Current Affairs 12

1. Who is the new Prime Minister of Italy?

Ans : Mr. Mario Monti. The European Union’s ex-commissioner and economist Mr. Monti has replaced Mr. Silvio Berlusconi, 75, who had been in power for over a decade.

2. Who has been named as the new Prime Minister of Greece?

Ans : Mr. Lucas Papa demos. He succeeded Mr. George Papandreou. The former European Central Bank Vice-President was named as the Prime minister of the new Greek interim government, charged with keeping the debt-strapped country out of bankruptcy and firmly in the 17 nation euro zone. The interim government will secure and implement the decisions of US$ 177 billion European debt deal agreed upon during a summit in Brussels on 27 October. That deal is the country’s second massive bailout, after a first – US$ 150 billion – rescue package was deemed not enough to keep Greece from bankruptcy.

3. Which country was suspended by Arab League recently and why?

Ans : The Arab League – established on March 22, 1945 – has suspended Syria until President Bashar al – Assad implements an Arab deal to end violence against protesters and called for sanctions and transition talks with the opposition.

4. Where were the 9^th India – ASEAN summit and the 6^th East Asia summit held recently?

Ans : These summits were held at the Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.

5. Who is the first foreign head of government or state to address the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament?

Ans : Dr. Manmohan Singh. The Indian PM was accorded a rare honored when he addressed the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament, becoming the first foreign head of government or state ot do so in its history of 78 years.

6. Who won four awards at the 2011 MTV EMA’s in Los Angeles recently ?

Ans : Pop sensation Lady Gaga. The 25 years old singer picked up awards in four out of the six categories she was nominated for to win best Female, Best song and Best Video for Born This way and biggest fan, a brand new award that celebrates artists with the most committee fan base.

7. Which energy firm has been ranked the fastest growing oil and gas exploration firm in the world recently?

Ans : Cairn India. With a three year compounded growth rate (CGR) of 116.5 per cent, Cairn was ranked by energy information provider Plats as the fastest growing E&P Company in 2010.

8. Who has been named as the most powerful woman in Indian business, according to Fortune magazine?

Ans : Ms Chanda Kochhar, the CEO of ICICI.

9. According to Fortune magazine, who is the highest earning woman with an annual salary of $13.09 million in India ?

Ans : Ms Kavery Kalanithi, the joint managing director of the Sun TV Network.

10. Who has been appointed to the board of Warwick Business School recently?

Ans : Mr. Anil Ambani, who steers the diversified Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. He becomes the first Indian to be a part of the well-known British institution’s board.

Current Affairs

1. Who has been chosen as Saudi Arabia’s new crown Prince by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and has been appointed Deputy Premier and Mininster of interior of the Kingdom ?

Ans : Mr. Naif Bin Abdulaziz.

2. Where was the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting thrown open by Queen Elizabeth II held recently?

Ans : It was held at Perth in Australia.

3. Who has been re-appointed as the secretary-General of the 54 nation Commonwealth grouping for a four – year term beginning April 2012?

Ans : Mr. Kamalesh Sharma.

4. Whose memoir is titled, No Higher Honor that hit the stands recently?

Ans : Ms Condoleezza Rice, a Former US Secretary of State.

5. Where was the world’s first desert geopark opened recently?

Ans : China.

6. Who was recently bestowed upon 2011 Right Livelihood Award for his outstanding success in the development and mass-development of cutting-ede technology for harnessing solar energy?

Ans : Haugh Ming of China.

7. What is the nickname of the new long-haut jet Boeing 787?

Ans : The Dreamliner.

8. What was the world’s population as on October 31,2011?

Ans : The world’s population on 31 October touched another milestone with India welcoming the birth of baby Nargis, born on 31 October to a farmer couple in an UP village, as one of the world’s “seven billionth” babies. Nargis shares the honour of being the world’s symbolic seven billionth baby, with several babies in other countries.

9. Which was the code name of the recently held first-ever India Bangladesh military exercise?

Ans : Operation Sampriti.

