15:07
1) Indian Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill on 22 December 2015 as the bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on this day. The much-anticipated and controversial Bill was passed against the backdrop of a juvenile convict being released in the gangrape-cum-murder case of December 2012. What is the main objective of this bill? – It will lower the age for trial from 18 years
Explanation: The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, which provides for lowering the age for trial from 18 years, was passed by Rajya Sabha
with a voice vote on 22 December 2015 after a walkout by Left parties.
The bill had been passed earlier by the Lok Sabha and the bill will now be sent to the President for ratification. However, this bill will not affect the juvenile offender involved in the gangrape case.
2) Which entity became the first in the country to tie up with e-Mudhra, the government licensed certifying authority to introduce ‘eSign’? – Axis Bank
Explanation: Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private sector lender, has partnered with digital security company eMudhra for the eSign service. Under the eSign Service, individuals with Aadhaar numbers will be able to digitally sign documents to submit to the bank online. Axis Bank thus became the first organization in the country to sign up for this service.
The service rides on Aadhaar authentication and generates the digital signature automatically. The generated signature is legally valid and secure.
At present, a customer has to submit a hard copy of the application form signed along with copies of relevant documents to apply and avail of any product or service of a bank. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates banks to acquire basic information of the customer along with proofs for identity, domicile, etc., under know-your-customer (KYC) norms.
e-Mudhra, a leading digital security company, had launched the eSign service earlier in July 2015.
3) Ten personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed as a Beechcraft aircraft crashed near the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi just after take-off on 22 December 2015. This aircraft was bound for – Ranchi
Explanation: This BSF aircraft had taken-off for Ranchi at around 9:45 am and crashed just a few minutes later. The aircraft was on its way back and approaching the airport’s runway 10 from the Dwarka side when it suddenly lost radio contact with the ATC. The plane crashed at the airport’s outer periphery boundary wall.
The flight was going to Ranchi with 10 BSF personnel on board, including Pilots BP Bhatt and Rajesh Shriram, Deputy Commandant D. Kumar, Inspector RP Yadav and SN Sharma, Sub Inspector Ravindra Kumar, Sunder Singh and Chotte Lal, Assistant Sub Inspector DP Chouhan and Constable K Rawat.
The plane had senior technicians who were flying to Ranchi to repair a helicopter. Talks in Dhaka between the BSF and its Bangladesh counterpart were put off because of the crash.
4) Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket at its landing base in Florida on 21 December 2015, thus creating a new history in space launches. What is special about this launch? –This was largest reusable rocket launched into orbit which returned safely to the Earth later
Explanation: Typically, rocket boosters are used once, burning up or crashing into the ocean after liftoff. But Elon Musk, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and Tesla, and Jeffrey Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com who has his own space company, have been working on creating reusable rockets that land vertically by using their engine thrust. If they are able to recover rockets and fly them again and again, it would dramatically lower the cost of space flight.
During November 2015 Bezos’ ‘Blue Origin’ flew a rocket to the edge of space, and landed it in a remote swath of West Texas. But the flight of Musk’s SpaceX rocket involved a much more powerful rocket and was much more complicated feat than Bezos’.
It is worth mentioning that SpaceX’s similar mission involving a Falcon 9 rocket in June 2015 was miserable failure with the rocket blowing up mid-way. The launch of 21 December used an upgraded Falcon-9 rocket.
5) Union Government took a big step towards putting in place an effective legal framework for insolvency resolution in a time-bound manner. This was done with introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2015 in the Rajya Sabha on 21 December 2015. What is the main objective of this Code? – It fixes a time limit of 180 days (extendable by a further 90 days) for completion of the corporate insolvency-resolution process
Explanation: The current insolvency-resolution process in India is tedious and delay-ridden and it takes anywhere between five and 15 years for lenders to recover money in the event of corporate default. As on date, there is no single law in India that deals with insolvency and bankruptcy.
For making insolvency resolution swifter, the government introduced the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2015 which seeks to amend as many as 12 existing laws, including the Companies Act 2013, the Income-Tax Act, and the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007. Insolvency professionals will assist in the resolution, liquidation and bankruptcy proceedings envisaged in the code.
