103. JOHAN CRUYFF: The Netherland's soccer legend died SATYANAND MUNJAL: The co-founder of Hero Cycles of lung cancer in Barcelona, Spain. He was 68. He is group, a great philanthropist, passed away in Ludhiana, credited with some of the greatest triumphs of the Punjab. He was 99. famous Barcelona Football Club.

PRATYUSHA BANERJEE: TV actress, known for her GEORGE HENRY MARTIN: The legendary music role of Anandi in the popular serial “Balika Vadhu”, producer, popular as the "Fifth Beatle", passed away in allegedly committed suicide at her Kandivali residence England. He was 90. Winner of 6 Grammy Awards, he in Mumbai. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 51 held Guinness World Records for the most successful BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: Former UN Secretary producer ever with more than 50 Numbers. General, the Egyptian diplomat who became the first

PAT CONROY: US novelist whose best-selling novels Secretary General from Africa in 1992, died in Cairo. He include 'Prince of Tides' and 'Water is Wide', died at the was 93. age of 70 in South Carolina, USA. SUSHIL KOIRALA: Former Prime Minister of Nepal and RAY TOMLINSON: inventor of E-mail, passed away in President of Nepali Congress passed away in Washington, USA at the age of 74. He invented direct Kathmandu after prolonged illness. He was 78. electronic messages between users on different machines on a certain network in 1971. EDGAR MITCHELL: NASA astronaut, who was the sixth

man to walk on the Moon from Apollo 14 mission in Feb MARTIN CROWE: Pioneering cricketer, widely 1971, died in West Palm Beach, Florida at age of 85. acknowledged as New Zealand’s greatest batsman who

laid the foundations for Twenty20 cricket, died of cancer at the age of 53. PLACES IN NEWS

FEBRUARY 2016

USTAD ABDUL RASHID KHAN: The oldest performing APRIL 2016

vocalist of Hindustani Music, Padma Bhushan awardee, UJJAIN: The month-long Simhastha Kumbh mela, one of a descendant of Tansen, passed away in Kolkata at the the largest congregations of Hindus, began in Ujjain on age of 107 years. April 22 on the banks of Kshipra River. GEN. K V KRISHNA RAO: Former Army Chief who LATUR: City and district in Marathwada region of played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation Maharashtra was in news as it faced severe water crisis, War, died of a cardiac arrest in New Delhi. He was 92. especially in the villages. JASWANT SINGH RAJPUT: Two time Olympic gold KOLLAM: In the worst-ever pyrotechnics tragedy to winner in Hockey, passed away at the age of 90 years. strike Kerala, 110 persons were killed and close to 400

O N V KURUP: Jnanpith award winning, very popular injured, when a huge dump of firecrackers stored for and most respected Malayalam poet from Kerala passed celebrations, exploded near the Puttingal Devi Temple away at the age of 84. He was honoured with Padma Sri near Kollam, causing extensive damage to nearby buildings. in 1998 and in 2011. KUMAMOTO: Town in south-western island of SUDHIR TAILANG: Well-known cartoonist, passed Kyushu in Japan was devastated by several rounds of away in New Delhi at the age of 55. He was suffering earthquake tremors leading to death of over 41 persons from brain cancer. and injuring hundreds of others. Around two lakh NIDA FAZLI: Renowned poet and lyricist, known for persons were affected in the severe earthquake. compositions like Kabhi kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta and Hosh waalon ko khabar kya, died in Mumbai due to PEDERNALES: City in Manabí Province in Ecuador was heart failure. He was 78. destroyed in a severe 7.8 magnitude earth quake. Reportedly, around 654 persons were killed and several S.S. TARAPORE: Former Deputy Governor of the hundreds were injured. Coastal city of Manta was also Reserve Bank of India died at Mumbai at the age of 80. very badly affected.

BALRAM JAKHAR: Veteran Congress leader and MARCH 2016 former Lok Sabha Speaker, four times M P, passed away in New Delhi. He was 92. BAGHMARA: The first-ever auction of a gold mine in the country was held in Baghmara, Chhattisgarh. The AKBAR KAKKATTIL: Noted Malayalam novelist and auction was won by Vedanta ltd., a unit of global mining short story writer passed away at the age of 62. giant Vedanta Resources.

HARPER LEE: One of America's most celebrated novelists whose 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a BRUSSELS: A series of bombings ripped through Mockingbird" was read by millions worldwide, died at Brussels airport and the Maelbeek metro station in the age of 89. Equally popular was his second novel – Go Belgium, killing around 38 people and injuring 130 Set a Watchman, published in 2015. In fact, it was the others. Terror group - Islamic State claimed the responsibility for the attacks. original manuscript of her first novel.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 52 National Badminton Championship: Men’s title won FEBRUARY 2016 by Samir Verma and women’s title won by P C Thulasi in KUMBAKONAM: Temple town of Thanjavur district in Chandigarh.

Tamil Nadu was the venue for the famous Mahamaham festival on Feb 22. The Commonwealth Judo Congress has allotted the 2018 Commonwealth Judo Championships to India. The ELEPHANTA ISLAND: Located near Mumbai, a UNESCO games will be held in Jaipur. world heritage site, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures SPORTSPERSONS TO GET Rs ONE LAKH PM depicting the cult of Shiva, was in news because the Union Sports Ministry has decided to provide one lakh island, which was dependent upon diesel-powered rupees per month as out of pocket allowance to the generators for electricity until now, will be completely sports persons under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) electrified by August, 2016. scheme in their preparation for the Olympics and MURUD-JANJIRA BEACH: A picnic along the Arabian Paralympics Games at Rio de Janeiro. Sea went horribly wrong for a group of collegians from Government has decided to merge the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Pune when 13 of them drowned off the Murud-Janjira Abhiyan with the ‘Khelo India’ programme. beach in Maharashtra’s Raigad district.

CYCLONE WINSTON: One of the most powerful storms Britain's Anthony Joshua won the IBF world recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the heavyweight title by stopping American champion Pacific island nation Fiji, killing over 44 persons, Charles Martin in London, becoming the first boxer in flattening remote villages and cutting off history to hold the Olympic super-heavyweight crown communications. (2012) and a version of the world heavyweight title

simultaneously.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes driver of Germany won the SPORTS WORLD Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Baharin and also the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

APRIL 2016 Danny Willett of UK won the US Masters Golf CARIBBEANS WON THE T-20 IN STYLE Championship for the year 2016 at Augusta National The West Indies lifted the World T-20 title in both the Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. men's and women's section. Men’s team defeated England and women’s team routed the Australian team. LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS The finals were played at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Best Sportsman of the year: Novak Djokovic, Serbia Virat Kohli was named as the ‘Player of the Tournament’ Best Sportswoman of the year: Serena Williams, USA M C Mary Kom: Indian woman boxer was named one of Both of them won three grand slams in Tennis in 2015 the eight ambassadors for the upcoming World Best Disabled Sportsperson: Paralympic swimmer Championships by the International Boxing Association Daniel Dias of Brazil (AIBA). Best Sports team: New Zealand's Rugby World Cup- Dipa Karmakar, 22 year old girl from Agartala, Tripura winning team created history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to Laureus World Sports Awards, known as the Oscars of qualify for the Olympics and to win the gold in vaults Sports, honour the notable sporting personalities and event at the test event of the Rio Games in Brazil. their achievements of the previous year. She performed the Produnova vault — the extremely difficult and most dangerous form that involves a front Asian Nations Cup Chess tournament won by handspring on the horse and two front somersaults. the Indian men’s team in Abu Dhabi

Deepika Kumari equalled the world record in women's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Australia beats India to win recurve event at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai, the prestigious Hockey Tournament held in Ipoh, China. Malaysia.

India's star batsman Virat Kohli has maintained his Singapore Open Badminton Championship: Men’s - number one position in the ICC T20 batsmen Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia rankings and team India is also ranked at top. Women’s - Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, world no 1.

Asian Kho-Kho championship: both, men’s and Malaysian Open Badminton title won by Lee Chong women’s title were won by India by defeating respective teams from Bangladesh at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Wei of Malaysia against world number one Chen Long of China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 53 MIAMI OPEN (tennis) IN FLORIDA, USA Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Tournament: Men’s title: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) won by beating won by India's H S Prannoy in Basel, Switzerland.

Japan's Kei Nishikori World Table Tennis Team Championship: China Women’s title: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) won by defeated Japan in both, men’s and women’s category, to routing Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. win both the championships at Kuala Lumpur.

In the second division, both, men's and women's team BARCELONA OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP titles were bagged by Indian teams. Rafael Nadal of Spain won the title defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan in the finals played in Barcelona, All England Open Badminton Championship: Lin Dan Spain. of China won the finals by beating his own teammate Tian Houwei in the finals played in Birmingham, UK. Monte Carlo Masters: Rafael Nadal Spain of won the title defeating Gael Monfils of France. BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament: Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Victoria Azarenka of Belarusia MARCH 2016 won the men’s and women’s singles title, respectively, in

Gurmeet Singh created history by becoming the first the finals played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian athlete to clinch a gold medal in the Asian 20 km Southern California. Race Walk Championships in Nomi, Japan. UCI Track Cycling Championship 2016 held in S S P Chawrasia, ace Indian golfer won the European London. Tour Hero Indian Open title in Delhi. Dubai Tennis Championships: Stanislas Wawrinka of Dhruv Sitwala won the Asian Billiards Championship Switzerland won the title by defeating Marcos Baghdatis held at Colombo, Sri Lanka. of Cyprus Indian shooter Jitu Rai clinched the 50m pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup in Bangkok,Thailand. MARIA SHARAPOVA: Former world number one tennis star failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. As a Deepika and PR Sreejesh won the Dhruv Batra Player result, the 28 year old Russian star, a five time Grand of the Year Award for Women and Men respectively at Slam champion, was suspended from sports, pending the Hockey India Annual Awards. further action.

Santosh Trophy National Football Championships: FEBRUARY 2016 Services retained the title after beating hosts Maharashtra in the summit clash in Nagpur. Dutee Chand, ace sprinter set a new national record in the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor Irani Cup Cricket championship: Rest of India team Athletics Championships in Doha. won the title by beating Mumbai team in the finals Kidambi Srikanth won the Men's Singles title of the played in Mumbai. Syed Modi International Badminton Championships India clinched the Asia Cup T20 trophy for a record held in Lucknow, U P. sixth time after beating Bangladesh by eight-wickets in the final at Mirpur, Bangladesh. Anirban Lahiri, India’s top golfer has been voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an online Col C K Nayudu Trophy won by Mumbai by beating poll. Madhya Pradesh in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Nayudu was the first Indian captain of Indian test match team Rishabh Pant, Wicketkeeper-batsman in India U-19 team created world record for fastest 50 playing against 1st All India Open Invitational Snooker Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Mirpur, Bangladesh. Championship won by Rahul Sachdev in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis won the St. Petersburg Ladies Doubles Trophy. National Race Walking Championships, Jaipur: Gurmeet Singh and Khushbir Kaur won the gold in 12th South came to an end on Feb 16 at 20kms event for men and women, respectively. Guwahati. India finished at the top with a record 308

Pro Kabaddi League Season 3: Patna Pirates beat the medals - 188 Gold, 90 Silver and 30 Bronze. Shooter U Mumba to emerge as Champions in the finals played in Chain Singh won record 6 Gold medals. Hosted city was Shillong and Guwahati. Delhi.

Russia’s Sergey Karjakin won the World Chess 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in 2019. candidates tournament in Moscow

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 54 Ranji Trophy: Mumbai won the prestigious cricket Brendon McCullum, New Zealand Skipper has smashed championship defeating Saurashtra in Pune, the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls, playing Maharashtra. against Australia at Christchurch.

The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: won by Sean won the three-match Twenty20 International series Abbott, the bowler from Australia. against Sri Lanka 3-0 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Hockey India League: Jaypee Punjab Warriors won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup: The West Indies championship by beating Kalinga Lancers in Ranchi, won the cup for the first time, beating three time Jharkhand. champions India in Mirpur, Bangladesh. Badminton Asia Team Championships: China and 36th National Chess team Championship was won by Indonesia won the women’s and men’s categories, the Indian Railways in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. respectively, in Hyderabad. Punjab defeated Mizoram to lift the Dr BC Roy Trophy for the National Junior Football Championship at 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted Hoshiarpur, Punjab. by Fukuoka city of Japan and by Doha, Qatar in 2023.

34th Senior National Rowing Championship held at The first ever Asia Cup in its T-20 format started from Hussainsagar Lake, Hyderabad. February 24th in Bangladesh.

83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Aditya The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be Mehta won the title by defeating Manan Chandra in hosted by England in June 2017. Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Helmet for Umpires: Concerned about the safety of its Kerala won the 61st National School Athletics on-field officials, the ICC has decided to provide championship held in Kozhikode, Kerala specially designed helmets to umpires in the upcoming

World T20 in India to ensure their safety. India achieved a rare 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 International against Australia in Sydney to emerge on the top of the ICC T20 rankings.

The Indian women’s cricket team made history on Jan BOOKS & AUTHORS 29 by clinching its maiden T20 series win over three- time world champions Australia in Melbourne. An Economist in the Real Kaushik Basu, Chief Fittipaldi of Brazil won the MRF Challenge Formula World Economist at World Bank 2000 race in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Swimmer Among the Stars Kanishk Tharoor AUSTRALIAN OPEN concludes in Melbourne, Mercedes-Benz - Winning Adil Jal Darukhanawala Friends in Wild Places Ruskin Bond. Australia. First of the four grand slams of tennis Safeguarding India NN Vohra. Men’s Singles: World Number One Novak Djokovic of The Making of India: The Kartar Lalvani Serbia beats Andy Murray of Britain Untold Story of British Women’s Singles: Germany's Angelique Kerber got her Enterprise Advantage India — From APJ Abdul Kalam and maiden grand slam title by beating defending champion Challenge to Opportunity Srijan Pal Singh. world no 1, Serena Williams of USA A State in Denial B G Verghese Men’s Doubles: Jamie Murray of UK and Brazil’s Bruno The Kiss of Life Imraan Hashmi Soares won the title The Mountain of Shiva Dr Karan Singh. He is a Women’s Doubles: Sania Mirza of India Martina Hingis member of Rajya Sabha. of Switzerlandwon the title East of Suez Alice Perrin Buddhist Biology David P. Barash Quinton De Kock, batsman from South Africa became Standing Guard—A Year in P Chidambaram. the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10 Opposition centuries in ODIs. He notched it up in just 55 innings, Our Impossible Love Durjoy Dutta beating the record of Hashim Amla who had notched up The Girl on the Train 10 tons in 57 innings. He scored his 10th century in Paula Hawkins Centurion, SA, playing against England. Life Mantras Subrata Roy Sahara

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 55 Gandhi: An Illustrated Pramod Kapoor Anything But Khamosh' – Bharathi S Pradhan. Biography biography of Shatrughan Fixed: Cash and Corruption in Shantanu Guha Ray Sinha written Cricket The Bose Brothers and Indian Madhuri Bose, the grand- Indigo —Selected Stories Satyajit Ray Independence – An Insider’s niece of Netaji Subhas A Handbook for My Lover Rosalyn D’Mello. Account Chandra Bose. Who Was Shivaji Govind Pansare On My Terms: From the an autobiography of Grassroots to the Corridors of Sharad Pawar An Economist In The Real Kaushik Basu Power World This Unquiet Land Barkha Dutt Bullets and Bylines Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist Diary of a Wimpy Kid Jeff Kinney Lal Bahadur Shastri: Netritva Anil Shastri and Pawan See Me Nicholas Sparks ke Sutra Chowdhary Rogue Lawyer John Grisham Dial D for Don — Neeraj Kumar, former Combating Hunger and M.S. Swaminathan Inside Stories of CBI Police Commissioner of Achieving Food Security Case Missions Delhi Chronicles of Time and Raymond Francis Isar Ancestral Affairs Keki Daruwalla. Chance Because We Say So Why We Love the Way We Do Preeti Shenoy Noam Chomsky Why India Is Not A Great The Bestseller She Wrote Ravi Subramanian Bharat Karnad Power (Yet) In Other Words Jhumpa Lahiri My Gita Devidutt Pattnaik Nathuram Godse - The Story Anup Sardesai The Mare's Trap Wendy Doniger. of an Assassin What Happened to Netaji Transendence – a book Former President APJ Anuj Dhar Abdul Kalam based on his Rebooting India: Realizing a Nandan Nilekani and Viral spiritual experiences with Billion Aspirations Shah Pramukh Swami Maharaj. India-Myanmar Relations Rajiv Bhatia ‘Azad Bachpan ki Aur’ Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel The Clintons' War on Women Roger Stone and Robert Peace prize winner Morrow The Turbulent Years – 1980- Pranab Mukherjee, Mrs Funnybones Twinkle Khanna 1996 President of India To the Brink and Back: India’s Jairam Ramesh. India’s Foreign Policy Muchkund Dubey, a 1991 Story former Indian Foreign A Children’s History of India Subhadra Sen Gupta. Secretary The Country of First Boys Amartya Sen The Z Factor: My Journey as an autobiography of Baat Niklegi toh Phir Sathya Saran the Wrong Man at the Right Subhash Chandra, media Dreaming Big: My Journey to – an autobiography of Sam Time moughal, founder of Zee Connect India Pitroda, noted technocrat TV. who brought telecom Maru Bharat Saru Bharat (My Jain Acharya revolution in India. India Noble India) written Ratnasundersuriswarji The Chinar Leaves veteran Congress leader Maharaj. This is the and close aide of the Gandhi family M L Fotedar 300th book written by Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: Maharaj ji. Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, An Insider’s Account of ex Foreign Minister of Go Set a Watchman, the Harper Lee, topped the US Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Pakistan. second novel bestseller list in 2015, The Courage to Act - A selling 1.6 million copies. Ben S. Bernanke. The Memoir of a Crisis and Its author is the ex governor A God in Ruins Kate Atkinson - The book Aftermath by of the Federal Reserve of won the novel-of-the-year USA and the book is about prize at Britain's Costa the lessons learnt from the Book Awards 2015. recessions like 2008 Financial Crisis.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 56

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GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 57 Latest MCQs

