1) In an important development, leaders of 10-nation group ASEAN declared the establishment of an EU-style regional economic bloc. This decision was taken at the 2015 ASEAN Summit that concluded in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on 22 November 2015. What is the name chosen for this proposed regional economic bloc? – ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

Explanation: The decision to establish ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was taken at the 27^th ASEAN Summit (for 2015) that concluded at Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on 22 November. The declaration to establish AEC was signed by the leaders of 10-nation grouping in front of world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The AEC envisages a single market with a free flow of goods, capital and skilled labour across borders in the highly competitive economic region. It will integrate Southeast Asia’s diverse economies, a region with 620 million people and a combined gross domestic product of $2.4 trillion.

The ASEAN leaders also adopted the declaration on

“ASEAN 2025, forging ahead together”.

17th NOV 2015

1) पेरिस में हुए आतंकी हमलों का कड़ा जबाव देते हुए फ्रांसीसी लड़ाकू विमानों ने 15 नवम्बर 2015 को देर रात सीरिया (Syria) के किस नगर पर गोलाबारी की जिसे प्राय: इस्लामिक स्टेट (IS) की अघोषित राजधानी के तौर पर भी जाना जाता है? – रक्का (Raqqa)

विस्तार: रक्का (जिसे अल-रक्काह (Al-Raqqah) या अर-रक्काह (Ar- Raqqah) के नाम से भी जाना जाता है) उत्तर-मध्य सीरिया में यूफ्रेट्स नदी के किनारे बसा हुआ नगर है। 2 लाख से अधिक की जनसंख्या वाला यह शहर सीरिया का छठा सबसे बड़ा शहर भी है। वर्ष 2014 में इस्लामिक स्टेट (IS) के लड़ाकों ने इस शहर पर कब्जा कर लिया था तथा तबसे वे इसे सीरिया में अपने मुख्यालय के रूप में प्रयोग कर रहे हैं।

15 नवम्बर की देर रात को 10 फ्रांसीसी लड़ाकू विमानों ने इस शहर पर कुल 20 बम गिराए। फ्रांसीसी रक्षा मंत्रालय द्वारा जारी जानकारी के अनुसार यह बम मुख्यत: इस शहर में IS के कमान सेण्टर, आतंकी प्रशिक्षण केन्द्र तथा एक शस्त्र भण्डार पर निशाना साध कर गिराए गए। इस हमले में अमेरिका ने

9 to 15 Nov 2015

1) The results of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2015 were declared on 8 November 2015 in which the Grand Alliance of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav humiliated BJP-led NDA front. The Grand Alliance comprising Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD and the Congress notched-up a stunning 178 seats against 58 mustered by the NDA. With this win, Nitish Kumar would become Bihar Chief Minister for ………..time. – Fourth

Explanation: Nitish Kumar has been Bihar Chief Minister for three terms. His first term was just for 8 days in March 2000 when he was part of the erstwhile Samata Party. His second term was from 24 November 2005 to 20 May 2014. On 16 May 2014 he had resigned taking moral responsibility for his party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha Elections 2014. His third term was from 22 February 2015 as he succeeded his former ally Jitan Ram Manjhi. Having won a decisive mandate in 2015 Bihar Assembly Elections, Nitish is poised to become Bihar Chief

IBPS Specialist Officer 2016 Notification – Apply Online for Various Specialist Officer Posts: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released notification for recruitment of I.T. Officer (Scale-I), Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I), Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale-I), Law Officer (Scale-I), HR/ Personnel Officer (Scale-I), Marketing Officer (Scale-I) vacancies through Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL-V) in the Participating Organisations. Eligible candidates may apply online from 23-11-2015 to 10-12-2015. Other details like age limit, educational qualification, selection process, how to apply are given below…

IBPS Specialist Officer Vacancy Details:

9-10th NOV 2015

1) हाल ही में सम्पन्न हुए वर्ष 2015 के बिहार विधानसभा चुनावों (2015 Bihar Assembly Elections) के परिणामों की घोषणा 8 नवम्बर 2015 को की गई जिसमें नीतीश कुमार व लालू यादव के नेतृत्व वाले महागठबन्धन (Grand Alliance) ने भाजपा के नेतृत्व वाले राष्ट्रीय जनतांत्रिक गठबन्धन (राजग – NDA) को चारों खाने चित करते हुए अप्रत्याशित जीत हासिल कर ली। महागठबन्धन ने 178 सीटें हासिल की जबकि राजग 58 सीटों पर सिमट गया। इस अभूतपूर्व जीत के बाद नीतीश कुमार कौन सी बार बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री बनेंगे? – चौथी बार

विस्तार: नीतीश कुमार इससे पहले तीन बार राज्य के मुख्यमंत्री रह चुके हैं।

5 NOV 2015

1) Applications for buying sovereign gold bonds of Govt. of India are being accepted from 5 November 2015. The ambitious scheme of sovereign gold bonds instead of purchasing of physical gold is being launched by which entity? – Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Explanation: Sovereign gold bonds will be issued by the Reserve Bank of India. They will carry the market value of particular amount of gold it is issued. If the price of gold increases the value of the bond will also go up, thus benefiting investors.

The applications for these bonds will be accepted from 5 November to 20 November 2015 by the RBI. The bonds will be issued from 26 November 2015.

Investors can buy a minimum of 2 units or 2 grams and a maximum at 500 grams per fiscal year. Investors will get a fixed rate of interest of 2.75% per annum (payable every 6 months) on the initial value of investment.

The bonds have a maturity period of 8 years, with exit option from the fifth year. Holdings can be redeemed in multiples of one gram.

2) Who will be the new Chief Justice of India (CJI), as announced on

UPSC CDS I 2016 – Apply Online for 457 Vacancies: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released notification for the recruitment of 457 Various Vacancies in Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers Training Academy through Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2016 (Including SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course). Eligible candidates may apply Online from 07-11-2015 to 04-12-2015 by 11:59 PM. Other details like age limit, educational qualification, application fee, selection

1 Nov 2015

1) A Russian airliner carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members crashed on 31 October 2015 resulting in death of all persons on-board. A militant group affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for downing of this plane. This crash took place in which country? – Egypt

Explanation: A Russian aircraft carrying 224 persons (including seven crew members) crashed on 31 October 2015 in a remote mountainous region in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The aircraft (Flight 7K9268) had taken-off for Russia from Egypt’s famous Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh and it went off radar 23 minutes after taking off.

The flight was an international chartered passenger flight operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia (branded as Metrojet). It was en-route to Saint Petersburg. Most of the passengers were Russians while four were Ukrainian and one was Belarusian.

The wreckage was found roughly 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of the North Sinai town of El-Arish. All 224 persons on-board this flight were killed in the crash.

Shortly after the crash, Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the incident. IS claimed