12:06
12 dec 2015
1) The Supreme Court on 10 December 2015 upheld the validity of a law enacted by a state government pertaining barring the illiterate from contesting panchayat polls in the state. This SC order may pave the way for introduction of minimum education as a prerequisite for contesting polls at various levels. Which state’s law was upheld in this order? – Haryana
Explanation: On 10 December a bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015. The Act requires that general candidates must have passed Class X examination while women
and Dalit candidates need to have cleared Class VIII. Dalit women candidates must clear Class V.
Apart from Haryana, Rajasthan is the only other state to fix minimum education qualifications for those contesting panchayat polls.
2) A planeload of Syrian refugees arrived in which country, which has pledged to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February 2016? – Canada
Explanation: A Canadian military aircraft carrying 163 Syrian refugees arrived in Toronto on 10 December 2015 where they were greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The arrival of these refugees came amid an intense debate in the West over what to do with people fleeing violence in the Middle East. Canada’s welcoming stands in stark contrast to the U.S.
All 10 of Canada’s provincial premiers support taking in the refugees and members of the opposition, including the Conservative party, attended the welcoming. It is worth mentioning that PM Trudeau is pushing forward with his pledge to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February.
Canada’s commitment reflects the change in government after October’s election. Former Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who lost the October election to Trudeau, had declined to resettle more Syrian refugees.
3) In an important decision given on 11 December 2105, the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) set aside the Rs. 6,316.59 crore penalty imposed on 11 cement firms by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on cartelisation charges. When CCI had passed this order against the cement firms? – June 2012
Explanation: The CCI had passed the orders after an investigation into complaints, including from Builders Association of India (BAI) against alleged price cartelisation among cement firms. On 20 June 2012, the CCI comprising the Chairperson and six Members passed two orders and declared that the appellants had acted in violation and imposed cumulative penalty of Rs. 6,316.59 crore.
In a major verdict, the CAT set the penalty order imposed on these cement firms by the CCI. It also allowed the cement manufacturers to withdraw the 10% penalty amount already deposited with the CCI, which has been asked to pass a fresh order within three months.
The CCI’s penalty against cement manufacturers has been one of the biggest imposed so far by the regulator and the CAT’s verdict in this case may have repercussions for other cases also where CCI has imposed hefty penalties.
The 11 cement firms involved in this case are ACC, Ambuja Cements, Binani Cements, Century Textiles Ltd, India Cements, JK Cements, Lafarge India, Madras Cements, Ultratech, JP Associates and Shree Cements.
4) What is the name of the autobiography of NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s autobiography that was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 December 2015? – “On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power”
Explanation: “On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power” – is the name of the autobiography of NCP leader Sharad Pawar. It was released on 10 December 2015 on the occasion of his 75th birthday, for which a huge gathering of political leaders assembled at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan.
The autobiography was formally released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Through this autobiographical book, Pawar offers the inside story of numerous political events in which he was involved.
5) The U.S. Administration recently updated its technology transfer policy associated with which major defence cooperation agreement with India as disclosed on 10 December 2015? – Gas-turbine engine technology transfer
Explanation:  The United States has updated its policy on gas-turbine engine technology transfer to India, as disclosed in a statement issued on 10 December. It was issued on the occasion of Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to Washington. He was informed of this decision by US Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
This move is expected to lead to expanded cooperation in production and design of jet-engine components between US and India. The United States has become one of the main sources of weapons for the Indian military, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make-in-India” programme has offered joint development and production of military technologies.
13-14 DEC 2015
1) A historic climate agreement was adopted unanimously at the UN Climate Change Summit (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 with 196 countries adopting a goal of “well below 2 degrees C” for temperature rise, and instituting a regime of financing of developing economies to help make the transition. This agreement is scheduled to come into effect from which year? – 2020
Explanation: The main objective of this historic agreement is to achieve a legally binding, international agreement to keep average global temperatures no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures.
The COP21 agreement was achieved on 12 December 2015 after two weeks of talks and an intensive three days of convergence negotiations at the UN Climate Change Summit in Paris. The Summit had started on 30 November 2015.