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7. The Central Ammunition Depot of the Indian JULY GK TEST – 01 Army is located in A. Agra B. Pune 1. The purpose/s behind the monetary policy C. Avantipura D. Pulgaon E. Meerut committee of the RBI is / are 8. The famous qawwal ______was shot dead in A. To decide the interest rates in a more broad- Pakistan allegedly due to his "blasphemous" based manner music. B. To bring in value and transparency in A. Aslam Sabri B. Altaf Salim monetary policy decisions C. Munir Begam D. Nuzhat Ali Khan C. Both A and B E. Amjad Sabri D. To keep a watch on the additional money 9. The Dhan Wapsi Yojana announced by the supply being created government has ______as its target. E. None of these A. Corporates B. Farmers 2. The term "surrogate", which was in news C. NRIs D. Tax defaulters recently, can be most nearly replaced by E. Resident Indians A. Additional B. Rental 10. In financial terms, "risk" refers to the C. Artificial D. Natural A. Possibility of loss on an investment E. Technological B. Chances of uncertainty 3. Who among the following has announced his C. Return expected on the investment resignation from the sport following his D. % loss expected on the investment team's defeat in a prestigious tournament? E. Track record of the borrower A. Lionel Messi B. Diego Maradonna 11. DIPP- In this acronym, the letter I refers to C. Ronaldo Christiano D. Both A and C A. Investment B. International E. None of these C. India D. Industrial 4. Pick the odd one out. E. Invitational A. MUDRA, SIDBI B. EXIM, ECGC 12. India has been trying to break into certain C. IDBI, IFCI D. HDFC, NHB elite global clubs. Which one/ s among the E. NCDEX, MCX following is / are those groupings? 5. "Brexit dawns on Europe" 1. NSG 2. MTCR The above headlines in major newspapers 3. CTBT 4. G7 referred to an important event in global A. 1, 2 B. 2, 3 politics and economy. The event in question is C. 1, 2, 3 D. 1, 4 the E. All of them A. Exit of Scotland from Britain 13. An appropriation bill refers to a bill B. Exit of Britain from the European Union A. which is appropriate as per parliamentary C. Exit and re-entry of Britain in the European procedures Union B. which is certified as per procedures by the D. Decision of all European Union members to President hold a referendum on existing from the grouping C. which has got the presidential assent after E. Emergence of a threat to the stability of Euro, approval by Parliament the prevailing European Union currency. D. which seeks to draw money out of the 6. The BOLT model refers to Consolidated Fund of India A. Build - Operate - Lease - Transfer E. None of these B. Build - Operate - License - Transfer 14. Which region in India is known for its thorium C. Buy -Operate - Lease - Transfer deposits? D. Buy - Operator -Lease - Trash A. Tamil Nadu B. Bihar E. None of these C. W. Bengal D. Odisha E. Kerala

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 58 15. Chhau, Pondvani, Jatra - all there refer to 23. If I receive Rs. 20000/- as annual interest on A. traditional folk arts my fixed deposit in a bank in India and my B. traditional handicraft traditions salary income exceeds the basic exemption C. mineral - rich areas in India limit, D. tribal areas in India A. I am not supposed to pay any income tax on E. harvest festivals across India this interest income 16. The India Space Research Organization (ISRO) B. I am supposed to pay income tax on the had used ______to propel a record 20 interest I receive satellites into space recently. C. the bank has a right to deduct tax on my A. GSLV-34 B. PSLV-C-34 interest income C. PSLV-4-D D. EDUSAT D. I am exempted from income tax on the interest E. METSAT provided I fill up a particular form 17. Which of the following will make a cheque E. None of these "invalid'? 24. The Right to Education provides for free, A. Absence of two parallel, transverse lines on the compulsory elementary education to all top, left corner children between B. Absence of endorsement A. 6-14 yrs B. 5-14 yrs C. Absence of drawer's signature C. 4-13 yrs D. of any age D. B and C E. 5-12 yrs E. None of these 25. Which global sporting icon was jailed on 18. Which of the following is NOT a nutritional murder charges recently? deficiency disease? A. Tiger Woods B. Lionel Messi A. Goitre B. Anaemia C. Sebastian Vettel D. Lance Armstrong C. PEM syndrome D. Jaundice E. Oscar Pistorius E. Osteoporosis 26. Who among the following is NOT a badminton 19. The 300th martyrdom anniversary of which player/coach? famous general is being observed this year? A. PV Sindhu B. Gopi Chand Pulela A. Shivaji B. Baji Rao C. Saina Nehwal D. Both B and D C. Maharana Pratap E. Dutee Chand D. Maharaja Ranjit Singh 27. Which committee has been constituted to E. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur examine the feasibility of a new financial 20. Match the following pairs: year? 1. Lead Bank Scheme P.Narsiman Committee A. Shankar Acharya committee 2.Comprehensive Financial Q.Malegam Committee B. Rajiv Kumar committee Inclusion C. KM Chandrasekhar committee 3. Computerization in Banks R. Sivraman Panel D.PV Rajaraman committee 4. Formation of NABARD S. Gadgil group E. Sheth Committee 5. Direct Tax reforms T. Raja Chelliah 28. The Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Committee A. Sikkim B. Himachal Pradesh C. Haryana D. Madhya Pradesh 1 2 3 4 5 E. Uttar Pradesh A. S Q P R T 29. Which island has become the first river island B. S P Q R T district in India? C. T Q R P S A. Koswari B. Mulli D. P Q R S T C. Majuli D. Vallarpadam E. None of these E. Jorhat 21. Which of the following functions is not 30. Which Indian personality has won the Woman performed by the Reserve Bank? of the Year award at the 2016 International A. Providing overdraft facilities to state govts. Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA)? B. Stabilising the value of rupee vis a vis dollar A. Priyanka Chopra B. Radhika Apte C. Making appointments to the bank's board of C. Alia Bhatt D. Deepika Padukone directors E. Vidya Balan D. Licencing new banks 31. Through which platform can the Non-Resident E. Issuing new notes Indians (NRIs) open their national pension 22. The letter G in 2G, 3G and 4G refers to system accounts online? A. Gigabytes B. Generation A. e-NPS B. e-NRI C. Generalization D. Gravitational C. e-NNS D. e-NSS E. e-PFRDA E. Geographic GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 59 32. Pick the odd one out: 42. The Supreme Court has recently issue A. Fleet Street B. Mint Street guidelines the government on using the C. Dalal Street D. Wall Street provisions of the AFSPA. What does AFSPA E. All the above have a certain commonality pertain to? 33. A GI tag refers to A. Investigative agencies B. Bureaucracy A. Film certification C. Police force D. Political parties B. Indigenous medicines E. Armed Forces C. Patents D. ISI mark 43. The NPPA is a government body concerned E. agricultural items for exports with regulating 34. Abdul Sattar Eidhi of Pakistan, who was a A. elections B. prices of medicines well-known ______, passed away recently. C. pharmaceutical research A. painter B. nuclear scientist D. government employees’ performance C. writer D. social worker E. physical education E. comedian 44. Many efforts have been made since 1986 to 35. “S4A”, a new scheme introduced by the restore me to old glory by way of government- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is meant for sponsored programmes. But despite them, I stressed assets management. What does S4A am nowhere as good as I once was. Recently, a stand for? new programme was started by a Central A. Scheme for Susceptible Structuring of Stressed Ministry at 231 places to improve my Assets condition. B. Scheme for Sensible Structuring of Stressed Who am I? Assets A. The Yamuna B. The Ganga C. Schedule for Sustainable Structuring of C. Mount Everest D. Child malnutrition Stressed Assets E. Sex ratio D. Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed 45. Which of the following names is NOT given to Assets bank loans facing problems in recovery? E. None of these A. Write-offs B. Bad loans 36. Which of the following is NOT a debt C. Non-Performing Assets instrument? D. Stressed Assets A. Debenture B. ESoP E. Distressed Assets C. G-Sec D. Commercial Paper E. Bond 46. The marginal productivity of labour in case of 37. Forensic audit refers to the process of disguised unemployment is A. assessing audit quality A. Slightly positive B. Always negative B. probing the minds of criminals C. Positive D. Positive or negative C. None of these E. Zero D. detecting accounting frauds 47. As per the data for 2014-15, which of the E. post-mortem following is the correct order of states w.r.t. 38. A new “fat tax” on pizzas and burgers has been their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)? imposed in ______, which constitutes an A. Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > West Bengal > example of a ______. Gujarat A. Goa, service tax B. Delhi, direct tax B. Gujarat > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > C. Maharashtra, expenditure tax West Bengal D. Panjab, sin tax C. Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra > West Bengal E. Kerala, sin tax > Gujarat 39. Which state in India attracts the maximum no. D. Maharashtra > Gujarat > Uttar Pradesh > West of tourists? Bengal A. Goa B. Tamil Nadu E. None of these C. Maharashtra D. Himachal Pradesh 48. The job of the Financial Stability and E. Kerala Development Council is to 40. Pick out the misfit: A. work as a super financial regulator in India A. IRDAI: Hyderabad B. PFRDA: Mumbai B. approve the policies made by different C. SEBI: Mumbai D. TRAI: New Delhi financial regulators E. All these pairs are correctly matched C. coordinate the working of different financial 41. The maximum no of withdrawals in a month regulators to bring about synergy among them. allowed in a Basic Savings Account is D. advise the Reserve Bank of India in its working A. 4 B. 3 E. None of these C. No such limits D. 7 E.5 49. The acronym LGBTQ refers to

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 60 A. people having different sexual orientations 7. Study the following headline published B. a grouping of nations recently. C. a group of US states, which plan to leave the “India 37th, fares poorly in IPR” federation in the USA In the above acronym IPR, the letter I stands D. a set of policies in the post-Brexit UK for E. exceptionally gifted children A. Intellectual B. Indian 50. Which international sporting icon was C. Internal D. International embroiled in a tax fraud case? E. Interest A. Rafael Nadal B. Novak Djokovic 8. Which Indian para-swimmer won 8 medals in C. Lionel Messi D. Maria Sharapova the 2016 International Wheelchair and E. Roger Federer Amputee Sports (IWAS) U-23 World Games? A. Bharat Kumar B. Niranjan Mukundan C. Sharath Gayakwad D. Prasana Karmakar E. None of these JULY GK TEST – 02 9. As per the Union Budget 2016-17, the biggest tax collections come from 1. Who has been conferred with the 2015 A. Corporate tax B. Income tax Jnanpith Award? C. Service tax D. VAT A. Pannalal Patel B. Umashankar Joshi E. Excise duty C. Raghuveer Chaudhari D. Rama Jain 10. The total budget outlay for the financial year E. None of these 2016-17 has been pegged at 2. The acronym F&O refers to the A. 29, 78, 000 Crore B. 17, 77, 000 Crore A. accounting activities C. 22, 77, 000 Crore D. 19, 78, 000 Crore B. hotel industry E. 18, 97, 000 Crore C. banking sector D. stock market 11. The acronym TAM is used in the context of E. software industry A. Corporate profitability 3. Administered pricing regime refers to a B. Print media readership system of C. Internet readership A. Prices which allow the seller a certain D. Television audiences minimum profit margin E. Rate of return on capital employed by the B. Free market pricing banks C. Pricing which is not based on any economic 12. Pyramid-type, get-rich-quick schemes are logic banned by the Reserve Bank as per the D. Differential pricing for different categories of A. Money Circulation Schemes Act buyers B. Negotiable Instruments Act E. Price controls by the government C. RBI Act 4. The tropical cyclone ‘Nepartak’ created havoc D. Chit Fund Companies Act in E. Banking Regulation Act A. Maldives B. Indonesia 13. Which of these acronyms is NOT associated C. Malaysia D. Taiwan with banking in India? E. The Phillipines A. FATCA B. LoP 5. Which of the following IS/ARE NOT the major C. CASA D. LAF problem/s afflicting PSU banks in India? E. BCSBI 1. Under-capitalization 2. Falling NPAs 14. A fall of one basis point in the repo rate brings 3. Unnecessary competition among banks it down by 4. Falling assets A. 0.1% B. 1% A. 1, 2, 3, 4 B. 2, 3 C. 0.01% D. 0.001% C. 2, 4 D. 3, 4 E. None of these E. 1, 4 15. Examine the following statements labeled A 6. The acronym CSR, commonly found in and B. newspapers, implies Assertion (A): The Western Ghats in India are A. Companies Social Responsibility home to great biological diversity of plants and B. Corporate Securitization Rate animals. C. Corporate Security Responsibility Reasoning (R): Abundant rainfall, humidity, D. Cash Security Reserve sunlight and appropriate temperature facilitate E. Corporate Social Responsibility the continued existence of a variety of animals and plants.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 61 A. Both A and R are correct and R correctly 23. TEDx is best described as explains A. A. a global idea exchange forum B. Both A and R are correct but R does not B. series of motivational seminars correctly explain A. C. a group of venture capitalists C. A is correct but R is wrong. D. an online community D. R is correct but A is wrong. E. an online anti-suicide helpline E. Both A and R are wrong 24. A Ponzi scheme refers to 16. Which ancient site in India has recently been A. a scheme for women only declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site? B. a get-rich-quick, money circulation scheme A. Mountain Railways of India C. a scheme run for rich people in a country B. Churches and Convents of Goa D. a direct marketing offer C. Nalanda University E. a scheme run for poor people in a country D. Mahabodhi temple 25. India has recently signed an MoU with which E. None of these African country for leasing land to grow 17. As part of the listing agreement signed by the pulses? companies wanting to list their shares on the A. South Africa B. Mozambique stock exchange, they must have at least …….. C. Ghana D. Zimbabwe % public shareholding. E. Burundi A. 50 B. 60 26. An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is one C. 25 D. 75 A. whose portfolio comprises the shares in the E. None of these index 18. Which state has become the first Indian state B. whose units can be sold and bought on a stock to set up a ‘Happiness Department’? exchange A. Himachal Pradesh B. Sikkim C. whose units can change in value at any point in C. Madhya Pradesh D. Tripura time E. Kerala D. which is close-ended 19. Which operation has been started by India to E. None of these evacuate its citizens stranded from war-torn 27. A Business Correspondent (BC) of a bank in South Sudan? India represents A. Operation Sukoon A. the last–mile connectivity tool in remote areas B. Operation Homecoming B. almost a bank branch for a person in a remote C. Operation Raahat area D. Operation Sankat Mochan C. a way to ensure financial inclusion E. Operation Shantidoot D. All of the above are correct 20. Who is the new Prime Minister of United E. None of the above is correct Kingdom (UK)? 28. The Liquid Adjustment Facility (LAF) of the A. Theresa Donovan B. Brig Johnson Reserve Bank consists of C. Theresa May D. Margaret Thatcher A. Repo facility E. None of these B. Reverse Repo facility 21. Factory output data in India are computed in C. Both A and B D. Bank Rate facility terms of ………., which is released by the E. Interbank Call Money Market facility ………… 29. Which of the following will be the mascot of A. Index of Industrial Production, NSSO the Rio Olympic Games? B. Gross Domestic Product, Finance Ministry A. Kindata B. Pansy C. Industrial Index, Planning Commission C. Venky D. Vincius D. Core Industrial Production, CSO E. Chumee E. Index of Industrial Production, CSO 30. Which French city saw a gory incident of 22. Greenpeace is best defined as scores of vacationers being run over by a A. a non-government organization devoted to speeding truck? cleaning of polluted rivers in India A. Nice B. Palmyra B. a non-government organization working for C. Riviera D. Boudeaux the cause of environment E. Paris C. a political party whose agenda is to work for a 31. Which of the following is/ are NOT part/s of green earth the announced by the D. a private, anti-pollution group government? E. a non-government organization working for 1. The scheme applies to people between 18 afforestation years and 50 years.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 62 2. The government will contribute a maximum of B. Better tax collections Rs. 1000 per year for 5 years to help promote it. C. Lesser public debt burden 3. It will replace the existing NPS - Lite and D. Better economic growth Swavlamban schemes. E. None of these A. 1 only B. 1, 2 39. The level of industrial output in India is C. 2 only D. 2, 3 measured by computing the E. All these statements are correct A. Core industrial output 32. The “Great India Run”, India’s first multi-city B. Index of Industrial Production marathon has started from which city of C. S & P 500 D. GDP growth rate India? E. Per capita income A. New Delhi B. Mumbai 40. The Supreme Court recently issued orders C. Ahmedabad D. Jaipur clearly demarcating the Governor’s role in E. Bhopal dealing with political crises in the states. This 33. The prices of essential drugs in India are judgment pertains to the political crisis in regulated by A. West Bengal B. Assam A. Demand and supply forces in the market C. Delhi D. Uttrakhand B. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers E. Chhatisgarh C. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority 41. Assertion (A): The collegium system of (NPPA) appointing judges to the High Courts and the D. Drugs Controller of India Supreme Court was abolished by the E. Ministry of Commerce government. 34. The task of linking the Aadhar cards to Reasoning (R): The government has enacted a respective bank accounts is being performed new Judicial Accountability Act to deal with the by the appointment of judges to the High Courts and the A. Reserve Bank of India Supreme Court. B. Unique Identification Authority of India Select your answer using the following codes: C. UTI Software and Technologies Ltd A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct D. National Payments Corporation of India explanation of A. E. NITI Aayog B. Both A and R are correct but R is not a correct 35. Which of the following Day-Date pairs is/are explanation of A. INCORRECT? C. A is correct while R is incorrect. 1. International Women’s Day: March 15 D. A is incorrect while R is correct. 2. National Science Day: February 28 E. Both A and R are incorrect 3. National Martyrs Day: March 23 42. Find the incorrect pairing. 4. National Youth Day: Jan 11 A. Indira Nooyi: PepsiCo A. 1 only B. 1, 3 B. Chanda Kochhar: ICICI Bank C. 1, 3, 4 C. Shikha Sharma: Axis Bank D. All pairs are incorrect D. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: Biocon E. All pairs are correct E. Renu Karnad: State Bank of India 36. All complaints of unfair trade practices like 43. “Ace against Odds” is the autobiography of overcharging, manipulation of supply and A. Leander Paes B. Somdev Devvarman cartelization in India are heard by the C. Sania Mirza D. Mahesh Bhupathi A. Competition Commission of India E. Vijay Amritraj B. Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices 44. Which of the following is NOT related to Commission taxation in India? C. National Consumer Forum A. MODVAT B. SAT D. Food and Civil Supplies Ministry C. GST D. VAT E. Consumer Affairs Ministry E. DTC 37. Which of the following terms denotes a 45. The Kalinga Prize is related to situation of uncontrollable and unpredictable A. Sports B. Scientific research inflation? C. Journalism D. Peace A. Core inflation B. Disinflation E. Popularization of science C. Skewflation D. Stagflation 46. Section 80 G of the Income Tax law deals with E. Hyperflation A. equity-linked savings schemes 38. The term Fiscal Consolidation, commonly B. home loan repayments found in newspapers, refers to C. life insurance policies D. medical insurance A. Improvement in the fiscal deficit position E. donations to approved institutions

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 63 47. The speed of a supercomputer is measured in 49. Donald Trump, a candidate for the US terms of Presidency, belongs to the A. Bits B. Bytes A. US Congress Party B. Democratic Party C. Kilobytes D. Megaflops C. American Republican Party E. Teraflops D. Republic Party 48. The Public Debt in India is managed by E. Republican Party A. Parliament 50. Pick the odd man out. B. Reserve Bank of India A. Rashmi Bansal B. Chetan Bhagat C. Union Cabinet C. Ram Chandra Guha D. Securities and Exchange Board of India D. Amitav Ghosh E. Finance Ministry E. Preeti Shenoy

ANSWER KEY TEST - 1 ANSWER KEY TEST - 2

Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. 1 C 2 B 3 A 4 E 5 B 1 C 2 D 3 E 4 D 5 C 6 A 7 D 8 E 9 D 10 A 6 E 7 A 8 B 9 A 10 D 11 D 12 A 13 D 14 E 15 A 11 D 12 A 13 B 14 C 15 A 16 B 17 D 18 D 19 E 20 A 16 C 17 C 18 C 19 D 20 C 21 C 22 B 23 C 24 A 25 E 21 E 22 B 23 A 24 B 25 B 26 E 27 A 28 B 29 C 30 A 26 B 27 D 28 C 29 D 30 A 31 A 32 A 33 C 34 D 35 D 31 A 32 A 33 C 34 D 35 C 36 B 37 D 38 E 39 B 40 B 36 A 37 E 38 A 39 B 40 B 41 A 42 E 43 B 44 B 45 E 41 C 42 E 43 C 44 B 45 E 46 E 47 A 48 C 49 A 50 C 46 E 47 E 48 B 49 E 50 C

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 64 GENERAL SECTION GYANM QUIZ - 16

How much do you know about the world around you? Heartiest congratulations to the winners of Gyanm Take the quiz below to find out for yourself and WIN Quiz-15! some exciting prizes as rewards. 1. Gulshan– Hamirpur 1. Theresa May is a political leader in 2. Lakhnvi – Bathinda A. Singapore B. UK C. Egypt D. Thailand The winners are being informed by post.