6) Which European country rejected same-sex marriage in the country in a referendum held in the country on 20 December 2015? – Slovenia
Explanation: About 63.4% of voters of Slovenia rejected the law in a referendum that would have given same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt children in its second vote on gay rights in four years.
It is worth mentioning that in March 2015 the Slovenian Parliament had passed a law that gave same sex couples the right to marry and adopt children but the measures have not been enforced because a civil society group appealed to the top court, calling for a referendum.
A number of EU states have legally recognised same-sex marriages, including Britain, France and Spain, but the issue remains contentious in many other EU states.
7) Who won the Miss Universe title for 2015 that was held at the AXIS Theater, Las Vegas (USA) on 20 December 2015? – Pia Wurtzbach(Philippines)
Explanation: Miss Universe 2015 was the 64th edition of the Miss Universe pageant. Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines won the title while Colombia’s Ariadna Gutiérrez was first runner up and the third runner up title went to Olivia Jordan of the USA.
This was the first edition of the Miss Universe pageant under the new owners, WME/IMG and was the first to be aired by Fox and Azteca. The show was marred when host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Ariadna Gutiérrez from Colombia as Miss Universe 2015, even though it had been decided by the judges that Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines had won.
India’s Urvashi Rautela couldn’t make it into top 15.
24 dec 2015
1) What is the name of the first indigenously designed and built warship of the Indian Navy that was decommissioned in Mumbai on 23 December 2015? – INS Godavari
Explanation: INS Godavari, built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, was the first indigenously designed and built guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy. It was the lead ship of her class and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 10 December 1983.
Over the past three decades, INS Godavari has been successfully deployed in numerous operations including Operation Jupiter – 1988 (Sri Lanka), Operation Shield and Operation Bolster – 1994 (de-induction of Indian Army from Somalia) and Patrol of Gulf of Aden (PoG) – 2009 and 2011 (anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden). It came into limelight in an operation called “Operation Cactus” in 1988, in which India successfully thwarted a coup against Maldivian Government.
After 32 years of service, she was decommissioned on 23 December 2015. In 2014, a naval review board had decided to decommission INS Godavari due to high maintenance costs and obsolete technology.
2) Indian Railways on 23 December 2015 tied up with which private sector bank to sell rail tickets through its applications? – ICICI Bank
Explanation: ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, will soon introduce the facility to book rail tickets on its mobile banking application and prepaid digital wallet. On 23 December the bank tied up with Railways’ e-ticketing platform Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to sell rail tickets through its applications.
It is the first time that IRCTC has tied up with a banking entity to sell tickets through the various applications of the bank.
Users will have to first register on the website of IRCTC, where it primarily sells rail tickets, and then do a one-time registration on the bank’s website to avail of the facility.
The facility is not limited to ICICI customers as any other bank’s customer can also use the facility. The payments for the purchases can be made using the online banking facility, debit or credit card of any bank.
3) Who was named ICC Cricketer of the Year award for 2015 and thus won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 23 December 2015? –Steve Smith (Australia)
Explanation: Australian batsman and present captain Steve Smith was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year award for 2015 by the ICC in a list released by it on 23 December. Smith also won ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award while South African batting maestro AB De Villiers was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year.
The full list of ICC Award 2015:
– ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) – Steve Smith (Australia)
– ICC Test Cricketer of the Year – Steve Smith (Australia)
– ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year – AB de Villiers (South Africa)
– ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year – Meg Lanning (Australia)
– ICC Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year – Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)
– ICC T20 Performance of the Year – Faf du Plessis (South Africa) (119, 56 balls, 11×4, 5×6 – 2nd T20I vs. West Indies, 11 January 2015, Johannesburg)
– ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
– ICC Associate/Affiliate Cricketer of the Year – Khurram Khan (UAE)
– ICC Spirit of Cricket Award – Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
– ICC Umpire of the Year (David Shepherd Trophy) – Richard Kettleborough (England)
4) Leading automakers of the India – Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki recently joined hands to invest as well as develop components and systems for electric and hybrid vehicles. This initiative became reality after Union Government’s FAME India scheme, which was launched in April 2015. FAME stands for – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Explanation: FAME or Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India scheme envisages Rs. 795 crore in incentives for two years as part of the first phase of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. This scheme offers cash incentives for those who want to buy hybrid and electric vehicles.
