GK UPDATE: AUGUST PART-III

1. The17^th Asian Games (Asiads) are scheduled to be held at A. Incheon B. Manila C. Tokyo D. Jakarta

Ans. A

BACKGROUND:

The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a Pancontinental multi-sport eventheld every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the breakup of the Asian Games Federation. The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and are described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. In its history, nine nations have hosted the Asian Games. Forty-six nations have participated in the Games, including Israel, which was excluded from the Games after their last participation in 1974. The last Games was held in Guangzhou, China from 12 November to 27 November 2010. The next Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4 October 2014.

2. CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry against Kingfisher Airlines and which of the following banks in connection with the Rs 950 cr that the bank had given as a loan to the Airlines? A. Syndicate Bank B. State Bank of India C. IDBI Bank D. Bank of India

Ans. C

BACKGROUND:

The CBI has launched a probe into IDBI bank’s Rs 950 crore loan to now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, part of the UB group promoted by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, despite the airline’s negative credit ratings and net worth. “It was first exposure to the bank. There was no need for the bank to take the exposure outside the consortium when already other loans were getting stressed,” said a senior CBI official. Sources said senior officials of the management of Kingfisher Airlines and IDBI Bank will be questioned soon for explaining the reasons for extending the loan to the airline, ignoring its own internal report which had warned against such a move. Mallya also might be examined soon, said sources. The debt ridden airline stopped operations in October 2012.

3. Samba is a variety of which of the following grains grown in Sri Lanka and some parts of India (mainly in Tamil Nadu)? A. Maize B. Rice C. Wheat D. Cane

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

Samba is a variety of rice grown in Sri Lanka and some parts of India(mainly in Tamil Nadu)., and has a small ovular grain, compared to the long grain of basmati rice. Samba rice has a distinct taste and can be described as having a more ‘starchy’ or ‘corny’ flavor, and thus is an acquired taste preferred mainly by the locals. The grain itself is much harder than the other varieties and when cooked is less ‘fluffy’ in texture so gives a more filling meal with a higher caloric value. All Samba rice grain is harvested locally and there are many sub-varieties ranging in grain size and price. Jiru Samba is the most expensive sub-variety and has the smallest grain. It is approximately a third the size of a grain of basmati rice. Samba rice is grown extensively in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Rice grown in Samba season (Aug through Jan) is referred to as Samba rice. This rice is grown for a longer duration compared to other types of rice.

4. Manik Sarkar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for further improvement in relations with Bangladesh for better connectivity and development of the North-East region. Manik Sarkar is the Chief Minister of A. Manipur B. Arunachal Pradesh C. Mizoram D. Tripura

Ans. D

BACKGROUND:

Manik Sarkar is an Indian politician who has been Chief Minister of Tripura since March 1998. He is a Politburo Member of Communist Party of India (Marxist). In March 2008, he was sworn in as leader of Left Front, the Tripura coalition government. In assembly elections held in 2013, he became the chief minister for the fourth consecutive time. Manik Sarkar donates his CM salary and allowances to his party, which pays him Rs. 5000 (US$83) as subsistence allowances. His affidavit for the 2013 Tripura Assembly election revealed that he may well be the one with lowest monetary resources of all Chief Ministers of India.

WHY INDIA NEEDS GOOD RELATIONS WITH BANGLADESH:

There is vast scope of mutual investment in the resource rich northeastern states, which are geographically very close to Bangladesh. Northeastern states can play a key role in improving bilateral ties. Using the “Look-East Policy” of the Indian government, northeast region can become a hub of economic activity and can play a role in improving relations with south-east Asian countries. There is enormous scope for investment by Bangladeshi businessmen in the rubber, fruit processing and bamboo sectors. Since these resources are found aplenty in Tripura and other northeastern states, businessmen from Bangladesh can easily invest in the region.