10. Which was the first country to declare a seven billionth baby?

Ans : The Philippines. A little girl named Danica May Camacho, delivered just before midnight local time on Sunday (30 October) at Manila’s Jose Fabella memorial Hospital. 

Current Affairs - At a Glance

11^th August : The Supreme Court of India will soon get one more Woman judge - Justice Ranjana Desai of the Bombay High Court, with the Collegiums of judges clearing her name for elevation along with 2 others.

Hearkening the eternal words of Mahatma Gandhi, the Secretary of State of United States Hillary Clinton has said his ‘Inspirational leadership’ and India’s independence movement ‘still move people to be the change that they want to see in the world’.

Saina Nehwal’s quarter final Jinx continued in world Badminton championship, world number 6 Saina, who reached the quarter finals in the last 2 editions of the event, had to be content with yet another last-eight finish as she lost 15-21, 10-21 to world no. 3 Wang Xin of China in a lopsided match.

12^th August : Syrian Security forces opened fire, killing at least 13 people as thousands of anti-regime protesters rallied in flashpoint cities of Damascus, Kahn Sheikhun after the Ramzan weekly prayers, right activists said.

India took strong exception to the USA wading into the domestic debate on corruption. The US had asked India to exercise ‘democratic restraint’ while handling Anna Hazare’s fast.

The Bombay High Court granted bail to stud farm owner hasan ali kahn, who was arrested in March for alleged involvement in money laundering.

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee offered attractive sops to Maoists who return to the mainstream. Not only will they get monthly stipends of Rs. 3000 for the next 3 years, they will also be trained for jobs. Each AK 47 of AK 56 surrendered will fetch them Rs. 1 Lac. Light machine guns and sniper rifles will fetch Rs. 2 lacs.

13^th August: The Gujrat Govt. Chargesheeted senior IPS officer Rahul Sharma for alleged misconduct in not submitting the original CDs containing mobile phone call records related to the 2002 communal riots.

Bangladeshi filmmaker Tareque Masud and 4 others died when his microbus collided head on with a bus in Ghior near Dhaka. His US Born wife Catherine Masud and Bangladeshi painter Dhali-al-Mamunand and his wife were seriously injured.

The torch for the 2012 Olympics, to be held in London, will not come to Pakistan due to security reasons.

India lost the No.1 test rank after another batting collapse ensured an innings and 242 run defeat. England, who now lead the 4 test series 3-0, are on top of the rest ranks for the first AIME since the current ranking system was introduced in June 2003

14^th August : At least 16 people were killed and over 30 injured in bomb attacks and violence in restive Baluch-e-stan while 3 soldiers died in north Wazir-e-Stan region, when Taliban terrorists struck at a Pakistan independence Day parade.

A Navy officer figures among the 14 Shaurya Chakra awardees this year in the overall list of 137 gallantry medals on India’s Independence Day honors list.

Shammi Kapoor, who changed the template of Hindi film hero, died at the age of 79.

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa’s dream run at the world badminton Championships came to an end in the semi finals but the pair managed to script history by claiming a bronze medal in the prestigious event after a gap of 28 years.

16^th August: The US slapped sanctions on top Hagguani network commender Sangeen Zadran and designated him as a foreign terrorist, the state department said.

The Govt. of India has suspended M. Ramadoss Chairman of New India Assurance the country’s largest general insurance company.

Former Indian Test Cricketer Ramesh Saxena passed away at the age of 66, Saxena, also the secretary of Bihar Jharkhand Cricket Association.

17^th August :  The Govt. of India virtually bowed as waves of Anna Hazara’s Supporters laid sledge to the city of New Delhi. They thronged key points of the capital, including Tihar Jail where Anna is still lodged.

The Czech Republic’s top scorer Jan Koller retired from football. The 38 year old striker retired from international football in 2009 but continued playing for French third division side AS Cannes. The 2.02 meter striker is his country’s all time leading scorer with 55 goals form 91 international games.