According to the scheme, the customer buying any form of hybrid or electric vehicle will get the incentive in terms of lower cost, while the manufacturer can claim the incentive from the government.
5) FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) during December 2015 signed an agreement with which group to acquire its flagship brand ‘Indulekha’ for Rs. 330 crore?- Mosons Group
Explanation: Mosons Group is the owner of ‘Indulekha’ and ‘Vayodha’ brands. Indulekha was first launched in 2009 as a premium ayurvedic hair oil. Over the years, ‘Indulekha Bringha Oil’ has carved out a niche for itself supported by endorsements and sustained investments in brand-building.
The brand, with a strong presence across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and a recent foray into Maharashtra, had a turnover of Rs.100 crores and an EBITDA margin of around 30% for the year ending March 2015.
25 dec 2015
1) The first cable-stayed bridge of north India was inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 24 December 2015. The bridge that will provide close connectivity between the three states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, is situated at which place? – Basholi (Kathua, JK)
Explanation: This cable stayed-bridge is built on River Ravi at Basholi in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Basohli Bridge is fourth of its kind in India. The other three cable-stayed bridges are – Hooghly Bridge at Kolkata, Naini Bridge in Allahabad and Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link in Mumbai.
The work on this 592 m long cable-stay bridge was started in September 2011 on the demand of people of Basohli where over 22 villages were submerged in water and evacuated to other places after the construction of Ranjit Sagar dam.
It is a joint venture of Border Roads Organization (BRO), IRCON (a Railway Company) and SP Singla Construction group.
2) What is the new deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes as announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 23 December 2015? –30 June 2016
Explanation: The RBI on 23 December once again extended the date for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes with new ones to 30 June 2016 from 31 December 2015. This is the fifth time RBI extended the deadline that started in January 2014. The old notes, of Mahatma Gandhi series, will continue to remain legal tenders.
Earlier, the exchange was facilitated through any bank branches, but from 1 January 2016, only a few designated branches will accept the old notes for exchange.
The pre-2005 currency notes are being exchanged as new notes have better security features and it is a standard international practice not to have currency notes from multiple series in simultaneous circulation.
3) Which public-sector undertaking maintained its top spot in the List of Fortune 500 Indian companies (2015) for sixth consecutive time, as disclosed in the list released on 24 December 2015? – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
Explanation: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) topped the Fortune 500 List of Indian companies for 2015 with an annual revenue of Rs. 4,51,911 crore. This was the sixth consecutive time that IOC grabbed the top spot.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was second in the list with full-year revenue of Rs. 3,82,565 crore. Tata Motors with a revenue of Rs. 2,67,025 crore jumped to third slot from last year’s fifth place by replacing Bharat Petroleum (BPCL). State Bank of India (SBI) moved to fourth position with an annual revenue of Rs. 2,57,289 crore, from sixth rank in 2014. Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) is ranked fifth with an annual revenue of Rs. 2,40,367 crore. It had grabbed the third spot in last year’s ranking.
The list, which has been compiled by global business magazine Fortune’s Indian edition since 2010, said the total revenue of firms has grown a merely 2.7% and profits fell 5.9% compared with 2014.
4) What is the name of the asteroid that passed by Earth on 24 December 2015 and which came to news as some fake reports claimed that it will pose a threat to Earth? –2003 SD220
Explanation: Asteroid 2003 SD220 was its closest distance from Earth on Christmas Eve (24 December 2015) at about 10.6 million kilometers. Despite its closest approach it was not visible to the naked eye.
Despite its small size (only about 1.24 miles, or 2 kilometers wide) and its vast distance from Earth, certain articles and news reports claimed that the asteroid will pose a threat to the Earth. NASA rubbished such claims and cleared that asteroid 2003 SD220 was at a very safe distance from our planet.
5) What is the name of Malaysia’s first Islamic airline that was launched by an Indian couple on 23 December 2015? – ‘Rayani Air’
Explanation: ‘Rayani Air’ is the name of Malaysia’s first Islamic airline that offers Shariah compliant services including prayers before take-off, no on-flight serving of alcohol or meals with pork and a strict dress code for female flight attendants.
It was launched by its Indian origin couple Ravi Alagendrran and his wife Karthiyani Govindan who promoted the airline.