5. The Nation remembered which of the following movements on its 72^nd anniversary recently? (It was launched in 1942 by the Indian National Congress) A. Quit India Movement B. Civil Disobedience Movement C. Salt March D. Khilafat Movement

Ans. A

BACKGROUND:

The Quit India Act,or the India August Movement (August Kranti) was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s call for satyagraha. The All-India Congress Committee proclaimed a mass protest demanding what Gandhiji called “an orderly British withdrawal” from India. The call for determined, but appears in his call to Do or Die, issued on 8 August at the Gowaliar Tank Maidan in Mumbai in 1942. The British were prepared to act. Almost the entire INC leadership, and not just at the national level, was imprisoned without trial within hours after Gandhi’s speech. Most spent the rest of the war in prison and out of contact with the masses. The British had the support of the Viceroy’s Council (which had a majority of Indians), of the Muslims, the Communist Party, the princely states, the Imperial and state police, the Indian Army, and the Indian Civil Service. Many Indian businessmen were profiting from heavy wartime spending and did not support Quit India. Many students paid more attention to Subhas Chandra Bose, who was in exile and supporting the Axis. The only outside support came from the Americans, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressured Prime Minister Winston Churchill to give in to Indian demands. The Quit India campaign was effectively crushed.

6. On the occasion of Independence Day, who among the following was posthumously conferred with the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry medal, Ashok Chakra? A. Captain Vikram Batra B. Yogendra Singh Yadav C. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar D. Major Mukund Varadarajan

Ans. D

7. Who among the following has recently become the first woman to win the Fields Medal, also known as the “Nobel Prize of mathematics”? A. Maria Chudnovsky B. Maryam Mirzakhani C. Farinaz Koushanfar D. Sophie Morel

Ans. B

8. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently won the presidential elections in which of the following countries? A. Turkey B. Cambodia C. Egypt D. Syria

Ans. A

9. Which of the following countries has recently assumed the ASEAN chair? A. Bangladesh B. Myanmar C. Malaysia D. Indonesia

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a political and economic organisation of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam. Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, socio-cultural evolution among its members, protection of regional peace and stability, and opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully. ASEAN covers a land area of 4.46 million km², which is 3% of the total land area of Earth, and has a population of approximately 600 million people, which is 8.8% of the world’s population. The sea area of ASEAN is about three times larger than its land counterpart. In 2012, its combined nominal GDP had grown to more than US$2.3 trillion. If ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as the sixth largest economy in the world, behind the US, China, Japan, India and Germany.

10. In her address at the 12^th India-ASEAN meeting, recently, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj referred to ‘5Ts’ of Govt. of India. Which of the following is NOT among them? A. Tradition B. Talent C. Tourism D. Telecommunication

Ans. D

11. The Govt. is in process to set up a National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) through which of the following constitution amendment bills? A. 120^th B. 121^st C. 122^nd D. 123^rd

Ans. B

12. The cash-strapped and delayed TAPI gas pipeline project has found a new backer in TOTAL (France) to help the project take off. TAPI gas pipeline originates in which of the following countries? A. Turkmenistan B. Tajikistan C. Tunisia D. Turkey

Ans. A

13. Mithali Raj’s name has been suggested for Padma Shri award. She is associated with which of the following games? A. Badminton B. Cricket C. Shooting D. Archery

Ans. B

14. Iran-140 Sepahan Air passenger plane crashed recently near ____ airport. A. Mehrabad B. Tehran C. Jamalabad D. Husniran

Ans. A

BACKGROUND:

Iran-140 Sepahan Air passenger plane crashed on 10 August 2014 near Mehrabad airport, west of Tehran in Iran. At least 39 passengers including 8 crew members died in the crash that occurred after the engine of the plane went out. Nine people were injured in the incident. The civilian aircraft went down in a residential area after its engine went out shortly after takeoff. Iran-140 aircraft with 40 passengers and 8 crew members on board was flying from Teheran to Tabas, a town in eastern Iran.

About Iran-140

Iran-140 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft and was generally used for short domestic flights. The plane is based on Ukrainian technology and was assembled under license in Iran. It is a version of the Antonov An-140 regional plane and can carry up to 52 passengers. Other crashes in Iran that occurred in a decade.

• March 2014 – State Aviation Organization’s plane crashed while test flight near tourist resort of Kish Island (four crew members were killed).

• January 2011 – Iran Air Boeing 727 crashed while it tried an emergency landing in snowstorm in northwestern Iran (77 people were killed).

• July 2009 – Russian-made jetliner crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran (168 people were killed).

• February 2003 – Russian-made Ilyushin 76 crashed in the mountains of Southeastern Iran (302 people were killed). The plane was carrying members of the Revolutionary Guard.