18^th August : Libyan rebels took control of an oil refinery in the Western Town of Zawiyah south of the capital further isolating Muammar Gaddafi’s Tripoli strong hold. Rebel advances in recent days have cut off Gaddafi’s forces from their main international resupply routes following a month’s long stalemate.

Justice Soumitra Sen of the High Court of Calcutta is set to be removed after the Rajya Sabha adopted an impeachment motion with over two thirds majority, the only instance of its kind.

Pakistan Cricket Board appointed former Test Batsman Ijaz Ahmed as assistant coach of the national team.

19^th August : Taliban attackers laid sedge to a British cultural centre in the Afghan capital, killing at least 9 people during as assault on the 92^nd anniversary of Afghanistan independence from British rule.

At least 53 worshippers were killed and over 100 injured when a suicide bomber blew up himself inside a mosque in Pakistan’s north western tribal region.

Parliamentary affairs Minister of west Bengal Partha Chatterjee said, a consensus to rename West Bengal as Paschim Banga was reached at an all party meeting.

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee will seek entry to the assembly from the Bhowanipore constituency. She is currently MP from Kolkata South and has to get elected MLA with in 6 months.

Current Affairs

3^rd August: Bangladesh has initiated legal steps to deport ULFA(United Liberation Front of Asom) general secretary Anup Chetia to India . Chetia has been in Dhaka’s safe custody since 2005

In the biggest ever series of cyber attacks, hackers were found to have broken into networks of the Indian Govt. the united nations and USA defense companies. Experts point to china as the culprit

The Pakistan cricket board is all set to get richer by around 16 million from the 2011 world cup earnings with out even hosting a single match of the tournament.

4^th August: The Syrian military forces that rolled into the rebellious city of Hama and occupied its central square have killed more than 100 people over the past 24 hours, according to right activists in satellite telephone contact with a witness in the city

Prime minister of japan Naoto Kan, removed 3 top officials in charge of Japanese Nuclear Energy policy, taking aim at cozy ties between regulatiors and the power industry that were exposed after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant accident.

Driven by an increase in the prices of onions fruits and milk, food inflation for the week ended july 23 again soared past the 8% mark after a brief period of moderation even as Finance Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee said efforts were on to bring it down.

5^th August: American space agency NASA reported that pictures taken from its mars reconnaissance orbiter spacecraft showed finger like features which may be flows of salty water spilling over the rims of craters.

Nepal arrested the new envoy of the Dalai Lama ahead of the swearing in of the new prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile in Dharmashala.

Thailand’s Parliament elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the county’s first female prime minister, a month after her party won a landslide victory over a coalition backed by Thailand’s military and traditional political and business elites.

A Gorkah Janmukti Morcha delegation met Palniappan Chidambaram, Home minister of India in Delhi and took up the key issue of transfer of the reserve forests under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council areas to the Gorkahland Territorial administration.

Former England all rounder Allan Watkins had died at the age of 89, his former country Glam organ confirmed.

6^th August: Afghan president Hammed Kaizar said, that a NATO helicopter crashed during a battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan killing 31 american soldiers and 7 afghans.

Although Nepal police have released the evnoy of exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama after detaining him for 8 hours, the threat hanging over the Tivetan diaspora deepened with thiley Lama having to sign and undertaking.

Rahul Dravid earned a surprise recall to the One Day international squad after 2 years for the 5 match series against England. Dravid, however announced his retirement from limited over cricket after the current tour, but said he would continue playing Test matches.

7^th August: The planning commission expert panels wants to introduce a national health entitlement card for every citizen that will guarantee access to a health package of essential primary, secondary and tertiary healthy care fully funded by centre.

Over 31% of the post of judges in various High courts and the Supreme Court are lying vacant, law minister of India Salman Khurshid has said in the Lok Sabha.

8^th August: The British capital experienced escalating violence after wide spread riots in the northern suburb of Tottenham. The riots were triggered by the killing of local resident, Mark Duggan, by police.

