Gyanm general awareness_JUNE_2016

GENERAL AWARENESS – JUNE 2016 1
GENERAL AWARENESS
JUNE 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 12
A PUBLICATION OF GYANM EDUCATION &
TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD.
SCO 13-14-15, 2ND FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH
Contents
CURRENT AFFAIRS
FEB TO APRIL 2016
01-37
BULLET NEWS
NOV 2015 TO JAN 2016
38-60
LATEST 100 GK MCQs 61-65
SSC CORNER 67-71
SBI - CLERK (PRELIM)
MODEL TEST PAPER
72-80
FOUR MONTHS GK BYTES 81-100
FIGURES TO REMEMBER
REPO RATE (05.04.2016) 6.50%
REVERSE REPO RATE 6.00%
MARGINAL STANDING
FACILITY RATE
7.00%
STATUTORY LIQUIDITY RATIO 21.25%
CASH RESERVE RATIO 4.00%
BANK RATE 7.00%
BASE RATE(s)
(of various banks)
9.30 to
9.70%
INDIA’s RANK IN
World Press Freedom Index 133rd
Rank in Manufacturing Countries 6th
World Happiness Index 118th
Intellectual Property Index -2016 37th
Overall Growth Prospectus 5th
Global Talent Competitiveness Index 89th
Nuclear Security Index 21st
Ease of Doing Business (Forbes) 97th
Human Development Index 130th
ICT Development Index 131st
Rank in Brand Value 7th
Legatum Prosperity Index 99th
Global Terrorism Index 06th
Financial Secrecy Index 45th
Ease of Doing Business (World Bank) 130th
Number of Startups 03rd
Global Competitiveness Index, WEF 55th
Protection of Minority Investors 08th
NATIONAL NEWS
APRIL 2016
AMBEDKAR JAYANTI AT UNO
For the first time, United Nations observed the birth
anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar on April 14 at its
headquarters in New York. It was organised by
Permanent Mission of India to the UN in association
with the Kalpana Saroj Foundation and Foundation
for Human Horizon to focus on the empowerment and
inclusion of excluded groups, reform of labour laws,
and promotion of education for all.
INDIA TOPS IN ATTRACTING FDI
As per a report by The Financial Times Limited, India was the highest-ranked
country in terms of attracting FDI, receiving $ 63 billion worth of FDI projects
in 2015. India is closely followed by USA and China.
INDIA PLACED 6th IN MANUFACTURING
India has been ranked sixth among the world's Top-Ten largest manufacturing
countries. Previously, India was 9th rank in the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) report. China tops the list followed by US,
Japan, Germany and Korea. Indonesia was at the bottom.
‘AADHAAR’ CROSSES HUNDRED CRORE MARK
The Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) has generated 100 crore Aadhaar
numbers, touching a “historic” milestone in a
span of five-and-a-half years. Aadhaar is now
the largest digital platform in the world for
good governance and transparent delivery
of services of subsidies and services.
INDIA GETS FIRST LOAN FROM NDB
The newly started development bank by the global group BRICS, New
Development Bank – NDB has started giving loans. India is among the first four
countries to get a loan. The $ 250 million loan will be routed through the
Canara Bank for a renewable energy project.
INDIA HOLDS MARITIME SUMMIT
The First Maritime India Summit was
held in Goregaon, Mumbai, from April
14 to 16 to focus on port based
economic growth of the country. India
has a coastline of over 7500 kms that
offers vast opportunities for growth
oriented investment.

RAJYA SABHA GETS 6 NEW MEMBERS
President nominated the six personalities from different
fields to the Rajya Sabha (House of Elders) following the
recommendations of the Central government. The six
persons include BJP leaders Subramanian Swamy and
Navjot Singh Sidhu and Narendra Jadhav, Malayalam
actor Suresh Gopi, journalist Swapan Dasgupta and
boxer Mary Kom.
President is empowered to nominate 12 prominent
persons from various walks of life to the Rajya Sabha.
GERMANY TO HELP IN ‘NAMAMI GANGE’
India has joined hands with Germany to attain pristine
status of Ganga by adopting river basin management
strategies used for cleansing German rivers like Rhine
and Danube, under the Indian mission ‘Namami Gange’.
INDIA SIGNS PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT
India signed the historic Paris Climate Agreement at
United Nations in New York on April 22, along with 175
nations, marking a significant step ahead for combating
global warming.
In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit
global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius,
and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.
APEX COURT ALLOWS NEET
The Supreme Court has allowed the holding of the
National Eligibility Entrance Test, NEET for medical
courses across the country. The top court set aside its
2013 order by which the common entrance test for
admissions to MBBS, BDS and PG courses in all medical
colleges was quashed.
W B LOAN FOR SWACHH BHARAT MISSION
World Bank has agreed to provide a $1.5 billion loan for
the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). SBM is the country's
largest-ever campaign to improve sanitation. It aims to
end open defecation and improve the management of
liquid and solid wastes.
TOP EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES OF INDIA
The HRD ministry released first-of-its-kind National
Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for ranking the
higher education institutions in the country. Results of
the rankings are:
Top Management Institute: IIM Bangalore, followed
by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta
Top Engineering Institute: IIT Chennai, followed by
IIT Mumbai and IIT Kharagpur.
Best University: The Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore
Top Pharmacy Institute: Manipal College of Pharma-
ceutical Sciences, Manipal
MODI NOT IN WORLD TOP 100
RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, tennis star Sania Mirza,
actress Priyanka Chopra and founders of Flipkart Binny
Bansal and Sachin Bansal are the Indians that have been
named by Time magazine in its list of the '100 Most
Influential People in the World'. Surprisingly, Mr Modi
does not figure in the list.
INDIA SUFFERS HIGH TROJAN ATTACK
As per a report from the security solutions firm
Symantec, India ranks third among countries with high
number of financial Trojan infections, where
cybercriminals defraud customers of online banking
services.
Globally, the financial sector was the highest targeted
sector in January with 40.2 per cent of all spear-phishing
attacks.
INDIA NOT SAFE FOR JOURNALISTS
A study of 180 countries by the Paris-based Reporters
Without Borders to study the functioning of journalists
has placed India at a lowly 133rdplace.
It says that media in India continues to be under stress
as the government is "indifferent" to threats against
scribes. They are attacked frequently for reports that
may not be palatable to particular groups. The 2016
‘World Press Freedom Index’ is topped by Finland,
followed by the Netherlands and Norway.
The index measures media pluralism, independence, the
legal framework and the safety of journalists in 180
countries.
 President Pranab Mukherjee went on a six-day trip to
Papua New Guinea and New Zealand on April 27.
 Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton,
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited India on
a week’s goodwill tour.
 India and France have launched a programme with
$1 trillion Potential Solar Programme under the
International Solar Alliance (ISA).

 India, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed for joint
work on development of Chabahar port in Iran.
 India and Mauritius have signed an MoU on
cooperation in the field of traditional system of
medicine and Homoeopathy.
 The first ever two day North East-ASEAN (Association
of Southeast Asian Nations) Business Summit was
inaugurated in Centre in Imphal, Manipur.
 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on the Tiger
Conservation was held in New Delhi on April 12.
 First National Tribal Carnival held in Delhi from April
29 to May 02, 2016 to showcase and promote various
facets of tribal culture on a large scale.
 India and South Korea have signed a MoU for
cooperation and mutual assistance in port related
matters and their developments.
 India has signed an agreement with the Islamic
Development Bank for a $100 million line of credit to
facilitate exports to IDB's member countries.
 Govt has released a Commemorative Coin of 200
rupees and a Circulation Coin of 10 rupees to mark
the 200th Martyrdom Day of Tatya Tope, a war hero
of 1857 war of Independence.
 A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be installed in
France's Saint-Tropez town in September this year.
The town is birth place of French General J F Allard
who served in the army of Maharaja.
MARCH 2016
INDIA TO HOST 8TH BRICS SUMMIT
India will host the eighth annual
summit of BRICS from October 15-
16 in Goa, in its capacity as chair of
the influential bloc comprising five
countries — Brazil, Russia, India,
China, South Africa.
The logo for the summit is a lotus
with colours from all the five member-countries and a
traditional ‘namaste’ in the centre.
MODI GOES FOR A THREE COUNTRY TRIP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for a three - nation
tour to Belgium, the US and Saudi Arabia from March 30
to April 2. He attended India-EU summit in Brussels. In
USA, he attended the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in
Washington D.C. Before returning to India, he stopped in
Saudi Arabia to hold talks with their leaders.
WORLD CULTURE FESTIVAL AT YAMUNA BANK
The first World Culture Festival, a three-day event
celebrating cultural diversity and Art of Living's 35
years of service to humanity, was held on Yamuna bank
in New Delhi on March 11-13. Over 36,000 artists from
155 countries took part in the event.
The Art of Living is a global spiritual movement founded
by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
NEW SHIPPING SERVICE TO BANGLADESH
A new beginning was made in maritime trade and
bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh
with the launch of direct shipping service between
Krishnapatnam in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh and
Chittagong in Bangladesh. The new service will lower
the transportation cost thereby boosting the exports.
COURT ALLOWS PHOTOS OF LEADERS IN ADs
Supreme Court has now allowed use of pictures of Chief
Ministers, Governors and Cabinet ministers in the
government's media advertisements. Earlier, in May
2015, court had imposed a ban on publishing such
photos treating it as misuse of public funds.
WORLD’s LONGEST ALL WOMEN FLIGHT
Air India on March 6 flew the “world’s longest” all-
women operated and supported flight, nonstop, from
New Delhi to San Francisco, USA. The flight covered a
distance of around 14,500 km in close to 17 hours. It
was operated as part of International Women’s Day
celebrations.
FOREIGN MINISTRY HOLDS RAISINA DIALOGUE
The Raisina Dialogue, a joint initiative of the Ministry of
External Affairs and a leading think tank, Observer
Research Foundation, New Delhi on March 2. The
summit is seen as India’s flagship conference of
geopolitics and geo-economics, designed to explore
prospects and opportunities for Asian integration.
PAK BETTER THAN INDIA IN HAPPINESS
When it comes to happiness quotient, India lags behind
neighbors like China, Pakistan and Bangladesh, ranking
118th in a study of 156 nations, according to The World
Happiness Report 2016, prepared on behalf of the
United Nations. Denmark takes the top spot displacing
Switzerland.
The report takes into account GDP per capita, life
expectancy, social support and freedom to make life
choices as indicators of happiness.

IMF TRAINING CENTRE IN DELHI
India and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) have
signed an agreement to set up a South Asia Regional
Training and Technical Assistance Centre (SARTTAC) in
Delhi for training officials in dealing with macro-
economic and financial issues on behalf of IMF.
INDIAN WOMEN LAG BEHIND IN BUSINESS
As per the Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2016
report of 36 countries, Russia held the top spot with 45
percent of senior-business roles occupied by women;
and Japan held the lowest spot at 7%. India faired very
poorly in this regard, being ranked at a lowly 34th spot.
BANGALORE, MUMBAI ARE MOST INEXPENSIVE
In a list compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit that
compares the cost of a basket of goods in 133 cities
across the world, the cheapest were Lusaka, the capital
of Zambia, followed by Bengaluru and Mumbai in India.
Singapore is most expensive, followed by Zurich, Hong
Kong, Geneva and Paris.
INDIA DISAPPOINTS IN ENERGY SECTOR
Global Energy Architecture Performance Index compiled
by the WEF for 126 countries to assess their ability to
deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy,
placed India pretty low at 90th rank. Top rank was
secured by Switzerland followed by Norway.
 Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
nations was held Pokhara, Nepal.
 Union Ministry of Shipping will host ‘Maritime India
Summit’ at Mumbai from 14 to 16 April, with
Republic of Korea as the partner country.
 India hosted a three-day conference in New Delhi
with IMF on the theme of 'Advancing Asia: Investing
for the Future' from March 12 to 14.
 6th National Community Radio Sammelan held in
New Delhi. The theme was ‘Community Radio in
India: Towards Diversity and Sustainability’.
 National Conference of Women Legislators held in
New Delhi, March 5-6, with theme Women
Legislators-Building Resurgent India.
 India signed a MoU with Bahrain on cooperation for
prevention of human trafficking, especially in women
and children, their repatriation and rehabilitation.
 India has signed an agreement with Maldives for
avoiding double taxation of income from
international air transport.
 First meet of World Sufi Forum was held in New Delhi
from March 17-20. Sufi leaders from over 20
countries took part in it.
 The India Aviation 2016, an international exhibition
on civil aviation held in Hyderabad, Telangana with
over 200 participants from across the globe.
 Parsi Zoroastrians of India celebrated their Navroz
festival on March 21to mark beginning of their new
year.
 Germany has assured its support for developing
three Indian cities as smart cities. The selected cities
are - Kochi, Bhubaneswar and Coimbatore.
 Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi has been
declared as the world’s number one airport in 25-40
million passengers per annum (MPPA) category by
the Airports Council International.
FEBRUARY 2016
ABU DHABI PRINCE VISITS INDIA
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan visited India. The two countries signed
nine agreements covering cooperation in the fields of
currency swap, culture, and investments in the
infrastructure sector, renewable energy, space research,
insurance supervision, cyber security, skill development
and commercial information sharing.
MYSURU IS THE CLEANEST CITY
Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the Quality
Council of India to rank the Indian cities on the basis of
cleanliness has ranked Mysuru at number one, followed
by Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli. The least clean cities
included Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Asansol (West Bengal).
Among the cities in the Smart City Mission,
Bhubaneswar has emerged as the top.