15. Indian Women’s Recurve team won the Gold medal at Archery World Cup Stage IV. Which team did they defeat?

Ans. Mexico

BACKGROUND:

Indian Women’s Recurve team on 10 August 2014 won gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage IV in Wroclaw, Poland. The second seeded Indian team led by Deepika Kumari and included Bombayala Devi Lashram and Lakshmi Rani Manji defeated the Mexican team 6-0. Overall, India bagged a total of five medals on the last day of Archery World Cup Stage IV in Wroclaw, Poland.

Medals won by Deepika and team were

• Gold Medal which came in through the defeat of Mexico in the final archery event of Recurve Women’s Team

• Bronze Medal in the Recurve Women’s individual event where Deepika defeated Tatiana Segina of Russia with 6-2 scores

• Bronze Medal in the Recurve Mixed team pair event, in which Jayanta Talukdar was her partner and they both thrashed Belarus opponents with 6-0 scores

However, the Men’s Recurve team settled for a Silver medal as it lost to Mexico with 3-5 scores in the final. The Men’s team comprised of Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar and Atanu Das. The Mixed team pair of Abhishek Verma and Puvasha Shende too got a silver medal on 9 August 2014.

Deepika Kumari

Deepika Kumari is an Indian athlete who is presently positioned as World No. 2 for her performance in archery. She won two gold medals in 2010 Commonwealth Games for her outstanding performance in archery events. In 2012, she was honoured with Arjuna Award, India’s second highest sporting award, by President of India Pranab Mukherjee. In February 2014, she was conferred with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Sportsperson of the year Award.

16. Which state government has recently notified for the constitution of the State Public Service Commission? A. Andhra Pradesh B. Telangana C. Gujarat D. Haryana

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

The state government of Telangana on 8 August 2014 notified a Government Order (GO No 43) for constitution of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). According to the Article 315 of Indian Constitution and Section 83(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organisation Act, 2014, it is provided for constitution of a Public Service Commission in the Successor State of Telangana, after its bifurcation from Andhra Pradesh. Public Service Commission for the State of Telangana is for making selections to the posts under various categories meant for direct recruitment under its purview in the State of Telangana and for carrying out functions under Article 320 of Constitution of India.

Article 315 in the Constitution of India

Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, there shall be a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for each State.

(2) Two or more States may agree that there shall be one Public Service Commission for that group of States, and if a resolution to that effect is passed by the House or, where there are two Houses, by each House of the Legislature of each of those States, Parliament may by law provide for the appointment of a Joint State Public Service Commission (referred to in this Chapter as Joint Commission) to serve the needs of those States.

(3) Any such law as aforesaid may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as may be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the purposes of the law.

(4) The Public Service Commission for the Union, if requested so to do by the Governor of a State, may, with the approval of the President, agree to serve all or any of the needs of the State.

(5) References in this Constitution to the Union Public Service Commission or a State Public Service Commission shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to the Commission serving the needs of the Union or, as the case may be, the State as respects the particular matter in question.

Article 320 in the Constitution of India

Article 320: Functions of Public Service Commissions

(1) It shall be the duty of the Union and the State Public Service Commissions to conduct examinations for appointments to the services of the Union and the services of the State respectively.

(2) It shall also be the duty of the Union Public Service Commission, if requested by any two or more States so to do, to assist those States in framing and operating schemes of joint recruitment for any services for which candidates possessing special qualifications are required.

(3) The Union Public Service Commission or the State Public Service Commission, as the case may be, shall be consulted-

(A) on all matters relating to methods of recruitment to civil services and for civil posts

(B) on the principles to be followed in making appointments to civil services and posts and in making promotions and transfers from one service to another and on the suitability of candidates for such appointments, promotions or transfers

(C) on all disciplinary matters affecting a person serving under the Government of India or the Government of a State in a civil capacity, including memorials or petitions relating to such matters

(D) on any claim by or in respect of a person who is serving or has served under the Government of India or the Government of a State or under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State, in a civil capacity, that any costs incurred by him in defending legal proceedings instituted against him in respect of acts done or purporting to be done in the execution of his duty should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India, or, as the case may be, out of the Consolidated Fund of the State

(E) on any claim for the award of a pension in respect of injuries sustained by a person while serving under the Government of India or the Government of a State or under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State, in a civil capacity, and any question as to the amount of any such award

17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently released a book about which state’s success story in Water Management? A. Uttar Pradesh B. Gujarat C. Tamil Nadu D. Kerala

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

Gujarat’s success story in Water Management: Sriram Vedire

A book titled Gujarat’s success story in Water Management was released on 9 August 2014 by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the Party National President Amit Shah at JLN Stadium in Delhi. This book was written by BJP’s National Convener of Water Management Cell, Sriram Vedire. This Book explains how the water resources were utilized and its achievements in the development of the Gujarat’s Economy.

