22
october 2015
1) Who was appointed as the
first-ever male member of the National Commission of Women (NCW) on 21 October
2015? – Alok Rawat
Explanation: Alok Rawat is a former
Cabinet Secretary. He was appointed as the first male member of the NCW by
filling the fourth seat in the five-member body.
He is
a 1977-batch Sikkim cadre IAS officer. Apart from being the Cabinet Secretary,
Rawat has served some important posts such as secretary in ministry of water
resources, director/joint secretary in ministry of defence and ministry of road
transport and highways
and secretary of UPSC.
The
5-member NCW is led by Lalitha Kumaramangalam.
2) In an important development
pertaining to global oil prices, Venezuela hosted a special meeting for eight
non-OPEC countries on 21 October 2015 at Vienna. This meeting was held to
unveil a new oil strategy to stem a tumble in oil prices. Which 8 countries
were invited to this special meeting? – Azerbaijan, Brazil,
Colombia, Kazakhstan, Norway, Mexico, Oman and Russia.
Explanation: The meeting of these 8
non-OPEC nations was organized by Venezuela, an OPEC member, to unveil a bold
new oil strategy so as to put a break to sliding oil prices. The meeting was
held in shadow of consistently low oil prices globally. Venezuela has been
pushing to stem a tumble in oil prices, but faces an uphill battle to convince
its richer Gulf counterparts and non-OPEC nations.
An
oil price recovery would be a boon for recession-hit Venezuela, where roughly
96% of hard currency income derives from oil.
OPEC
stands for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, an international
organization of 12 countries to coordinate and unify the global petroleum policies
and prices.
3) The Union Govt. has
recently circulated a draft note pertaining to monetary policy mechanism in the
country. What is the most important proposal in this draft? – It has
proposed clipping the exclusive powers of the RBI governor in setting monetary
policy
Explanation: The draft circulated by the
govt. has proposed some far-reaching steps in country’s monetary policy
mechanism. It has proposed that a seven-member committee should draft monetary
policy.
It
has proposed that the committee have four members from the government and three
from the central bank, with the RBI governor, as its chair, holding no veto
power as was earlier bnyhumsuggested, but a casting vote.
The
monetary policy committee will fix the benchmark interest rate of the RBI and
set inflation targets.
Under
the current system, the RBI governor has a technical advisory committee to
advise on monetary policy, but can accept or reject the panel’s views.
RBI
chief Raghuram Rajan had earlier said that he favoured doing away with the veto
power of the central bank chief, arguing it would be better for a committee to
decide the key rate rather than one individual.
4) Reliance Capital Asset
Management (RCAM) on 21 October 2015 announced takeover of which global
financial giant’s mutual fund business in India with which it becomes the
exclusive fund manager for the government’s ambitious Central Public Sector
Enterprises (CPSE) Exchange Traded Fund? –Goldman Sachs
Explanation: Reliance Capital Asset
Management (RCAM) will acquire Goldman Sachs Asset Management India (GSAMI),
which is the Indian mutual fund entity of global financial giant Goldman Sachs.
The deal will be an all-cash deal of Rs. 243 crore and with this RCAM will
acquire all 12 onshore mutual fund schemes of GSAMI with total asset under
management of Rs. 7132 crore.
The
acquisition would also make Reliance MF the exclusive fund manager for the
government’s ambitious Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) Exchange Traded
Fund. GSAMI was given the mandate last year to manage CPSE ETF through which
the government has so far raised Rs. 4,000 crore by selling part of its stake
in ten central PSUs as part of its disinvestment programme.
RCAM
is part of the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.
Goldman
Sachs had entered the Indian mutual fund industry in 2011 with acquisition of
Benchmark Mutual Fund for Rs. 120 crore.
With
this, Goldman Sachs becomes the latest foreign player to exit the Rs. 13 lakh
crore Indian MF market. In last few years, a number of global players have
exited the Indian mutual fund business. Standard Chartered sold its mutual fund
business in India to IDFC in 2008, Fidelity sold its mutual fund to L&T
Finance in 2012, while last year HDFC MF acquired Morgan Stanley’s fund
business here. Besides, Birla Sunlife has acquired ING Mutual Fund, Kotak MF
has bought PineBridge Mutual Fund and Pramerica has taken over Deutsche Bank’s
mutual fund business in India.