ANSARI VISITS BRUNEI, THAILAND
Vice President Hamid Ansari paid a five day (Feb 1-5)
visit to South East Asia covering Brunei and Thailand to
boost the bilateral relations and trade prospects.
Agreements were signed with Brunei in the fields of
defence, health and sports.
NATIONAL AROGYA FAIR HELD IN DEHRADUN
The 4-day National Arogya Fair organised by the central
and state government in collaboration with CII was held
in Dehradun, Uttarakhand to showcase and promote the
strengths, efficacy and affordability of the AYUSH
(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
Homoeopathy) systems of medicines.
Rs.580 CRORE FOR BANGLA RAIL LINK
The Indian government has finally sanctioned Rs.580
crore for the vital Agartala (India)-Akhaura
(Bangladesh) rail link, a project that was finalized in
January 2010. This project will reduce rail distance
between Kolkata and Agartala from 1700 kms (via
chicken neck) at present to 350 kms.
NATIONAL DEWORMING DAY–FEB 10
India observed the first National Deworming Day on Feb
10 in schools and preschools (anganwadis) to combat
parasitic worm infections among children.
Free Albendezole deworming tablets were provided to
children across the country.
INDIA ASEAN HOLD DELHI DIALOGUE
The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to
discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural
engagement between the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and India. The theme for this year's
dialogue is ASEAN-India Relations: A New Paradigm.
COINS IN MEMORY OF LAJPAT RAI
Ministry of Culture released a
commemorative coin of 150
rupees and a circulation coin of
10 rupees on the occasion of
150th birth anniversary of great
freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai.
ROAD TO RESILIENCE PROGRAMME
The Road to Resilience, an initiative of the World Bank
to survey the entire Indian coastline was completed on
15 February 2016. It aims to implement support for six
coastal disaster management and climate resilience
projects covering all ten coastal states of India.
3 INDIANS IN TOP 50 RICHEST IN WORLD
Three Indians — Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Group),
Azim Premji (Wipro) and Dilip Shanghvi (Sun Pharma)
—have made it to a global list of 50 wealthiest people at
27th, 43rd and 44th place, respectively. The list compiled
by Wealth-X in collaboration with Business Insider is
topped by Bill Gates.
JNU STIRRED BY ANTI NATIONAL SLOGANS
Nation’s prestigious university caught attention of
intellectuals around the world, although for non
academic reasons. A group of students of Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi staged a demonstration
and raised anti national slogans leading to arrest of
Kanhaiya Kumar, President of JNU students union and
two other student leaders on charges of sedition. The
issue raised a storm in the country with different groups
favouring and opposing the charge of sedition against
the students.
INDIA HAS 111 BILLIONAIRES
The total number of billionaires from India has risen to
111, consolidating the country's third position after
China and the US, according to Hurun Global Rich List
2016. The list is topped by Bill Gates while Mukesh
Ambani is the richest Indian at 21st rank.
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT IN INDIA
Birdwatchers from all over India took part in four day
annual Great Backyard Bird Count and shared the
information online. With more than 7,000 lists, totaling
735 species, India has second rank in world. House
crow, common myna, Asian koel and black drongo were
the most common species reported in India.
INDIA VERY POOR IN PROTECTING IPR
In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the protection
of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), India ranked 37th
on the 2016 Intellectual Property Index released by the
Global Intellectual Property Centre, USA. The top rank
was secured by USA, followed closely by UK, Germany
and France while Venezuela was ranked last – 38th.

ANTI-LEPROSY DAY–30TH JANUARY
Anti-Leprosy Day was observed on 30 January
nationwide in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who
attained martyrdom on 30 January 1948, to honour his
selfless efforts to care for the people affected by this
infectious disease.
 Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli arrived in New
Delhi on Feb 19 on a six-day visit to India. The two
countries signed 7 agreements for cooperation.
 India and Afghanistan have agreed to allow visa-free
travel for diplomatic passport holders of the two
countries.
 India has extended one million dollars assistance to
cyclone-hit Fiji. The category five cyclones Winston
had wind speed of upto 325 km per hour.
 Global brand valuation firm Brand Finance has rated
Tata Consultancy Services as the World’s Most
Powerful Brand in IT Services.
 The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) completed ten years in
first week of February.
 Banaras Hindu University (BHU) founded by Freedom
fighter Pt Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100
years on 13th February 2016.
 The 42nd Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous
annual classical dance festival, was held in the temple
town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.
 The biennial automotive show Auto Expo was held in
Greater Noida in the National Capital Region.
 The 47th two-day Conference of Governors of all
Indian states and Lt. Governors of UTs was hosted by
the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
 India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the rail
communication agreement by mutual consent for
three years from 19 January 2016.
 The 6th National Science Film Festival & Competition
was held at Nehru Science Center in Mumbai.
 13th World Spice Congress was held in Ahmedabad
from Feb 27-29 with the theme 'Target 2020: Clean,
Safe and Sustainable Supply Chain'.
NEWS FROM STATES
APRIL 2016
EDUCATION BAR FOR ULB SEATS
Any male person desiring to contest for Urban Local
Bodies in Haryana will now have to be matriculate and
have a functional toilet at home while a woman and a S
C candidate will be required to be at least 8th standard
pass. Minimum educational qualification for SC women
candidates will be 5th standard pass.
HOUSING SCHEME FOR WIDOWS
Jharkhand govt launched the Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas
Yojana for construction of houses for widows. The
beneficiaries will get Rs 75,000 support for constructing
houses in hilly areas and Rs. 70,000 in plain areas.
WORLD RECORD: PLANTING 208751 SAPLINGS
Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd., a subsidiary of the
global mining giant Vedanta Resources, has set the
Guinness World Record for planting 2,08,751 saplings at
a single location in less than an hour, around their plant
in Mansa, Punjab.
 The Uttar Pradesh government has directed all the
district magistrates for plantation of 5 crore trees at
6,500 sites in 24 hours on a date fixed in month of July
under the ‘Green UP - Clean UP’ programme.
 World’s maiden white tiger safari was opened up at
Mukundpur in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. The
first whtite tiger was spotted in MP’s Vindhya region
in 1915. It is a rare breed of tiger, found only in India.
 Rajasthan has become the first state to pass land title
bill. It will seek all the documents from the
landowners, and will verify it against records held by
the state.
 To promote the Swachh Bharat Mission, 20 ‘Namma’
toilets were established at different points in
Delhi. The mission targets to establish 2.56 lakh
public toilets by 2nd October 2017.
 Bihar has become the fourth state in the country to
ban sale and consumption of liquor. The other three
states are Mizoram, Nagaland and Gujarat.
 The European Investment Bank has agreed to give
Euro 450 million (Rs. 3,300 crore)
towards constructing a 23-km long Lucknow Metro
rail line.
 Germany’s Development Bank KfW will provide loan
assistance of 3750 crore rupees for the development
of metro system for Nagpur city.
 Asian Development Bank has approved a project loan
of $300 million for upgradation of over 400 km of
major district roads in Uttar Pradesh.

MARCH 2016
PRESIDENT RULE IMPOSED IN UTTRAKHAND
Central government recommended to the President to
invoke Article 356 in Uttarakhand to impose the
President’s rule in the state as the present government
led by Harish Rawat lost the majority support.
On March 18, the state govt failed to secure majority vote
for passing the bill. This caused a constitutional crisis as
no state govt can spend money from April 1 based on a
failed Appropriation bill.
UNESCO SELECTS AGASTHYAMALA BIOSPHERE
UN’s top cultural body UNESCO has included
Agasthyamala biosphere reserve in its World Network
of Biosphere Reserves. Located in the Western Ghats, in
the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Agasthyamala is
home to 2,254 species of higher plants and has three
wildlife sanctuaries.
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED
Election Commission has announced the schedule for
the forthcoming Assembly elections in April in four
States and one UT - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal,
Assam and Puducherry. The Counting for all five will be
held on 19th of May.
MUZIRIS HERITAGE PROJECT
India’s largest heritage conservation project - Muziris
Heritage Project (MHP) was inaugurated by the
President at Trissur in Kerala. It is the ancient port city
dotted with monuments up to 3000 years old.
KERALA GOES FULLY DIGITAL
Kerala has been declared as the first digital state of India
for achieving digital connectivity of all villages and
panchayats. The state has achieved 100 per cent mobile
connectivity and 75 per cent Internet literacy.
 Delhi has become the first state in the country to
launch the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine as
a public health programme for school children.
 The HPV vaccine protects people against the
group of 150-odd HPVs, some of which can cause
cervical cancer.
 Surat, Rajkot railway stations in Gujarat stood first
and second in terms of cleanliness, as per a survey
conducted by the Ministry of Railways.
 Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh is celebrating
150 years of its existence.
 Kerala has started India’s first Gender Park, an
autonomous institution to promote the gender equity
in development to promote participation of women.
 Kerala has taken first of its kind initiative by
launching the Air Ambulance in the state.
FEBRUARY 2016
HARYANA SINGED BY JAT AGITATION
Prosperous state of Haryana suffered big loss due to
widespread violent agitation by its Jat community
demanding reservation for Jats in government jobs. The
stir claimed around 30 lives, leaving over 300 as injured.
The Supreme Court had rejected inclusion of Jats into the
Central OBC list on ground that National Commission of
Backward Castes does not consider them socially and
economically backward in Haryana.
LONGEST RAIL BRIDGE TO COME UP AT KATNI
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has
approved construction of India’s longest railway bridge
on Katni – Bina route in Madhya Pradesh. This 14 kms
long bridge is three and half folds longer than the
present longest Vembanad rail Bridge 4.6 Km in length,
in Kerala.
VARANASI HAS WORST AIR QUALITY
Central Pollution Control Board released its National Air
Quality Indices (NAQI) for 24 cities. The index has a
colour code and a numerical value to help in comparing
pollution levels in different cities. Varanasi in Uttar
Pradesh and Muzzafarpur in Bihar topped the list for the
worst air quality.

HARYANA TO CONDUCT AQUIFER MAPPING
Haryana to become the first state in the country to have
aquifer mapping done for its groundwater resources by
May 2016.
An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock,
from which groundwater can be extracted.
 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela began at
Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana on Feb 1.
Telangana is the Theme State this time.
 The World Bank to give $ 35 million credit for
the Citizen Access to Responsive Services Project of
Madhya Pradesh.
 Haryana and the Province of Ontario in Canada have
signed a MoU for enhancing commercial and cultural
ties between the two states.
GOVERNMENT
INITIATIVES
APRIL 2016
PROGRAMME FOR VILLAGE UPLIFTMENT
The ‘Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan’ (Village Self
Governance Campaign) was launched on April 14, the
125th Birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar,
to strengthen Panchayati Raj in villages, empowerment
of women and upliftment of farmers. The
campaign concluded on April 24.
25 MINISTRIES JOIN IMPRINT INITIATIVE
25 Ministries and Departments of the Union
Government signed a MoU to join IMPacting Research
Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) initiative. It was
launched on 5 November 2015 to establish a single
window mechanism to shortlist research projects by
leading research and technology institutes.
'VIDYUT PRAVAH' FOR 24X7 POWER SUPPLY
Govt has launched the mobile application 'Vidyut
Pravah' to empower common people to demand 24x7
power from the State. The app will provide the
highlights of the electricity availability in the country on
the real time basis.
INDIA’s FIRST SEMI-HIGH SPEED TRAIN
The Nizamuddin-Agra Gatimaan Express that started on
April 5 is the first semi-high speed train in India. It will
run at a speed of 160 kilometer per hour and is expected
to cover the 200 km distance between Delhi and Agra in
100 minutes.
COMMITTEE FOR DOUBLING OF FARM INCOMES
Govt has set up a committee headed by Ashok Dalwai,
Additional Secretary at the Agriculture Ministry to
suggest ways to double farm incomes by 2022. The
committee will focus on finding the means for
enhancing productivity and reducing costs of
cultivation.
STAND-UP INDIA LOAN SCHEME LAUNCHED
Govt has launched the Stand-up India scheme to give a
push to financial inclusion programme. Under the
scheme, 1.25 lakh bank branches will provide loans up
to 1 crore rupees to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
The scheme will help in creating 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs as
every bank branch will be required to provide two such
loans ranging from 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore without
collateral, for setting up a new enterprise.
3RD PHASE OF ‘MISSION INDRADHANUSH’
The Union Health Ministry launched third phase of
universal vaccination programme Mission
Indradhanush to cover 216 districts across several
States including Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Under the mission, the children are vaccinated against
seven preventable diseases.
‘PANIC BUTTON’ MUST FOR MOBILE PHONES
In a bid to improve women security, the government has
made it mandatory that no mobile can be sold
in India without an in-built panic button, starting
January 1, 2017. Besides, in-built GPS navigation system
would be mandatory for all phones with effect from
January 1, 2018.
RULES FOR PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES
Union Government notified the Scheduled Castes (SC)
and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities
(PoA)) Amendment Rules, 2016 to enlarge scope of
rules to cover several more violations against SC/ST
persons as cognizable offences.

E- MARKET LAUNCHED FOR FARM PRODUCE
To facilitate online trading of commodities in 21
markets from 8 states, an E-National Agriculture Market
was launched on April 14, 125th birth anniversary of Dr.
B R Ambedkar. The eight states are Haryana, UP, MP,
Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, HP and Telangana.
INDIA TO JOIN ‘SAWEN’
Union cabinet has approved India’s formal membership
of the regional group Sawen.
SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network) is a
regional network comprising of eight countries in South
Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for combating wildlife
crime and illegal trade in the region.
ISBN PORTAL LAUNCHED
The Union HRD Minster Smriti Irani launched a portal
for registration and allotment of International Standard
Book Number (ISBN) at a function held in New Delhi.
The portal will facilitate publishers and authors to
register for ISBN online. It is a 13 character
identification number allotted by International ISBN
Agency based in UK.
GOVT LAUNCHES ‘ANMOL’ AND ‘E-RAKTKOSH
Govt has launched a tablet-based application ‘ANMOL’
that allows ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) to enter
and update data for the beneficiaries.
Another web-based mechanism launched is ‘E-
RaktKosh’ that interconnects all the Blood Banks of the
State into a single network.
I P PORTAL LAUNCHED FOR SMEs
The government has launched a portal ‘The Indian IP
Panorama’ which will act as a single window interface
for information on intellectual property and provide
guidance on leveraging it for competitive advantage. It is
a customised version of IP Panorama Multimedia toolkit,
developed by World Intellectual Property Organisation
(WIPO).
The Indian IP Panorama has 5 modules: (i) Importance of
IP for SMEs, (ii) Trademark, (iii) Industrial design, (iv)
Invention and Patent and (v) Patent Information.
 Govt has launched its first online interactive heritage
portal Sahapedia to serve as one point resource for
collaborative knowledge on the arts, culture and
heritage of India.
 The Department of Disinvestment has been renamed
as Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management or 'Dipam' under the Finance Ministry.
 Railways to create a 1 lakh crore rupees ‘Rashtriya
Rail Sanrakshan Kosh’ to strengthen safety measures
on the rail network to prevent accidents.
 Govt has launched a Twitter Seva Service, a special
Twitter cell to respond to queries from start-ups,
exporters and importer, within 48 to 72 hours.
 The ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ programme has been
extended to 61more districts with low Child Sex Ratio
across 11 States/UTs. Already there in 100 districts.
 Govt has decided to increase minimum wages of
contract workers to Rs 10,000 taking into
consideration the CPI and Dearness Allowance.
 Govt plans to construct five lakh ponds under
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana by next year.
 Govt has formed a committee headed by former
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta to suggest ways to
improve protection along the Pakistan border.
 Union government plans to lay more emphasis on
promoting Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and
Events (MICE) tourism in India.
 Govt has launched a low cost micro solar
device, Surya Jyoti, to light up homes without
electricity and save millions of units of power.
 Govt has issued a new set of income tax return forms
that require people with an income of Rs 50 lakh and
above per annum to disclose their assets.
MARCH 2016
WOMEN TRANSFORMING INDIA INITIATIVE
The NITI Aayog has launched the Women Transforming
India initiative in partnership with the UN in India and
MyGov. It will invite success stories from women
making efforts for empowerment of women, to
encourage and recognize them.
‘SETUBHARTAM’ - CROSSING FREE HIGHWAYS
Govt has launched the Setubharatam project on Mar 4 to
make all national highways free of railway crossings by
2019. Some 208 such points have been identified for
construction of rail over-bridges or underpasses.