2. The ink on a blotting paper spread due to A. Fluid properties B. Elasticity Name: ______C. Gravity D. Capillary action

3. The population census in India is conducted Address: ______after A. 2 years B. 10 years ______C. 5 years D. 1 year ______4. India’s central bank is called A. Finance Ministry PIN: ______B. Reserve Bank of India C. Central Bank of India D. State Bank of India Mobile: ______5. The largest religious minority in India consists of the My answers to Gyanm Quiz - 16 are: A. Muslims B. Sikhs 1. 2. 3. C. Christians D. Jains 4. 5. 6. 6. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Who wrote this famous quote? 7. 8. 9. A. Robert Frost B. John Keats C. Goethe 10. D. William Shakespeare

7. Vinegar commonly used at home is chemically Signature ______called A. Glacial Acetic Acid B. Glutamic Acid TERMS AND CONDITIONS C. Dilute Hydrochloric Acid D. Benzoic Acid 1. Please send your responses to the quiz, along with

8. The La Nino effect is related to your COMPLETE ADDRESS and PIN CODE, by 25th A. Global warming B. Ozone depletion August , 2016. The responses can be sent C. Artificial rains By e-mail to [email protected] OR D. Weather fluctuations On Whatsapp mobile number 09646888377 OR By post to Gyanm College of Competitions, 9. How many times can one become the SCO 13-15, 2nd Floor, Above Domino’s, Sector 34-A, President of the USA? Chandigarh-160034 A. There is no bar on the number of times a 2. ONLY the residents of India are eligible to person can become the President participate. B. Once only 3. In case of multiple correct entries, a draw will be C. Twice only held to decide the winner/s. D. Thrice Only 4. The Prize/s CANNOT be exchanged for cash. 10. The maximum number of foreign tourists go 5. The decision of the jury shall be FINAL and to BINDING on all the participants. A. Singapore B. Switzerland 6. The winners’ names shall be announced in the C. Maldives D. Spain October, 2016 issue.

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 65 Profit And Pleasure

ON GROUPINGS AND 6. The Brettenwood Twins were formed in the 1940s in ORGANIZATIONS the backdrop of the Second World War to help war- damaged economies rebuild themselves. The two institutions have played an important role in shaping the present-day world economy. Which two sister Profit and Pleasure not only tickles your nerve cells but organizations are we talking about? also makes you learn interesting facts about the world. 7. India has been an observer member of this powerful This time around, we are focusing on some organizations regional grouping for long. But in all probability, and what they do. Here we go! India will never become a full-fledged member of this regional bloc. Can you identify this one? 1. This closed group of oil-producing nations can hold the entire world to ransom as it has almost total 8. This Paris-based international organization helps power to dictate crude oil prices globally. Based in track criminals wanted the world over upon a Vienna, it has the sole power to decide crude oil request by the police forces of different countries. prices at the global level, depending on demand and Can you recognize this important law-enforcement supply variables. Can you identify this one? agency?

2. This body has been plagued by rumours of 9. Human rights violations anywhere in the world corruption and other wrongdoings in the past 4-5 always invite its attention. In particular, it works for years. It is the richest and the most powerful the cause of illegal detainees across the world. In sporting body in the world and oversees a highly recognition of its good work, it received the Nobel popular game played in most of Europe and America. Peace Prize too. Which organization has been Here’s a hint for you: The police have arrested many referred to in the preceding lines? of its officials recently after the cash-for-games scandal broke out. Which sporting body has been 10. This organization, based in Geneva, works to create a referred to here? level-playing field for all member countries in terms of international commerce. Its precursor GATT 3. This grouping represents the most highly advanced (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) had been economies in the world. These economies are among governing international business until it was formed the most prosperous and the richest in the world. in 1995 after hectic negotiations and many Here’s a hint for you: India is not a part of this roadblocks. Which organization are we talking grouping. Which grouping are we talking of? about?

4. This grouping of 28 countries shares a common KEY currency. The economically integrated union was created after the Masstricht Treaty. Most likely, the 1. OPEC (Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries) grouping in question is called ……. 2. FIFA 3. G-8 5. These countries (numbering five) are among the 4. European Union fastest growing, emerging economies worldwide. 5. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) 6. International Monetary Fund, World Bank The focus of the next wave of global economic 7. ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) growth, they also have large domestic populations, 8. Interpol which drive their consumption significantly. Which 9. Amnesty International grouping do the preceding lines talk of? 10. World Trade Organization

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 66

How much well-equipped are you with vocabulary to 9. TACITURN express yourself in different situations? Take the quiz A. Speaking little B. Decent below to find out for yourself and also learn some C. Connected D. Related to eyes new words as a BONUS! 10. BELLICOSE Directions: Given below are certain words printed in BOLD letters, followed by four choices in each case. Find A. Trigger-happy B. Roundabout way out the choice which best conveys the meaning of the C. Peace-loving D. Pungent word in question. You will find the detailed solution to this exercise in this issue only. 11. SPECTACUALR A. Horrible 1. INDUSTRIOUS B. Looking like a terrorist A. Hardworking B. Lazy C. Worthy of being seen C. Sensible D. Urgent D. Highly commendable

2. VIVACIOUS 12. TRICKLE A. Swaying B. Confused A. Going deep into a river C. Likely D. Lively B. A bunch of some objects

C. Flexibility D. Drop 3. PONDERING

A. Shining B. Praiseworthy 13. PACIFIST C. Thoughtful D. Reckless A. Broker B. Full of love

C. Peace-loving D. Related to oceans 4. PERSEVERING

A. Persistent B. Dirty 14. LEGEND C. Interesting D. Worthy of hatred A. Related to mythology B. Historical

C. Of heights D. Unproven 5. PERTINENT

A. Smooth B. Relevant 15. DEBONAIR C. Handsome D. From Germany A. Sophisticated B. Having holes

C. Well-educated D. Practical 6. SHRILL

A. Through voice B. Critical MY SCORE RATING C. In disagreement D. Loud and sharp 0-3 Get going!

4-7 Work hard! 7. DUMB 8-11 Great, you’re almost there! A. Stay at a place B. Silent 12-15 Wow! C. Closed

D. Change dramatically SOLUTION

8. CHATTER BOX 1. Industrious: adjective: persevering, hardworking A. Aged B. Abusive Popular synonyms: diligenct, sedulous C. Excessive talker D. Fond of writing Derivation: Industry

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 67 Examples: A. Her industrious attitude was finally Example: The chatterbox politician did not sotp recognized by her boss with a promotion. even for a second and talked non-stop. B. One may be extremely intelligent, but without industrious application of mind, one cannot get 9. Taciturn: adjective: silent, speaking very little success. Popular synonym: reticent Examples: A. Many people are taciturn at social 2. Vivacious: adjective: lively gatherings but you will find them very vocal with Popular synonyms: sprightly, animated their friends. Examples: Her vivacious manners turned every B. To become a public speaker, you need to get party into a super hit event. rid of your taciturn nature.

3. Pondering: adjective: serious, in a thinking 10. Bellicose: adjective: fighting, contentious mood Popular synonyms: belligerent, pugnacious Popular synonyms: thoughtful, pondering, Examples: A. Bellicose nations like North Korea cogitative always keep global tensions alive with their Examples: Newton sat pondering under a tree as nuclear threats. an apple fell into his lap. B. The bellicose attitude she carried to the meeting did not let reach a compromise with 4. Persevering: adjective: hardworking, persistent others. Popular synonyms: sedulous Examples: A. Every successful person needs to 11. Spectacular: adjective: must-see, great have a persevering attitude in the face of Example: Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s spectacular difficulties. acting helped the movie become a super hit. B. The mantra of success is getting up after every failure and persevere to overcome weaknesses. 12. Trickle: noun: drop, small quantity Example: The college got only a trickle of 5. Pertinent: adjective: related, relevant, to the applications for admissions this year. point Popular synonym: germane 13. Pacifist: adjective: related to peace, peace-loving Examples: A. Your ideas were rejected as they Popular synonyms: peaceful, pacifist were not pertinent to the discussions going on. Examples: The pacifist leader used to make B. All the issues pertinent to Indo-Pak relations peace between the warring parties in her college. will be taken up at the summit-level talks. 14. Legend: noun: story of doubtful origin, unproven 6. Shrill: adjective: loud, vocal, forceful Popular synonym: unsubstantiated, apocryphal Popular synonyms: voluble, strident Example: Several legends about the freedom Examples: A. The MPs made a shrill demand for struggle are quite popular but most historians do the minister’s resignation over the scandal. not accept them. B. There is shrill opposition to the proposal to make the Aadhar card compulsory. 15. Debonair: adjective: sophisticated, well-bred Popular synonym: suave 7. Dumb: adjective: silent, unable to speak Example: The girl’s debonair nature greatly Popular synonym: mute helped her bag the job of an airhostess. Examples: A. We cannot become dumb spectators to this murder of democracy. B. I went to a special school for the deaf and dumb yesterday.

8. Chatterbox: excessive talker Popular synonyms: vocal, voluble GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 68

BANKING FRAMEWORK 17) To undertake the banking activities in India, it is compulsory, by law, to obtain a ______from the RBI: Licence 1) Earliest examples of banking can be traced 18) Minimum capital of Rs. ______is required to 1800 BC in Babylon. It is in which to start a banking company in India: 500 cr country: Iraq 19) Which law authorises the Reserve Bank of 2) Fuggers, a family of prominent ancient India to regulate and control the banks in bankers, was in which country: Germany India: The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 3) Which was the first major bank formed in 20) Section 35 of the Banking Regulation Act, England: Bank of England 1949 gives what powers to RBI: To inspect 4) First presidency bank was established in any bank branch any time. India in 1806 at which place: Calcutta 21) A bank whose name appears in the second 5) What was the name of the first presidency schedule of the RBI Act, 1934 is called a bank in India: Bank of Bengal ______bank: Scheduled 6) In 1921, three presidency banks were 22) Are foreign banks scheduled banks: Yes merged to form which bank: Imperial Bank 23) The banks which have been constituted of India under a separate Act of Parliament are 7) ______was the first major formal called ______Banks: Statutory commercial bank of India: Allahabad Bank, 24) All those banks where the government share 1865 holding is 51% or more are called 8) Banking Regulation Act was enacted in ______Banks: Public Sector which year: 1949 25) Banking Companies (Acquisition and 9) In which year 14 top commercial banks of Transfer of Undertaking) Act refers to which India were nationalized: 1969 major event in banking: Nationalization of 10) RBI issued licences for which two new types Banks of banks in 2015: Payment Banks and 26) Till date, govt. has undertaken Small Finance Banks nationalization of banks in two major 11) Which section of Banking Regulation Act, tranches, in which years: 1969 & 1980 1949 gives the definition of banking: 5(b) 27) ______is the largest public sector bank in 12) As per legal definition of banking, what are India: SBI three major functions of banking: i) 28) ______is the largest nationalised Accepting deposits, ii) lending/making bank in India: Punjab National Bank investments, iii) payment of deposit on 29) Which is the largest private sector bank in demand/cheque India: ICICI Bank 13) Which section of Banking Regulation Act, 30) ______is the largest foreign bank in 1949 defines the other functions that banks India: Standard Chartered Bank are allowed to undertake: Sec. 6 31) Which new type of banks were started in 14) Only banks are permitted to repay their 1976, exclusively for rural areas: Regional deposits any time, even before maturity. Rural Bank What is this feature called: Deposits 32) Every RRB has to be sponsored by a ___bank: payable on demand Public Sector 15) No company other than banks is allowed to 33) ______per cent of total loans of RRBs issue______: Cheques have to be in the priority sector: 75 16) Most of the banks are in the form of ______in 34) The capital structure of the RRB is jointly terms of structure: Company subscribed by the Central Government, State

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 69 Government and Sponsoring Bank in the different strata of society is called ratio of: 50%, 15%, 35% ______banking: 35) Recently govt. has decided to increase the Differentiated Banking authorized capital of RRBs from Rs. 5 crore 52) Which RBI committee recommended the to Rs. ______crores: 2000 need for differentiated banking in India: 36) Cooperative banks are registered under Nachiket Mor Committee which act: State Cooperative Societies Act 53) Name the two major banking functions 37) These financial institutions work for the which are not allowed to payment banks: development of some specific sector but are Making loans and accepting time not allowed to issue cheques. Who are they: deposits Development Financial Institution - DFI 54) Payment banks can except only ______38) Both RRBs and cooperative banks are deposits: Demand controlled and supervised by which 55) On August 19, 2015, RBI gave in principle organization: NABARD approval to ______entities to setup 39) What is the full form of the acronym Payment Banks: 11 NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture 56) On Sep. 18, 2015 RBI gave in principle and Rural Development approval for ______Small Finance Banks: 40) Which govt. bank works for the promotion 10 and financing of exports: Exim Bank 57) Capital Local Area Bank Ltd is the first 41) ______works for the development of ______Bank of India, which started housing finance sector and also regulates operations in March, 2016: Small Finance the housing finance companies: National 58) Small Finance Banks have to make ______Housing Bank per cent of their total loans in the priority 42) Name the bank that works for the sector: 75 promotion, financing and development of 59) Are the statutory norms of CRR and SLR the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise applicable to Payment Banks and Small (MSME) sector: SIDBI Finance Banks: Yes 43) The acronym SIDBI stand for what: Small 60) Minimum paid-up equity capital of Rs. Industries Development Bank of India ______crore is required to open a 44) ______is the first DFI of India setup in Payment/Small Banks : 100 1948: Industrial Finance Corporation of 61) In August, 2015, for the first time, RBI gave India the status of D-SIB to two banks. Name the 45) It is an institution for development and banks: State Bank of India and ICICI Bank refinancing of loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to 62) What is the full form of D-SIB: Domestic MSMEs by all public sector banks, RRBs, Systemically Important Bank MFIs, NBFCs: MUDRA 63) At least 50% of its loan portfolio of Small 46) Write the full form of the acronym MUDRA: Banks should comprise loans up to Rs. Micro Units Development and Refinance ______lakh: 25 Agency 64) Payment banks are not allowed to issue 47) Name the three re-finance schemes ______cards: Credit launched under Pradhan Mantri Mudra 65) Payment Bank and Small Finance Banks are Yojana: Shishu, Kishore and Tarun regulated by______: RBI 48) What is the maximum amount of loan that TAKEN FROM "FINANCIAL GLOSSARY" can be sanctioned under PMMY (Shishu loan A PUBLICATION OF GYANM scheme): Rs. 50,000 49) What is the limit of loan that can be sanctioned to an individual under PMMY (Kishore loan scheme): Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 lakh 50) What is the maximum amount of loan that can be taken under Pradhan Mantra Mudra Yojana: Rs. 10 lac 51) Creating specific banks to meet the needs of

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 70

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JULY – 2016 user customers do banking through their social media accounts 1) ______has been appointed Deputy Governor of 17) Govt has launched the National Green Highways Reserve Bank of India in place of H R Khan: N S Mission for what purpose: For undertaking Vishwanathan plantation drive on 1,500 kilometers of 2) How many Deputy Governors are there in the RBI: National Highways 4 18) Govt. has made it mandatory to set aside ______3) Of the four Deputy Governors in the RBI, how per cent of the total project cost of any National many are selected from the RBI cadres itself: 2 Highway contract for plantation purpose: One 4) The first squadron of home-grown Light Combat 19) In the capital of which neghbouring country of Aircraft named ______became operational in India, terrorists brutally slained 20 persons in a the India Air Force: Tejas restaurant: Dhaka 5) As per RBI guidelines, pre-2005 bank notes will 20) In the World Bank Group's bi-annual Logistics now be accepted only at ______branches w.e.f. Performance Index, India jumped to _____ position July 01, 2016: RBI from 54th in 2014: 35th 6) India recently tested Barak-8, MR-SAM missiles. 21) The second BRICS Youth Summit was held Write the full form of MR-SAM: Medium Range in______, Assam: Guwahati Surface to Air Missile 22) Which country won the International Hockey 7) Name the famous airport of Turkey which Federation Champions Trophy at London: suffered a ghastly terrorist attack claiming over Argentina 40 lives: Istanbul Ataturk 23) The Human Capital Index released by the World 8) What is the name of the recent book written by Economic Forum placed India at which rank: Pulitzer prize winner Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee: 105th The Gene 24) The 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics 9) The World Bank announced $ 1 billion support for Championships were hosted by which city: India’s ambitious ______energy generation Hyderabad plans: Solar 25) Which Indian state has decided to provide 10) Name the President of the World Bank Group who education loan up to Rs. 10 lakh at 1% interest was in India for a two day official visit: Jim Yong rate to poor students: Odisha Kim 26) Gudni Johannesson has been elected as the new 11) Central govt has announced an overall increase of President of which European country: Island 23.5 per cent in salaries of over one crore 27) Sanjeev Rajput is a champion player of which government employees and pensioners in terms sports: Shooting of which pay commission recommendation: 7th 28) Which state launched a joint exercise-Jalrahat 12) The 7th Pay Commission was headed by with armed forces: Assam ______: Justice A K Mathur 29) What is the purpose of the Jalrahat exercise: To 13) The pay commission is setup at an interval of efficiently coordinate the rescue operations ______years: 10 during the floods 14) Govt has cleared the formation of a six-member 30) What is the name of the India’s first island Monetary Policy Committee for what purpose: To district: Majuli bring in “value and transparency to monetary 31) Island Majuli is located in which state and river: policy decisions” Assam, Brahmaputra 15) Who has been designated as the head of the 32) Indian Navy recently acquired technological proposed monetary policy committee: RBI advanced antisubmarine torpedo. What is its Governor name: Varunastra 16) State Bank of India has launched a social media 33) Which country launched Shijian-16 series satellite banking platform called 'SBI Mingle' for what for space research and experiments: China purpose: To enable the Facebook and Twitter