5) Who was appointed as the
new Lokayukta of Delhi on 21 October 2015? – Justice Reva Khetrapal
Explanation: Reva Khetrapal is a former
Delhi High Court judge. She was appointed as the new Lokayukta of Delhi on 20
October 2015.
Justice
Khetrapal has given judgments in a number of high-profile cases, including the
December 16 gangrape case, where she upheld the death penalty of the convicts.
The
post of Delhi Lokayukta has remained vacant since November 2013, when retired
Justice Manmohan Sarin relinquished office.
The
decision to recommend Justice Khetrapal to the post was declared following a
meeting of the four-member panel comprising Lieutenant Governor Najeeb
Jung, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court G
Rohini and Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta. Later Najeeb Jung
recommended her name to President Pranab Mukherjee for the formal appointment
on 20 October.
Justice
Reva Khetrapal thus became the 4th Lokayukta of Delhi.
23-24 october
2015
1) The United Nations
completed how many years of its establishment on 24 October 2015? – 70
years
Explanation: United Nations (UN), the
global intergovernmental organization, was established as the lead organization
to promote international peace and cooperation on 24 October 1945. Thus the UN
completed 70 years of its establishment on 24 October 2015.
In
the wake of catastrophic Second World War (1939-45), and following months of
intense negotiations, representatives of 51 countries laboured in 1945 to
overcome differences and founded an enduring global institution for peace,
security and human progress. They called it the United Nations.
The
UN replaced the erstwhile League of Nations. The immediate aim of UN was to
prevent another major conflict. At the time it was founded, the UN had 51
member states. India was one of the founding members of the UN. It now has 193
member countries.
On
the occasion of the 70th anniversary of UN numerous programmes
are being held worldwide. Around 200 iconic monuments, buildings, museums,
bridges and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries around the world will be lit
up blue, the official colour of the UN, to mark the occasion.
2) Japan has offered how much
amount of soft-loan to India for country’s first bullet-train network, as
announced on 22 October 2015? – $15 billion
Explanation: India’s first bullet-train
network has been proposed to be established between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was picked to assess the feasibility of
building the 505-kilometre corridor linking the two cities. JICA recently
submitted its feasibility report to Indian Railways in which it concluded that
the project would be technically and financially viable.
Apart
from this, Japan has offered to finance the proposed high speed rail corridor
estimated (to cost about Rs. 90,000 crore) at an interest rate of less than one
per cent. The loan offering by Japan is being seen as a bid to surpass
competition from China and other countries for India’s bullet train projects.
Though there are many countries offering the high-speed technology for the
bullet train project, it is Japan which is offering both technology and funding
together.
It is
worth mention that during September 2015 China won the contract to assess the
feasibility of a high-speed train between Delhi and Mumbai, a 1,200-km route
estimated to cost twice as much. No loan has yet been offered.
3) The Department of Heavy
Industry released the draft of a National Policy on Capital Goods on 23 October
2015. This is the first time that a policy on Capital Goods is being framed.
What is the primary objective of National Policy on Capital Goods? – To
unlock the potential for capital goods sector and establish India as a global
manufacturing powerhouse
Explanation: The Draft National Policy
on Capital Goods has been framed in active consultation with industry
associations & bodies. It was released on 23 October 2015 and has been put
on public domain for seeking comments, views and suggestions of stakeholders/
public in general. The comments on draft policy are being sought till 31
October 2015.
Capital
goods consist of plant machinery, equipment and accessories required, either
directly or indirectly, for manufacture or production of goods or for rendering
services, including those required for replacement, modernization,
technological upgradation and expansion of manufacturing facilities.
The
growth and development of capital goods is critical for India to achieve the
vision of “Make in India” by increasing share of manufacturing to 25% of Gross
Value Added. This in turn will help generate additional jobs, improve India’s
trade balance and increase domestic self-reliance. The National Policy on
Capital Goods is envisaged to unlock the potential of this promising sector and
establish India as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
4) The new book titled ‘Dreaming
Big: My Journey to Connect India‘, that was released on 22 October 2015, is
the autobiography of which personality associated with the telecom revolution
in India? – Sam Pitroda
Explanation: Sam Pitroda (full name
Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda) is often known as the person who heralded the
telecom revolution in India. His autobiography ‘Dreaming Big: My Journey to
Connect India‘ was launched on 22 October 2015 by Mukesh Ambani.