NEW COLOUR SCHEME FOR POLLUTION LEVELS
Govt has launched the new four colour scheme for re-
classification of industries based on the Pollution Index
(PI) scores.
Pollution Category P I Score No. of industries
covered
Red 60 and Above 60
Orange 41 to 59 83
Green 21 to 40 63
White Up to 20 36
The purpose of the categorization is to ensure that the
industry is established in a manner which is consistent
with the environmental objectives.
ONE CRORE HOUSES IN RURAL AREAS
The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of one
crore houses in next three years in rural areas under
‘Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin’ to achieve the
objective of ‘Housing for All’. The scheme replaces be
earlier Indira Awas Yojana.
A financial assistance of Rs.1.20 lakh will be provided for
construction of pucca houses to homeless families in plain
areas and Rs. 1.30 lakh in hilly and difficult areas. The
beneficiary will also be entitled to 90 days of unskilled
labour from MGNREGA.
STUDENTS TO ACT AS ‘PARYATAK MITRA’
Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Paryatak
Mitra’ (tourist’s friend) programme to inculcate
appropriate tourism traits and knowledge amongst the
college students enrolled in NCC/NSS to enable them to
act/work as Tourist Facilitators.
‘UJALA’ SCHEME FOR LED BULBS
Govt has announced the ‘UJALA' scheme for the LED
based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme, which is
currently running successfully in over 120 cities across
India to replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.
UJALA is an acronym for Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs
for All.
WOMEN CONQUER ITBP FORTE ALSO
Government has allowed women to be inducted as
officers in combat roles in the Indo-Tibetan Border
Force (ITBP), the last paramilitary force to do so. The
four other paramilitary forces – CRPF, CISF, BSF and SSB
have already been allowed to recruit women officers in
the combat roles.
BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD FOR HOUSE BUYERS
The Rajya Sabha passed the landmark Real Estate
(Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015 on March 10 to
address corruption and inefficiency in the sector. The
bill aims to protect house buyers from the widely
prevalent opaque and fraudulent practices in the real
estate sector. Lok sabha has already passed this bill.
PRADHAN MANTRI UJWALA YOJANA
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
approved the Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana for
providing 5 crore free LPG connections to women from
below poverty line (BPL) households at a cost of Rs
8,000 crore.
GOVT STARTS HEALTHCARE ATMs
Union Health Ministry has started, on trial basis, five
healthcare ATMs in four states — Madhya Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The
ATMs combine telemedicine with a rudimentary free
drugs programme.
Each ATM will be manned by a multipurpose public
health worker (MPHW) or an auxiliary nurse midwife
(ANM) armed with a multi-parameter patient vital
monitor and other devices required for checking basic
health parameters.
AADHAAR BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT
The Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and Other
Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 has been
passed by the Parliament to provide a legal back up to
the usage of Aadhaar card for various social welfare
schemes. It will empower the states to distribute
resources to deserving people and save the resources
that undeserving people get

UNIVERSITIES TO HAVE WEB PAGE FOR SC/ST
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked
varsities and colleges across the country to launch a
special page on their websites for checking
discrimination against SC/ST students.
The move comes amidst the debate on the issue of alleged
discrimination in higher educational institutions in the
aftermath of Rohith Vemula's suicide at Hyderabad
Central University.
UNRESERVED TICKET VALID FOR 3 HOURS
As per new rules, from March 1, an unreserved train
ticket for travelling up to 199 kms will no longer be
valid after 3 hrs of purchase of the ticket, or up to the
departure of first train for the destination, whichever is
later.
ENEMY PROPERTY ACT, 1968 AMENDED
Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the Enemy Property
Act, 1968. The properties covered by the Bill are those
left behind by people who became Chinese or Pakistani
nationals, after leaving India in the wake of wars fought
with these countries. The new bill also ensures that the
law of succession does not apply to enemy property.
 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
has launched the 'Clean Street Food Project' in
Delhi to sensitise the street food vendors about health
and hygiene aspects of food.
 Railways launched an online “clean my coach”
service that allows travellers to get their
compartments cleaned by sending an SMS to 58888
or by using an app or a designated website.
 Government has decided to digitally connect all the
Post Offices in rural areas by March 2017. There are
about 1,55,000 Post Offices in the country.
 The Telecom Commission has approved the idea of
having a common number for emergencies such as
police, fire, ambulance, etc. all over India. The
proposed number is 112.
FEBRUARY 2016
20 SMART CITIES ANNOUNCED
Central government has announced the names of the
first 20 urban areas that will be developed as smart
cities. The selected cities will be equipped with basic
infrastructure, efficient urban mobility and public
transport, IT connectivity and e-governance
mechanisms. The 20 selected cities are from 11 states
and UT of Delhi.
1. Bhubaneswar 2. Pune 3. Jaipur
4. Surat 5. Kochi
6. Ahmedabad 7. Jabalpur
8. Vishakapatnam 9. Sholapur
10. Davangere 11. Indore 12. New Delhi
13. Coimbatore 14. Kakinada 15. Belagavi
16. Udaipur 17. Guwahati 18. Chennai
19. Ludhiana 20. Bhopal
RURBAN MISSION LAUNCHED IN DONGARGARH
The ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural-
urban) Mission was launched from Chhattisgarh's
Dongargarh block. It aims to draw an investment of
over Rs 5,000 crore in three years to transform rural
areas to economically, socially and physically
sustainable spaces aimed at minimising rural migration
to cities through skill development programmes.
GOVT TO SET UP AIM AND SETU
The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of Atal
Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment and
Talent Utilisation (SETU) in NITI Aayog to encourage
innovations and entrepreneurship in the country.
APP LAUNCHED FOR CLEAN TOURIST CENTERS
Ministry of Tourism has launched a mobile app ‘Swachh
Paryatan’ to facilitate the public to communicate their
complaints about any unclean area/garbage piles in and
around 25 listed prime tourist destinations.
E-TOURIST VISA FOR 37 MORE COUNTRIES
Govt has decided to extend E-Tourist visa facility to 37
more countries from Feb 26, making the total count of
countries under the scheme 150. The new countries
include Austria, Brunei, Denmark, Greece, South Africa,
Switzerland and Tajikistan.

EPFO COVERAGE FOR 10 WORKER UNITS
The Union Labour Ministry has decided to halve the
threshold for coverage of firms under the Employees’
Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from 20 at present
to 10 workers. This will benefit over 50 lakh workers.
YOU TUBE CHANNEL FOR FINANCE MINISTRY
Finance Ministry has launched its official YouTube
channel with a view to disseminate information to the
public on a real-time basis. The channel showcases
videos featuring schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan
Mantri Mudra Yojana, Insurance schemes, among
several others.
PROJECT SUNRISE LAUNCHED TO FIGHT AIDS
Government has launched Project Sunrise for
prevention of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North-
Eastern states. The project seeks to improve
interventions against human immunodeficiency virus
infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(HIV/AIDS) among people who inject drugs (PWID).
24x7 TOLL FREE TOURIST INFOLINE
Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the 24x7 Toll
Free Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages
including Hindi and English in New Delhi. It will assist
the callers, particularly those who know little about
India, with advice on action to be taken during times of
distress while travelling in India to ensure a hassle free
comfortable journey.
TATA TO HEAD RAIL RESEARCH TEAM
Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross functional
team called Special Unit for Transportation Research
and Analytics (Sutra) headed by veteran industrialist
Ratan Tata for carrying out detailed analytics leading to
optimised investment decisions and operations in
railways.
NDRF RAISES ‘DOG SQUAD’
In a maiden initiative, the National Disaster Response
Force (NDRF) has raised a squad of 162 dogs to aid its
personnel in rescuing people trapped under debris in
the aftermath of natural calamities like earthquake.
 India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near
Bagodara village in Ahmadabad to strengthen the
aviation sector. The park will promote special units
to manufacture spare parts for aircrafts.
 National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-
2030 released to define the strategy for elimination of
the disease by 2030, in a phased manner.
 The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031
unveiled by the environment ministry to focus on
rehabilitation of threatened species of wildlife.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
APRIL 2016
RBI MAINTAINS GROWTH RATE AT 7.6%
The Reserve Bank in its first policy review of the year
expects the economy to grow by 7.6 per cent in the
current fiscal on the back of favourable monsoon,
slightly lower than the upper end of government’s
projected rate of 7-7.75 per cent.
ADB PUTS INDIA’s GROWTH AT 7.6 %
With the failure of the government to push through the
Goods and Services Tax and the Land and Labour
Reforms, the Asian Development Bank has lowered
India’s growth forecast to 7.4 per cent from an earlier
estimate of 7.6 per cent for the financial year ending
March 31, 2017.
INDIA POISED TO GROW BY 7.5% - IMF
As per the World Economic Outlook report by
IMF, India's growth is projected to reach up to 7.5 per
cent in 2016-17, overtaking China's GDP by more than 1
per cent. It said, growth will continue to be driven by
private consumption, which has benefited from lower
energy prices and higher real incomes.
FITCH / W B PUT INDIA’s GROWTH AT 7.7%
Fitch Ratings expects India to be on the top of global
growth ladder, expanding by 7.7 per cent in the current
fiscal due to higher disposable income and a likelihood
of a normal monsoon. The World Bank also projected
India’s growth at 7.7 per cent.
“NO BPL POPULATION BY 2032” - KANT
In a presentation made by Niti Aayog Chief Executive
Officer Amitabh Kant, it was stated that India will
achieve growth of 10% by 2032 to become a $10-trillion
economy, creating 175 million jobs and leading to zero
per cent of Below Poverty Line (BPL) population.
IIP MOVES UP BY 2%
Factory output measured in terms of the index of
industrial production grew by mere 2 per cent in
February month. Growth of the core sector comprising
of eight infra industries, rose to a 15-month high of
5.7% in February due to sharp pick-up in natural gas,
refinery products, fertiliser, cement and electricity
generation.

TRADE DEFICIT SINKS TO $ 5.07 BILLION
According to data released by the Commerce Ministry,
exports contracted by 5.47 per cent to $22.71 billion in
March. Imports also declined by 21.56 per cent to
$27.78 billion, mainly due to fall in crude prices, leaving
a trade deficit of $5.07 billion. Trade deficit for the year
2015-16 is now only $118.46 billion as compared to
$137.69 billion last year.
 India's foreign exchange reserves surged by $ 333.7
million to reach a fresh life-time high of $ 360.25
billion in the week ended 15th April.
 As per Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, Niti
Aayog, India may achieve 8% growth on the back of
satisfactory progress in infrastructure development.
MARCH 2016
FITCH PUTS INDIA’s GROWTH AT 7.5%
Fitch Ratings has lowered India’s economic growth
forecast for next fiscal to 7.7 per cent, but maintained
the GDP projection for current fiscal at 7.5 per cent.
FEBRUARY 2016
INDIA RECORDS 7.3% GROWTH IN OCT-DEC QR
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), growth
of the Gross Domestic Product is estimated at 7.3% in
the October-December 2015 quarter. The economy is
projected to record a five-year high growth rate of 7.6%
in 2015-16 with consumption supporting growth and
manufacturing being a surprise performer.
GDP GROWTH TUNED DOWN TO 7.2%
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has marginally
revised downward the GDP growth for 2014-15 to 7.2%
from the earlier estimate of 7.3% after factoring in the
latest data on agriculture and industrial production.
The real GDP or GDP at constant prices (2011-12) for
the year 2014-15 stands at Rs 105.52 lakh crore.
The per capita Net National Income at current prices is
estimated as Rs 79,412 and Rs 86,879, respectively for the
years 2013-14 and 2014-15. For 2015-16, the Net
National Income at Current Prices is expected to be Rs.
93,231.00
MOODY’s PUTS INDIA’s GROWTH AT 7.5%
Moody’s Investors Services has projected that Indian
economy will grow at 7.5% in 2016 and 2017 as it is
relatively less exposed to external headwinds like
China’s slowdown and will benefit from lower
commodity prices.
ECONOMY & INDUSTRY
APRIL 2016
INDIA TOPS IN INWARD REMITTANCES
As per a recent World Bank report, India remained the
world's largest remittance recipient in 2015 despite
experiencing a one billion US dollar drop from the
previous year, attracting $69 billion, followed by China
at $64 billion.
COMPANIES TO OBSERVE IFRS NORMS
Companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more
will have to follow new Indian Accounting Standards
(Ind AS) from April 1. The new standards have been
converged with the globally followed International
Financial Reporting Standards - IFRS.
BLACKSTONE ENTERS INDIA
In one of the largest private equity deals in the IT
industry, Blackstone, the New York based MNC in
investment and financial services has signed a deal to
buy 60.5 per cent stake in Mphasis, a Bengaluru based
IT services major.
 India has offered to invest up to $20 billion in new
petrochemicals, fertiliser and liquefied natural gas
(LNG) facilities in Iran and sought land and cheaper
natural gas for this.
 The Shan-E-Punjab Express, country’s first train with
CCTV cameras in all coaches, for safety of passengers,
started from Delhi for Amritsar.
 The Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. has become the number
one coal producer in the country by producing a
record 137.90 million tonne of coal in 2015-16.
 The East Coast Railway has become the largest
Freight Loading Railway Zone in 2015-16 with
handling of 173.49 million tonnes of freight.
 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched a
new index Nifty Mid Smallcap 400 representing 150
midcap and 250 small cap companies.
 Govt. has extended safeguard duty of 20 per cent on
steel imports till March 2018 to protect Indian
industry from cheap China steel
 The total telephone subscriber base in the country
rose to 105.18 crore in February on the back of
growth in wireless users (102.66 crore) even as
landline base continues to decline.