In a setbask to Kerala’s chief Minister Oommen Chandy, a vigilance court ordered a probe to ascertain if he, as state finances minister, had a role in the 1992 palmolein oil import scam.

Ajantha Medis became the first bowler to bag 6 wickets in a twenty -20 international as Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-0 against Australia with an 8 run win in the 2^nd march.

Sania Mirza’s poor run in singles continued as she failed to qualify for the WTA Rogers cup man draw after losing marathon 3 setters to Kathrin Woerle. The 11^th seeded Indian squandered a 1 set to go down 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 3-6 in the 2^nd and final round of the qualifying event, in a match lasting 2 hours and 40 minutes.

9^th August: The sikkim High court sentenced former Chief Minister of Sikkim Nar Bahadur Bhandari to 1 month jail in a corruption case pertaining to rural water supply schemes in 1983-84.

The Central govt. gave a 2 year extension to Reserve Bank Governor Duvvaveri Subba Rao to ensure continuity of India’s monetary policy at a time when the fallout of the downgrade of the sovereign rating of America.

The India men’s doubles team of Rupesh Kuimar and sanave Thomas Went down fighting in the 2^nd round of the world Badminton championship at London.

10^th August: The Supreme Court upheld the death penalty awarded to Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Mohammad Arifaka Ashfag for killing 3 jawans during an attack in the Red Fort on December 22,2000

The riots in England claimed south Asian victims when 3 young men of Pakistan origin were killed in a ‘deliberate’ hit and run incident in the country’s 2^nd biggest city of Birmingham.

 Australia beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in the first 1 year. For Australia Mitchell Johnson grabbed a career best 6 for 31 and Shane Watson smashed a brisk 69 to guide the win.

Current Affairs

  

1. US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton told India ‘its time to lead urging the government to do more to integrate economically with Afghanistan and Pakistan and be more assertive across the Asia Pacific


2. The finance ministry admitted that there is a need to revisit the growth outlook for he current financial year and said it would be around 8.6%, lower than the earlier projection of 9% plus expansion


3. The Kerala High court directed air India to pay Rs. 75 lakh as compensation to families of each of 158 people who died in the Mangalore air crash last year. This directive came from Justice P.R. Ramachandran Menon following a petition filed by he family of Mahammed Rati, who lost his life.


4. Cricket Kenya said, all rounder Collins Obuya who named as Kenya’s new national cricket captain to replace Jimmy Kamande who was sacked after the disastrous 2011 World Cup Campaign


5. India and Sri Lanka Signed a MOU to develop the Kankesanthural Port, the first such deep water facility to be re-built in the northern peninsula. It is the key to connect the jaffna peninsula with the rest of Sri Lanka and also with regional destinations, especially India


6. According to a latest world trade organization report, India achieved 10^th rank in export of service world wide, while emerged as the 20^th biggest merchandise exporter in 2010.


7. Speeding up its probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the OPL, the enforcement Directorate has summoned the former Indian cricket Captain, Ravi Shastri, for questioning as he was on the OPL Governing council


8. Powerful explosions shook Central Osio, Capital of Norway, blowing out the windows of several Govt. Buildings, including one housing the office of the Norwegian Prime Minister. AFP report said that a man dressed as a police officer opened fire at a youth camp at Utoy, an island outside Oslo. At least 100 people died in 2 incidents.


9. The committee of secretaries recommended that 51% FDI be allowed in the multi brand retail provided it should be at least 100 million dollar.