Rayani Air’s fleet has two Boeing 737-400 aircraft with a capacity of 188 passengers each.
26-27 dec 2015
1) Prime Minister Narendra Modi stunned the diplomatic circle, his opponents and even his party members by undertaking a surprise visit to Pakistan and meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 25 December 2015. This impromptu meeting was held at Sharif’s residence near Lahore. What is the name this sprawling palace spread over 5000 acres? – ‘Raiwind Palace’
Explanation: ‘Raiwind Palace’ came to news after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif held their informal meeting here on 25 December. Modi had made a surprise visit to Pakistan while on his way from Afghanistan to India.
The visit was Modi’s first visit to Pakistan, and the first trip by an Indian prime minister to the country in 11 years.
‘Raiwind Palace’ is situated in the small town of Jati Umrah on the outskirts of Lahore. This palace is spread over a 5000 acre estate. This palace is the palace of the Sharif family which has huge business interests in various sectors. The palace was also hosting the wedding ceremony of Nawaz Sharif’s grand-daughter during Modi’s visit.
2) Which country’s new Parliament complex, built by India, was inaugurated on 25 December 2015? –Afghanistan
Explanation: Afghanistan’s new parliament building was dedicated to the nation on 25 December 2015 the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the Indian PM Narendra Modi. This inauguration function was held on the occasion of Modi’s state visit to Afghanistan.
This complex has been built by financial and technical assistance from India and has cost approximately Rs. 710 crore.
The parliament building, which was started in 2009, had missed its completion deadlines at least 3 times since 2011.
The new Parliament building is located across from the now-ruined ‘Darul Aman Palace’, the now-gutted palace of King Amanullah Khan. It is worth mentioning that at a time it was proposed to covert ‘Darul Aman Palace’ into Afghanistan’s new Parliament. But the plan was shelved due to financial constraints and attacks on the palace by the Taliban.
3) Which IT entity launched its mobile wallet called ‘MoboMoney’ during December 2015? – Tech Mahindra Ltd
Explanation: Software services company Tech Mahindra Ltd, which is among the 11 firms to get a payments bank licence, on 23 December 2015 launched a mobile wallet called ‘MoboMoney’.
‘MoboMoney’ will allow consumers to complete online as well as offline transactions, including payments at grocery stores, tea vendors and restaurants that accept only cash. The company claims the platform allows transactions as low as Rs.1.
‘MoboMoney’ is run with the help of near-field communication (NFC) technology, where merchants and customers are issued NFC tags. While the merchants would need a point of sale (POS) device or a NFC-enabled smartphone for the transaction, the customer would just need the NFC tag at the time of purchase.
Tech Mahindra claimed that it is India’s first commercial rollout of a contact-less payment wallet.
4) The Central-Govt.-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on 25 December 2015 launched an ‘appointments system’ which aims to reduce the waiting period from an average of six hours to two. This project has been implemented by which entities? – National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)
Explanation: The new ‘appointments system’ developed and implemented by the government’s National Informatics Centre and software services firm Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) has been envisaged to make AIIMS’s out-patient department (OPD) more patient-friendly.
While the National Informatics Centre developed the integration software, TCS helped complete the system by developing processes for crowd management. The project was envisaged in 2014 to improve accountability and transparency at AIIMS’s OPD, making it more patient-friendly.
AIIMS is facing tremendous hardships in managing the ever growing number of OPD patients it receives from almost all parts of the country. It is expected that the new system will reduce the long queues outside its OPD.
5) Veteran Hindi actress Sadhana passed away on 25 December 2015 at the age of 74. “Mera Saaya“, “Wo Kaun Thi” and “Hum Dono” were some of her most famous films. What is the name of her debut film which started her journey to stardom? – “Love in Simla” (1960)
Explanation: In “Love in Simla” Sadhana starred opposite Joy Mukherjee. This was also the film through which she introduced her iconic hairstyle popularly known as ‘Sadhana Cut’.
Her full name was Sadhana Shivdasani. Some of her memorable films include “Love in Simla“, “Hum Dono“, “Ek Musafir Ek Hasina“, “Asli-Naqli“, “Mere Mehboob“, “Mera Saaya” and “Woh Kaun Thi“.

Sadhana was one of the highest paid actresses of Hindi film industry during 60s and 70s.


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