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 71 34) The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of a 53) Name the Indian who won the Canada Open Payments Bank with 650 branches to begin with Grand Prix Badminton tournament: B Sai by which of its department: India Post Praneet 35) Railways has launched an online portal named 54) ______won the Austrian Grand Prix F1 ‘Nivaran’ for what purpose: To address the Championship: Lewis Hamilton grievances of railway employees 55) Switzerland’s central bank has stated that India’s 36) Which bank has signed a MoU with the World share in its foreign deposits is hardly 0.1%. Name Bank for financing of grid connected rooftop solar this bank: Swiss National Bank photovoltaic projects in India: State Bank of 56) Reliance Industries Limited has signed an India agreement with which bank to start its Payment 37) Which company has been ranked number one in Bank: State Bank of India the annual list of the world’s 50 smartest 57) Which country recently completed construction companies of 2016 compiled by the MIT, USA: of the world’s largest telescope: China Amazon 58) Name the para swimmer who won eight medals, 38) National Doctors’ Day is observed on which date: including three golds, at the International July 01 Wheelchair and Amputee Sports: Niranjan 39) India observes National Doctor’s Day in the Mukundan honour of which legendary physician: Bharat 59) Country's first commercial dispute resolution Ratna Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy centre and a commercial court was inaugurated in 40) Indian navy recently inducted INS Tarasa. What which city: Raipur, Chhattisgarh type of ship it is: Water Jet Fast Attack Craft 60) World’s first Mixed Martial Arts ‘Super Fight 41) Which Indian state attracted highest number of League’ will be hosted by which country from domestic tourists in 2015: Tamil Nadu August 26 to October 01, 2016: India 42) Which Indian state attracted highest number of 61) NASA achieved a big breakthrough on July 5 when foreign tourists in 2015: Tamil Nadu it succeeded for the first time in putting a space 43) Which ministry has launched a teacher education craft in the orbit of Jupiter. Name this space craft: portal ‘Prashikshak’, for District Institutes of Juno Education and Training (DIETs): HRD Ministry 62) The world famous Rath Yatra is held in which city 44) Name the African country that has been elected as of India: Puri, Odisha a new non permanent member of the UN Security 63) Which city hosted the Woodpecker Environment Council: Ethiopia and Wildlife Film Festival: Shimla 45) How many non-permanent members are there in 64) Govt. has announced ______per cent subvention on the UN Security Council: Ten crop loans up to Rs. 3 lacs, if they are paid in time: 46) A non permanent member of the UN Security Three Council is elected for how much period: 24 65) Myth Breaker by Seema Singh is a book written months about the life of which Indian corporate: Kiran 47) The World Bank has approved a $ 63 million Mazumdar Shaw support for the project Tejaswini for what 66) Who is Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: CMD of Biocon purpose: For socioeconomic empowerment of India, India’s largest bio pharma company adolescent girls 67) Abbas Kiarostami, renowned filmmaker and 48) The World Bank has approved the Tejaswini winner of several awards died recently. He was project for which state: Jharkhand from which country: Iran 49) Government has launched which programme for 68) All sportspersons who have represented India in providing free health check-up and treatment for Olympics have got together to form an the pregnant women: Pradhan Mantri Surakshit association. Can you name it: The Olympians Matritva Abhiyan Association of India 50) India's first Integrated Defence Communication 69) Five-time Olympian, Shiva Keshavan has been Network (DCN) is aimed at coordinating which made the first President of the Olympians Indian Forces: Army, Air Force, Navy and Association of India. He is associated with which Special Forces Command sports: Luge 51) Armed forces of 26 nations, including India, took 70) Which national port has started for the first time part in the Exercise RIMPAC 2016, held at which in India, RFID tag based tracking of containers: place: Near Hawaiian Islands, USA Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai 52) The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group on 71) What is the full form of RFID: Radio Frequency “Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency” was held at Identification which place: Visakhapatnam 72) In the recent re-shuffle of the Council of Ministers, GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 72 how many new ministers were inducted in the 92) The Phoenix Moment is a book written by which government: 19 author: Praful Bidwai 73) Who administers oath of office and secrecy to the 93) Radhika Menon who won the award for union ministers: President Exceptional Bravery at Sea is the first women 74) What is the total number of ministers in the captain of which force: Indian Merchant Navy India’s council of ministers: 78 94) Name the noted Pakistani philanthropist, social 75) At which international airport of India a huge activist, ascetic who passed away in Karachi: wooden charkha has been installed: Indira Abdul Sattar Edhi Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi 95) The 2-day long NATO Summit was held in_____, 76) What is the name of the Google’s latest android Poland: Warsaw version 7.0: Nougat 96) With which country India signed a mega deal for 77) Naman Ojha has been named captain of the India the construction of a 1,320 MW Maitree Super A team (cricket) for the four-nation One-day Thermal Power Project: Bangladesh tournament in Australia. He plays in which role: 97) Name the Indian corporate which acquired the Wicketkeeper cum Batsman Lafarge India’s cement assets for about $1.4 78) The Networked Readiness Index ranks countries billion: Nirma Group in terms of their readiness for transition to a 98) Who has been selected as the captain of Indian digitised economy. What is India’s rank in this Hockey team (men) for the Olympics: P R index: 91st Sreejesh 79) Which country has built its largest ever transport 99) Sushila Chan has been made captain of which aircraft Y-20 Kunpeng: China Indian team for the Olympics: Hockey (Women) 80) Name the Super Typhoon that lashed Taiwan with 100) The Permanent Court of Arbitration which ruled powerful winds and torrential rains: Nepartak against China in case of South China Sea, is located 81) Govt. recently slashed prices of which type of at which place: The Hague, Netherlands fertilizers: Non-urea fertilizers 101) Which country had challenged the China’s claim 82) Which star Indian gymnast was named a over the South China Sea: Philippines ‘Gymnaste de Classe Mondaile’ (World class 102) India has set up an apparel training centre in gymnast) by the International Gymnastics which African county: Nigeria Federation: Dipa Karmakar 103) Prime Minister Modi recently visited how many 83) Which Indian state has proposed a 14.5% ‘fat tax’ African countries: Four on junk food like burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, etc: 104) With which African country India signed a deal to Kerala import 1 lakh tonne pulses: Mozambique 84) Dallas, a city in Texas, USA was in news for what 105) India sanctioned a Line of Credit of US$ 92 million reasons: Killing of five police officers by the to which country for strengthening of the water rioters resources system: Tanzania 85) A new online portal - kvk.icar.gov.in has been 106) Indian Navy has started its new marine launched for what purpose: To provide district commando unit - INS Karma at which place: specific agriculture related information to the Vishakhapatnam farmers through the 645 Krishi Vigyan 107) INS Karma is a dedicated base for Marcos. What is Kendras its full form: Marine Commandos 86) Govt has decided to undertake a clean-up 108) What was the name of rescue operation launched initiative at _____ iconic heritage, spiritual and by Indian Govt. to evacuate Indian’s from the war cultural sites under the Swachh Bharat Mission: tons South Sudan: Operation Sankat Mochan 100 109) Name the special cargo aircrafts that were used in 87) Which country won the Euro Cup Football operation Sankat Mochan: C-17 Globemaster Championship for the first time after having 110) In which Indian state, congress govt. was played the game for past 95 years: Portugal reinstated after a direction from the Supreme 88) Which country hosted the Euro Cup Football Court: Arunachal Pradesh Championship: France 111) Name the Indian statesman who visited Mongolia 89) Name the tennis grand slam which is hosted by to attend the 11th Asia -Europe Meeting at London: Wimbledon Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia: Vice-President 90) Name the winner of the Wimbledon’s men’s title: Mohammad Hamid Ansari Andy Murray 112) Government has decided to raise the price of 91) Women’s title at the Wimbledon was won by kerosene by ___ paise a litre each month for 10 which player: Serena Williams months to cut the subsidy burden: 25

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 73 113) Name the Prime Minister of United Kingdom who Sites: Sikkim resigned from his post after he lost the campaign 131) What is the name of the autobiography by to ‘remain’ with European Union: David Margaret Alva, former Governor of Uttarakhand, Cameron Rajasthan: Courage & Commitment 114) ______has been elected as the new Prime 132) The World Health Organization (WHO) has Minister of United Kingdom: Ms. Theresa May declared India free from Maternal and Neonatal 115) William H. Mcneill, world renowned historian Tetanus and Yaws. What is Yaws: An infection of who wove the stories of civilizations in his book the skin and bones “The Rise of the West” was in news for what 133) Name the batsman who became the oldest captain reasons: He passed away to score test hundred at the age of 42 years and 116) Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari who has been decorated 47 days: Misbah-ul-Haq with the Jnanpith Award is a renowned writer of 134) ______has been sworn in as the new Chief which language: Gujarati Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Pema Khandu 117) Aditya Puri has been ranked as the best banking 135) What is the name of the Indian artillery gun CEO in Asia by the investor community. He is chief developed as per technical support from the of which bank: HDFC Bank Bofors of Sweden: Dhanush 118) In which French city over 84 persons were 136) 73rd Senior National Squash Championship was crushed to death by a heavy truck driven by a hosted by which city: Mumbai militant: Nice 137) Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal are the current 119) Who Moved My Interest Rates is a book written national champions of which sports: Squash by D. Subbarao. Who is he: Former Governor of 138) Name the Indian boxer who won the WBO Asia RBI Pacific Super Middleweight title: Vijender Singh 120) Rakesh Kumar Chaturvedi has been appointed as 139) ______has become first state in India to set up the new Chairman of which national educational Happiness Department in the state: Madhya organization: The Central Board of Secondary Pradesh Education, CBSE 140) What is the name of the proposed hi-tech vision 121) Banks have been asked to exchange up to 20 system that railway plans to install on pieces of soiled notes up to what maximum locomotives for enhancing the driver’s vision in amount: Rs. 5000 inclement weather: Trinetra 122) Name the India's Grand Master who won the Fide 141) Name the legendary Bollywood playback singer Women’s Grand Prix Chess trophy in Chendu, and ghazal maestro who passed away after China: Harika Dronavalli prolonged illness in Mumbai: Mubarak Begum 123) India made a big leap of 11 places to occupy 142) Sports persons from which country have been ______spot in the latest world football rankings prohibited by WADA to participate in Rio issued by FIFA: 152nd Olympics: Russia 124) The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan 143) What is the full form of WADA: World Anti- Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an Doping Agency outlay of Rs.12000 crore for what purpose: To 144) Brazil is hosting the Rio Olympics. Name its impart skilling to one crore people over the capital: Brasilia next 4 years 145) What is the currency of Brazil: Brazilian Real 125) Which Indian Stock Exchange has introduced 146) What is the name of the mascot of the Rio 'Paperless SIP' for facilitating online investments: Olympics: Vinicius Bombay Stock Exchange 147) The mascot Venicius represents which animal: 126) In a global survey of airlines, The Emirates has None, it is a blend of animals native to Brazil been declared as the best. It belongs to which 148) What is the official slogan of the Rio Olympics: A country: UAE, United Arab Emirates New World 127) ADB has granted $ 100 million loan to strengthen 149) What is the approximate weight of the Olympic key irrigation and drainage system in the medals: 500 grams ______delta in Tamil Nadu: Cauvery 150) Symbolic beginning of the Olympic Games is done 128) Which country recently witnessed a failed coup by lighting a torch with the help of sun rays. This attempt to overthrow the elected govt.: Turkey ceremony is held in which place: Olympia, 129) The Capital Complex of which Indian city has been Greece selected in the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage 151) What is the logo of Olympic games: Set of five Sites: Chandigarh interlaced rings 130) Name the state whose national park has been 152) What is the colour of the Olympics flag: White selected in the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 74 153) The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin each other’s country: Japan words – Citius, Altius, Fortius. What do they 172) Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp. has mean: Faster, Higher, Stronger joined hands with which Bank to promote 154) The Ministry of Finance has announced capital booking of rail tickets: State Bank of India infusion of Rs 22,915 crore towards the 173) Name the Indian batsman who became the first recapitalization of which public sector units: 13 Indian test captain to score a double century in an banks overseas match in past 84 years: Viraat Kohli 155) The National Green Tribunal has directed which 174) Which Indian state won two Gold Awards at the state to cancel the registration of all diesel- prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) powered vehicles that are more than 10 years old: awards: Kerala Delhi 175) Foundation stone was laid recently for starting a 156) The Supreme Court delivered a historic judgment new All India Institute of Medical Sciences at accepting most of the recommendations made by which place: Gorakhpur the Justice ______Committee on the functioning 176) Sustainable Development Goals is an agenda of BCCI: R M Lodha prescribed by which global organization: UNO 157) Rohit Khandelwal has become the first Indian to 177) UNO has prescribed how many Sustainable win the title of ______: Mr. World Development Goals to be achieved by 2030: 17 158) The first paperless e-court of India was 178) India’s first Green Rail Corridor has been started inaugurated in ______High Court: Hyderabad in which state: Tamil Nadu 159) Malcolm Turnbull has been re-elected as the 179) What is the salient feature of the green rail Prime Minister of which country: Australia corridor: Zero toilet discharge on rail tracks 160) Mohammed Shahid, one of the greatest names in 180) Finance ministers meet of G20 nations was held at Indian _____, died due to severe liver condition and which place: Chengdu, China kidney failure: Hockey 181) RBI has imposed a penalty of five crore rupees on 161) The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the which bank for the lapses in the 6,100-crore Unthinkable is a book written by which author: rupees scam: Bank of Baroda Amitav Ghosh 182) Indian Navy launched country’s largest ever 162) Name the billionaire businessman from USA who search operation code named ‘Operation Talash’ has been officially declared as the Republican for what purpose: To trace the missing AN-32 party’s candidate for US President elections: aircraft of the Indian Air Force Donald Trump 183) Syed Haider Raza, one of India’s most eminent 163) National Oceanic and Atmospheric painters died recently. He spent most part of his Administration, USA has declared which month in life in which foreign country: France 2016 as the hottest month till date: June 184) K P Oli, Nepalese Prime Minister was in news 164) The Union Cabinet has approved the recently for what reasons: He resigned from his incorporation of Sagarmala Development post Company for what purpose: For promoting port- 185) Chris Froome of Britain won the world’s most led economic development in India challenging cycle race. Can you name this event: 165) ______appointed as the chief executive officer of Tour de France Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): 186) Who won the Hungarian Grand Prix F 1 Ajay Bhushan Pandey championship at Budapest, Hungary: Lewis 166) In the latest Fortune 500 list of the world's Hamilton biggest corporations in terms of revenue, how 187) Neeraj Chopra scripted history by becoming the many Indian companies are there: Seven first Indian to hold a world record as he smashed 167) In terms of revenue earned, which is the largest the junior world record in which sports: Javelin Indian company: Indian Oil Corporation throw 168) ______is the world’s largest company in terms of 188) As per the Global Retirement Index, ______is the revenue earned: Walmart world's worst country for retirees: India 169) At which place in West Bengal a new modern 189) As per the Global Retirement Index ______is the integrated check-post was opened on Bangladesh best country in the world for retired people: border: Petrapole Switzerland 170) With which African country India has signed an 190) With a view to provide a legal framework to the agreement to commence flights to that country: mission for cleansing of river Ganga, which Mozambique ministry proposes to formulate Ganga Act: 171) With which country India signed a Social Security Ministry of Water Resources Agreement for benefit of the persons working in

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 75 191) Social media giant Facebook has successfully 210) Keni Harrison, American athlete broke a 28-year tested its solar-powered craft Aquila for what old world record in which event: 100 m hurdles purpose: To beam internet to remote parts of 211) India’s first ever Water Metro project has been the world launched in which state: Kerala 192) In one of the worst mass-casualty attacks, 212) As per recent ICC rankings, ______has been nineteen 19 disabled persons were stabbed to declared as the top test bowler: Ravichandran death in which Japanese city: Tokyo Ashwin 193) Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on which date: 213) India has signed a one-billion dollar deal to buy July 26 Poseidon 81. What is this: Long-range maritime 194) World’s largest amphibious aircraft, AG-600 has surveillance and anti-submarine warfare been developed by which country: China aircraft 195) The first-ever meeting of BRICS Employment 214) From which country and company India is buying Working Group was held in which city: four Poseidon 81 aircraft: USA, Boeing Hyderabad 215) Which organization has decided to launch an 196) IRCTC has offered a travel accident cover of _____ exclusive channel dedicated to sports, named lakh rupees to passengers booking tickets Olympic channel: The International Olympic through its portal: 10 Committee 197) BRICS policy planning dialogue meeting was held 216) The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of in which place: Patna an All India Institute of Medical Sciences - AIIMS 198) Irom Sharmila Chanu, famous as ‘Iron Lady of at which place in Punjab: Bathinda Manipur’, was in news for what reasons: She 217) New AIIMS are being established in various states decided to end on August 9 her 15 year old under which central programme: Pradhan hunger strike in protest of AF(SP)A in Manipur Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana 199) What is the full form of AF(SP)A: Armed Forces 218) International Tiger Day is observed on which (Special Powers) Act, 1958 date: July 29 200) Ramon Magsaysay Award is given for what 219) The UN General Assembly has unanimously purpose: for extra ordinary good work for adopted a resolution to treat the IMO as a related some social cause organization. What is IMO: International 201) Magsaysay Award is given by which country: Organization for Migration Philippines 220) Where in India for the first time, a zoo has 202) How many Magsaysay Awards are given every received Humboldt Penguins: Mumbai year: Six 221) Name the eminent Bengali writer and social 203) Name the Carnatic singer from Chennai who has worker, winner of Jnanpith Award and Magsaysay been given Magsaysay Award for promoting Award, who passed away recently: Mahasweta peace and harmony through music: T. M. Krishna Devi 204) Mr. Bezwada Wilson has been honoured with JUNE – 2016 Magsaysay Award for what purpose: For his 222) Name the two African countries visited by the dedicated efforts for eradication of manual Vice President Ansari in May end: Morocco and scavenging in India Tunisia 205) As per the new Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016, children 223) ______is the capital of Morocco: below 14 have been permitted to work in which Rabat type of industry: Home based work in family 224) ______is same in Morocco as Mumbai, financial owned businesses capital of India: Marrakech 206) As per a global survey, ______is home to tallest 225) Recently Finance Ministry has hiked financial men and ______to tallest women: powers of Ministers to sanction expenditures up Netherlands, Latvia to Rs. ______crore: 500 207) Government has approved 1,600 crore rupees for which state for skill development initiative 226) Muslims Against Partition is a book written by 'Himayat': J & K which author: Shamsul Islam 208) India has decided to provide a credit line of $ 318 227) Name the England captain who became the first million to Sri Lanka for what purpose: For English cricketer and also the youngest one to improvement of railway infrastructure reach the 10,000 runs milestone in Test cricket: 209) As per a scientific study, roughly ____ per cent of Alastair Cook total bird species in the world are found in India: 12 228) Name the high speed train which was tested in