10. The Govt. of Tamil Nadu has set in motion a proposal to set up in motion a proposal to set up 25 special courts that will exclusively deal with land grab cases. The Special courts will come up in all districts in the state except 7 districts where the number of reported land grabbing offences is not high


11. Double world record holder rifle shooter Gagan Narang, loaded with the world championship bronze medal apart from a clutch of commonwealth games gold medals and the Asian games silver, won the race for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, as the Union Sports ministry convened meetings of eminent sports ministry convened meetings of eminent sports persons to decide the Arjuna and Dronoacharya Awards for the year 2010


12. At least 16 passengers were killed and 89 injured when a bullet train lost power after lightning struck it and another train hit it from behind near eastern China’s Wenzhou City


13. Amy Winehouse, the most talented singer, whose hit song ‘ Rehab’summed up her personal struggles with addiction died in London at the age of 27


14. Asian football supreme Muhamed bin Hammam was banned from the game for life being guilty of corruption following a2 day hearing of FIFA’s ethics committee. The 62 years old Qatari, the president of the Asian football confederation (AFC) had been accused of trying to buy votes in the FIFA presidential election with 40000dollar cash gifts to Caribbean football officials


15. The US has accused ISI of spying against the Pakistan diasporas in America, in a stark confirmation that ties continue to deteriorate. The latest salvo was aired thought leaks in the New York Times


16. Sonia Gandhi will receive Bangladesh’s highest state award on behalf of former Prime minister Indira Gandhi for her contribution to the 1971 ‘ Liberation War’


17. Former Thailand under 23 coach Steve Derbylanded in the city(kolkata) to take charge of Mohon Bagan . The Englishman, who also had earlier worked as FIFA instructor for the Oceania region, has signed up 1 year contract with Mohaon Bagan.


18. According to a study by market research firm IMRB, the income level of Urban Indian Women has doubled in the last decade.


19. The 9 celebrities of west Bengal received the first Banga Vibhushan award conferred by the state government. They are, Sailen Manna(footballer), Amala Shankar(Dancer), Sandha Mukhopdhyay(Singer), Manna Dey(singer), Dwijen Bandopadhyay,(singer), Amjad Ali Khan(saradist), Haradhan Bandopadhyay(actor), Mahasweta Devi (writer), and Supriya Devi(actress),


20. Uruguay defeated Paraguay 3-0 to win a record 15^th copa America with striker Diego Forlan grabbing 2 goals to take his international tally to 31 and complete an incredible family story


21. England beat Indian by 196 runs in the first rest cricket match at Lords.


22. According to a world health organization sponsored study, Indians are among the world’s Most depressed


23. Pakistan 34 years old foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar landed in Delhi for a crucial meeting with her Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, expressing hope that the 2 nations could move forward as good neighbours.


24. A division bench of Allahabad High court referred all petitions challenging land acquisition by the Uttar Pradesh government in Noida to the Chief Justice of the High Court with the request that a larger bench be constituted to decide the matter.


25. Formern India Striker Shabbir Ali has became the first footballer to be nominated for the prestigious ‘Dhyan Chand Award’ as a recognition for his lifetime achievement in sports.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. In which European country were nearly 100 people killed in a bomb explosion as well as in the shooting spree? Also name the Norwegian mass killer

Ans: Norway, The man responsible for the worst single day of blood letting in Europe since the 2004 Madrid train bombing was Anders Behring Breivik who was born in February 1979 in London to a diplomat father rand his nurse wife Jens Breivik and Wen che Behrin divorced a year later, with Wenches taking her son back to Norway.

2. Who has recently been re-elected as the Prime minister of Vietnam -  one of the fastest growing nations in Asia?

Ans: Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, 61 a former central bank governor and is considered a reformer

3. Who is Vietnam’s new president, a largely symbolic post in the communist nation?

Ans: Mr. Truong Tan Sang, 62 who is a long time rival prime minister Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung . Mr. Sang, the county’s ninth president, will take on a post first held by revered founding father Ho Chi Minh.

4. Who is the newly elevated foreign minister of Pakistan?

Ans: Ms Hina Rabbani Khar.

5. Name the US secretary of state who recently visited India?

Ans: Ms Hilary Chilton

6. Where was the SAARC interior ministers meeting held recently?

Ans: It was held in Thimpu, Bhutan

7. Name a famous British singer who expired at the age of just 27 recently?

Ans: Amy Wine house. The 27 years old pop star, who had a history of drug and alcohol addiction, died of a suspected overdose at her apartment in London recently.