Highlights of the Book are

• In Gujarat’s plan, there was no case for only large storage or for only small localized storages. All kinds of alternatives were welcomed. According to a study by IIM, Ahmedabad, 10700 check dams built by the year 2000, helped drought proof 320000 hectares of area.

• Since then, Gujarat has built 15 times more structures; it is very likely that these played a big role in agrarian resurgence visible in Saurashtra, North Gujarat and Kutch.

• These developments have increased water supply for agriculture either directly supplying water for irrigation or indirectly by recharging ground water levels.

• Agriculture in Gujarat after 2000 seems to have picked up dramatically recording average annual growth rate of 9.6 percent during 2000/01 to 2006/07.

• Departments and agencies and convergence of schemes.

• Gujarat state has taken up reform process and extensive community engagement in a mission mode approach, by creating a special purpose vehicle in the form of Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO).

• Gujarat received many Awards and Recognitions for their achievements.

• WASMO received commonwealth CAPAM International Award.

• The State initiative of fostering community Participation was awarded the prestigious United Nations Public Service Award-2009.

• WASMO received Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2008 for initiatives in drinking water management with community participation.

• The United Nation’s Development Program (UNDP) has included WASMO’s activity as a case study in its annual publication.

18. ______ police has launched a Whatsapp helpline to curb corruption. A. Chandigarh B. Bangalore C. Delhi D. Srinagar

Ans. C

BACKGROUND:

Delhi Police on 10 August 2014 launched Whatsapp helpline to curb corruption. Under the facility, a person can just call and register the complaint and also send a recorded audio or video clips if any policeman harasses or a person demands bribe. This new anti-corruption helpline that was started in 6 August 2014 is 9910641064. This helpline is the brainchild of Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi who wants the force to be corruption free. Anyone found guilty in this connection will be booked under Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and Section 13 (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and other sections under the Indian Penal Code. The steps for punishment will be initiated after authenticity of the complaint (the video or audio) is established. To confirm the authenticity and genuineness of the complaint, the audio or video clip will be checked at the Forensic Science Laboratory.

19. Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall, the famous Urban Town Planner died at the age of 82. He belonged to ______. A. USA B. UK C . Germany D. France

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

Sir Peter Hall, United Kingdom’s planning academician and professor died on 30 July 2014 at University College Hospital, London. He was 82. His death was confirmed by University College London where he taught as a professor of planning.

About Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall

• Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall was born on 19 March 1932 in Hampstead, North London

• In 1968, he was appointed as professor of geography and Head of Department at University of Reading, Berkshire United Kingdom

• From 1980s, he worked parallel in two universities – University of Reading, Berkshire and University of California, Berkeley. He left University of Reading in 1989 and University of California in 1992.

• Thereafter, he had been the professor of Planning and Regeneration at The Bartlett School, University College London until his death

Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall’s Contributions

Professor Peter Hall was best known for creating the concept of enterprise zones to spur growth and development of poor cities by eliminating taxes and regulations that made it difficult for businesses to grow. His idea of enterprise zones transformed Canary Wharf and other urban centres in the 1980s. While working as a special adviser to Michael Heseltine, he gave out the idea of expanding London eastwards along the shores of Thames River which is known by the name ‘Thames Gateway’.  He favoured expansion of rail service and establishment of garden cities in the middle of small-scale agricultural land. He too suggested that Heathrow Airport of United kingdom should be replaced with new airport in Thames Estuary.

Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall’s Publications

Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall, the world-renowned town planner and geographer, authored more than fifty books and around 2000 articles and essays. His last book ‘Good Cities, Better Lives (2013)’ asked the question that why Britain fails to build happy and prosperous cities like its European neighbours. Some of his known works are:

• Great Planning Disasters in 1980

• Cities in Civilization: Culture, Technology, and Urban Order in 1998

• London Voices, London Lives: Tales from a Working Capital in 2007

20. PM has laid down the foundation of two hydel projects Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo in which of the following states? A. Himachal Pradesh B. Punjab C. J & K D. Meghalaya

Ans. C

BACKGROUND:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 August 2014 laid the foundation of 44 MW Chutak hydro-electric project and Nimoo Bazgo project in Jammu and Kashmir. The 44 MW Chutak hydro-electric project is in Kargil district and the 45 MW Nimoo Bazgo project is in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir. The aim of the project is to supply the power to the Ladakh region. The cost for the project was revised from an estimated cost of 611 crore rupees to 985 crore rupees on account of escalation, statutory charges and higher cost of award. State-run Power Grid Corporation of India is implementing the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Transmission System for connectivity with Northern Region Grid for meeting demands of the Ladakh region. The 45 MW Nimoo-Bazgo hydro-electric project is a run-of- the-river scheme to harness the potential of river Indus in the state. The project is designed to generate 239 million units of energy. The Nimoo Bazgo power station is located on river Indus in Leh district of the state and has an installed capacity of 45 MW (3×15 MW).

21. Who among the following has been appointed as the new Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes? A. K.V. Chowdary B. Ketan Sharma C. Mehtaab Hussain D. Pankaj Kumar

Ans. A

BACKGROUND:

Senior IRS officer K V Chowdary appointed as the new Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He was appointed on 1 August 2014.  CBDT is the apex authority of the Income Tax department. He succeed R K Tewari. He retired on 31 July 2014. Presently, he is working as the Member (Investigations) in the CBDT and is expected to take over the new charge from 1 August 2014. He will have tenure of three months. The appointment was confirmed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CBDT has six members apart from the Chairman and is the apex body for framing policy and administrative issues related to direct taxes and the Income Tax department. Chowdary is one of the longest serving member in the CBDT as he has earlier officiated as the Member (Audit and Judicial) before taking over the investigations charge, a post he occupied after serving as the Director General (Investigations) in the national capital where he was heading a number of high-profile I-T probes. He has earlier served as the Chief Commissioner of I-T in Vishakhapatnam and Director (Investigations) in Nagpur.

22. ______High Court has banned Govindas below the age of 18-years in Dahi Handi festival. A. Delhi B. Bombay C. Kolkata D. Ahmedabad

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

Bombay High Court on 11 August 2014 banned participation of Govindas below the age of 18-years in Dahi Handi celebration that is held during Krishna Janmashtami. It further ordered the organisers to regulate the height of Dahi Handi and fixed it not beyond the height of 20 feet. In its order, the Court also directed that the Dahi Handi should not be organised on concrete roads, so that any fatal accidents do not take place. Apart from this, the Court also made it compulsory for Govindas who participate in the human pyramid formation to wear safety gear like helmets. The decision came from a division bench of Justice VM Kanade and PD Kode and they also directed the state to issue a circular by 12 August 2014 with regard to the age bar and restriction on height of human pyramids. Dahi Handi performance of 2014 is scheduled to be organised in 18 August 2014. The order was given while hearing various public interest litigations including one by Chembur based social worker Swati Patil, who is the secretary of Utkarsh Mahila Samajik Sanstha an NGO. Earlier on 10 August 2014 two boys aged 14 and 19 were killed during the practice of formation of human pyramids by the Govindas for breaking the Dahi Handi.

23. Which renowned Hollywood actor died recently?

Ans. Robin Williams

BACKGROUND:

Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams was found dead at his home in Tiburon, California on 11 August 2014. He was 63. Robin Williams was remarkably known for his accurate impersonations. He will be remembered for his crazy comic personality and great dramatic performances hereafter.

• Born in Chicago on 21 July 1951, Robin Williams attended Juilliard School.

• He began his career in 1970s as a stand-up comedian. Some of his tours were An Evening with Robin Williams (1982) and Robin Williams LIVE on Broadway (2002).

• Williams made his acting debut in Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.

• He established himself as an actor through films like Dead Poets Society in 1989 and Good Will Hunting in 1997.

• His fame came through with the Television show Mork & Mindy which was personally scripted for Williams’ improvisations. Mork & Mindy presented his work before a larger audience and gave him his first Emmy nomination.

• His work earned him eight Emmy nominations, out of which he won two Emmys- one Emmy award in 1987 for comedy  special Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin and other in 1988 for ABC Presents: A Royal Gala.

• Williams earned an Oscar award for his performance in Good Will Hunting as a supporting actor.