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 76 India for speed up to 115 kph between Bareilly 246) ______is the capital of Tunisia: Tunis and Moradabad in UP: Talgo 247) Which Indian Statesman visited Tunisia on June 229) The proposed high speed Talgo train is being 03: Vice President provided by which country: Spain 248) Which country has been declared free from Ebola 230) Name the team that won the 9th Indian Premier by the WHO on June 01: Guinea League: Sunrisers Hyderabad 249) Which Indian authority has launched a mobile 231) Hani Al Mulqi has been appointed as the new application for telecom subscribers to register ______of Jordan: Prime Minister their complaints against pesky calls and SMSs: 232) For what reasons Gotthard Base Tunnel was in The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India news recently: It is the world's longest rail (TRAI) tunnel open for operations 250) Recently the govt. hiked the Minimum Support 233) Gotthard Base Tunnel has been opened in which Price - MSP of which season crops: Kharif country: Switzerland (Summer crops) 234) Seema Punia won a gold medal in the women’s 251) ______is the main crop of the Kharif season: ______at the Pat Youngs Throwers Classic in Paddy California, USA: Discus Throw 252) Which daal (Pulse) has been given the highest 235) Railways have started a new weekly train MSP of Rs. 5225 per qtl: Moong from______, Assam to Vaishno Devi Katra 253) Govt. has approved setting up of a bank by the (J&K), linking the two very prominent pilgrimage Department of Posts. What is its name: India Post centers: Kamakhya Payments Bank 236) The T S R Subramanian committee has submitted 254) Razak Khan, a veteran Bollywood actor who died its report on which issue to the Ministry of HRD: recently was famous for which type of roles: The New Education Policy Comedy 237) Aditi Krishnakumar won which award for her 255) ______became the first tennis player in the manuscript “Love of Indian History": Scholastic history to cross the $100 million prize-money Asian Book Award mark in his career: Novak Djokovic 238) Govt. has levied which new cess of 0.5 per cent on 256) The government has exempted PF withdrawals of the service tax: Krishi Kalyan Cess up to Rs. ______from tax deduction at source: 239) On account of new Krishi Kalyan Cess, how much 50,000 extra money will have to be paid on any taxable 257) The Japan International Cooperation Agency has service for Rs. 1000: Rs. 5 granted a loan of Rs. 1,548 crore to ______for 240) Asia’s largest technology trade show COMPUTEX improving the quality of urban healthcare was hosted by which country: Taiwan services: Tamil Nadu 241) According to the report by New World Wealth, 258) Ashok Lavasa has been appointed as the new India has been ranked ______in the list of top 10 Union ______Secretary: Finance wealthiest countries in the world: Seventh 259) Fukuoka Prize is given in which country: Japan 242) According to the report by New World Wealth, 260) Name the Indian Music composer who has been ______is the richest country in the world: honoured with Fukuoka Prize: A R Rahman USA 261) ______has been declared the Ceat T20 Player 243) Retirement age of doctors in the Govt. service has of the Year - 2016: Virat Kohali been hiked to ______years: 65 262) Name the cricketer honoured with the Ceat 244) Govt. has levied 1% TCS on cash purchases of Lifetime Achievement Award - 2016: Dilip more than Rs. 2 lacs. What is TCS: Tax Collected Vengsarkar at Source 263) India has joined The Hague Code of Conduct 245) Data released by the Central Statistics Office against Ballistic Missile Proliferation for what (CSO) shows that the economy grew at an purpose: For preventing the spread of ballistic accelerated pace of ______in the fourth quarter of missiles 2015-16: 7.9% 264) Name the author of the book "The Unseen Indira

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 77 Gandhi": Dr. K P Mathur 285) Men's title in French open was won by which 265) ______has been appointed first ever chief player: Novak Djokovic executive officer (CEO) of the BCCI: Rahul Johri 286) Garbine Muguruza who won the women's title in 266) The “Sendai Framework" is related with which French Open, is from which country: Spain activity: Disaster Management 287) Name the special tourist train launched to spread 267) June 1 is observed as the World ____ Day across awareness among people regarding tiger the globe: Milk conservation: Tiger Express 268) Which UN organisation promotes the World Milk 288) Name the first Indian state to grant social benefits Day: Food and Agriculture Organisation to transgender: Odisha 269) Name the world famous boxer, popular as 'the 289) Which global aircraft company has unveiled the greatest', who died in June: Muhammad Ali world's first 3D-printed aircraft THOR: Airbus 270) In the recent five nations trip of Shri Modi, which 290) World environment day is observed on which was the last country visited by him: Mexico date: June 05 271) In the recent five nations trip of Shri Modi, in 291) In terms of retail development, in a world study, which country he addressed the Parliament of India has been placed at which rank: 02nd that country: USA 292) Which Indian city has adopted Gangetic River 272) Which country honoured our Prime Minister by Dolphin as its mascot: Guwahati the Amir Amanullah Khan Award: Afghanistan 293) Name the Indian sand artist who won gold medal 273) What was the original name of the world famous at the world championship festival of sand boxer Muhammad Ali: Cassius Clay sculpting in Bulgaria: Sudarsan Pattnaik 274) Name the veteran Indian tennis star who won the 294) Shangri-La Dialogue is the Asia's largest annual mixed doubles in the French Open with Swiss summit on what issue: Security Scenario in partner Martina Hingis: Leander Paes Asia-Pacific region 275) According to the 'Good Country' Index 2015 295) In which country 77 per cent voters ______is the world's best country: Sweden overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to introduce 276) According to the 'Good Country' Index 2015, India a guaranteed basic income for all: Switzerland has been placed at which rank: 70th 296) N Ramachandran, the President of Indian Olympic 277) Name the first Indian woman to be nominated to Association (IOA) was in news for what reasons: the International Olympic Committee: Nita He was awarded Olympic Order by the IOC Ambani 297) Tintu Luka won a silver medal in which event in 278) According to the Global Slavery Index 2016 of 167 the Athletics Meet in Prague: 800 mts race countries, ______has largest number of people in 298) Name the lady who became first woman to lead a modern slavery: India major American political party for President’s 279) Which country will be hosting 2018 Pyeongchang post in the 240 years of democracy in USA: Winter Olympics: South Korea Hillary Clinton 280) ‘Soohorang’, the official mascot for 2018 winter 299) India has been admitted as the 35th member of Olympics represents which animal: White Tiger the elite 34 nations MTCR Group. What is MTCR: cub Missile Technology Control Regime 281) Latest FIFA rankings have placed which country 300) India will get what major benefit by joining MTCR on top: Argentina group: India can now buy and sell missile 282) The Pakke Tiger Reserve that won the India technology to other nations Biodiversity Award is in which state: Arunachal 301) Government has launched a campaign ‘Swachh Pradesh Yug’ to make villages located along which river 283) Manohar Aich, A prominent sports person famous free from open defecation: Ganga as the 'Pocket Hercules' was associated with 302) Who has been named the ambassador for Swachh which sports: Body Building Bharat Mission's youth-based 'Swachh Saathi' 284) Why Mr. Manohar Aich was famous as the 'Pocket (student internship) programme: Dia Mirza Hercules': Because of his short height 303) Exercise Desert Eagle II was held between Indian

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 78 Air Force and which other country's Air Force: military exercise held recently by NATO United Arab Emirates members: Anaconda-16 304) Which Indian broadcasting organization 322) Ranjit Sub-1 and Bahadur Sub-1 are the names of celebrated completion of 80 years of its existence variety of which item: Two new rice varieties on June 8: All India Radio 323) A joint military exercise named ______was held 305) The World Bank has projected a growth rate of between the naval forces of India, Japan and the ______per cent for the world in 2016: 2.4 USA: Malabar 306) The junior men's hockey World Cup will be 324) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has chosen hosted by ______from the 8th of December this ______as the flag-bearer of the Indian year: Lucknow contingent at the Rio Games’ opening ceremony: 307) Govt plans to raise a new Indian Reserve Police Abhinav Bindra Battalion named after Maharana Pratap in which 325) US administration has given what name to the state: Rajasthan Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Indo-US ties for 308) The Forbes “100 Most Powerful Women” in the promoting peace, prosperity and stability from world list 2016 has been topped by which lady: Asia to Africa, from the Indian Ocean to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel Pacific: Modi Doctrine 309) India has surpassed which country to become the 326) Which index is used in India to measure the level world’s third-largest oil consumer: Japan of industrial production: Index of Industrial 310) Government has launched a GPS based mobile Production - IIP app named ‘Surya Mitra’ for what purpose: To 327) Which award was won by Akhil Sharma for his facilitate repair and maintenance of solar novel 'family life': International Dublin Literary equipments Award 311) Which country returned over 200 stolen cultural 328) Internet search giant Google has tied up with Tata artifacts to India, some dating back 2,000 years, Trusts to launch which programme to empower valued at around $100 million: USA rural women: Internet Saathi 312) World Oceans Day is observed on which date: 329) Which Indian bank raised $500 million at the June 08 London Stock Exchange after it launched India’s 313) What is the theme of this year's World Oceans first internationally-listed certified green bonds: Day: Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet Axis Bank 314) Which international organization has 330) As per the Malware Infection Index 2016, which recognised Thailand, Armenia, country faces highest malware encounters: Belarus and Moldova for eliminating mother-to- Pakistan child transmission of HIV and Syphilis: WHO 331) For the first time in the history of the Indian Air 315) As per the Global Peace Index 2016 _____ is the Force, 3 women pilots have been commissioned most peaceful country: Iceland into which stream: Flying fighter jets 316) As per the Global Peace Index 2016, what is 332) China launched its 23rd satellite BeiDou India's rank: 141st Navigation Satellite System for what purpose: 317) Champaran Satyagrah Express train has been Strengthening of GPS started from ______to Anand Vihar, Delhi: 333) Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal recently won Bapudham, Motihari (Bihar) which international title: Australian Open Super 318) Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has been elected new Series President of which South American country: Peru 334) Which USA city was in news for having witnessed 319) Which French city is hosting Europe's biggest one of the worst mass shootout in the history: football extravaganza, Euro 2016: Saint Denis Orlando 320) Who has been named highest paid sports person 335) Name the veteran journalist who passed away at a in the Forbes annual list of the World's 100 Delhi hospital at the age of 68: Inder Malhotra Highest Paid Athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo 336) ______has become the first state in India to 321) What was the name of the biggest ever joint have an open government data portal to facilitate

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 79 free usage of govt data by general public: Sikkim for developing a 1620 km thorough waterway 337) Which is the first country in world to prohibit between ______in Uttar Pradesh and ______in deforestation of rain forest to preserve the West Bengal: Allahabad, Haldia balance of ecosystem: Norway 353) Bramble Cay Melomys found only on a single 338) International Labour Organisation observes June island off Australia is the world's first mammal 12, as which global day: The World Day Against to be declared as extinct. What type of animal it Child Labour is: Small rodent (Rat) 339) The national summit by the name 'Rajasva Gyan 354) General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Prime Minister of Sangam' was held for top brass of which two govt. ______arrived in New Delhi on a three day visit organization: CBDT and CBEC to India: Thailand 340) RBI has announced the S4A scheme to handle the 355) ______Chairman of Bharti Enterprises (Airtel), high value bad loans. What is the full form of S4A: elected as the Chairman of International Chamber Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of of Commerce (ICC) based in Paris: Sunil Mittal Stressed Assets 356) What is the official slogan of the forthcoming Rio 341) Microsoft has announced to acquire which Olympic games: "A new World" professional networking website for $26.2 billion: 357) Which country has launched the world’s biggest LinkedIn nuclear icebreaker ship 22220 Arktika: Russia 342) Which athletics team from India created a new 358) Railway has started India's first timetabled freight national record at the International Sprint and train, named ______from Delhi to Bengaluru: Relay Teams Cup at Erzurum, Turkey: Men's Cargo Express’ 4x400m relay team 359) HRD Ministry has launched Vidyanjali scheme for 343) Lewis Hamilton who won the Formula 1 Canada govt. schools for what purpose: For participation Grand Prix title at Montreal, Canada is from which of volunteers from public for teaching country: Britain 360) Who is Anne Hathaway who has been appointed 344) World Blood Donor Day is observed on which as global Goodwill Ambassador for the United date: June 14 Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the 345) What is the theme of this year's World Blood Empowerment of Women: Famous US actress Donor Day: Blood connects us all and singer 346) Which Indian organization recently launched 361) Government has allowed which category of three service initiatives, namely- a Janani Sewa persons to open National Pension Scheme (NPS) for mothers, optional catering and a children’s accounts online if they have Aadhaar Card or PAN menu: Indian Railways card: Non Resident Indians (NRIs) 347) Peter Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji, 362) Hero Hockey Champions Trophy Tournament was was elected as the President of which important held at which place: London UN forum: UN General Assembly 363) In the finals of Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 348) ______was a distinguished Hindi writer and Tournament, which country won the cup by veteran intellectual who passed away at the age of defeating India: Australia 82 in Lucknow: Mudrarakshasa 364) The book 'The Spy' is written by which famous 349) Government has approved the National Civil author: Paulo Coelho Aviation Policy 2016, capping fares at Rs ______365) A Life in Diplomacy is a book written by M K for one-hour flights: 2,500 Rasgotra. Who is he: Former Foreign Secretary 350) In the context of National Civil Aviation Policy, of India what is meant by 5/20 rule: Only airlines with 5 366) Old History New Geography is a book written years of domestic flying and minimum 20 about bifurcation of which Indian state: Andhra aircrafts, will be allowed to fly international Pradesh 351) SBI has announced merger of its ______367) Name the two-seater basic trainer aircraft subsidiaries with itself: Five designed and developed by the Hindustan 352) 'Jal Marg Vikas' (National Waterway-1) project is Aeronautics Limited made its inaugural flight

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 80 successfully: Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 383) Prime Minister Modi visited______, Uzbekistan 368) Government has approved 100 per cent FDI in to attend the two-day summit of the Shanghai which three sectors under the government Cooperation Organisation: Tashkent approval route: Aviation, Defence and E- 384) The central government has sanctioned Rs. commerce ______crore 'Fund of Funds for Startups' to 369) Which UN organization supports the observation boost self-employment in the country: 10,000 of the World Refugee Day on June 20: United 385) Name the famous Sikh General of yore on whose Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 300th martyrdom day a special commemorative (UNHCR) silver coin has been released: Banda Singh 370) Name the first State that has obtained a telecom Bahadur license from the Telecom Ministry: Andhra 386) As per the World Investment Report 2016 by the Pradesh UNCTAD, what is India's rank in attracting FDI: 371) Ms Supriya Sahu has been appointed as the 10th Director General of which national organization: 387) As per UNCTAD report, which country received Doordarshan highest amount of FDI in 2015: USA 372) Which state's tourism corporation won four 388) Which Indian city has signed a sister city awards at ‘FilmAT’, one of the biggest agreement with the Chinese city Jinan: Nagpur international film festivals dedicated to tourism, 389) All India Football Federation plans to art and ecology, held in Poland: Kerala launch ‘Mission 11 Million’ in 30 Indian cities with 373) To promote and facilitate South Korean the support of FIFA for what purpose: To engage Investments in India, a new forum named ______more than 11 million children in football- has been launched: Korea Plus related activities 374) The Government has taken a considered decision 390) RBI plans to put into circulation Rs.10 coins to allow export of ______missile systems to bearing the portrait of Swami ______to 'certain' countries that have friendly relationship commemorate his birth centenary: with India: Akaash Chinmayananda 375) Main function of International Yoga Day on June 391) Chairman of which public sector insurance 21 was held in which city in India: Chandigarh company was in news for resigning nearly two 376) Govt. has allowed premature closure of PPF years ahead of completion of his five-year term: accounts after how many years: Five LIC of India 377) Who has written the book titled "Favourite 392) The United Public Service Day is observed on June Ghost Stories From Around The World": Ruskin 23 for highlighting role of which segment of Bond society: Public Servants 378) In a recent study of super computers, which 393) World Hydrography Day is observed on June 21 country has been declared to have fastest super to commemorate establishment of which computer: China international organization, some 95 years ago on 379) Scientists from which country created the world's this day: International Hydrographic first microchip that has 1,000 processors: USA Organization 380) Name the Kannada film that won the best film 394) Government has asked all state governments to award and best script writers award at the Asia link Aadhaar number with caste and domicile New Talent Awards in the 19th Shanghai certificates of school students for what purpose: International Film Festival: Thithi To facilitate timely grant of scholarship 381) The Indian ______team of Deepika Kumari and 395) Name the CEO of the SoftBank Group Corp. who Atanu Das won the silver medal at the Archery was in news for resigning abruptly from the post, World Cup in Antalya, Turkey: Recurve despite being one of the highest paid CEO: Nikesh 382) ISRO created a record on June 22 by launching 20 Arora satellites in one go. How many of them were 396) The plenary meeting of the 48-member Nuclear foreign satellites: 17 Suppliers Group, NSG was held in which place: Seoul