8. Who was Mr. Elliot Hadler, 95  who recently passed away in New York?

Ans: Handler along with his wife grew Mattel inc. From a small home based picture frame business to the largest US toy maker and created the hot wheels brand.

9. The government has recently cleared RIL-BP deal, what does it envisage?

Ans: In major decision of far reaching economic significance, the government had given its approval to the long awaited deal between UK’s British Petroleum Plc(BP) and India’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) , allowing BP to buy 30 per cent stake in most of RIL’s oil and gas blocks including the showpiece KG-D6 gas fields, for $7.2 billion.

10. In which vital sector has the union government recently permitted 51 per cent foreign direct investment?(FDI)

Ans: Retail Sector

11. In how many years will all Indian villages get broadband?

Ans: All the villages will be provided broadband connectivity in the next three years.

12. What is the name of India’s latest surface-to-surface quick reaction tactical missile that was recently launched from Chandipur On Sea in orissa?

Ans: Prahaar, with a capability to strike targets at 150 kms.

13. Who is the new Solicitor general of India, the second senior most law officer of the government?

Ans: Supreme Court lawyer and senior advocate Rohinton Nariman is the new Solicitor General of India.

14. Who has recently been elected as the charman of the empowered committee of state finance ministers on the proposed Goods and services tax(GST) regime?

Ans: Mr. Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihar deputy chief minister and finance minister.  committee earlier

15. Who has been appointed the chairman of the reconstituted Copyright Board recently?

Ans: Justice (retired) Ramesh Chandra Chopra. Whose appointment will be for a period of five e years or till further orders which ever is earlier.

16. How many percentage of India youths spend Rs. 5000 a month on clothes?

Ans: According to a survey  by industry body ASSOCHAM, nearly 35 per cent of youth in urban centers of India spend Rs.5000 per month on clothing alone.

17. Who won the ladies National snooker championship recently?

Ans: Tamil Nadu’s Vidya Pillai who won the title for the sixth time.

18. How many Indian cricketers have been chosen in ICC rest XI in an online poll recently?

Ans: Four, they are Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.

19. Which team won the 2000the cricket test match at lord’s recently?

Ans: England. In the historic match, they beat India by 196 runs and took a 2-0 lead in the four match test series.

20. Who won the 2011 German Grand Prix in Nuebruging, Germany recently?

Ans: Mclaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

21. Who won the women world cup soccer 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany recently?

Ans: Japan

22. Who won the Copa America football for the 15^th time in Buenos Aires, Argentina recently?

Ans: Uruguay, In the final they beat Paraguay  3-0 to win a record 15^th copa America.

Current Affairs 5

1. Who have been bestowed upon 'Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year award respectively at the Sahara Sports Awards 2010 recently?

Ans: Sushil Kumar and M.C. Mary Kom.

2. Which country will stage the FIFA World Cup in 2018 for the first  time?

Ans: Russia who dashed the hopes of rival bids put forth by England, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/ The Netherlands. The decision was announced in Zurich by Mr. Joshph Blatter, the president of the football's world governing body following a secret ballot by 22 members of its executive committee.

3. Which west Asian country would paly host the 2022 FIFA world cup for the first time?

Ans: Qatar which will be the first Middle Eastern country to host the biggest football tournam\ent in the world defeating competition form the USA, Australia, Japan, South Korea. The world Cup will return to Asia after 20 years as in 2002 South Korea and Japan jointly held the tournament.

4. Who has been voted the woman tennis player of the year for the second time in her career Recently?

Ans: Kim Clijsters of Belgium, Who had first earned the accolade in 2005 and came out of retirement last year, won five trophies in 2010, highlighted by a third US Open title.

5. Who won the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paolo recently?

Ans: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel

Current Affairs 4

1. Which one of our neighboring countries has recently transferred power to the new government from almost 50 years of direct military rule (The state peace and development council)?

