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 4^th 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 70^th 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 2^nd century BC to the 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 1^st 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 2^nd edition of India-Africa Forum Summit was held at Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in 2011.

The 3^rd 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 8^th 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.