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 81 397) Which country objected to India's membership to supplier: The BAE systems of USA NSG: China 414) Which wing of Indian army plans to deploy the 398) What was China's objection to India's proposed 145 artillery guns: Mountain Strike membership to NSG: India has not signed the Corps Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT 415) The BAE systems of USA shall be producing 399) RBI has released the ‘Payment and Settlement The 155 MM, M777 ultra light howitzer guns in Systems in India: Vision-2018’ for what purpose: India in collaboration with which Indian To promote mobile banking services company: Mahindra Defence Systems 400) Name the former spinner who has been selected 416) Name the 3rd century BC archaeological site in as the new coach of Indian Cricket Team for one Bogra, Bangladesh that has been declared as the year: Anil Kumble SARRC cultural capital for the year 2016-17: 401) Prime Minister Modi formally launched the ‘Smart Mahasthangarh City Project’ from which city: Pune 417) Why the International Olympic Day is celebrated 402) BrahMos Aerospace successfully tested the every year on June 23: First modern Olympic integration of BrahMos missile with which fighter Games were held on this day in 1894 at aircraft: Sukhoi - 30 Sorbonne in Paris 403) Name the neighbours of India who were among 418) Copa America Football Championship is hosted by the first four countries to that a loan from Asian which country: USA Infrastructure Investment Bank: Pakistan and 419) Argentina was defeated by which country in the Bangladesh finals of Copa America Football Championship: 404) Name the Anglo-Indian community icon credited Chile with pioneering the quiz in the country, who died 420) Wimbledon Tennis Championships are hosted by in Kolkata: Neil O'Brien which city: London 405) ADB to grant $500 million loan to build a 9.8 km MAY – 2016 long bridge (longest in India) across the ______421) Deepika Kumari equalled the world record in River in, Bihar: Ganges women's recurve event in which sports: Archery 406) International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards 422) Archery world Cup was held at which place in festival was held in______, Spain on June 23: China: Shanghai Madrid 423) ______re-elected as the Prime Minister of the 407) RBI data shows that banking transactions through Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharmsala, mobile apps have increased ______fold in three Himachal Pradesh: Lobsang Sangay years, between 2013 and 2016: Seven 424) Railways has decided to create a 1 lakh crore 408) Grand Master Harika Dronavalli won the best rupees Rashtriya Rail Sanrakshan Kosh (RRSK) women's player award in the Eurasian Blitz ______for what purpose: To strengthen safety tournament in Kazakhstan: Chess measures on the rail network to prevent 409) Sanjay Mittal, Professor in IIT - Kanpur won accidents which award for scientific research: G D Birla 425) ______appointed as Director General of the Award Railway Protection Force (RPF): S K Bhagat 410) Government has launched a pilot programme to 426) The prestigious civil award ‘Order of The Rising run two-wheelers on which gas in New Delhi to Sun, Gold and Silver’ is conferred by which curb air pollution: Compressed Natural Gas country: Japan (CNG) 427) Which Indian bureaucrat was recently honoured 411) IIFA award for the best feature film was claimed with ‘Order of The Rising Sun, Gold and Silver’ by which movie: Bajrangi Bhaijaan award: N. K. Singh 412) Deepika Padukon got the IIFA award for best 428) Renowned sand artist ______won the gold actress for which film: Piku medal at the 9th Moscow Sand Sculpture 413) Ministry of Defence has approved the purchase of Championship in Russia: Sudarsan Pattnaik 145 artillery guns from which global arms 429) The International Cricket Council has suspended

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 82 which country from its membership: Nepal of World Press Freedom Day: UNESCO 430) A Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by J 448) We hear a lot about the term NPA these days. C Divakar Reddy, MP has been formed for what What it is: Non Performing Asset purpose: To tackle misleading advertising as 449) What is NPA: It is a loan account in default well as to fix liability on endorsers/celebrities where delay in payment of dues is more than 431) Which foreign bank has launched India’s first 90 days mobile only bank named ‘digibank’: DBS Bank, 450) As per a global market research, ______, claiming Singapore 41.7 per cent of desktop browser share has 432) Garima Chaudhary won gold medal at the 2016 become the top Internet browser: Google Commonwealth ______Championship finals at Port Chrome Elizabeth in South Africa: Judo 451) World Snooker Championship title was won by 433) North Star is the highest civilian award of which Mark Selby. He is from which country: England country: Mongolia 452) The Supreme Court has appointed a three- 434) Name the author of the book ‘Blood on my Hands: member panel headed by former Chief Justice of Confessions of Staged Encounters’: Kishalay India RM Lodha to review the functions of which Bhattacharjee apex professional body: Medical council of India 435) The International Bank Note Society has declared 453) The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to which country’s five-dollar note as the Banknote stop printing of the _____ euro banknote by the of the Year for 2015: New Zealand end of 2018 with a view to curb illicit activities: 436) Batsman Iraq Thomas created a record by scoring 500 21-ball century. He is from which country: 454) Scientists of which university have built the Tobago world's smallest working engine: University of 437) Indian shooters claimed three gold medals and a Cambridge bronze in the ISSF Junior World Cup held at which 455) Who has been Appointed as the next Chief of place: Suhl, Germany Indian Navy: Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba 438) Name the first of the six indigenous Scorpene- 456) Chief of the Indian Navy is appointed in which class submarines that was set out for sea trials off rank: Admiral the Mumbai coast: INS Kalvari 457) What is the purpose of the proposed Geospatial 439) Lee Chong Wei, winner of Asia Badminton Information Regulation Bill 2016:To punish the Championship, is from which country: Malaysia wrong depiction of the map of India 440) What is the full form of the acronym UJALA: 458) What is the main objective of recently passed Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill 2016: To 441) Which UN organization promotes the observance promote conditions for ‘Ease of Doing of International Labour Day: International Business’ Labour Organization (ILO) 459) Fort Mcmurray, city in state of Alberta in Canada 442) Govt has launched Ujjwala scheme for what was in news for what reasons: A massive wild purpose: For distribution of LPG connection to fire around it almost destroy the city, forcing BPL families more than 80,000 residents to flee 443) Govt has granted status of ‘classical language’ to 460) Name the public sector trading giant that recently how many languages: Five launched a new gold coin named ‘Tola’: MMTC 444) Which are the five languages that recently have 461) Which Indian bank has been selected by the New been given the status of Classical Language: Development Bank as its partner for operations in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia India: ICICI Bank 445) Malayalam is spoken in which state of India: 462) ‘Cow and Company’, a story by Prashar Kulkarni Kerala won which international award: Commonwealth 446) Telugu is spoken in which state of India: Short Story Prize Telangana and Andhra Pradesh 463) Enda Kenny has been re elected as the Prime 447) Which UN organization supports the propagation Minister of which country: Ireland

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 83 464) The H.R. Nagendra Committee has been which expressway: Delhi-Meerut expressway appointed by the govt. for which purpose: For 482) What is the name of this President: Dilma Yoga Education in Universities Rousseff 465) In a rare astronomical phenomenon on May 09, 483) Govt. has formed Sanjay Mitra Committee for which planet was seen as a dot moving on the what purpose: To prepare a policy framework solar disc: Mercury for taxi and other transport operators 466) As per a recent global study, India was ranked 484) Why international nurses day is observed on May _____ in terms of ‘crony capitalism’: 9th 12: It is the birthday of famous nurse Florence 467) Which country tops in promotion of ‘crony Nightingale capitalism’: Russia 485) Nursing community of India is honoured by the 468) The Drowned Detective is a book written by President on this day by which awards: Florence which author: Neil Jordan Nightingale Award 469) With which country India has signed an MoU for 486) Shashank Manohar has been elected as the first mutual corporation in the field of sports: Japan independent Chairman of which international 470) According to Royal Botanic Gardens, world has cricket body: ICC-International Cricket Council over 390,900 plant species. Where is this garden: 487) Name the four Goodwill Ambassadors appointed London by the Indian Olympic Association for the Rio 471) Govt has approved the single emergency Olympics: AR Rahman, Salman Khan, Abhinav number______to help people access directly Bindra and Sachin Tendulkar emergency services like police, ambulance and 488) Who is the only Indian in Forbes' 'Money Masters: fire fighting: 112 The Most Powerful People in the Financial World' 472) What is the full form of the acronym UBIN: list of 40 persons: Uday Kotak Unique Business Identification Number 489) Who is Uday Kotak: Chief of Kotak Mahindra 473) What is the purpose of issuing UBIN: To expedite Bank establishment of new startups 490) Baba Hardev Singh, a spiritual leader who died in 474) A commemorative coin of hundred rupees and a a car accident, was the head of which sect: circulation coin of ten rupees have been released Nirankari Mission on the 475th birth anniversary of which great 491) Name the world’s biggest – ever cruise ship, warrior: Maharana Pratap recently launched in France: Harmony of the 475) Which national day is observed on April 11: Seas National Technology Day 492) Govt has decided to replace the five year plans 476) Which country elected a dashing flamboyant with which new concept: 15 year vision Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as its President: document Philippines 493) Country is going through the 12th five year plan. 477) Which Indian state has won the award for the When will it come to an end: 31st March, 2017 Best Indian Destination for Wildlife: Madhya 494) Govt. has recently approved the National IPR Pradesh Policy. What is IPR: Intellectual Property Rights 478) Govt of America has approved selection of animal 495) Which wing of the defence forces has launched ______as the first national mammal of the one of the biggest automated military country: Bison maintenance systems in the world: Indian Air 479) The RBI has released ‘Draft Guidelines for on tap Force Licensing of which type of banks recently: 496) The Electronic Maintenance Management System Universal Banks in the Private Sector of the Indian Air Force will be based at which air 480) In a global study by WHO of the cities with worst force station: Pune air pollution, four of the five worst polluted cities 497) Max Verstappen, winner of the Spanish Grand are in which country: India Prix F1 Championship was in news for what 481) Union cabinet has approved Rs.1,983 crore reasons: He is the youngest (18 years) winner package for widening of the 19-km stretch of of F1 championship

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 84 498) Name the India’s indigenously developed won by which country: Malaysia supersonic interceptor missile, capable of 516) What was India’s rank in the Asian team squash destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile: women championship: Second Ashwin 517) Name the electronic grievance redressal system 499) The First World Conference on Tourism for recently launched by the Income Tax Department: Development was held in______, China: Beijing e-nivaran 500) The Indian Railways plans to conduct trial of its 518) Ms. Tsai Ing-wen has been elected as the first first solar panel-powered train in which place: women President of which country: Taiwan Jodhpur, Rajasthan 519) Which three countries have joined hands to 501) Eric Dusingizimana, captain of cricket team of develop the Chabahar port: India, Iran and Rwanda has set a new Guinness world record for Afghanistan what achievement: Batting continuously for 51 520) Lhakpa Sherpa, the 42 year old mountaineer hours created which new record: Climbing Mount 502) With which global organization India has signed a Everest by a Lady for maximum number of MoU for promotion of traditional Indian system of times – 7 medicine: WHO – World Health Organization 521) Name the athlete who bagged two gold medals by 503) Man Booker International Prize is given for which winning the women's 100m and 200m race at the achievement: For the best book translated in Taiwan Open Athletics Championships: Dutee English and published in U K Chand 504) Name the winner of the 2016 Man Booker 522) Federation Cup is associated with which sports in International Prize: Han Kang, South Korea India: Football 505) Which novel has been selected for the 2016 Man 523) Federation Cup 2016 was won by which team: Booker International Prize: The Vegetarian Mohun Bagan 506) The World Bank has approved $625 million loan 524) What is the popular name of the French Open, to India to support the rooftop solar power second tennis grand slam: Roland Garros generation. This loan will be disbursed through 525) Thomas Cup and Uber Cup are associated with which Indian bank: State Bank of India which sports: Badminton, Men and Women, 507) Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha was in news for respectively flying which air craft: Tejas 526) Name the country that won the Thomas Cup: 508) Which country launched its remote sensing Denmark satellite ‘Yaogan-30’ May 2016: China 527) Name the country that won the Uber Cup: China 509) As per the Renewable Energy Country 528) Binali Yildirim has been elected as the new Prime Attractiveness Index' prepared by global firm E & Minister of which country: Turkey Y, India has been placed at which rank: 03rd 529) In which Indian city the trial run of India's first 510) The World’s largest Single Rooftop Solar Power ever Metro train equipped to run in the driverless Plant has been established is in which city in mode was conducted: New Delhi Punjab: Dera Beas (Amritsar ) 530) Government has constituted the IEPF Authority to 511) Govt. has formed NK Singh committee for review strengthen the framework for safeguarding the of FRBM road map. What is full form of FRBM: interest of investors. What is the full form of IEPF: Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Investor Education and Protection Fund 512) Name the British author who won the PEN’s 531) India successfully tested its first- Literary Service Award: J. K. Rowling ever indigenously built space shuttle – RLV – TD 513) The acronym PEN stands for what: Poets, on May 23. Write full form of RLV-TD: Re-Usable Essayists and Novelists Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator 514) Under the Dhan Wapsi scheme for declaration of 532) Who has been elected as the new President of domestic black money, how much tax and penalty Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI): is payable: 45% Anurag Thakur 515) The Asian team squash women championship was 533) ______has been Appointed as the new Lieutenant

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 85 Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry: 551) Name the new multilingual portal launched by the Kiran Bedi ministry of HRD: Bharatavani 534) Palme d’Or is the price for the best film at which 552) Which State Transport Corporation has launched famous film festival: Cannes, France 20 Nirbhaya buses with multiple safety measures 535) Which film won the Palme d’Or for 2016: I, to better protect women passengers: Rajasthan Daniel Blake 553) Which Saudi Arabia based bank has offered to 536) Who is the director of the film I, Daniel Blake: Ken open Islamic banking branch in India: Islamic Loach, UK Development Bank 537) USA decided to fully lift its embargo on sales of 554) First bank branch offering Islamic banking is lethal weapons to its one-time arch enemy, ______proposed to be opened by a foreign bank in which after a gap of over 32 years: Vietnam city: Ahmadabad 538) World Bank Group has launched the Pandemic 555) Rishi Nair, a 6th grade Indian American student Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) for what won which prestigious competition in USA: purpose: To protect and support poorest National Geographic Bee competition countries against deadly pandemics like 556) The Ministry of Railways launched Rail Humsafar Ebola, Zika Saptaah from May 26 to June 1 for what purpose: 539) Govt. has decided to replace the word ‘Viklangjan’ To highlight significant achievements made by for disabled persons with which new word: Indian Railways Divyangjan 557) Which type of bank borrowers have been 540) Millennium Technology Prize is given in which prohibited by SEBI from making public issue of country: Finland shares: Willful defaulter 541) Heads of state of G-7 nations held their annual 558) The 148-year-old Tata Group has made a foray summit at which place in Japan: Ise Shima into which new field recently by the name 542) A joint study by Assocham-KPMG shows that TataCLiQ.com: E-commerce India is the ____largest producer of e-waste, 559) The RBI has instructed banks to shift from discarding roughly 18.5 lakh metric tonnes of magnetic stripe based ATM and debit cards to electronic waste each year: Fifth which type of cards: EMV chip and Pin based 543) ____ has been elected as the new and the first BJP cards Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal 560) Which bank has launched e-SBTR (Electronic 544) Pinarayi Vijayan has been elected as the Chief Secured Bank Treasury Receipt) for payment of Minister of which state: Kerala both - stamp duty and registration fee for home 545) Recently FSSAI has recommended banning the purchase in Maharashtra: Union Bank of India use of which chemical in the making of bread: APRIL – 2016 Potassium Bromate 561) A massive leak of 11.5 million documents from a 546) What is the name given to the India’s new GPS law firm in which country revealed how the system: NAVIC world's current rich people, politicians and 547) What is the full form of the acronym Navic: celebrities hide their money: Panama Navigation with Indian Constellation 562) Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr has been appointed as 548) Employee Provident Fund Organization has the new Prime Minister of which country: Yemen decided to increase benefits under the Employees' 563) Where in India World’s maiden white tiger safari Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme from Rs was opened up: Mukundpur, Madhya Pradesh 3.60 lakh to _____rupees: Six lakh 564) ______elected as the first woman Chief 549) The Union Ministry of Human Resource Minister of Jammu and Kashmir: Mehbooba Development (HRD) has decided to launch an Mufti online system ASMITA for what purpose: 565) India has been ranked ______among the world's Student tracking system programme Top-Ten largest manufacturing countries: Sixth 550) What is the full form of ASMITA: All School 566) In terms of manufacturing level, which country is Monitoring Individual Tracing Analysis ranked no. one in world: China

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 86 567) Name the cricketer who was named as Player of 581) As per a global study, India ranks third among the tournament in the world T-20: Virat Kohli countries with high number of financial Trojan 568) Who is Dr. Karan Singh, author of the book 'The infections. What is Trojan infection: Transactions Mountain of Shiva': He is a member of Rajya where cybercriminals defraud customers of Sabha online banking services 569) Where in India the Army has raised a new Gorkha 582) UNICEF launched a series of animated films, battalion comprising entirely of Gorkha troops of called Unfairy Tales to create awareness about Indian domicile: Sabathu, Himachal Pradesh which group of people: Refugees 570) The government has launched a portal ‘The Indian 583) P Susheela Mohan, renowned playback singer has IP Panorama’ to act as a single window interface been recognized by the Guinness World Records for providing information on which subject: for which achievement: For singing the most Intellectual property maters number of songs in Indian languages - 17,695 571) This portal is a customised version of IP 584) Where in India Asia's biggest telescope has been Panorama Multimedia toolkit, developed by launched: Devasthal, Nanital WIPO. What is WIPO: World Intellectual 585) The European Investment Bank has agreed to give Property Organization Euro 450 million towards constructing the metro 572) Germany’s Development Bank KfW has agreed to rail line in which Indian city: Lucknow provide loan assistance of 3750 crore rupees for 586) Name the India's first semi high speed train the development of metro system for which launched on April 5: The Nizamuddin-Agra Indian city: Nagpur Gatimaan Express 573) The government has issued a new set of income 587) Which country conferred its highest civilian tax return (ITR) forms that require people with honour- the king Abdulaziz Sash on the Prime an income of Rs. ______lakh and above per annum Minister Modi: Saudi Arabia to disclose their assets: 50 lakh 588) Govt has launched the mobile application 'Vidyut 574) Which stock exchange has launched a new index Pravah' for what purpose: for information on Nifty MidSmallcap 400 representing 150 midcap 24x7 power from The States and 250 small cap companies: National Stock 589) The HRD ministry released first-of-its-kind NIRF Exchange for ranking the higher education institutions. 575) The Airports Authority of India has signed an What is NIRF: National Institutional Ranking MoU with ______to provide scientific parameters Framework for construction of airports across the country: 590) As per NIRF ______has been declared as the no. 1 ISRO management institute in the country: IIM 576) Name the new interest mechanism that requires Bangalore banks to set rates based on their marginal cost of 591) The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has funds rather than their average cost of funds: been placed at No. 1 in which category by NIRF: marginal cost of funds-based lending rate Best University (MCLR) 592) As per NIRF rankings, which is the top 577) India has become the world’s ______largest engineering institute of India: IIT Chennai spender on defence, following a 13.1% increase in 593) With which country India signed an agreement its 2016-17 defence budget: Fourth for a new Laser Interferometer Gravitational- 578) Which country is the largest spender on defence Wave Observatory (LIGO) project in India: USA in world: USA 594) India’s first indigenous composite sonar dome 579) Zaha Hadid, renowned Iraq-born British ______was launched at Goa. What is its function: It acts passed away due to heart attack: Architect as ship’s underwater eyes and ears 580) Name the campaign that was launched on April 14 595) Companies with a net worth of Rs. 500 crore or to strengthen Panchayati Raj in villages, more will have to follow new Ind AS from April 1. empowerment of women and upliftment of What is Ind AS: Indian Accounting Standards farmers: Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan 596) World Bank has agreed to provide a $1.5 billion loan for implementation of which national level