MARCH 2016
100% FDI ALLOWED IN E-COMMERCE
The government has allowed 100% foreign direct
investment (FDI) in the marketplace format of e-
commerce via the automatic route but not under the
inventory led model. This means that companies such as
Amazon and Alibaba can set up an online marketplace
legally now where sellers can hawk their products.
‘NO’ TO ‘WILLFUL DEFAULTERS’ – SEBI
To curb the menace of willful defaulters, the Securities
and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has barred them
from making a public issue or acquiring another listed
entity.
The RBI defines a willful defaulter as an entity that
defaults on its payment obligations even if it has the
capacity to pay back debts.
INDIAN LOCOMOTIVES FOR MYANMAR
Railways have signed a contract to supply eighteen
Meter Gauge 1350 HP Diesel Electric Locomotives to
Myanmar Railways. The engines will be manufactured
by the Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi.
URIDASHI MASALA BONDS LAUNCHED BY IFC
International Finance Corporation (IFC) launched its
first Uridashi Masala Bonds (Japanese bonds) to
mobilise Rs 30 crore from Japanese retail investors. The
proceeds will be used for promoting private sector
development in India.
Masala bonds are rupee-denominated instruments sold
only to foreign investors.
INDIA HIKES QUOTA IN IMF
The government has decided to invest Rs. 69,575 crore
towards increasing India’s quota in the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2.44% to 2.75% to have
increased voting rights of 2.6% from the previous
2.34%.
INDIA’s BIGGEST EVER CREDIT LINE
India signed its biggest ever overseas credit line,
extending $2 billion loan facility to Bangladesh,
repayable over 20 years. Managed by the Exim Bank,
the funds will be used for development of infrastructure
and social sector.
ALTO FIRST CAR TO CROSS 3 MILLION SALES
Maruti’s hatchback Alto has achieved cumulative sales
of three million units in the Indian market. It has taken
15 years and 6 months to achieve this record and is the
only Indian auto brand to cross this milestone. Around
2.50 lakh Alto are sold annually.
MAHINDRA ONLINE TRACTOR RENTING
India’s number one tractor producer, Mahindra&
Mahindra plans to launch Trringo – a digital app, to start
online tractor rental business. It will offer a digital
platform to connect those looking to hire tractors and
those willing to rent their self-owned machines.
CALL DROPS NOT TO EXCEED 2% - S C
The Supreme Court has asked telecom operators to give
an undertaking that they have not exceeded the two
percent threshold limit of call drops as mandated in the
regulations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
 The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) and the A have signed a MoU to provide $
848 million to develop solar parks across India.
 As per the Brand Trust Report, e-retailer Amazon has
been ranked as India's most trusted online shopping
brand, followed by Snapdeal and Flipkart.
 The World Bank to provide $250 million loan for
improving the performance of electricity distribution
in Rajasthan.
 The government has formally withdrawn the
recognition of Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE) after it
was de recognised by SEBI "serious irregularities".
 The govt has relaxed FDI norms for the insurance
sector to allow 49% foreign stake in local insurance
companies without prior approval, as against 26%
earlier.
 Railways have tied up with the ISRO to use space
technology for providing the passenger information
in all trains and to explore new route alignments.
 India and France have signed a MoU for construction
of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.
 World Bank to provide $ 35 million loan for Madhya
Pradesh citizen access to responsive services project.
 World Bank to grant $ 300 million loan for the
Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Quality
Improvement Project

FEBRUARY 2016
10,000 Cr FUND FOR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
In a bid to kick start manufacturing in the electronics
sector, government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore
Electronic Development Fund. It will provide risk
capital to companies developing new technologies in
electronics, nano-electronics and information
technology.
‘MAKE IN INDIA WEEK’ INAUGURATED
Prime Minister Mr. Modi inaugurated the Make in India
Week on Feb 13 in Mumbai. He told representatives
from 68 countries participating in the event that India
was blessed with Democracy, Demography, and
Demand, and his government has added 4th D –
Deregulation, making it a four-dimensional India
waiting for foreign investment and manufacturing
companies.
The week attracted investment commitments of over
Rs.15 lakh crore.
15.27 LAKH COMPANIES IN INDIA
As per the latest data released by the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs, the total number of companies
registered in the country rose to more than 15.27 lakh
in January 2016. However, only 10.76 lakh of them
were active ones.
G I TAG FOR BASMATI OF 7 STATES
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board has directed
Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai to issue
‘Geographical Indication’ tag for basmati rice to 7 states
in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. These states are Punjab,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar
Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. This tag will help to
preserve the unique identity of India’s aromatic basmati
rice in the international market.
FIRST PETROCHEMICAL PLANT IN NORTH EAST
Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL)
started the Assam Gas Cracker project, the first ever
Petrochemical project in entire North East India. The
plant at Lepetkata near Dibrugarh, Assam will produce
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Linear Low
Density polyethylene (LLDPE) totaling 2, 20,000 Tonnes
per Annum (TPA) and 60,000 TPA of Polypropylene
(PP) for downstream plastic processing industries.
TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT APPROVED
Union Cabinet has approved (TFA) of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), becoming 71st country to do so.
The TFA seeks to ease customs procedures to boost
commerce.
eKYC LAUNCHED FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
India’s leading transfer agency for most of the mutual
funds-CAMS (Computer Age Management Services) has
launched Aadhaar-based eKYC app using OTP (one-time
password) authentication to make mutual fund account
opening and transactions a paperless and presence less
process through the app myCAMS at
www.camsonline.com .
PARADIP REFINERY STARTS PRODUCTION
Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery in Paradip,
Odisha started production of petrol from the Rs. 34,555-
crore facility that took over 14 years to complete. The
Refinery, largest on the eastern coast, will primarily be
producing BS-IV fuels for local consumption and for
exports.
With this refinery, IOC has now become country’s largest
refiner, overtaking Reliance Industries Ltd.
TRAI RULES IN FAVOUR OF ‘NET NEUTRALITY’
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has
barred telecom service providers from charging
differential rates for data services, effectively
prohibiting Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel’s Airtel
Zero platform. TRAI said a fine of Rs. 50,000 would be
levied per day, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakh, for
any violation of these regulations by the service
providers.
INDIA TO GIVE $150 MN FOR CHABAHAR PORT
India has approved a $150 million credit line for the
development of Iran’s Chabahar port. The port in
southeast Iran will allow direct trade with Iran, avoiding
Pakistan and open up a new route to Afghanistan.

INS VIKRANT REBORN AS ‘V’ MOTOR BIKE
Bajaj Auto has launched a 150-cc motor bike named ‘V’
that contains metal sourced from India’s first aircraft
carrier, INS Vikrant. The ship was decommissioned in
Jan 1997 and was sold as scrap in November 2014.
 For the first time, 6 metro coaches, each 75 feet long,
were shipped to Australia from Mumbai port as the
first installment of 450 such coaches.
 Govt has cut interest rates by 0.25% on short-term
post office deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and other
small saving schemes below five years of maturity.
 Govt to set up the National Organic Farming
Research Institute in Sikkim as the state is country's
first organic farming State.
 Govt about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of its 5% stake in
the Maharatna PSU National Thermal Power
Corporation-NTPC, through OFS (offer for sale).
 South Arabia emerged as the largest exporter of
crude oil to India in Jan. 2016, exporting 9.4 lac
barrels per day, followed by Iraq at 9.3 lac bpd.
 Apprehensive of the name Zika, the virus, Tata Motors
have decided to rename their latest hatchback model
as Tiago instead of Zika.
 Asian Development Bank will provide a $80 million
loan for improving the infrastructure in the two
North-Eastern cities of Agartala and Aizawl.
BANKING & FINANCE
APRIL 2016
REPO RATE LOWERED TO 6.50%
The RBI announced a 25 basis cut in its policy interest
rate on April 5, lowering it to more than five-year low.
The new repo rate now stands at 6.50 per cent.
However, the reverse repo rate has been hiked by 25
basis points to 6 per cent. The new Marginal Standing
Facility and Bank Rate stand at 7.00 percent.
The move is likely to lower the rate of interest on bank
loans, facilitating the pace of economic growth.
BANKS ADOPT MCLR FOR LOWER RATES
Short-term working capital loans are set to get cheaper
as banks start adopting the marginal cost of funds-based
lending rate (MCLR) from 1 April. The new framework
requires banks to set rates based on their marginal cost
of funds rather than their average cost of funds. MCLR is
expected to improve transmission of policy rate cuts to
bank loan rates.
INDIA’s FIRST PAYMENTS BANK
Airtel M Commerce Services Limited (AMSL), a
subsidiary of Bharti Airtel (Airtel) has been granted
the India’s first payments bank license by RBI. The
company already offers mobile money services under
the brand name ‘Airtel Money’.
 State Bank of India has launched 'NO
Queue' Mobile app to save its customers time to avail
banking services.
MARCH 2016
BANKS TO PAY Q’LY INTEREST ON SB A/Cs
RBI has asked banks to pay interest on savings accounts
on a quarterly basis or a shorter duration, a move which
will benefit crores of savings account holders.
At present, the interest is credited in savings bank
accounts on a half-yearly basis. Banks are free to decide
rate of interest on savings bank accounts. It is calculated
on the daily balance basis.
SMALL SAVINGS RATES SLASHED
The government has reduced interest rates payable on
small savings including Public Provident Fund, National
Savings Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra to align them
closer to market rates. From 1st of April, PPF and NSC
will earn 8.1 per cent and KVP 7.8 per cent.
BANKERS MEET ‘GYAN SANGAM’ IN GURGAON
The two day meet of public sector banks and insurance
companies and other financial institutions with the
government officials - Gyan Sangam, was held in
Gurgaon, Haryana on March 5-6 to discuss their
performance with particular focus on mergers, bad
debts (NPAs) and credit growth.
It was indicated that the government may go in for the
consolidation of banks, led by 6-10 major public sector
banks acting as ‘anchor banks’, to strengthen weak banks.
ACCOUNT AGGREGATOR NBFCs
RBI has come out with a draft regulatory framework for
new kind of Account Aggregator Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFC) which would act as an account
aggregator to help people view their accounts across
financial institutions in a common format.
ICICI BANK STARTS ‘WORK FROM HOME’
Keeping in mind the difficulties faced by the
women who very often opt to drop out from the
workplace at key life stages, ICICI Bank has announced
an initiative called iWork@home that uses technology to
enable women employees to work from home for an
extended period of time depending on their needs.
 NPCI, issuer of Rupay card, plans to venture into the
credit card space by September 2016. It plans to
issue 100,000 such cards in the first year.

 The RBI has signed a pact with Bank of Israel for
exchange of information pertaining to banking
supervision.
 The Reserve Bank granted the first license for the
Small Finance Bank on 4 March to the Capital Local
Area Bank Ltd to start operations as India’s first SFB.
 Indian Overseas Bank has become the first bank to
commence the sale of Indian Gold Coin. The coins are
available in the 5, 10 and 20 gram category.
FEBRUARY 2016
NO RATE CHANGE BY RBI
The Reserve Bank maintained a status quo in its sixth
bi-monthly monetary policy review for year 2015-16
announced on Feb 2 by not changing any of the policy
rates. Stating that current momentum of growth is
reasonable, RBI maintained the FY 16 growth at 7.4 per
cent, with downward bias.
BANKS TO FOLLOW ‘IND AS’ NORMS
The Reserve Bank has advised that banks should follow
accounting standard ‘Ind AS’ converged with
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from
April 1, 2018. Ind AS implementation is likely to
significantly impact the financial reporting systems and
processes such as profit planning and budgeting, capital
planning, and impact on capital adequacy.
P G APTE REPORT RELEASED ON IROs
The Reserve Bank of India has released the Report of the
Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. P.G. Apte) on
Introduction of Interest Rate Options in India. The
report recommends liberalization of the interest rate
derivatives market by allowing simple call and put
Options, caps, floors and collars.
PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS HIGH ON NPAs
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance headed
by M. Veerappa Moily, a senior Congress MP submitted
the report on the Net Non performing Assets (NPAs) of
Public Sector Banks (PSBs). As per the report, NPAs in
the country’s PSBs were around 205,024 crore rupees
till September 2015 and the Gross NPAs during the
same period were around at 369,990 crore rupees.
S C ASKS RBI TO DISCLOSE BIG DEFAULTERS
The Supreme court has asked the
Reserve Bank of India to submit
within six weeks a list of the
companies which are in default of
loans by the banks and financial
institutions in excess of Rs 500
crore or whose loans have been
restructured under corporate debts restructuring
scheme. The list is to be furnished in a sealed cover to
maintain confidentiality about the identity of defaulters.
INCOGNITO VISITS TO CHECK CUSTOMER CARE
Reserve Bank has decided to undertake ‘incognito visits’
by its officials to bank branches to check culture
towards customer complaints and how banks have
implemented Charter of Customer Rights.
FDI RULES RELAXED FOR START UPS
The Reserve Bank has relaxed several rules including
foreign direct investment norms to boost start-up
activity in the country. Now the start-ups are allowed to
receive foreign funds irrespective of the sector in which
they operate.
SBI LAUNCHES "FLEXIPAY HOME LOAN"
State Bank of India launched a new home loan scheme
"FlexiPay Home Loan", offering higher amount and up to
five years of interest moratorium to young professionals
in the age group of 21 to 45 years. Borrowers will have
the option of paying only interest during the
moratorium (pre-EMI) period and thereafter pay
moderated EMIs.
 Govt to infuse Rs 5,000 crore as capital in the public
sector banks to strengthen their balance sheet for
compliance of Basel III capital norms.
 RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap
arrangement to SAARC nations till mid-November
2017 to enhance economic cooperation.
 State Bank of India has started an exclusive ‘Japan
Desk’ as a single nodal point for attracting FDI worth
$30 billion from Japan.
DEFENCE, SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY
APRIL 2016
ARMY RAISES NEW ‘GORKHA BATTALION’
The Army has raised a new Gorkha battalion comprising
entirely of Gorkha troops of Indian domicile. The new
battalion, the Sixth Battalion of the First Gorkha Rifles
(6/1GR), christened “Kanchi Paltan”, has been raised at
Sabathu in the Shivalik foothills near Shimla, that houses
the 14 Gorkha Training Centre.