Ans:  Myanmar.

2. Name the Myanmar strongman who has retired as head of the military after handling power to a normally civilian government.

Ans:  General Than Shwe. The postman turned director earlier disbanded the junta, the state peace and development council following November polls marred by the absence of democracy icon Miss Aung San Suu Kyi and complaints of cheating and intimidation.

3. Which Indian Canadian author is among 13 authors who have been short listed for the man booker international Prize 2011 awarded biennially for an author’s body of works?

Ans: Rohinton Mistry, the Indian Canadian author of three acclaimed books, such a long journey, a fire balance and family matters.

4. Which Indian journalist recently won Agence France press prize for her work in Kashmir?

Ans: Dinaz Boga, an Indian reported and photographer who received the third Kate Webb Prize form AFP for her courageous investigative work in Jammu and Kashmir.

5. Britain’s national postal service Royal Mail is issuing a first class postal stamp to commemorate the achievements of which Indian business tycoon?

Ans: Sahara Group chief Mr.Subrata Roy.

6. Where was the Global conference on citizen centric police station reforms held recently?

Ans: At Amritsar in Punjab

7. Name the Thai Prime minister who recently visited India

Ans: Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva

8. Vedanta resources have acquired a majority (51 per cent) stake in cairn energy plc india for a total consideration of $9.6 billion. Where is Vedanta resources based?

Ans: Vedanta is London- based

9. Why was social activist Anna Hazare in the news recently? Elaborate.

Ans: He was on hunger strike at the protest venue near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi – the nervcentre of the agitation for a strong legislation to combat political and administrative graft. The government capitulated on 8 April and the following day. Anna Hazare called off his 98 hour hunger strike after the government issued a gazette notification for constitution of a 10 member joint committee of ministers and civil society activists, including the Gandhian, to draft an effective Jan Lokpal (Ombudsman) bill.

The notification issued by the ministry of law and justice said the joint committee to prepare a draft of the lokpal Bill would have five ministers from the government and five nominees of Mr. Hazare, including himself. Union finance minister Mr. Pranab Mukhaerjee will chair the panel while former law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan will co-chair. The panel will have law minister Mr. Veerappa Moily as convener and home minister Mr. P. Chidambaram, HRD minister Mr. Kapil Sibal and water resources minister Mr. Salman Khurshid as member. The civil society will be represented by Anna Hazare, former Supreme court judge, Mr. N. Santosh Hegde, Mr. Prashant Bhushan and RTI activist Mr. Arvind Kejriwal.

General Knowledge 14

1. Which company manufactures the A-380 aircraft – Air Bus Industries


2. which famous computer company developed the QuickTime Multimedia Technology – Apple Computer


3. who is the author of the best seller ‘My life’ – Bill Clinton


4. where is the oldest continuously functioning country office of world bank located in India – New Delhi


5. which is the longest river in the world – Amazon


6. which metal is used for manufacturing heating elements provided in an electric iron – Nichrome


7. the hydraulic brakes used in automobiles is a direct application of which thereon – Bemoulli’s Theorem


8. which reducing agent can also act as on oxidizing agent – H₂


9. Enzymes are a group of – Proteins


10. what are the metallic constituents of hard water – Calcium, Magnesium, Iron


11. which animal has the longest life span – Tortoise


12. which animal produces the biggest baby – Elephant


13. why heart attack occurs – Due to lack of blood supply to the heart itself


14. what is the PH of human blood – between 7.4 and 8


15. which planet has its orbit closest to sun – Mercury


16. unto where did chandragupta Maurya’s empire extend in the north west of India – Hindukush range


17. who built the first modern motorcar – Karl Benz


18. which dynasty succeeded the chalukyas in the western India – Rashtrakutas


19. the brown eye, blue eyes or black eyes of a person depends on the colour of the particular pigments present in which part of the eye – Iris


20. Which part of the world does not receive rainfall in any time of the year – Polar Regions