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 87 mission: Swachh Bharat Mission Aayog, India 597) Which bank has launched 'NO Queue' Mobile app 613) Name the lady who has been named the most to save its customers time to avail banking powerful businesswoman in Asia by Forbes services: State Bank of India Magazine: Nita Ambani 598) Under Stand-up India scheme banks have been 614) Which global body has revised its 2016 global asked to provide loans up to _____ crore rupees to trade forecast downward by more than one SC/ST and women entrepreneurs: One percentage point to 2.8 per cent: WTO-World 599) The loans under Stand-up India may be provided Trade Organization without collateral. What is collateral: No need to 615) Who has been elected as the new Chairman of the offer land or building or any other security National Association of Software and Services 600) Britain's Royal Mail has launched a set of special Companies (Nasscom) for 2016-17: C P Gurnani postage stamps to mark the 400th death 616) Mission Indradhanush covers how many vaccine anniversary of which great playwright: William preventable diseases: Seven Shakespeare 617) 25 Ministries and Departments of the Union 601) Which railway zone has topped in terms of largest Government have joined IMPacting Research Freight Loading in 2015-16: The East Coast INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) for what Railway purpose: To establish a single window 602) Bihar has become the ______state in the country mechanism to shortlist research projects to ban sale and consumption of liquor: Fourth 618) Name the country’s first train with CCTV cameras 603) In one of the largest environmental settlement in in all coaches: Shan-E-Punjab Express the US history, which oil and gas company has 619) Hindus in north India observed April 8 as the been asked to pay over $20 billion towards beginning of their traditional new year. Can you damages: British Petroleum name the year: Vikram Samvat 2073 604) The world’s first public dengue vaccination 620) In Andhra and Karnataka, April 8 was observed as programme was launched recently in which ______festival: Ugadi country: Philippines 621) In which Indian state April 8 was observed as 605) World Health Day is observed on which date: Gudi Padwa: Maharashtra April 07 622) The first ever two day North East-ASEAN 606) World Health day this year shall be focusing on (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business control of with disease: Diabetes Summit was hosted by which city: Imphal, 607) Nguyen Xuan Phuc has been elected as the new Manipur Prime Minister of which country: Vietnam 623) Name the author of the book 'A State in Denial': B 608) Name the team that won the Asian Nations Cup G Verghese Chess tournament: India 624) Govt has launched a tablet-based application 609) Govt has constituted a high-level committee ‘ANMOL’ that allows ANMs to enter and update headed by former Home Secretary Madhukar data for the beneficiaries. What is ANM: Auxiliary Gupta for what purpose: to suggest ways to Nurse Midwife strengthen the border protection along the 625) Govt plans to construct five lakh irrigation ponds border with Pakistan under which scheme: Pradhan Mantri Krishi 610) Govt has launched a low cost micro solar Sinchai Yojana device, Surya Jyoti for what purpose: To meet 626) "Advantage India - From Challenge to lighting needs in areas without electricity Opportunity" is a book written by one of the ex- 611) International conference on zero was hosted by Presidents of India. Can you name him: APJ Abdul which European city: Paris Kalam 612) According to Arvind Panagariya India is close to 627) Name the winner of the FBB Femina Miss India achieving 8% GDP growth on the back of World 2016 contest: Priyadarshini Chaterjee satisfactory progress in infrastructure 628) In the abbreviation FBB Miss India World, FBB development. Who is he: Vice Chairman at Niti stands for what: Fashion at Big Bazaar

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 88 629) A portal was launched in New Delhi for for 645) What is the full form of SAWEN: South Asia registration and allotment of ISBN. What is the Wildlife Enforcement Network full form of ISBN: International Standard Book 646) Airtel M Commerce Services Limited (AMSL) has Number been granted the India’s first ______bank 630) ______has become the first state to pass land license by RBI: Payment title bill for verification of land records: 647) Which National Institute of Technology in India Rajasthan has developed the fastest super computer 'Param 631) A statue of which Indian Maharaja will be Kanchenjunga': Sikkim installed in France's Saint-Tropez town in 648) The recently launched E-National Agriculture September this year: Maharaja Ranjit Singh Market covers agriculture markets from how 632) Who has been named as the brand ambassador of many states: Eight the Skill India Campaign: Sachin Tendulkar 649) Which tiny South Pacific island nation has become 633) Why World Homoeopathy Day is observed on the 189th member of the IMF and the World Bank: 10th April: It is the birthday of Dr. Samuel Nauru Hahnemann, a German Physician who 650) India has finalised the deal to purchase 36 ______developed system of Homoeopathy fighter jets from Dassault Aviation of France: 634) Saraswati Sammaan is given for excellence in Rafale literature in which language: Any language 651) Jharkhand govt launched the Bhimrao Ambedkar recognized by Indian constitution Awas Yojana for construction of houses for which 635) Poet and novelist Padma Sachdev won Saraswati category of persons: Widows Sammaan for her autobiography ‘Chitt-Chete’ 652) Friends in Wild Places is a recent book written by written in which language: Dogri which famous author: Ruskin Bond 636) Union government plans to lay more emphasis on 653) Which Indian bank got the first loan of $ 250 promoting MICE tourism in India. What is MICE: million from the newly established BRICS New Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events Development Bank: Canara Bank 637) Which European country has offered to help in 654) The annual Spring Meeting of the International ‘Namami Gange’ project for cleaning of Ganges Monetary Fund and the World Bank was held at like their rivers Rhine and Danube: Germany which city in USA: Washington DC 638) The fire services day is observed on which day of 655) World Hemophilia Day is observed on April 17. April: 14th Hemophilia is what type of ailment: Non-clotting 639) In which state people celebrate Vishu festival on of blood April 14th to mark beginning of their new year: 656) Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is associated with which Kerala sports: Hockey 640) As per a recent World Bank report, which country 657) City of Ipoh hosted the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in received largest amount of inward remittances in which country: Malaysia 2015: India 658) What was the rank of India in Sultan Azlan Shah 641) Which country conferred its highest civilian Cup: Second honour upon Former Army Chief General(retd) J J 659) Which country won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup by Singh: France beating India: Australia 642) A study of 50 nations for investment and 660) Name the girl from Agartala, Tripura who created deployment of Information and Communications history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to Technology has placed which country at top: USA qualify for the Olympics: Dipa Karmakar 643) India has successfully tested its K-4 ballistic 661) Name the gymnastic feat preformed by Dipa missile. What is the launch pad of this missile: Karmakar as it is one of the extremely difficult Submarine and most dangerous form: Produnova vault 644) India has decided to become a formal member of 662) Name the Indian who has been ranked third in the the regional group SAWEN for what purpose: For Forbes list of top 30 Global Game Changers: combating wildlife crime and illegal trade Rahul Bhatia of Inter Globe Enterprises

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 89 663) Govt has released a Commemorative Coin of 200 Trees for the Earth rupees and a Circulation Coin of 10 rupees to 679) Name the leading Bollywood actress who has mark the 200th Martyrdom Day of Tatya Tope. been named by Time magazine in its list of the Who was he: A war hero of 1857 war of '100 Most Influential People in the World': Independence Priyanka Chopra 664) The 13th Islamic Summit Conference was held 680) Civil servants all over India observe April 21 as in______, Turkey: Istanbul ______day to re-dedicate and re-commit 665) IMF and world bank have joined hands with the themselves to the cause of the people: Civil United Nations and OECD for improvement of tax Service Day systems world over. What is OECD: Organization 681) Why April 21 has been selected as the Civil for Economic Cooperation and Development Service Day: On this day in 1947, Sardar 666) ______has been declared the Laureus Best Patel addressed the first batch of Indian civil Sportsman of the year: Novak Djokovic, Serbia servants 667) ______has been declared the Laureus Best 682) The Olympic Torch for the Rio de Janeiro Sportswoman of the year: Serena Williams, USA Olympics was ceremoniously lighted at the 668) Which sports team won the Laureus Best Sports Temple of Hera in which place: Ancient Olympia, Team of The Year Award: New Zealand's Rugby Greece World Cup-winning team 683) The Rio Olympics beginning on August 5 will be 669) Name the Silicon Valley’s veteran adviser, the ____ edition of modern Olympic games: 31st mentored of Steve Jobs, Larry Page, who died 684) A statement by Amitabh Kant says that India will recently: Bill Campbell be free of BPL population by 2032, attaining a 670) India, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed for joint growth of 10%. Who is he: CEO of Niti Aayog work on development of Chabahar port in which 685) Which Indian city is the host for the popular country: Iran religious event Simhastha Kumbh: Ujjain, 671) Which famous temple was in news for depositing Madhya Pradesh 1,311 kg of gold in a public sector bank under 686) Simhastha Kumbh is being held in Ujjain on the Gold Monetisation Scheme?: Tirupati Balaji banks of which river: Kshipra Temple, Andhra Pradesh 687) As per a report by The Financial Times Limited, 672) As per the 2016 ‘World Press Freedom Index’, which country in world received highest FDI in which country enjoys the number one position for 2015: India the functioning of journalist: Finland 688) Where in world, representatives of 175 nations 673) As per the 2016 ‘World Press Freedom Index’, signed the historic Paris Climate Agreement: New what was the rank of India: 133rd York 674) Scientists have reported that over 90 per cent of 689) The Paris Climate Agreement aims at limiting the Great Barrier Reef has been damaged by mass global temperature rise to well below ____ degrees bleaching. It is in which country: off the Celsius, and to strive for ______degrees Celsius: 2, Australian coast 1.5 675) Rahul Johri has been appointed as the first Chief 690) Name the famous Malayalam actor who has been Executive Officer (CEO) of which major Indian nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP: Suresh Gopi sports body: BCCI- Board of Control for Cricket 691) England and several other parts of the world are in India celebrating 400th death anniversary of a legendary 676) As per the latest World Malaria Report from playwright. Can you name him: William WHO, ______has become the world’s first region Shakespeare to wipe out malaria with zero cases reported last 692) What is the popular other name for the William year: Europe Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon 677) Which day is observed as the Earth Day all over 693) Name any two famous master pieces written by the world: April 22 William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet 678) What is the theme for the Earth Day this year: and Hamlet

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 90 694) Name the world’s oldest-serving royal and the longest lived monarch who turned 90 on April 21: MARCH – 2016 Queen Elizabeth II 709) Indigo —Selected Stories is a collection of stories 695) The Department of Disinvestment has been by which famous film maker: Satyajit Ray renamed as Department of Investment and Public 710) 88TH Oscar Awards, 2016 were held in which city Asset Management or 'Dipam'. It is in which of USA: Los Angeles ministry: Union Finance Ministry 711) The Oscar for the best director was won by the 696) With which country India launched a $1 trillion film ‘The Revenant’. Name the director: Potential Solar Programme under the Alejandro Iñárritu International Solar Alliance: France 712) Film ______won the 2016 Oscar for the best 697) Name the India’s first online interactive heritage feature film: Spotlight portal launched recently: Sahapedia 713) The Oscar for the best actor has been won by 698) Which UN agency organizes activities for ______for the film ‘The Revenant’: Leonardo promotion of World Book Day on April 23: DiCaprio UNESCO 714) According to Forbes’ annual ranking of 699) Japan has become fourth country in world to billionaires, ______has been ranked at No. 1 in successfully test its first stealth fighter jet – X 2. the world with a net worth of $75 billion: Bill What is stealth technology: Ability to avoid Gates detection by Radar 715) ______has been declared as the world’s number 700) An Economist in the Real World is a book written one airport in its category by the Airports Council by Kaushik Basu. Who is he: Chief Economist at International: Indira Gandhi International World Bank Airport, Delhi 701) What is the full form of the word CORPAT: 716) Defence Ministry has issued an order worth Rs Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai) 22,000 crores for purchase of Chinook and 702) The joint army training exercise, titled ‘Nomadic Apache helicopters from which country: USA Elephant - 2016’ was held between which two 717) What type of helicopter is CH-47 Chinook: Heavy countries: India and Mongolia transport 703) Scientists at which Indian organization have 718) Vinod Rai, Former Comptroller and Auditor developed the world's lightest ever synthetic General (CAG) was in news recently for what material called ‘silica aerogel’: Vikram Sarabhai reasons: He has been appointed as the first Space Centre Chairman of 704) Govt. has decided to increase minimum wages of 719) What is the basic objective of the newly formed contract workers to Rs. ______at the national organization Banks Board Bureau: To approve level: 10,000/- the appointment of banks’ top executives and 705) Which country has ordered a two-day working improve their governance week for public sector workers as a temporary 720) On which date we celebrate National Science Day: measure to help it overcome a serious energy Feb 28 crisis: Venezuela 721) The National Science Day is observed on Feb 28 706) Union Sports Ministry has decided to provide one as on this day discovery of ______was made in lakh rupees per month to sportspersons 1928: Raman Effect preparing for Olympics under TOP Scheme. TOP 722) Name the Indian scientist who won the Nobel stands for what: Target Olympic Podium prize for discovery of Raman Effect: Sir C. V. 707) Govt has set up a committee headed by Ashok Raman Dalwai, for what purpose: To suggest ways to 723) ______has been declared as the first digital state double farm incomes by 2022 of India for achieving digital connectivity of all 708) The government has made it mandatory that no villages and panchayats: Kerala mobile can be sold in India without an in-built 724) Govt. has launched ______project to make all ______button, starting January 1, 2017: Panic national highways free of railway crossings by

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 91 2019: Setubharatam Anand Mahindra, CMD 725) Which Union Ministry organized The Raisina 744) International Women's Day was observed across Dialogue, a project to explore prospects and the world on which date: 8 March opportunities for Asian integration: Ministry of 745) ______is the first bank to get the licence for the External Affairs small finance bank: Capital Local Area Bank Ltd. 726) What is the amount of cash prize given to the 746) Govt has launched the new ____ colour scheme for winner of Dada Saheb Phalke Award: Rs. 10 lac re-classification of industries based on the 727) Col C K Nayudu Trophy is associated with which Pollution Index (PI) scores: Four sports: Cricket 747) In the context of score on pollution index, ______728) ______won the 2016 C K Nayudu trophy: colour shows the highest level of pollution: Red Mumbai 748) In the context of score on pollution index, ______729) Finals of C K Nayudu trophy were held in colour shows the lowest level of pollution: White ______, Madhya Pradesh: Indore 749) In a recent survey of 133 cities for cost of living, 730) Indian shooter ______clinched the 50m pistol which two Indian cities figure among the most in gold at the ISSF World Cup in Bangkok,Thailand: expensive cities: Bengaluru and Mumbai Jitu Rai 750) Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the Enemy 731) World’s costliest railway station was opened to Property Act, 1968. It relates to properties of public on March 3 in which city: New York which persons: People who became Chinese or 732) ‘Who Was Shivaji’ is a book written by which Pakistani nationals, after leaving India in the author: Govind Pansare wake of wars fought with these countries 733) The United Nations has decided to set up 20 ‘Blue 751) Indian GPS system-IRNSS is a setup of ______Dots’ in Europe for what purpose: As child and satellites: Seven family support hubs for refugees 752) India signed its biggest ever overseas credit line, 734) Which two UN organizations have been given the extending $2 billion loan facility to which country: task of lookin after of ‘Blue dots’: UNHCR and Bangladesh UNICEF 753) Which Indian bank will look after the $2 billion 735) On March 03 we celebrate which day associated loan line to Bangladesh: Exim Bank with the wild animals: World Wildlife Day 754) Scott Kelly who returned to earth on March 1, 736) Which animal is the main focus of 2016 World completing 340 days stay in space, created which Wildlife Day: Elephant record: American with longest stay in space 737) Which UN body organizes the Zero Discrimination 755) As per new rules, unreserved train ticket for Day on March 1 across the world: UNAIDS travelling upto 199 kms will no longer be valid 738) India observes National Safety Day on March 04 after _____ hours of purchase of the ticket: Three to promote which aspect of life: Safety 756) The first-ever auction of a gold mine in the awareness among people country was held in Baghmara. It is in which 739) Which Indian state has taken first of its kind state: Chhattisgarh initiative by launching the Air Ambulance in the 757) ______has become the first state in the country state: Kerala to launch the HPV vaccine as a public health 740) Ray Tomlinson, a veteran IT expert of USA passed programme for school children: Delhi away recently. He is known for invention of which 758) What is the full form of HPV: Human Papilloma IT application: E-mail Virus 741) Which country won the both, men’s and women’s 759) Ahmed Abul Gheit, veteran Egyptian diplomat has category in the World Table Tennis Team been named as new Secretary General of which championship: China international body: The Arab League 742) Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur is one of the top 760) Irani Cup is associated with which sports: Cricket civil honour of which country: France 761) Irani Cup 2016 was lifted by ______team by 743) Name the Indian industrialist who has been beating Mumbai: Rest of India honoured with Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur: 762) Govt. has launched Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 92 for what purpose: To provide free LPG metro: London connections to women in BPL households 779) Governor of the Central Bank of which country 763) Justice ______Chauhan has been appointed as recently resigned as the bank's account in USA the chairperson of the 21st Law Commission: were hacked causing a loss of over $100 million: Balbir Singh Bangladesh 764) What is the purpose of setting up the law 780) Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography is a book commission: To review the existing laws for written by which author: Pramod Kapoor improvement 781) Chameli Devi Jain Award are given for excellence 765) The government has decided to invest Rs 69,575 in which field: Journalism by women crore towards increasing India’s quota in which 782) What was the theme of this year's World international organization: IMF-International Consumer Rights Day: Antibiotics off the Menu Monetary Fund 783) The World Consumer Rights Day is observed 766) Garuda Shakti was the joint army training across the globe in March on which date: 15 exercise between ______and India: Indonesia 784) World Kidney Day is observed globally on which 767) Garuda Shakti joint military exercise was hosted date: March 10 by which country: Indonesia 785) Which global prize is famous as Nobel for 768) Name the bill recently passed by the Parliament Mathematics: Abel Prize that aims to protect house buyers from the widely 786) Abel prize is given by which country: Norway prevalent opaque and fraudulent practices in the 787) In a study of 156 nations in the World Happiness real estate sector: Real Estate (Regulation and Report 2016, India has been ranked as ______Development) Bill, 2015 place: 118th 769) The one million dollar prize for innovative 788) As per the World Happiness Report 2016 which teaching- Global Teacher Prize has been won by country is the happiest in the world: Denmark Hanan Al Hroub. She is from which country: 789) Indian Air Force conducted its biggest fire power Palestine combat exercise at Pokhran in Rajasthan on 770) Santosh trophy is associated with which sports: March 18. What was its name: Iron Fist 2016 Football 790) The Pope Francis, religious chief of Christians, has 771) Santosh Trophy 2016 was won by ______team: announced to confer Sainthood on the social Services worker who spent 45 years serving the poor and 772) ______of China won the All England Open sick on the streets of Kolkata. Name her: Mother Badminton Championship: Lin Dan Teresa 773) SEBI has disallowed which type of borrowers 791) Michelle Yeoh has been appointed as United from making a public issue or acquiring another Nations Development Programme (UNDP) listed entity: Willful defaulters Goodwill Ambassador. Who is she: Famous 774) Which Indian body won the Golden City Gate action heroine of Malaysia-China Award-2016: Kerala Tourism 792) Name the American actor and activist who has 775) ______elected as the first civilian President of been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of Myanmar to lead the country after 53 years of the UNFPA: Ashley Judd military rule: Htin Kyaw 793) What is the full form of UNFPA: United Nations 776) ExoMars 2016, an unmanned spacecraft has been Population Fund launched jointly by Europe and Russia for what 794) Which railway station has stood first in India in purpose: To study the Mars' atmosphere terms of cleanliness, as per a survey conducted by 777) FSSAI has launched the 'Clean Street Food Project' the Ministry of Railways: Surat, Gujarat in Delhi to sensitise the street food vendors about 795) The government has reduced interest rates health and hygiene aspects of food. What is FSSAI: payable on small savings w.e.f. April 01, 2016. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Name two small savings schemes: Public 778) World's first fully electric double decker bus Provident Fund, National Savings Certificate service has been launched in which international 796) ______Airport in Singapore has been voted the