DEAL FINALISED FOR 36 RAFALE JETS
India has finalised the deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter
jets from Dassault Aviation of France for 7.89 billion
euros (Rs. 59,000 crore). The Indian team managed to
bring down the deal price by 11 billion euros. The first
set of jets would be delivered within 18 to 20 months.
K-4 MISSILE TESTED SUCCESSFULLY
India has successfully tested its most ambitious weapon
system - a long range submarine-launched ballistic
missile, codenamed K-4, capable of striking targets upto
3,500 kilometres away. The missile was tested 40 kms
off the Vishakhapatnam coast.
INDIA MAKES FIRST SONAR DOME
India’s first indigenous composite sonar dome, a ship’s
underwater eyes and ears, was launched at Goa.
Designed and produced by DRDO, it is a rare
achievement as very few companies in the world have
technology to make sonar domes.
INDIA 4TH IN DEFENCE SPENDING
India has become the world’s fourth largest spender on
defence, following a 13.1% increase in its 2016-17
defence budget of Rs. 2,58,000 crore, according to US
research firm IHS Inc. USA is the largest spender in the
world, followed by China and Saudi Arabia.
INDIA – US TO SHARE MILITARY LOGISTICS
To counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China,
India and the United States have ‘agreed in principle’ to
share their military logistics that allows the two
militaries to use each other's land, air and naval bases
for resupplies, repair and rest.
IAF TO TAKE PART IN NATO EXCERCISE
12 IAF aircrafts will take part in the prestigious 'Red
Flag' air exercise alongside NATO forces from April 28
to May 13 in skies over Alaska. It is seen as a complex
and advanced network centric operation -- the toughest
test for flying machines and men.
 ICGS Shoor, an offshore patrol vessel was inducted in
the Indian Coast Guard at it Mangalore base.
 The 11th Indo-Mongolia joint army training exercise,
titled ‘Nomadic Elephant - 2016’ commenced on 25
April in Mongolia to share skills for handling Counter
Insurgency and Counter Terrorism events.
 The 22nd Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)
was held from 19-27 April in the Andaman
Sea. Missile Corvette INS Karmuk and Dornier
Maritime Patrol Aircraft took part in this exercise.
 The Indian Army conducted its major war exercise
named ‘Shatrujeet’ (winning the enemy) in the Thar
Desert of Rajasthan.
LIGHTEST EVER SYNTHETIC MATERIAL
Scientists at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (of
ISRO), Thiruvananthapuram, have developed the
world's lightest ever synthetic material called ‘silica
aerogel’ or ‘blue air’ or ‘frozen smoke’. It has an
excellent thermal resistance and if used as filler in
soldiers' uniforms, it can save many lives at the Siachen
Glacier.
SUPERCOMPUTER ‘PARAM KANCHENJUNGA’
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Sikkim has
secured a rare distinction of having a supercomputer
named ‘Param Kanchenjunga’, which is said to be the
most powerful and fastest among all the 31 NITs.
INDIA GETS ASIA's BIGGEST TELESCOPE
Asia's biggest telescope has been launched in India. Built
by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES) with the assistance of Belgium, the
telescope is located at a height of 2,500 metres at
Devasthal in Nainital district.
 The Airports Authority of India has signed an MoU
with ISRO to provide scientific parameters for
construction of airports across the country.
 India and the USA have signed an agreement for a
new Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory (LIGO) project in India.
MARCH 2016
‘FORCE 18’ HELD IN PUNE
The multinational mega Military Exercise Force 18 was
held in Pune, Maharashtra from March 2 to 8. Hosted by
Indian Army, it included 18 forces from ASEAN and
several other countries.
The theme of the exercise was `Humanitarian Mine
Action’ (HMA) and `Peacekeeping Operations’ (PKO).
 ICGS Arnvesh, the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) built by
the Cochin Shipyard was commissioned in the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG) in Visakhapatnam.

 Iron Fist 2016 - Indian Air Force conducted its
biggest fire power combat exercise at Pokhran in
Rajasthan on March 18.
 Indian army test-fired indigenously built nuclear-
capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a range of 700
kms from Abdul Kalam Island on the Odisha coast.
 Garuda Shakti, the 4th edition of joint army training
exercise between India and Indonesia was held at
Magelang, Indonesia, from March 11 to 23.
 Defence Ministry has issued the order for purchase of
transport helicopters CH-47 Chinook and attack
helicopter AH-64 Apache, from the Boeing, USA.
NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY – FEB 28
It was observed Feb 28 with the theme “Scientific Issues
for Development of the Nation”. The day is observed to
mark the discovery of the Raman Effect (phenomenon of
scattering of photons) by Indian physicist Sir C V
Raman, Nobel laureate on 28 February 1928.
ISRO PUTS UP SPACE RESEARCH RADAR
A new 30MHz radar system, Gadanki Ionospheric Radar
Interfereometer (GIRI), second largest in the world, has
been established at National Atmospheric Research
Laboratory (NARL) at Gadanki in Andhra Pradesh for
ionospheric, meteor and space weather research in a
comprehensive way. NARL functions under ISRO.
ISRO LAUNCHES 6TH IRNSS SATELLITE
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on 10
March launched the country’s sixth Indian Regional
Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS)-1F, on board its
launch vehicle PSLV C-32 from Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh. IRNSS is a set up of seven satellites to serve as
GPS (global positioning system) of India.
‘EXOMARS’ LAUNCHED TO STUDY MARS
ExoMars 2016, an unmanned spacecraft was launched
jointly by Europe and Russia on a Russian Proton rocket
from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to study the
Mars' atmosphere for gassy evidence that life once
existed on the Red Planet.
 Australian scientists have created the world’s
thinnest lens which is 2,000 times thinner than
human hair, a breakthrough set to revolutionise
nanotechnology.
FEBRUARY 2016
FLEET REVIEW OF NAVY HELD IN VIZAG
Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected one
of the largest maritime events in the recent past – the
International Fleet Review 2016 held on 4 Feb to 8 Feb
at Visakhapatnam coast. The theme of event was United
through Oceans and mascot concept was Dolphin. Close
to 75 Indian warships and 52 from Navies across the
globe took part in the grand event.
INS ARIHANT BECOMES OPERATIONAL
The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear
submarine INS Arihant is now ready for full fledged
operations after passing a number of deep sea diving
drills as well as weapons launch tests.
INS VIRAAT TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2016
After nearly 60 years of sailing across the oceans, the
Indian Navy's warhorse aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat is
destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016. It was
inducted in Indian Navy in May 1987 as refitted British
warship – HMS Hermes. Government of Andhra
Pradesh has agreed to base the ship off Visakhapatnam
coast, converting it into a luxury hotel for promotion of
tourism in the State.
INDIA LARGEST IMPORTER OF ARMS
A study by the Stockholm-based think-tank SIPRI states
that India continues to be the world’s largest importer
of arms, accounting for 14% of global arms imports in
the period 2011–15. China ranks second with 4.7%,
followed by Australia (3.6%), Pakistan (3.3%).
PRITHVI II TESTED SUCCESSFULY
Indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile, capable of
carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads up to 350 kms,
was tested successfully as part of a user trial by the
Army from a test range near Chandipur, Odisha.

INDIA HOLDS JOINT NAVAL FEAT - IBSAMAR
The fifth edition of 'Exercise IBSAMAR' (India, Brazil,
South Africa Maritime) between the navies of Brazil,
India and South Africa was held off the Goa coast from
Feb 19 t0 29. This is for the first time that India is
hosting this exercise.
LIGHT REVOLVER ‘NIDAR’ LAUNCHED
India’s first indigenously developed lightest revolver
Nidar, weighing just 250 grams, was launched under the
"Make In India" initiative by the state-run Ishapore Rifle
Factory in West Bengal.
‘COBRA GOLD 2016’
Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold 2016’ – the
biggest multilateral military exercise hosted by
Thailand, along with its counterparts from 35 countries,
including USA, China and Pakistan.
“SINO-INDIA COOPERATION 2016’’
Focusing on humanitarian aid and disaster relief, the
Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint tactical
exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ in Chushul-
Moldo area of Ladakh border with China.
MAHINDRAS TO M 777 HOWITZERS IN INDIA
Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based
multinational company has announced selection of
Mahindra as its Indian partner for the around $700-
million deal for the supply of 145 M777 ultra light
howitzers to the Indian Army—the first new artillery
guns after the Bofors scandal.
The gun, with a strike range of 25 km, will form the
backbone of the Mountain Strike Corps, being raised by
the government for the mountainous borders with China.
 LAMITYE 2016, the 7th joint military training exercise
between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s
Defence Forces (SPDF) was held in Seychelles.
 The 9th edition of India-Nepal Combined Military
Exercise ‘Surya Kiran IX’ was held in Pithoragarh
district of Uttarakhand.
 The Ministry of Defence to locally produce 106
upgraded Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas Mark 1-A” jets
to replace the ageing fleet of MiG fighter aircraft.
 The 4th India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol was
conducted jointly by both navies along the
International Maritime Boundary Line in the
Andaman Sea.
 Japan joined the US, Russia, and China as one of the
only countries to produce its own fifth-generation
stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’
 Saudi Arabia launched a massive military exercise –
‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20 nations
in King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia.

‘KSHEER-SCANNER’ TO DETECT MILK PURITY
Government has launched a device developed by the
CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named ‘Ksheer-Scanner’
that instantaneously detects the adulterants like urea,
salt, detergent, soda etc in milk.
YOUTUBE RED LAUNCHED
YouTube has launched its YouTube Red service. The
original movies and show are part of Google parent
Alphabet Inc's efforts to offer more to customers on
YouTube Red, the $10-a-month service that allows
viewers to watch videos across YouTube without ad
breaks.
ELUSIVE GRAVITATIONAL WAVES DISCOVERED
After decades of search for Scientists working with the
gigantic optical instruments in the LIGO [Laser
Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory], USA,
have detected for the first time, signals of gravitational
waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3
billion light years away. These ripples in space-time
were predicted by Albert Einstein, some 100 years ago.
NOD FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTOR
Union Cabinet has given ‘in principle’ approval for a
proposal to have a gravitational wave detector in India
under LIGO-India Project. It would cost at least Rs.
1,200 crore and may take at least eight years to be
operational.
JAPANESE SATELLITE TO STUDY BLACK HOLES
The Japanese space agency has successfully launched a
new X ray astronomy satellite – Astro–H to study the
origin of black holes. The satellite has four telescopes
that will enable the space agency to peer into far off
galaxy clusters, providing data on how they were
formed.
5 NEW JUPITER LIKE PLANETS DISCOVERED
Scientists have discovered five new Jupiter-like planets
having similar characteristics to the biggest planet in
our solar system and orbit very close to their host stars.
Newly discovered planets have been named as WASP-
119 b, WASP-124 b, WASP-126 b, WASP 129 b and
WASP-133 b.
 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
has launched the country's first anti-diabetic
ayurvedic drug BGR -34 for Diabetes type 2 patients.
 Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company
Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed
the world’s first vaccine for Zika virus.
 Mobile messaging app WhatsApp crossed the one
billion user milestone globally on Feb 02.
INTERNATIONAL
APRIL 2016
IMF & WB TO WORK FOR TAX IMPROVEMENT
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
have joined hands with the United Nations and the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, to form a new group which will work for
building effective tax systems in developing countries
and avoiding tax base erosion.
WORLD’s WHO’s WHO IN PANAMA LEAK
A massive leak of 11.5 million documents from a law
firm in Panama reveals how the world's current rich
people, politicians and celebrities hide their money in
Panama. The documents, dubbed the Panama Papers,
were obtained by a Munich-based daily newspaper.
The names figuring in the leak included aides to Russian
President Vladimir Putin, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak's son Nazifuddin, family of Chinese President Xi
Jinping, Amitabh Bachchan.
USA TOPS IN ICT USAGE
A study of 50 nations by Chinese IT giant Huawei for
investment and deployment of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) has placed USA at
top, followed by Singapore, Sweden. Huawei Global
Connectivity Index 2016 places India at 44th rank.
SAN JOSE - THE MOST FUTURE READY CITY
In a study of 50 cities conducted by the IT firm Dell -
‘Future-Ready Economies Model’, city of San Jose in
California, USA has been placed at top, followed by San
Francisco, Singapore. From India, Delhi ranks at
44th place.