In
the 1980s Pitroda was entrusted with the task to extend digital
telecommunications to every corner of the country, including remote villages,
by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
He
launched the Center for the Development of Telematics (C-DOT), and served as
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Technology Missions related to water,
literacy, immunization, oil seeds, telecom, and dairy. He is also the founding
Chairman of India’s Telecom Commission.
Pitroda
has also started several businesses as a serial entrepreneur (Wescom Switching,
Ionics, MTI, Martek, WorldTel, C-SAM, etc.) in the US and Europe.
5) The foundation stone for
Andhra Pradesh’s new capital Amaravati was laid on 22 October 2015 by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. This new capital city is being modeled after which
city? – Singapore
Explanation: Amravati (or Amaravathi) is
a village in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks
of Krishna River in Amaravati mandal of Guntur revenue division. The new
capital of the bifurcated Andhra Pradesh is being established at Amravati, with
over 30 km area around it.
Historically,
Amaravati was the capital of Satavahanas, the first great Andhra kings who
ruled from the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century
AD.
Pitched
as a world-class riverfront capital city, Amaravati will be an energy-efficient
and green city with concentration on industrial hubs. It is being modeled on
the pattern of Singapore with the Singapore Govt. and agencies taking active
role in establishment of this new capital.
The
seed capital plan for the new capital Amaravati, unveiled by the Singapore
agencies, projects the core capital region more as a hub of financial and
business activities than a place to live in.
The
foundation-laying ceremony of Amaravati was performed at Uddandarayunipalem
village in Guntur district on 22 October on the auspicious occasion of
Vijayadashami.
25-26 october
2015
1) In a landmark decision, the
Ministry of Defence has approved the induction of women into the fighter
(Combat) stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to the announcement
made on 24 October 2015 when the first women pilots are expected to officially
fly a fighter aircraft of the IAF? – June 2017
Explanation: The first women pilots
would be selected from the batch which is presently undergoing flying training
at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. After successful completion of associated
training, they would be commissioned in the fighter stream in June 2016.
Thereafter, they would undergo advanced training for one year and would enter a
fighter cockpit by June 2017.
The
IAF is presently inducting women in the Transport and Helicopter stream of the
flying branch, Navigation, Aeronautical Engineering, Administration, Logistics,
Accounts, Education and Meteorology branches. With this decision to open up
induction of women in the fighter stream, women have become eligible for
induction in all branches and streams of the IAF.
The
decision to induct women fighter pilots is in keeping with the aspirations of
Indian women and is in line with contemporary trends in armed forces of
developed nations. Since their induction into the Transport and Helicopter
streams of the IAF, their performance has been praiseworthy and on a par with
their male counterparts. Inducting women into the fighter stream would provide
them with an equal opportunity to prove their mettle in combat roles as well.
2) An Advanced Landing Ground
(ALG) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was inaugurated at Walongon
23 October 2015. This ALG was operational during 1962 Chinese aggression.
Thereafter, it remained abandoned for a long time till it was decided in 2013
to reconstruct it. In which state of the country is Walong situated? – Arunachal
Pradesh
Explanation: Walong is a small
mountainous town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district. Situated just 20 km
south of Chinese border, Walong is also the easternmost town in India.
This
town had an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) which was capable of taking erstwhile
Caribous and Otter aircrafts during the Chinese aggression of 1962. But this
ALG was abandoned after this war.
The
decision to reconstruct Walong ALG was taken in 2013 and the reconstructed
airstrip was formally inaugurated on 23 October. This ALG will support air
operations and will also facilitate the administration in the management of
border areas.