• In his lifetime, Williams received four four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards.

• In 2004, Robin Williams was ranked 13th on Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.

24. Who among the following has been named as the new Prime Minister of Iraq? A. Yasin al-Hashimi B. Massoud Barzani C. Haider al-Abadi D. Ibrahim al-Jaafari

Ans. C

BACKGROUND:

Iraqi President Mohammed Fuad Masum named Haider al-Abadi as the new Iraqi Prime Minister on 11 August 2014. Masum has given thirty days to Haider al-Abadi to form the next government and present it for the approval of parliament. Before being nominated for the post of Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi was deputy parliament speaker. He was nominated for the post by the Iraqi National Alliance, a coalition of Shia parties. The purpose of this move is to ensure country’s security which collapsed during rule of Nuri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq since 2006. It was believed that Maliki’s policies were partly responsible for the violence that has gripped Iraq badly.

Iraq’s Political Scenario

• Top political positions in Iraq are shared in a way that the President is a Kurd, Speaker is a Sunni Arab and Prime Minister is a Shia.

• Nuri al-Maliki held the post of Prime minister for two terms and is pressing for the third one. His sectarian policies radicalized Sunni Arabs which worsened the situation in Iraq.

• It is now believed that the next new governments under Haider al-Abadi will help build a consensus in the country by supporting the battle against the militants of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

25. What is the name of the TATA-SIA joint venture airlines which is going to be launched shortly? A. TATA Air B. Air TATA ASIA C. Vistara D. Matma Air

Ans. C

BACKGROUND:

Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA) named its upcoming joint venture airline as Vistara and will start its operation from October 2014. SIA on 11 August 2014 disclosed the name of their airline. Vistara is an inspiration from Sanskrit word, Vistaar that means limitless expanse. It has drawn inspiration from the brand’s domain – the limitless sky. The Tata Group and Singapore International Airlines will be headquartered in Delhi and reports suggest that Vistara will give competition to Air India and Jet Airways. Vistara will start its operation with an Airbus 320 aircraft and would add 20 aircraft in next first five years of operations. This number may be changed if the government abolishes the five-year 20 aircraft minimum flying eligibility norm for international flying.  Apart from this, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised Tata-SIA to make sure that the staff of the airlines is present during all the regulatory meetings in order to avoid the delay in launching it. CEO of Tata-SIA Vistara – Phee Teik Yeoh

26. 12^th August is observed as the A. World Lion Day B. World Tiger Day C. World Elephant Day D. World Cow Day

Ans. C

BACKGROUND:

World Elephant Day was observed across the world on 12 August 2014. It is an international annual event and is dedicated towards the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants.

Goal of World Elephant Day

Goal of observing and celebrating the day is to create awareness about the plight of African and Asian elephants. Both these species of Elephants are facing extinction as per the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

• African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) are being vulnerable

• Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) are endangered.

About World Elephant Day

The inaugural World Elephant Day was observed on 12 August 2012 and the day was declared by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand. Patricia Sims, a Canadian filmmaker was also one of the founder members of the day. It was a Royal initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

27. The Union Law Minister, ________ recently introduced the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014 in Lok Sabha.

Ans. Ravi Shankar Prasad

BACKGROUND:

The Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on 11 August 2014 introduced The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, and the 121st Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The two Bills were introduced after the Union Government withdrew the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013 introduced by the previous UPA government in the Rajya Sabha. The 121st Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced to give constitutional status to the six-member body called Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). The JAC will replace the existing Collegium system for appointing judges of higher judiciary. For this, the Bill amends Article 124 of the Constitution relating to Supreme Court and inserts new articles 124A, 124B and 124C. The Judicial Appointment Commission Bill, 2014, on the other hand, lays down the procedure to be followed by the proposed six-member body for appointment and transfer of judges of higher judiciary. Main provisions of the Judicial Appointment Commission Bill, 2014

• Establishment of a six-member Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), who will provide recommendations to the President on the appointment and transfer of judges

• It empowers Parliament to pass a law providing for the composition, functions and procedures of the JAC.

• The six members include the Chief Justice of India, Law and Justice Minister, two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court and two eminent persons.

• The choice of these ’eminent persons’ will be left to the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition Party or the leader of the largest party in Opposition.

• These two eminent persons should belong to the Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe, women or minority community, preferably by rotation and will have tenure of three years.