WTO LOWERS TRADE GROWTH TO 2.8%
The World Trade Organization has revised its 2016
global trade forecast downward by more than one
percentage point to 2.8 per cent, warning that a
slowdown in China and broad market volatility
continued to threaten growth.
In September last, the WTO estimated global trade to rise
by 3.9 per cent in 2016.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ZERO - ICZ
ICZ was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France
to promote the knowledge of Maths for greater global
good. A bronze bust of ancient Indian mathematician
and astronomer Aryabhatta was also unveiled there on
the occasion.
TOP 'GLOBAL GAME CHANGERS'
American business magazine
Forbes has ranked some of
the biggest names in business
as the 'Global Game
Changers'. The selected 30
businessmen have exhibited
growth and innovation, and
their examples have had been
adopted and copied by rivals the world over.
The list is topped by Marcs Benioff, CEO of
Salesforce.com, followed by Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com.
It includes three Indians - Rahul Bhatia of Inter Globe
Enterprises, Cyrus Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India,
and Sunny Varkey of GEMS Education at 3, 23 and 26
positions respectively.
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
The World Bank released the 2016 edition of the World
Development Indicators (WDI). It includes 1400
indicators for over 200 economies to measure the 169
targets of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
set by UNO.
AUSTRALIA SUFFERS LOSS IN REEF TOURISM
Australian scientists have reported that over 90 per cent
of the Great Barrier Reef has been affected by mass
bleaching that is likely to destroy half the coral. Reef
tourism generates around $4 billion every year for
Australia.
Bleaching occurs when the water is too warm, forcing
coral to expel living algae and causing it to calcify and
turn white.
 The annual Spring Meeting of IMF & WB was held at
Washington. Finance Ministers and Governors of
Central Banks from G-20 nations attended the meet.
 Heads of about 53 countries took part in the
4th Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington, USA.
 Nauru, the tiny South Pacific island nation has become
the 189th member of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank.
 Summit of the foreign ministers of the G-7 countries
was held at Hiroshima, Japan on April 11.
 Japan has become fourth country in world to
successfully test its first stealth fighter jet – X 2, the
other three being USA, Russia and China.
 Stealth technology gives radar dodging ability to the
jet.
 The latest World Malaria Report from WHO says that
Europe has become the world’s first region to wipe out
malaria with zero cases reported last year.
 The 13th Islamic Summit Conference was held in
Istanbul, Turkey. This year’s theme was Unity and
Solidarity for Justice and Peace.
 The world’s first public dengue vaccination
programme was launched in the Philippines. The
country had the highest dengue incidence in the West
Pacific region.
 In UK, Britain's Royal Mail has launched a set of
special postage stamps to mark the 400th death
anniversary of the great playwright William
Shakespeare.
 Bangladesh’s top court has rejected a 28-year-old
petition to remove Islam as official religion of the
country, disappointing the activists who wanted the
country to remain secular.
 UNICEF launched a series of animated films, called
Unfairy Tales, to help frame positive perceptions
towards the tens of millions of children and
young people on the move globally (refugees).
 A US grand jury has slapped a $ 940 million fine on
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Tata America
International Corp. in a trade secret case against
them.
 In one of the largest environmental settlement in the
US history, oil and gas giant British Petroleum has
agreed to pay over $20 billion to the American
government as damages over the 2010 oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico.
 Venezuela has ordered a two-day working week for
public sector workers as a temporary measure to help
it overcome a serious energy crisis.
MARCH 2016
UN TO SET UP ‘BLUE DOTS’ FOR REFUGEES
The United Nations has
decided to set up 20 child
and family support hubs
known as "Blue Dots" from
Turkey, through Greece all
the way to Slovenia as
special support centres for
migrant children and families along the most travelled
route in Europe.
The centres will be looked after by the United Nations
High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United
Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

USA STARTS NEW CHAPTER WITH CUBA
US President Barack Obama scripted history by
becoming first US President to visit its island neighbour
Cuba, after 88 years of strained relations. The US
snapped ties with Cuba in 1959 when the Cuban
revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro ousted a pro-
American government.
USA TOPS IN INNOVATIONS
According to the latest figures released by the Geneva-
based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),
the US continued to dominate the world of innovation
and inventions by filing 57,385 international patent
applications last year, followed by Japan and China. In
comparison India lagged behind by filing for only 1423
patents. In terms of companies, Huawei Technologies of
China with 3,898 applications was at top.
WORLD’s COSTLIEST RAILWAY STATION
The World Trade Center Transportation Hub was
opened to public on March 3 at New York. Built at a cost
of $ 4 billion, it took 12 years to complete. It' will serve
250,000 daily commuters and 11 subway lines.
GATE CONTINUES TO BE RICHEST
Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates continues to be the
world’s richest person with a net worth of $75 billion,
according to Forbes’ annual ranking of billionaires.
Ranked 36th, Mukesh Ambani, with a net worth of $20.6
billion, leads the pack of 84 Indian billionaires in the list.
WORLD CONGRESS OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES
was held at Lima in Peru from 14-17 March 2016 to
address different issues related to the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) for promotion of biosphere
reserves across the world.
 According to a new law in Uganda, parents who fail
to vaccinate their children will face six months in jail.
It also requires children to have an immunisation
card to allow them to go to school.
 9th International Abilympics started at Bordeaux in
France.
 Abilympics is coined from 'Olympics of abilities' of
persons with disabilities. It is a global work skills
competition held every four years.
 Changi Airport in Singapore has been voted the
World’s Best Airport for the fourth year in a row at
the 2016 World Airport Awards
 The 59th Session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs
was held in Vienna, Austria to prepare for the UN
General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug
Problem to be held in April 2016.
 World's first fully electric double decker bus service
was launched by London's transport authority. The
buses have been made by China automaker BYD.
 China's National People's Congress has set the
country's growth target for 2016 in a range of 6.5 to
7 per cent.
FEBRUARY 2016
DAWN OF DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR
Myanmar embarked upon a new democratic era on Feb
1 as the MPs of National League for Democracy party
lead by the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, took their
seats in the parliament, marking end to the military rule
since 1962.
A RAY OF HOPE IN SYRIA
A landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect in
Syria at midnight of 26 Feb, supported by both – USA
and Russia. This is the first major truce in five years of
civil war that has claimed more than 2.7 lakh lives.
BRITAIN TO HOLD REFERENDUM ON ‘BREXIT’
Britain is facing a big debate these days on the issue of
‘Brexit’–Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Opinions are widely divided. Leaving EU has its own
pros and cons. To decide the issue, it has been decided
to conduct a referendum on June 23, 2016.
WHO DECLARES ZICA EMERGENCY
World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Public
Health Emergency of International Concern over the
explosive spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus,
which is linked to birth defects in the Latin American
countries like Brazil, Mexico and even USA.

ONE HUMANITY: SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has
released a report called 'One Humanity: Shared
Responsibility' which has called for a global campaign to
prevent the destruction of humanitarian laws and to
protect civilians in conflict. The report is a part of the
World Humanitarian Summit to be held in May, 2016.
FRANCE BANS WASTING OF FOOD
France has become the first country in the world to
legally ban supermarkets from throwing away or
destroying unsold food, forcing them instead to donate
it to charities and food banks. Non compliance will
attract fines and jail up to two years.
WORLD GOVERNMENT SUMMIT IN DUBAI
The three day annual World Government Summit was
held in Dubai. 4500 participants from more than 130
countries participated to discuss challenges and
opportunities before present and future governments
worldwide.
WORLD’s LARGEST SOLAR POWER PLANT
The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, world’s largest
solar power plant’s first phase started operations on
February 4 in the Souss-Massa-Drâa area in Morocco.
The plant holds the capacity to produce 580 MW to
power over one million homes by 2018 and reduce
carbon emissions by an estimated 760000 tons per year.
WORLD’s LONGEST TRAIN ROUTE OPENS
The first cargo train under Beijing led-Belt and Road
connectivity initiative along the New Silk Road from
China to Iran completed its first journey from Yiwu near
Shanghai on China’s eastern coast to Bander Abbas port
in Iran. The 10,400 kms trip took just 14 days, a full 30
days shorter than the maritime voyage from Shanghai’s
port to the Iranian port.
HISTORICAL MEET OF TWO CHRISTIAN HEADS
Nearly 1,000 years after the Eastern and Western
branches of Christianity split apart, a first ever meeting
between a Roman Catholic Pope and a Russian Orthodox
patriarch took place on Feb 12 in Havana, Cuba. Pope
Francis, head of Roman Catholics and Orthodox
Patriarch Kirill embraced and kissed each other and
issued a global appeal for the protection of Christians
under assault in the Middle East.
USA LEADS HISTORICAL TRADE DEAL
The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, lead by USA, one of
the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New
Zealand on Feb 4. The deal aims to eliminate nearly all
tariffs among the 12-member nations, accounting for
about 40 per cent of the global economy.
BANK OF JAPAN IMPOSES -IVE INTEREST RATE
In a historic measure intended to boost the growth of
the world's third largest economy, Bank of Japan has
imposed, for the first time, a negative interest rate of
minus 0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits placed with
it. The decision, which penalises financial institutions
for storing excess funds, aims to stimulate investment
and credit and is meant to force a reduction of interest
rates applied by banks.
ALPHABET IS MOST VALUABLE COMPANY
Alphabet, the company that owns Google, has overtaken
rival Apple Inc in terms of value of market capitalisation
on Feb 1 to emerge as the most valuable company of the
world, having a market cap of $ 547.1 billion, higher
than Apple's $529.3 billion.
MERCER PLACES VIENNA AT THE TOP
The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life by
the global consulting firm Mercer has placed Austria’s
capital Vienna at the top, followed by Zurich,
Switzerland and Auckland in New Zealand. The worst
life quality was in Baghdad, Iraq. New Delhi was placed
at 142nd rank.
 Finance ministers and central bankers from the
Group of 20 major rich and developing economies
began a two-day meeting in Shanghai on Feb 26.
 A two day summit between leaders from the ASEAN
and The United States was held in California to dwell
upon maritime security in the South China Sea.
 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and
the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement
to improve cooperation in cyber defense.
 Apple notched a record $18.4 billion in profit for the
quarter ending 31st Dec 2015, the largest ever profit
recorded by a single company in world's history.
 A Twin Otter plane of Tara Air crashed on Feb 24 in
Dana of Myagdi district of Nepal, killing all 23 people
aboard.
 On Feb 23, Pakistan’s parliament became the world’s
first parliament to run fully on solar power.
 World Radio Day was observed globally by UNESCO
on 13 February 2016 with the theme ’Radio in Times
of Emergency and Disaster’.
 The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice
observed on February 20 to encourage people to look
at how social justice affects poverty eradication.
 World Cancer Day was observed across the world on
4th February. This year’s theme was – We can, I can.

PERSONS IN NEWS
APRIL 2016
SACHIN TENDULKAR: The Ministry for Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has named
cricket icon as brand ambassador of the 'Skill India'
campaign.
NITA AMBANI: Reliance Foundation Chairperson has
been named the most powerful businesswoman in Asia
by Forbes, leading a list of 50 women leaders from the
region that includes only eight from India.
P SUSHEELA MOHAN: Renowned playback singer has
been recognized by the Guinness World Records for
singing the most number of songs in Indian languages -
17,695 solo, duet and chorus-backed songs in 12 Indian
languages.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: A host of commemorations
were held in England and several other parts of the
world to observe 400th death anniversary of legendary
playwright, also known as The Bard of Avon. His famous
works include masterpieces like Othello, Macbeth,
Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: The world’s oldest-serving
royal and the longest-reigning and longest-lived British
monarch turned 90 on April 21, receiving the greetings
of thousands of British citizens as well as wishes from
all over the world.
ARSENIY YATSENYUK: Ukrainian Prime Minister
announced his resignation in the wake of a month-long
political crisis that paralysed his government and frozen
the release of vital Western aid.
Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson: Iceland’s Prime
Minister resigned reportedly after his name figured in
the mushrooming worldwide scandal over hidden
offshore financial dealings exposed in the so-called
Panama Papers leak.
MARCH 2016
ARVIND KEJRIWAL has been ranked 42nd among the
world’s 50 greatest leaders by Fortune magazine. He is
the sole Indian on the list, topped by Amazon CEO Jeff
Bezos.
PM NARENDRA MODI is among “The 30 Most
Influential People on the Internet” list compiled by the
Time magazine, USA, describing him as an ‘Internet star’
who often uses social media to conduct diplomacy.

MOTHER TERESA: The Nobel Laureate who spent 45
years serving the poor and sick on the streets of Kolkata
in her Missionaries of Charity, till her death in 1997, was
in news as the Pope Francis, religious chief of Christians,
has announced to confer Sainthood on her on
September 4, 2016.
ATIUR RAHMAN: Governor of Bangladesh Bank,
country’s beleaguered central bank, resigned after
hackers stole over $100 million from its accounts
maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank, New York.
AMAR SINGH: An Indian-origin Sikh has become the
Police Commissioner of Malaysia's capital Kuala
Lumpur, the first Sikh to achieve the top police post in
the Muslim-majority country.
SCOTT KELLY: The commander of the International
Space Station, returned to earth on March 1, completing
340 days stay in space, becoming the American with
longest stay in space. Record for longest stay in space is
held by Russia’s Valeri Polyakov, 437.7 days.
FEBRUARY 2016
U K SINHA: The government has extended Sinha's term
as the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of
India (Sebi) till March 01, 2017. He took over as Sebi
chairman in 2011.
SAMEER ANJAAN: Bollywood’s popular lyricist has
made into the Guinness Book of World Records for
writing the most number – 3524, songs for Bollywood
films.
NEYMAR: Iconic football player from Brazil was in news
as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze his assets
worth almost $ 50 million.
GEN. RAJENDRA CHETTRI: Nepalese Army Chief was
conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian
Army by the President Pranab Mukherjee.
APPOINTMENTS
APRIL 2016
JUSTICE (retd.) PERMOD KOHLI: Appointed as the
new Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
C P GURNANI: Elected as the new Chairman of the
National Association of Software and Services
Companies (Nasscom) for 2016-17. He is the MD & CEO
of Tech Mahindra.
MEHBOOBA MUFTI: Elected as the first woman Chief
Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
LOBSANG SANGAY: Re-elected as the Prime Minister
of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharmsala,
Himachal Pradesh.
CLEMENT MOUAMBA: Appointed as the new Prime
Minister of Republic of Congo.
IDRISS DEBY: Elected for the 5th time as the
President of Chad, a country in Central Africa.
BOUNNHANG VORACHIT: Elected as the new
President of Laos
THONGLOUN SISOULITH: Elected as the new Prime
Minister of Laos
VOLODYMYR GROYSMAN: Elected as the new Prime
Minister of Ukraine
SOORONBAI JEENBEKOV: New Prime Minister of
Kyrgyzstan.
HASHIM THACI: Elected as the President of Kosovo, a
small country in southeast Europe.
SIGURDUR INGI JOHANNSSON: Elected as the new
Prime Minister of Iceland after the earlier Prime
Minister resigned due to his name coming in ‘Panama
Leaks’.
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC: Elected as the new Prime
Minister of Vietnam.
TRAN DAI QUANG: Elected as the new President of
Vietnam.
FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA: Elected as the new
President of Central African Republic.
Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr: Appointed as the new Prime
Minister of Yemen