3) What is the name of the
hurricane which battered Mexico on 23 and 24 October 2015 and was rated as one
of the strongest storms ever recorded? – Patricia
Explanation: Patricia formed suddenly on
20 October 2015 as a tropical storm and quickly strengthened to a hurricane.
Within 30 hours it had zoomed to a record-beating Category 5 storm, catching
many off guard with its rapid growth. By 23 October it was the most powerful
hurricane on record in the Western Hemisphere, with a central pressure of 880
millibars and maximum sustained winds of 200 mph (325 kph).
There
were reports of some flooding and landslips as the storm moved over inland
mountains after nightfall. This hurricane battered south-western Mexico on 23
October. However, the damage was less than those expected from a hurricane of
this magnitude.
4) What is the name of the
Vice-President of Maldives who was arrested on 24 October 2015 in connection
with an attempted murder attempt of the President? – Ahmed Adeeb
Explanation: The police of the island
nation of Maldives on 24 October 2015 arrested Vice President Ahmed Adeeb in
connection with an explosion aboard President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s boat during
September 2015.
Adeeb
was arrested at the airport when he returned from an official visit to China on
suspicion of involvement in the boat blast. Soon after the 28 September blast
aboard President Yameen Gayoom’s speedboat, rumors began circulating that Adeeb
was behind it.
The
explosion took place aboard Gayoom’s boat as he and his wife were returning to
Male, the Maldives’ capital, from the airport after a hajj pilgrimage to Saudi
Arabia. The South Asian archipelago nation’s airport is on a separate island
from the capital. Gayoom escaped unhurt, but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard
were injured in the blast.
5) What is the name of the
conservative province of Indonesia, where a strict Islamic criminal code was
enacted on 23 October 2015 that criminalizes homosexuality and adultery?
– Aceh
Explanation: Aceh is the only province
in the Muslim-dominated country of Indonesia which adheres to the Muslim law
known as Sharia.
On 23
October 2015 local government of Aceh enacted a strict Islamic criminal code
which criminalizes adultery, homosexuality, and public displays of affection
outside of a legally recognised relationship. The new law also criminalises
rape and sexual harassment. Those found guilty could face 40 lashes or more.
Aceh
was granted special autonomy in 2005 as part of an agreement with Indonesian
government to end decades of separatist violence and was then able to introduce
strict Sharia law.
6) South Africa won the
5-match ODI series against India as it defeated India in the final ODI at
Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) by 214 runs on 25 October 2015 to win the series 3-2.
Who was declared man of the series? – AB de Villiers (South Africa)
Explanation: Led by inspiring
performance by skipper AB de Villiers South Africa won their maiden ODI series
in India on 25 October. AB de Villiers scored three centuries in the series and
was adjudged man of the series.
In
the fifth and final ODI of the series played at Mumbai, Quinton de Kock, Faf du
Plessis and AB de Villiers all hit centuries to score a mammoth 438/4 in 50
overs. It was the fourth-highest ODI total on record and the highest ever
scored in India. India in its reply meekly surrendered by scoring a paltry 224
(all out). Quinton de Kock was adjudged man of the match.
27 october 2015
1) The 3rd India-Africa
Forum Summit kicked-off from 26 October 2015 at New Delhi. It is being seen as
one of the largest multi-lateral event held in India, with confirmed attendance
of over 40 African heads of state. When was the first edition of India-Africa
Forum Summit held? – 2008
Explanation: The India-Africa Forum
Summit is the official platform for the relations between India and
African countries. The 1st edition of this Summit was held from
4 April to 8 April 2008 in New Delhi. The event was attended by heads of state
from 14 African countries.
The 2nd edition
of India-Africa Forum Summit was held at Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in 2011.
The 3rd edition
of the Summit is being held from 26 October to 30 October 2015 at New Delhi.
The Summit started with consultations on official level on 26 October. The main
summit will take place on 29 October and will comprise of a plenary session and
declarations in the presence of representatives from 54 African countries and
over 40 heads of state. The Summit is taking place a month ahead of Africa’s
second such summit with China.
2) A powerful earthquake
struck parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and northern India on 26 October 2015.
Tremors of this massive earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale were felt
in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi. Several buildings
developed cracks in J&K while hundreds of persons were killed in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. Where was the epicenter of this earthquake as
reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)? – In Hindukush
mountain range in remote Afghanistan
Explanation: The epicenter of this
earthquake was 196 km (120 miles) deep and centered 82 km southeast of Feyzabad
in a remote area of Afghanistan in the Hindukush mountain range as reported by
the USGS.