• The functions of the JAC include making recommendations for appointments of the CJI, SC judges, Chief Justice and other High Court (HC) judges, and transfer of HC judges.

28. SEBI has recently issued the KYC Registration Agency (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2014. Who is the Chairman of SEBI?

Ans. UK Sinha

BACKGROUND:

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 11 August 2014 issued SEBI KYC (Know-your-Client) Registration Agency (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2014. SEBI by exercising the power conferred to it by Section 30 of the SEBI Act, 1992 amended the SEBI KYC (Know-your-Client) Registration Agency Regulations 2011. The issued regulations came into force on the date of publication in official gazette. This notification would allow sharing of KYC details with entities regulated by other financial sector watchdogs. These norms were issued to facilitate a common KYC system for the entire financial sector. Earlier, the facility of sharing of KYC information was available only among SEBI-registered intermediaries. At present the KYC information of nearly 2 crore investors in the capital markets is available on centralised KYC registration, KRA system of the SEBI. However, earlier SEBI had said that a common KYC process for the entire financial sector would help in reducing the paper-work and bring down cost of operations for the investors as well as for the intermediaries.

29. Miroslav Klose of ______ has announced his retirement from International Football. A. Germany B. France C. England D. Portugal

Ans. A

BACKGROUND:

Miroslav Klose of Germany announced his retirement from international football on 11 August 2014. He was the part of Germany team that won the FIFA World Cup 2014 held in Brazil. During the FIFA World Cup 2014, he scored 2 goals taking his total goals in all the editions of World Cup to 16. With this he became the leading goal scorer in World Cup overtaking 15 goals scored by Ronaldo of Brazil. He also is the all-time top scorer for Germany with 71 goals in 137 appearances.

About Miroslav Klose

• Miroslav Josef Klose was born on 9 June 1978 and plays as a striker for Lazio in the Italian Serie A.

• He is the Germany’s second most-capped player after Lothar Matthau’s 150 appearances.

His World Cup Achievements:

• In 2002 in his debut at FIFA World Cup held in Japan-Korea, Klose , he scored 5 Goals and all were Headers. He was the second highest goal scorer along with Brazil’s Ronaldo.

• He became the first player ever to score five headers in a World Cup, and he celebrated two of his goals with his trademark front-flip, earning him the nickname “Salto-Klose” (German: Salto = somersault).

• He won the Golden Boot at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany by being the top scorer with 5 Goals.

• He scored 4 Goals in 2010 FIFA World Cup which was held in South Africa.

• Klose equaled his compatriot Uwe Seeler and Brazilian Pelé’s achievements in being the only players to have scored in four different World Cups as well as the only player to have scored at least four goals in three different tournaments.

• Klose set another record by becoming the first player to appear in four World Cup semi-finals.

30. What is the name of the new scheme which PM Naredra Modi has announced to promote financial inclusion in the country? A. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana B. Pradhan Mantri Jan Jan Yojana C. Pradhan Mantri Jan Kalyan Yojana D. Pradhan Mantri Jan Samriddhi Yojana

Ans. A

31. RBI has announced that it will issue banknotes of which of the following denominations with inset letter ‘R’ in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005 which will bear the year of printing ‘2014’ on the reverse? A. Rs 100 B. Rs 500 C. Rs 1,000 D. Rs 5,000

Ans. C

32. From the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, PM Narendra Modi called for a 10-year moratorium on which of the following on the eve of Independence Day? A. Caste and communal violence B. Child marriage C. Girl child genocide D. Farmers’ suicide

Ans. A

33. Who among the following has been appointed as the next Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman? A. DP Agrawal B. Dinesh Singh C. Rajni Razdan D. Ved Prakash

Ans. C

34. The book titled ‘The Brave’ has been authored by A. Meena Kandasamy B. Robert Gaibraith C. Kalyan Ray D. Rachna Bisht Rawat

Ans. D

BACKGROUND:

It is the chronicle of the heroism of the 21 men awarded India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra.

35. Which of the following state govts. has launched the ‘Bhamashah scheme’ on the eve of the Independence Day? A. Madhya Pradesh B. Rajasthan C. Gujarat D. Chhattisgarh

Ans. B

BACKGROUND:

Under the scheme bank accounts in the name of women of 1.5 crore families will be opened to transfer benefits directly to their accounts.