MARCH 2016
VINOD RAI: Former Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) has been appointed as the first Chairman of Banks
Board Bureau (BBB). BBB will start functioning from
April 1, 2016 to approve the appointments of banks’ top
executives and improve their governance.
JUSTICE BALBIR SINGH CHAUHAN: appointed as the
chairperson of the 21st Law Commission. He is a former
Supreme Court judge.
HTIN KYAW: elected as the first civilian President of
Myanmar to lead the country after 53 years of military
rule. He is a close aide of the iconic crusader of
democracy Aung San Suu Kyi.
H DEEP SAINI: Noted Indian scholar and plant
physiologist has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor
of the prestigious University of Canberra, Australia.
ASHLEY JUDD: The American actor and activist has
been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the
United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA, (formerly
the United Nations Fund for Population Activities).
MICHELLE YEOH: Famous action heroine of Malaysia-
China has been appointed as United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill
Ambassador.
AHMED ABUL GHEIT: Veteran Egyptian diplomat and
former Foreign Minister has been named as new
Secretary General of the Arab League.
ALI MOHAMED SHEIN: Re-elected as the President of
Zanzibar.
MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU: Re elected as the President
Niger for a second term
HASHIM THACI: Elected as the President of Kosovo, a
tiny country in southeastern Europe.
FEBRUARY 2016
JUSTICE H L DATTU: Former Chief Justice of India has
been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human
Rights Commission.
RAJENDRA SINGH: Appointed as the new Director
General of the Indian Coast Guard.
KALYAN SINGH: Governor of Rajasthan given the
additional charge of Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
K N VYAS: Appointed new Director of Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai
AMIT MITRA: West Bengal Finance Minister has been
appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered
Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and
Services Tax (GST).
KALIKHO PUL: New CM of Arunachal Pradesh.
PARAMESHWARAN IYER: Appointed as the new
Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation
Department to steer the Swachh Bharat Mission. He is
the World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist.
ARUNA SETHI: Appointed as the first women head of
the Indian Cost Accounts Services
D J PANDIAN: Former chief secretary of Gujarat has
been appointed vice-president and chief investment
officer of the newly formed Asia Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB).
JAI KUMAR GARG: appointed MD and CEO of
Corporation Bank
ARCHANA RAMASUNDRAM, IPS:
Appointed as the Director General of
Sashastra Seema Bal, SSB.
She is the first woman to head a
paramilitary force. SSB guards Indian
borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
K DURGA PRASAD, IPS: Appointed Director General of
Central Reserve Police Force.
K K SHARMA, IPS: Appointed Director General of the
Border Security Force.
GURDEEP SINGH: Appointed as the Chairman and
Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC Ltd. For the first time
a Maharatna company chief has been selected through a
search committee route.
Amitava Bhattacharyya, IAS, Bimal Julka, IAS and D
P Sinha, IPS have been appointed as the Information
Commissioners in the Central Information Commission
GIANNI INFANTINO: Elected as the new President of
world Football body –FIFA. He is a Football
administrator from Switzerland and is Chief of
European Football body UEFA.
FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA: Elected as the new
President of Central African Republic (CAR)
YOWERI MUSEVENI: Elected new President of Uganda,
for the fifth time.
ALBERT PAHIMI PADACKE: New Prime Minister of
the Central African country Chad.
CHRISTINE LAGARDE: Re-appointed as the Managing
Director of the International Monetary Fund for a
second five-year term.

AWARDS & HONOURS
APRIL 2016
SARASWATI SAMMAAN: Prestigious prize for
literature given to the Jammu-born poet and novelist
Padma Sachdev for her autobiography ‘Chitt-Chete’
written in Dogri language. The award carries award
money of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque.
FBB FEMINA MISS INDIA WORLD 2016
Winner: Priyadarshini Chaterjee
First runners-up: Sushruthi Krishna
Second runners-up: Pankhuri Gidwani
DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD: won by renowned
actor Manoj Bajpayee for the movie Aligarh.
Please note that this is NOT the national award
rather it is the regional award in Maharashtra, given
by Dada Saheb Phalke Foundation.
'Officier de l Ordre national de la Legion d
Honneur’: (Officer of the Legion of Honour), highest
French civilian honour conferred upon Former Army
Chief General (retd) J J Singh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Saudi
Arabia’s highest civilian honour- the king Abdulaziz
Sash. The award is named after Abdulaziz Al Saud, the
founder of the modern Saudi state.
MARCH 2016
63rd NATIONAL FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film: Baahubali - The Beginning by S S
Rajamouli
Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for 'Bajirao
Mastani'
Best Actor: Amitabh Bachchan for 'Piku'
Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut for 'Tanu Weds Manu
Returns'
Best Hindi Film: Dum Laga Ke Haisha by Sharat
Katariya
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome
Entertainment: Bajrangi Bhaijaan by Kabir Khan
Most Film- Friendly State Award: Gujarat
DADA SAHEB PHALKE AWARD - 2015: Awarded to
veteran actor and film maker Manoj Kumar who played
the patriotic Indian in most of his films, becoming
famous as ‘Bharat Kumar’. His superhit movies
included Upkaar, Purab aur Pashchim, Kranti.
The award is the highest official recognition in Indian
cinema from the govt. It consists of a golden lotus, a cash
prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl.
‘KRISHI KARMAN AWARD’: Given to Himachal
Pradesh for its landmark achievement in showing
highest production of food grains in year 2014-15,
despite adverse weather conditions and rain-fed
farming in the state.
CHAMELI DEVI JAIN AWARD: Priyanka Kakodkar and
Raksha Kumar won the award for 2015-16 for their
excellent work in journalism to highlight social issues.
The award is given only to women journalists.
SKOCH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Union
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu for his
contributions to inclusive growth and towards poverty
alleviation in India.
‘KAYAKALP’ AWARD: The Post Graduate Institute of
Medical Education and Research bagged the top
government award for best hospital cleanliness and
infection control, winning prize money of Rs 5 crore
while AIIMS, New Delhi, came second and got a reward
of Rs 3 crore.
88TH OSCAR AWARDS
Los Angeles, USA, Feb 29, 2016
Given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences, USA to recognize excellence in cinematic
achievements, they are regarded as the highest
recognition in world of cinema.
Best Picture: Spotlight by Tom Mc Carthy
Best Director: Alejandro Iñárritu (The Revenant)
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Best Actress: Brie Larson (Room)
ABEL PRIZE (for maths): Sir Andrew Wiles, an Oxford
University professor has won the 5,00,000 pounds prize
for cracking a 300-year-old mystery mathematical
theorem.
The prize, popular as the Nobel of Mathematics, is given
by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
GOLDEN CITY GATE AWARD: Prestigious award from
the world's leading travel trade show Internationale
Tourismus-Borse Berlin (ITB-Berlin) 2016 won by
Kerala Tourism's campaign on responsible tourism.
GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE: The one million dollar prize
for innovative teaching has been won by Hanan Al
Hroub for her innovative approach in teaching to
overcome tense environments of the region under the
shadow of the Israel-Palestine conflict. She is a
Palestinian teacher from a refugee camp in Al-Bireh,
Palestine

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur: (Knight of the
Legion of Honour), one of the highest civil honour by the
French government was conferred upon Anand
Mahindra, CMD, Mahindra & Mahindra.
FEBRUARY 2016
ARYABHATA AWARD 2013: The prestigious honour by
Astronautical Society of India given to Dr Avinash
Chander, former Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister
and ex-DRDO chief.
Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music
Award for 2015-2016: (by Maharashtra government)
won by Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan, a Padma
Vibhushan awardee.
Khuswant Singh memorial prize for poetry: awarded
to Arundhathi Subramaniam for her poetry book 'When
God is Traveller'.
E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2015: Won by
Vinita Gupta, CEO and Nilesh Gupta, MD of Lupin Ltd, a
leading Pharma company of India.
GOLDEN CONCH AWARD: (for the best documentary
film) won by Manipuri documentary film Phum-Shang
about the environmental problems of Loktak Lake, at
the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival
V SHANTARAM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Conferred upon veteran wildlife filmmaker Naresh Bedi
BEST FIRST FOREIGN FILM AWARD: won by Titli, a
feature film by Kanu Behl. Award is given by the French
Syndicate of Cinema Critics.
GREEN BOND PIONEER AWARD: won by Yes Bank for
being the ‘Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India’. Yes
Bank had issued India’s first ever ‘Green Infrastructure
Bonds’ for Rs. 1000 crore in 2015
CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT: Germany’s
prestigious honour conferred upon Goverdhan Mehta,
renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences.
HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD: (by Amnesty International)
won by Indian lawyer and human rights defender Henri
Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch.
Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur: (Knight of the
Legion of Honour), one of the France's highest civilian
honour was given to Fashion designer Manish Arora
from New Delhi.
ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP: Russia's top civilian awards
given to Ramayah Shanmuga Sundar, Director of
the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
CRYSTAL BEAR AWARD: Best film award in children
category at the Berlin film festival won by Malayalam
film Ottaal (The Trap) directed by Jayaraj Rajasekharan.
GOLDEN BEAR AWARD: Berlin film festival’s top prize
won by the Italian film Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea), a
harrowing documentary about Europe’s refugee crisis.
DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARD: (for best
feature film) won by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for the
film The Revenant
58th GRAMMY AWARDS, Los Angeles, USA, Feb 15
These are the highest awards given in the field of music.
Category Album Artist
Record of the
year
Uptown fund Mark Ronson
Album of the year 1989 Taylor Swift
Song of the year Thinking Out
Loud
Ed Sheeran &
Amy Wadge
Best Rock
Performance
Don't Wanna
Fight
Alabama Shakes
Best World Music
Album
Sings Angelique Kidjo
Best Music Video Bad Blood Taylor Swift
69th BAFTA AWARDS, London, Feb 14
British Academy of Film and Television Awards are the
top film awards for Films screened in Europe.
Best Film: The Revenant
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant
Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room
Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Mexico) -
The Revenant
Outstanding British film: Brooklyn

BOOKS & AUTHORS
APRIL 2016
An Economist in the Real World by Kaushik Basu,
Chief Economist at World Bank
Swimmer Among the Stars by Kanishk Tharoor
Mercedes-Benz - Winning by Adil Jal Darukhanawala
Friends in Wild Places by Ruskin Bond.
Safeguarding India by NN Vohra.
The Making of India: The Untold Story of British
Enterprise by Kartar Lalvani
Advantage India — From Challenge to Opportunity by
APJ Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh.
A State in Denial by B G Verghese
The Kiss of Life by Imraan Hashmi
The Mountain of Shiva by Dr Karan Singh. He is a
member of Rajya Sabha.
MARCH 2016
East of Suez by Alice Perrin
Buddhist Biology by David P. Barash
Standing Guard—A Year in Opposition by P
Chidambaram.
Our Impossible Love by Durjoy Dutta
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Life Mantras by Subrata Roy Sahara
Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography by Pramod Kapoor
Fixed: Cash and Corruption in Cricket by
Shantanu Guha Ray
Who Was Shivaji by Govind Pansare
Indigo —Selected Stories by Satyajit Ray
A Handbook for My Lover by Rosalyn D’Mello.
FEBRUARY 2016
‘Playing It My Way’ - Sachin Tendulkar’s
autobiography, has entered the Limca Book of Records
in the category of best-selling books, with 1,50,289
copies sold.
An Economist In The Real World by Kaushik Basu
Bullets and Bylines by Shyam Bhatia, noted journalist
Lal Bahadur Shastri: Netritva ke Sutra by Anil Shastri
and Pawan Chowdhary
Dial D for Don — Inside Stories of CBI Case Missions by
Neeraj Kumar, former Police Commissioner of Delhi
Ancestral Affairs by Keki Daruwalla.
Why We Love the Way We Do by Preeti Shenoy
The Bestseller She Wrote by Ravi Subramanian
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin by Anup
Sardesai
Transendence – a book by Former President APJ Abdul
Kalam based on his spiritual experiences with Pramukh
Swami Maharaj.
OBITUARY
APRIL 2016
POORNIMABEN PAKVASA: Great social worker from
Gujarat, known for her exceptional work towards
educating tribal girls, passed away at the age of
103. Mother of famous classical dancer Padma
Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh, she was a Padma Bhushan
awardee.
SATYANAND MUNJAL: The co-founder of Hero Cycles
group, a great philanthropist, passed away in Ludhiana,
Punjab. He was 99.
PRATYUSHA BANERJEE: TV actress, known for her
role of Anandi in the popular serial “Balika Vadhu”,
allegedly committed suicide at her Kandivali residence
in Mumbai.
GUY HAMILTON: Veteran British movie director, who
directed four hugely popular James Bond films, passed
away at the age of 93. The four superhits include
Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die and The Man
With The Golden Gun and Goldfinger.
ROGERS NELSON: Pop music superstar, popularly
known as Prince in USA, died aged 57. He won seven
Grammy Awards and earned 30 nominations.
VICTORIA WOOD: Popular comedian, singer and
writer from BBC in United Kingdom, died at 62 after “a
short but brave” battle with cancer.
DORIS ROBERTS: The popular TV actress from USA
who delighted audiences as the meddling mother next
door on the popular TV soap Everybody Loves
Raymond, died at the age of 90. She won the popular TV
award Emmy five times.
BILL CAMPBELL: Silicon Valley’s veteran adviser who
mentored technology heavyweights like former Apple
CEO late Steve Jobs and co-founder of Google, Larry
Page, died at age 75.