The agreement is scheduled to go into effect from 2020 while first global evaluation of the implementation of the agreement is to take place in 2023, and thereafter every five years to help all countries. Pledges by countries with an end date of 2025 or 2030 will need to be updated by 2020, and enhanced action every five years thereafter.
Main features of COP21 Agreement
It confirmed the key objective of containing mean global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and to endeavour to limit it to 1.5 degrees.
The agreement takes into account the differentiation and responsibility of developing countries, and their respective capacities in light of national circumstances.
The agreement approved a provision of $100 billion per year as a floor by 2020 to help developing nations.
There is provision for adaptation to climate change. Apart from this there will be collective stocktaking every five years of national actions and consideration of steps if efforts are insufficient for the objective set.
2) Which African country declared itself an Islamic republic on 12 December 2015? – Gambia
Explanation: Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared his Muslim-majority country an Islamic republic on 12 December 2015. He made this announcement on state TV saying the move marks a break with the colonial past.
Some 90% of Gambians are Muslim. Country’s relations with the West have soured recently with President Jammeh withdrawing his country from the Commonwealth in 2013, describing the organisation as neo-colonial.
3) Noted economist agriculturist, politician, prolific journalist and well-known farmer leader Sharad A. Joshi passed away at the age of 81 in Pune on 12 December 2015. He had founded which famous farmer’s organisation in Maharashtra? – ‘Shetkari Sanghatana’
Explanation: Sharad Anantrao Joshi was a multi-dimensional personality with extensive leaning towards the problems of farmers and agricultural sector. He was also a Member of the Parliament of India representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. He was one of the tallest leaders to grace Maharashtra’s politics during the 1980s.
He came into his own when he founded ‘Shetkari Sanghatana’ – the pan-Maharashtra farmer’s organisation with the catchy slogan ‘Freedom of access to markets and to Technology’. The organisation served as a template for future famers’ outfits in challenging the ruling classes and bargaining higher remunerative prices for farmers.
Joshi’s movement soon became a clarion call, taking up the cause of thousands of onion, cotton and sugarcane farmers across Maharashtra.
4) Which country’s embassy in Afghanistan was site of a Taliban suicide attack on 11 December 2015 resulting in the death of six security officers and three Taliban fighters? – Spain
Explanation: A suicide attack on a guest house attached to the Spanish embassy in Kabul took place in the evening of 11 December 2015. This attack took place in a heavily protected part of Kabul close to several embassies and government buildings.
Three Taliban militants involved in the attack were killed. Two Spanish security officers and four Afghan police were also killed in the attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
5) Union Govt. imposed anti-dumping duties on which commodity’s imports from China, the European Union and the United States on 11 December 2015 with the objective of protecting the interests of local producers? –Stainless Steel
Explanation: On 11 December India imposed import duties for five years on some stainless steel imports from China, the European Union and the United States. Imports from South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand will also be taxed. This was done primarily to protect local companies suffering from unfair competition.
The anti-dumping duties, on cold-rolled flat stainless steel products, ranged from 4.6% to 57.4%. It is worth mentioning that the govt. had imposed a 20% import tax on some other steel products in September 2015. But this failed to contain losses for Indian steel companies struggling to compete due to debts and high raw material costs.
Firms including the Steel Authority of India, JSW Steel and Essar Steel have in recent months complained that surging imports are squeezing profit margins. They are lobbying the government to impose duties on a wider range of products to protect their market share.
6) What is the name of the woman cyclist who made history by becoming the first female cyclist from India to be ranked as high as fourth in the world as per the latest World Elite UCI Women Ranking? – Deborah Herold
Explanation: 20-year old Deborah Herold hails from Andaman and Nicobar. She was trained at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Andaman during her initial days. Four years ago, she shifted to Delhi for training at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
Deborah Herold was ranked World No. 4 in the World Elite Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women Ranking. UCI is the world’s governing body for the sport of bicycle racing. With this, she became the highest rank female cyclist from India till date.

Deborah got this ranking after she collected 211 points in the 500m time trials at the Track Asia Cup held at Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in Delhi this November. She won a gold medal in the women’s elite sprint event beating South Korea’s Cho Sun Young.
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