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 93 World’s Best Airport for the fourth year in a row ______: Paula Hawkins at the 2016 World Airport Awards: Changi 815) Which country signed a MoU for construction of 797) Railways have tied up with which organization to six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra: leverage the space technology for providing the France passenger information in all trains: ISRO 816) Name the govt. scheme that aims to achieve the 798) Parsi Zoroastrians of India celebrated their objective of ‘Housing for All’: Pradhan Mantri ______festival on March 21to mark beginning Awaas Yojana of their new year: Navroz 817) A financial assistance of Rs.______lakh will be 799) Who created history by becoming the first Indian provided for construction of pucca houses to athlete to clinch a gold medal in the Asian 20 km homeless families in plain areas: 1.20 Race Walk Championships: Gurmeet Singh 818) A financial assistance of Rs.______lakh will be 800) provided for construction of pucca houses to 801) Which Bank has become the first bank to homeless families in hilly and difficult area: 1.30 commence the sale of Indian Gold Coin (IGC) in 819) RBI has asked banks to pay interest on savings the domestic market: Indian Overseas Bank accounts on a ______basis or a shorter duration: 802) What are the three weight categories in which Quarterly India Gold Coins are available: 5, 10 and 20 gram 820) Rate of interest on savings bank accounts in banks 803) US President Barack Obama scripted history by in India is decided by which authority: Banks becoming first US President by visiting which themselves country after 88 years of strained relations: Cuba 821) Who is the only Indian leader in the world’s 50 804) The United Nations appointed 'Red' as an envoy greatest leaders list compiled by Fortune to inspire climate action toward a sustainable and magazine: Arvind Kejriwal happier future for all. Who is 'Red': Leader of the 822) India has started a new direct shipping service to "Angry Birds" mobile game characters Chittagong in Bangladesh from which port in 805) March 21 was observed as the ______day India: Krishnapatnam in Nellore, Andhra across the world to promote the importance of Pradesh forests and trees in our lives: World Forestry 823) Which bank has announced an initiative called Day iWork@home that uses technology to enable 806) March 22 was observed as the ______day with women employees to work from home for an the theme Water and Jobs: World Water Day extended period: ICICI Bank 807) The World Sparrow Day is observed across the 824) According to the latest figures released by the world on which date: March 20 Geneva-based World Intellectual Property 808) The World Meteorological day is observed on Organization (WIPO), ______is the top most March 23 for what purpose: To spread country in filling patents: USA awareness about climate change 825) The Telecom Commission has approved which 809) 9th International Abilympics started at Bordeaux number as a common number for emergencies in France. Who are the participants in this: such as police, fire, ambulance, etc. all over India: Skilled persons with disabilities 112 810) Which Indian city will host the eighth annual FEBRUARY – 2016 summit of BRICS from October 15-16: Goa 826) What is the full form of EPFO: Employees’ 811) Which flower has been selected in a symbolic Provident Fund Organization form as the logo for the 8th Brics Summit: Lotus 827) The threshold for coverage of firms under the 812) Govt has launched the new drug Bedaquiline to EPFO has been reduced to ______workers from combat drug resistant form of which disease: 20 at present: 10 Tuberculosis (TB) 828) ICC has decided upon what new measures for the 813) ______was observed as the World Tuberculosis safety of the umpires: They will be provided by day: March 24 specially designed helmets 814) The Girl on the Train is a famous novel written by 829) The Indian women’s cricket team made history by

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 94 clinching its maiden T20 series against which 847) Which global social networking application country: Australia recently crossed the one billion user milestone: 830) Name the author of the book Why we love the WhatsApp way we do: Preeti Shenoy 848) President of India recently conferred the 831) Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin is a honorary rank of General of the Indian Army to book written by which author: Anup Sardesai Chief of Army of which country: Nepal 832) What is the name of the book by Former 849) Which state won the 61st National School President APJ Abdul Kalam based on his spiritual Athletics championship: Kerala experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj: 850) Dial D for Don is a book written by former Police Transendence Commissioner of Delhi. Name him: Neeraj Kumar 833) What is the name of the indigenously developed 851) Ancestral Affairs is a book written by which Light Combat Aircraft which is about to replace author: Keki Daruwalla the MiG fighters: Tejas Mark 1-A 852) World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared 834) The GDP growth for 2014-15 has been scaled Public Health Emergency of International Concern down to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3%, over the explosive spread of which disease: Zika by which Government organization: Central Virus Statistics Office (CSO) 853) As per recent market reports, which is the largest 835) As per latest CSO data, per capita income during company of the world in terms of market 2015-16 is likely to be above ______thousand capitalization: Alphabet rupees: 77 854) 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be 836) As per a list compiled by Wealth-X in hosted by ______city of Japan: Fukuoka collaboration with Business Insider, ______is the 855) Which company has launched a 150-cc bike 2nd richest person in India: Ajim Premji named ‘V’ that contains metal sourced from 837) Henri Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant: Bajaj was recently awarded which international Auto honour: Human Rights Award 856) Men’s Singles Title in the Syed Modi International 838) Human Rights Award is given by which global Badminton Championships was won by which organization: Amnesty International, Germany player: Kidambi Srikanth 839) Anti-Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January in the 857) Name the veteran wildlife filmmaker who won honour of which national leader: Mahatma the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award: Gandhi Naresh Bedi 840) What is the full form of NTPC Ltd: National 858) Name the Indian film that won the Best First Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. Foreign Film Award given by the French 841) Which country has produced the fifth-generation Syndicate of Cinema Critics: Titli stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’: Japan 859) D J Pandian, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat has 842) Which paramilitary force of India has appointed, been appointed vice-president and chief for the first time a woman as its Director General: investment officer of which newly formed global Sahastra Seema Bal financial institution: Asian Infrastructure 843) Name the newly appointed Director General of Investment Bank Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Archana 860) Which govt organization has launched the Ramasundaram country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR - 844) Sahastra Seema Bal looks after the security of 34 for Diabetes type 2 patients: Council for which part of border of India: Nepal and Bhutan Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 845) K Durga Prasad, a senior IPS officer has been 861) For what purpose the Government has decided to appointed Director General of which paramilitary infuse about 5,000 crore rupees capital in the force: CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) public sector banks: To strengthen their 846) ______has been appointed as the Director balance sheet for compliance of Basel III General of Border Security Force: K K Sharma capital norms

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 95 862) Hyderabad-based biotechnology research 876) Which film won the BAFTA award for the best company Bharat Biotech has announced that it film: The Revenant has developed the world’s first vaccine against 877) World’s longest train route, running for 10,400 which major disease: Zika Virus kms, starts from and ends at which place: Yiwu 863) Name the major employment scheme run by govt. (China) and Bander Abbas (Iran) that completed 10 years in February: Mahatma 878) What is the formal name given to this 10,400 kms Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee rail route: Belt and Road connectivity initiative Act (MGNREGA) 879) Mr. Modi has been highlighting the 4D blessings of 864) Name the state that won the Dr BC Roy Trophy for Indian economy. What are these 4Ds: the National Junior Football Championship: Democracy, Demography, Demand and Punjab Deregulation 865) The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, led by ______, 880) World famous Grammy Awards are given for one of the biggest trade deals in history, was excellence in which field: Music signed in New Zealand on Feb 4: USA 881) 58th Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 15th 866) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) February at which place: Los Angeles, USA has barred telecom service providers from 882) Grammy for Record of the Year was won by charging differential rates for data services. This Uptown Funk by which artist: Mark Ronson is in promotion of which concept: Net neutrality 883) Taylor Swift won the Grammy for the Album of 867) The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi the Year. What is the name of the Album: 1989 to discuss politico-security, economic and socio- Taylor Swift cultural engagement between the ______and 884) What is the title of the latest book written by India: Association of Southeast Asian Nations Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist: Bullets and (ASEAN) Bylines 868) Reserve Bank has decided to undertake which 885) Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based step to check handling of customer complaints multinational company has selected which Indian and how banks have implemented Charter of corporate as their partner for manufacturing Customer Rights: Incognito visits to bank M777 howitzers in India: Mahindra’s branches 886) M777 howitzer guns will be used as major 869) Which country won the highest number of medals weapon by which proposed army formation: in the 12th South Asian Games: India Mountain Strike Corps 870) India emerged number one in the 12th South 887) Govt. proposes to assign the security of which Asian Games by winning total ______medals: 308 border area to Mountain Strike Corps: 871) Name the ace Indian Shooter who won record six Mountainous borders with China medals in the 12th South Asian Games: Chain 888) National Arogya Fair was organized to showcase Singh and promote the strengths, efficacy and 872) 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in affordability of the AYUSH. What is the full form of which year: 2019 AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, 873) As per Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy the Quality Council of India to rank the Indian 889) First phase of world’s largest solar power plant, cities on the basis of cleanliness, ______has been with a capacity to produce 580 mw was started in ranked no. one: Mysuru which country on Feb 4: Morocco 874) Central Bank of which major economy has 890) Name the batsman from South Africa who became imposed, for the first time, a negative interest rate the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score of minus 0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits 10 centuries in ODIs: Quinton De Kock placed with it: Japan 891) Which global organization has released a report 875) BAFTA awards 2016 were given away in London called 'One Humanity: Shared Responsibility': on Feb 14. What is the full form of BAFTA: British UNO Academy of Film and Television Awards 892) Which deworming tablet is provided free to

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 96 school and pre-schools children who fight worm 2015-2016 was conferred on Pandit Ram infections: Albendezole Narayan. He is a master player of which 893) The Reserve Bank of India has released the instrument: Sarangi Report of the Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. 910) Parameshwaran Iyer, a World Bank’s water and P.G. Apte) on which topic: Introduction of sanitation specialist has been selected by the Interest Rate Options in India Indian govt. to head which major national 894) What is the name of the 9th edition of India-Nepal mission: Swachh Bharat Mission Combined Military Exercise: Surya Kiran IX 911) The app myCAMS has been launched for what 895) Surya Kiran IX military exercise was held in which purpose in context of mutual fund business: To area: Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand facilitate paperless eKYC 896) Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint 912) National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ raised a special squad of which animal to boost its for what purpose: For joint operation on rescue efforts in earthquake hit areas: Dogs humanitarian aid and disaster relief 913) Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai has 897) Which ministry has launched the 24x7 Toll Free issued ‘Geographical Indication’ tag for which Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages to item to 7 states in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: facilitate tourists: Union Ministry of Tourism Basmati Rice 898) Government has launched ______for 914) The first ever Petrochemical project in entire prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North East India was started in February in North-Eastern states: Project Sunrise Dibrugarh in which state: Assam 899) Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery started 915) The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be production in Paradip in which state: Odisha hosted by ______in June 2017: England 900) Government has decided to set up the National 916) The Indian government has finally sanctioned Organic Farming Research Institute in which Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala-Akhaura rail state: Sikkim link with which country: Bangladesh 901) Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 917) India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near 2016’– the biggest multilateral military exercise. Bagodara village in which state: Gujarat It was hosted by which country: Thailand 918) What is the objective of setting up aviation park: 902) Golden Conch Award is given for excellence in To promote special units to manufacture which field: Documentary Films spare parts for aircrafts 903) Golden Conch Award is given at which film 919) Scientists have detected for the first time, signals festival: Mumbai International Film Festival of ______waves emanating from two 904) What was this year’s theme for the World Cancer merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away: Day: We can, I can Gravitational 905) In a global survey by Brand Finance for brand 920) Prediction about gravitational waves was made power, which Indian firm has been rated as the about 100 years ago by which great scientist: World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services: TCS Albert Einstein – Tata Consultancy Services 921) The gravitational waves have been discovered 906) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research after decades of research by scientists at LIGO, (CSIR) has launched the BGR-34, country's first USA. Expand LIGO: Laser Interferometer ayurvedic drug for treatment of which major Gravitational-wave Observatory disease: Diabetes type - II 922) U K Sinha, the Chairman of Securities and 907) In the anti-diabetic drug, acronym BGR stands for Exchange Board of India (Sebi) was in news for what: Blood Glucose Regulator what reasons: He has been given extension for 908) Aruna Sethi has been appointed as the first one year women head of the which all India administrative 923) Name the India’s first indigenously developed service: Indian Cost Accounts Services lightest revolver weighing just 250 gms: Nidar 909) Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for 924) Name the Bollywood’s popular lyricist who made

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 97 into the Guinness Book of World Records for at which place: Kumbakonam writing the most number–3524 of songs for 940) The book ‘Playing It My Way’ has entered the Bollywood films: Limca Book of Records in the category of best- 925) Government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore selling books, with 1,50,289 copies sold. This is Electronic Development Fund for what purpose: the autobiography of which person: Sachin To promote manufacturing in the electronics Tendulkar sector 941) Government has launched a device developed by 926) Which country launched a massive military the CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named exercise – ‘North Thunder’ that included troops ‘Ksheer-Scanner’ for what purpose: To detect from 20 nations: Saudi Arabia adulteration in milk 927) ______has been appointed as the new Chief 942) The Road to Resilience, a survey of the entire Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Kalikho Pul Indian coastline for promoting six coastal disaster 928) Name the America's celebrated novelist whose management projects is an initiative of which 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" was global organization: World Bank read by millions worldwide: Harper Lee 943) The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of 929) Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the life by the global consulting firm Mercer has International Monetary Fund was in news placed ______at the top: Austria’s capital recently for what reasons: She has been re- Vienna appointed for a second five-year term 944) Name the former Chief Justice of India who has 930) Amit Mitra has been appointed as the new been appointed as the Chairman of the National chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Human Rights Commission: Justice H L Dattu Finance Ministers on GST. Who is he: West 945) Mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ has been launched Bengal Finance Minister by which ministry to promote cleanliness of 931) Name the New Zealand cricketer who smashed prime tourist destinations: Ministry of Tourism the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls: 946) As per a global study, India is the top importer of Brendon McCullum arms. Which is at the 2nd rank: China 932) ______, ace sprinter set a new national record 947) Parliament of ______has become the world’s in the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian first parliament to run fully on solar power: Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha: Dutee Pakistan Chand 948) RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap 933) ______, has been appointed as the new arrangement to ______nations till mid- Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre November 2017 to enhance economic (BARC), Mumbai: K N Vyas cooperation: SAARC 934) What is the title of the recent book by Jhumpa 949) What is the full form of the term IBSAMAR: India, Lahiri: In Other Words Brazil, South Africa Maritime 935) An Economist in the Real World is a book written 950) The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear by the Chief Economist of the World Bank. Name submarine ______is now ready for full him: Kaushik Basu fledged operations: INS Arihant 936) Name the Indian film that won the 2016 Crystal 951) Aryabhata award 2013, the prestigious honour by Bear Award: Ottaal (The trap) Astronautical Society of India has been conferred 937) Berlin Film Festivals top prize for the best feature upon which scientist: Dr. Avinash Chander, film is named as ______: Golden Bear former chief of DRDO Award 952) Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in 938) The Golden Bear Award for 2016 was won by an Chemical Sciences, has been honoured with the Italian film. What was its name: Fuocoammare prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit by which (Fire at sea) country: Germany 939) The Mahamaham festival, celebrated once in 12 953) Which Indian bank has won the Green Bond years, also known as Kumbh Mela of South is held Pioneer Award for promoting Green

GENERAL AWARENESS – SEPTEMBER 2016 98 Infrastructure Bonds: Yes Bank ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FORM 954) ______has been elected as the new President of world Football body –FIFA: Gianni Infantino SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD: ONLY 12 MONTHS 955) ______won the prestigious Ranji trophy cricket FROM (MONTH) …………………..TO……………. (MONTH)

championship defeating Saurashtra: Mumbai AMOUNT: 956) Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross Rs. 600/- functional team called Special Unit for

Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) for improvement in which area: Railway Name: Mr./Ms……………………………………………….……… 957) The innovative team Sutra is proposed to be headed by which person: Ratan Tata 958) The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of Address:……………………………………………………………. AIM and SETU in which organization to encourage …………………………………………………………………… innovations and entrepreneurship in the country: City:……………………………District:…………………….

NITI Aayog 959) The acronyms of AIM and SETU stands for: Atal State: ………………..…………………..PIN:

Innovation Mission and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation Email: ………………………………………………………………….. 960) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in which field: Literature 961) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in Ph./Mob…………………………………………………..………… literature in which language: All 22 Indian languages approved by the Constitution 962) Name the winner of the Jnanpith Award 2015: The subscription amount can be Raghuveer Chaudhary 963) Shri Raghuveer Chaudhary is a noted novelist of remitted to our following account: which language: Gujarati 964) Vijay Hazare Trophy is associated with which sports: Cricket GYANM EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD 965) Government has announced that taxpayers with BANK : ALLAHABAD BANK Branch: Sector 34, Chandigarh an annual income of more than Rs. ______lakh will not get subsidised LPG cylinders from January, ACCOUNT NO.: 502 1311 7700 IFSC CODE: ALLA0211989

2016: Ten ……………………………………………………………………………………………

966) Dr. Harpal Singh Kumar was conferred with Knighthood Honour in UK for what achievement: PARTICULARS OF REMITTANCE: For his influential work on prevention and treatment of cancer Amount remitted: Rs………… Date:…./…./……

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