The
earthquake came at around 2.45 pm (IST) and was felt in J&K including
capital Srinagar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, apart from large parts of
Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a result the flyover at Jehangir Chowk in the
heart of Srinagar developed cracks, forcing the authorities to suspend
traffic over it.
Delhi
Metro services were put on hold from 2.40 PM to 2.55 PM in view of the
earthquake.
Over
250 deaths were reported from Pakistan and at least 12 people died in
Afghanistan according to the preliminary reports.
3) Geeta, a deaf-mute Indian
woman who accidentally crossed over to Pakistan more than a decade ago,
made her much-cherished arrival in India to meet her long-lost family on
26 October 2015. In Pakistan she was adopted by which noted philanthropist of
that country? – Bilquis Bano Edhi
Explanation: Geeta was reportedly just 7
or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express
by Pakistani Rangers 15 years ago at the Lahore railway station. She
was adopted by Bilquis Bano Edhi and lived with her in Karachi.
Geeta
had identified her family through a photograph sent to her by the Indian
High Commission in Islamabad. The family reportedly is from Bihar.
As
her story gained fresh media attention after Salman Khan-starrer film “Bajrangi
Bhaijaan” depicting similar story of a Pakistani girl stranded in India,
the Indian government vowed to bring her back.
Bilquis
Bano Edhi is a noted Pakistani philanthropist who also
runs the ‘Bilquis Edhi Foundation’ which runs numerous charity
services in Pakistan.
4) Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on 25 October 2015 announced doing away with the requirement of interviews
for lesser non-gazetted central government jobs. This announcement was made on
PM’s “Mann ki Baat” radio broadcast. From which date this announcement
will be put into effect? – 1 January 2016
Explanation: According to the
announcement made by the Prime Minister, there will be no requirement of
interview for Group D, C and B non-gazetted posts in central government from 1
January 2016. This decision has been taken primarily to put an end to the
menace of corruption in jobs.
The
objective behind abolition of interviews for such posts is that it will curb
corruption, ensure more objective selection in a transparent manner and
substantially ease the problems of the poor and ‘resource-less’ aspirants.
5) The final of the 2015 Rugby
World Cup will be played between which two countries? – Australia
and New Zealand
Explanation: 2015 Rugby World Cup is
being played in England from 18 September to 31 October 2015. It is the 8th edition
of the World Cup with participation from 20 countries.
Australia
and New Zealand qualified for the final of the World Cup, to be played on 31
October 2015 at Twickenham Stadium (London). In the first semi-final played on
24 October New Zealand defeated South Africa by 20-18. In the second semi-final
played on 25 October Australia defeated Argentina by 29-15. This will be the
first time that archrivals Australia and New Zealand will clash in the final of
a Rugby World Cup. The classification match for third place will be played on
30 October 2015 between South Africa and Argentina.
It is
worth mentioning that both Australia and New Zealand have won the Rugby World
Cup twice. New Zealand is the defending champion having the 2011 edition.
6) Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton
won the 2015 Formula One (F1) title after he won the US Grand Prix at Austin
circuit (Texas) on 25 October 2015. With this F1 title, Hamilton has now won
how many F1 titles in his career? – Three
Explanation: Lewis Hamilton (Britain)
joined the elite group of triple Formula One world champions as he won the US
Grand Prix in thrilling finish on 25 October. His earlier F1 titles were in
2014 and 2008. In 2008 Hamilton won the title competing for McLaren team while
2014 and this year’s title came through Mercedes team.
With
this title win, Hamilton realized a lifelong ambition to equal the tally of his
boyhood idol Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian triple champion who died in 1994.
Michael
Schumacher (Germany) is the most successful F1 champion ever having won record
7 titles. He is followed by Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) with 5 titles and
Alain Prost (France) and Sebastian Vettel (Germany) with 4 titles each.
Lewis
Hamilton is now tied with Jack Brabham (Australia), Jackie Stewart (Britain),
Niki Lauda (Austria), Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna (both Brazil), who all
have won three F1 titles.
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