ZAHA HADID: Renowned Iraq-
born British architect passed
away due to heart attack. She
was 65. She was world’s most
famous female architect and
was known for her neofuturistic
design which was her signature
architectural style.
IMRE KERTESZ: Hungarian author, 2002 Nobel
Literature Prize winner, died aged 86 in Budapest, after
a long illness.
MARCH 2016
PARAMESH KRISHNAN NAIR: Indian film archivist and
film scholar died on 4 March 2016. He was 82. He was
the founder and former director of the National Film
Archive of India.
P A SANGMA: Former Lok Sabha Speaker passed away
at the age of 68. He was co-founder of the Nationalist
Congress Party and remained Chief Minister of
Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990.
KUMARIMUTHU: Famous Tamil Comedy actor died in
Chennai. He was 77.
Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan: Eminent Shehnai
exponent died in Kolkata. He was 77.
LLOYD S. SHAPLEY: Veteran Mathematician from USA,
winner of Nobel Prize in Economics for his study of
strategic decision-making called “game theory,” died in
Tucson, USA. He was 92.
JOHAN CRUYFF: The Netherland's soccer legend died
of lung cancer in Barcelona, Spain. He was 68. He is
credited with some of the greatest triumphs of the
famous Barcelona Football Club.
GEORGE HENRY MARTIN: The legendary music
producer, popular as the "Fifth Beatle", passed away in
England. He was 90. Winner of 6 Grammy Awards, he
held Guinness World Records for the most successful
producer ever with more than 50 Numbers.
PAT CONROY: US novelist whose best-selling novels
include 'Prince of Tides' and 'Water is Wide', died at the
age of 70 in South Carolina, USA.
RAY TOMLINSON: inventor of E-mail, passed away in
Washington, USA at the age of 74. He invented direct
electronic messages between users on different
machines on a certain network in 1971.
MARTIN CROWE: Pioneering cricketer, widely
acknowledged as New Zealand’s greatest batsman who
laid the foundations for Twenty20 cricket, died of
cancer at the age of 53.
FEBRUARY 2016
USTAD ABDUL RASHID KHAN: The oldest performing
vocalist of Hindustani Music, Padma Bhushan awardee,
a descendant of Tansen, passed away in Kolkata at the
age of 107 years.
GEN. K V KRISHNA RAO: Former Army Chief who
played a key role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation
War, died of a cardiac arrest in New Delhi. He was 92.
JASWANT SINGH RAJPUT: Two time Olympic gold
winner in Hockey, passed away at the age of 90 years.
O N V KURUP: Jnanpith award winning, very popular
and most respected Malayalam poet from Kerala passed
away at the age of 84. He was honoured with Padma Sri
in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011.
SUDHIR TAILANG: Well-known cartoonist, passed
away in New Delhi at the age of 55. He was suffering
from brain cancer. He worked for leading national news
papers and was awarded Padma Sri in 2004.
NIDA FAZLI: Renowned poet and lyricist, who
enthralled several generations with his soul-stirring
compositions like Kabhi kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta
and Hosh waalon ko khabar kya, died in Mumbai due to
heart failure. He was 78.
S.S. TARAPORE: Former Deputy Governor of the
Reserve Bank of India, died at Mumbai at the age of 80.
BALRAM JAKHAR: Veteran Congress leader and
former Lok Sabha Speaker, four times M P, passed away
in New Delhi. He was 92.
AKBAR KAKKATTIL: Noted Malayalam novelist and
short story writer passed away at the age of 62.
HARPER LEE: One of America's most celebrated
novelists whose 1960 masterpiece "To Kill a
Mockingbird" was read by millions worldwide, died at
the age of 89. Equally popular was his second novel – Go
Set a Watchman, published in 2015. In fact, it was the
original manuscript of her first novel.
BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: Former UN Secretary
General, the Egyptian diplomat who became the first
Secretary General from Africa in 1992, died in Cairo. He
was 93.
SUSHIL KOIRALA: Former Prime Minister of Nepal and
President of Nepali Congress passed away in
Kathmandu after prolonged illness. He was 78.
EDGAR MITCHELL: NASA astronaut, who was the sixth
man to walk on the Moon from Apollo 14 mission in Feb
1971, died in West Palm Beach, Florida at age of 85.

PLACES IN NEWS
APRIL 2016
UJJAIN: The month-long Simhastha Kumbh mela, one of
the largest congregations of Hindus, began in Ujjain on
April 22 on the banks of Kshipra River.
LATUR: City and district in Marathwada region of
Maharashtra was in news as it faced severe water crisis,
especially in the villages. The district with a population
of around 2.45 crore has suffered one of the worst
drought in recent years.
KOLLAM: In the worst-ever pyrotechnics tragedy to
strike Kerala, 110 persons were killed and close to 400
injured, many of them grievously, when a huge dump of
firecrackers stored for celebrations, exploded near the
Puttingal Devi Temple near Kollam, causing extensive
damage to nearby buildings.
TRIMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE: Famous temple of Lord
Shiva in Nashik, Maharashtra was in news as trustees of
the temple decided that even men devotees will not be
allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple,
reportedly to avoid the entry of women devotees.
KUMAMOTO: Town in south-western island of
Kyushu in Japan was devastated by several rounds of
earthquake tremors leading to death of over 41 persons
and injuring hundreds of others. Around two lakh
persons were affected in the severe earthquake.
PEDERNALES: City in Manabí Province in Ecuador was
destroyed in a severe 7.8 magnitude earth quake.
Reportedly, around 654 persons were killed and several
hundreds were injured. Coastal city of Manta was also
very badly affected.
MARCH 2016
BAGHMARA: The first-ever auction of a gold mine in
the country was held in Baghmara, Chhattisgarh. The
auction was won by Vedanta ltd., a unit of global mining
giant Vedanta Resources.
PALMYRA: The famed ancient city of Syria was in news
as the Syrian troops backed by Russian forces
recaptured it from the Islamic State group on March 27,
in a major victory over the jihadists. The city captured
by the IS forces in May, 2015 was reduced to ruins by
them.
BRUSSELS: A series of bombings ripped through
Brussels airport and the Maelbeek metro station in
Belgium, killing around 38 people and injuring 130
others. Terror group - Islamic State claimed the
responsibility for the attacks.
FEBRUARY 2016
KUMBAKONAM: Temple town of Thanjavur district in
Tamil Nadu was the venue for the famous Mahamaham
festival on Feb 22. The event occurs once in 12 years
and is also referred to as the Kumbh Mela of the South.
ELEPHANTA ISLAND: Located near Mumbai, a UNESCO
world heritage site, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures
depicting the cult of Shiva, was in news because the
island, which was dependent upon diesel-powered
generators for electricity until now, will be completely
electrified by August, 2016.
MURUD-JANJIRA BEACH: A picnic along the Arabian
Sea went horribly wrong for a group of collegians from
Pune when 13 of them drowned off the Murud-Janjira
beach in Maharashtra’s Raigad district.
CYCLONE WINSTON: One of the most powerful storms
recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the
Pacific island nation Fiji, killing over 44 persons,
flattening remote villages and cutting off
communications.
SPORTS WORLD
APRIL 2016
Dipa Karmakar, 22 year old girl from Agartala, Tripura
created history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to
qualify for the Olympics and to win the gold in vaults
event at the test event of the Rio Games in Brazil.
She performed the Produnova vault — the extremely
difficult and most dangerous form that involves a front
handspring on the horse and two front somersaults.
Deepika Kumari equalled the world record in women's
recurve event at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai,
China.
India's star batsman Virat Kohli has maintained his
number one position in the ICC T20 batsmen
rankings and team India is also ranked at top.
CARIBBEANS WON THE T-20 IN STYLE
The West Indies lifted the World T-20 title in both the
men's and women's section. Men’s team defeated
England and women’s team routed the Australian team.
The finals were played at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
The West Indies team is popularly known as Caribbeans,
after the name of the group of island countries which
jointly form this team.
Virat Kohli was named as the ‘Player of the Tournament’
M C Mary Kom: Indian woman boxer was named one of
the eight ambassadors for the upcoming World
Championships by the International Boxing Association
(AIBA).

Asian Kho-Kho championship: both, men’s and
women’s title were won by India by defeating respective
teams from Bangladesh at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
National Badminton Championship: Men’s title won
by Samir Verma and women’s title won by P C Thulasi in
Chandigarh.
9th season of the popular Indian Premier League
opened on April 9 in Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The first match was won by Rising Pune Supergiants
against Mumbai Indians.
The Commonwealth Judo Congress has allotted the
2018 Commonwealth Judo Championships to India. The
games will be held in Jaipur.
SPORTSPERSONS TO GET Rs ONE LAKH PM
Union Sports Ministry has decided to provide one lakh
rupees per month as out of pocket allowance to the
sports persons under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP)
scheme in their preparation for the Olympics and
Paralympics Games at Rio de Janeiro. So far 77
sportspersons have qualified for various Olympic
games.
Government has decided to merge the Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Abhiyan with the ‘Khelo India’ programme.
RAHUL JOHRI: appointed as the first Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
- BCCI
LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS
Best Sportsman of the year: Novak Djokovic, Serbia
Best Sportswoman of the year: Serena Williams, USA
Both of them won three grand slams in Tennis in 2015
Best Disabled Sportsperson: Paralympic swimmer
Daniel Dias of Brazil
Best Sports team: New Zealand's Rugby World Cup-
winning team
Laureus World Sports Awards, known as the Oscars of
Sports, honour the notable sporting personalities and
their achievements of the previous year.
Britain's Anthony Joshua won the IBF world
heavyweight title by stopping American champion
Charles Martin in London, becoming the first boxer in
history to hold the Olympic super-heavyweight crown
(2012) and a version of the world heavyweight title
simultaneously.
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes driver of Germany won the
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir,
Baharin.
Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Formula One
Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, leaving behind his
compatriots Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
Asian Nations Cup Chess tournament won by
the Indian men’s team in Abu Dhabi
Danny Willett of UK won the US Masters Golf
Championship for the year 2016 at Augusta National
Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Australia beats India to win
the prestigious Hockey Tournament held in Ipoh,
Malaysia.
Singapore Open Badminton Championship: Men’s -
Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia
Women’s - Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, world no 1.
Malaysian Open Badminton title won by Lee Chong
Wei of Malaysia against world number one Chen Long of
China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
MIAMI OPEN (tennis) IN FLORIDA, USA
Men’s title: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) won by beating
Japan's Kei Nishikori
Women’s title: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) won by
routing Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.
BARCELONA OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rafael Nadal of Spain won the title defeating Kei
Nishikori of Japan in the finals played in Barcelona,
Spain.
Monte Carlo Masters: Rafael Nadal Spain of won the
title defeating Gael Monfils of France.
TORCH LIGHTED FOR 31ST RIO OLYMPICS
The official countdown to this year's Rio de Janeiro
Olympics began on April 21 when the actress Katerina
Lechou performing as the high priestess lit up the
Olympic Torch at the Temple of Hera in ancient
Olympia, Greece.
The torch will be carried by prominent sportspersons in a
relay run culminating at Rio on August 5, the opening day
of the XXXI Olympic Games. This is for the first time that
Olympics are being held in South American continent.

MARCH 2016
Gurmeet Singh created history by becoming the first
Indian athlete to clinch a gold medal in the Asian 20 km
Race Walk Championships in Nomi, Japan.
S S P Chawrasia, ace Indian golfer won the European
Tour Hero Indian Open title in Delhi.
Dhruv Sitwala won the Asian Billiards Championship
held at Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Indian shooter Jitu Rai clinched the 50m pistol gold at
the ISSF World Cup in Bangkok,Thailand.
Deepika and PR Sreejesh won the Dhruv Batra Player
of the Year Award for Women and Men respectively at
the Hockey India Annual Awards.
Santosh Trophy National Football Championships:
Services retained the title after beating hosts
Maharashtra in the summit clash in Nagpur.
Irani Cup Cricket championship: Rest of India team
won the title by beating Mumbai team in the finals
played in Mumbai.
India clinched the Asia Cup T20 trophy for a record
sixth time after beating Bangladesh by eight-wickets in
the final at Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Col C K Nayudu Trophy won by Mumbai by beating
Madhya Pradesh in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Nayudu
was the first Indian captain of Indian test match team
1st All India Open Invitational Snooker
Championship won by Rahul Sachdev in Aurangabad,
Maharashtra.
National Race Walking Championships, Jaipur:
Gurmeet Singh and Khushbir Kaur won the gold in
20kms event for men and women, respectively.
Pro Kabaddi League Season 3: Patna Pirates beat the
U Mumba to emerge as Champions in the finals played in
Delhi.
Russia’s Sergey Karjakin won the World Chess
candidates tournament in Moscow
Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Tournament:
won by India's H S Prannoy in Basel, Switzerland.
World Table Tennis Team Championship: China
defeated Japan in both, men’s and women’s category, to
win both the championships at Kuala Lumpur.
In the second division, both, men's and women's team
titles were bagged by Indian teams.
All England Open Badminton Championship: Lin Dan
of China won the finals by beating his own teammate
Tian Houwei in the finals played in Birmingham, UK.
BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament: Novak
Djokovic of Serbia and Victoria Azarenka of Belarusia
won the men’s and women’s singles title, respectively, in
the finals played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in
Southern California.
UCI Track Cycling Championship 2016 held in
London.
Dubai Tennis Championships: Stanislas Wawrinka of
Switzerland won the title by defeating Marcos Baghdatis
of Cyprus
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Former world number one
tennis star failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. As
a result, the 28 year old Russian star, a five time Grand
Slam champion, was suspended from sports, pending
further action.
FEBRUARY 2016
Dutee Chand, ace sprinter set a new national record in
the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor
Athletics Championships in Doha.
Kidambi Srikanth won the Men's Singles title of the
Syed Modi International Badminton Championships
held in Lucknow, U P.
Anirban Lahiri, India’s top golfer has been voted as the
Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an online
poll.
Rishabh Pant, Wicketkeeper-batsman in India U-19
team created world record for fastest 50 playing against
Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis won
the St. Petersburg Ladies Doubles Trophy.
12th South Asian Games came to an end on Feb 16 at
Guwahati. India finished at the top with a record 308
medals - 188 Gold, 90 Silver and 30 Bronze. Shooter
Chain Singh won record 6 Gold medals. Hosted city was
Shillong and Guwahati.
13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in 2019.
Ranji Trophy: Mumbai won the prestigious cricket
championship defeating Saurashtra in Pune,
Maharashtra.
The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj
won the three-match Twenty20 International series
against Sri Lanka 3-0 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Hockey India League: Jaypee Punjab Warriors won the
championship by beating Kalinga Lancers in Ranchi,
Jharkhand.
36th National Chess team Championship was won by
the Indian Railways in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Punjab defeated Mizoram to lift the Dr BC Roy Trophy
for the National Junior Football Championship at
Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
34th Senior National Rowing Championship held at
Hussainsagar Lake, Hyderabad.
83rd Senior National Snooker Championship: Aditya
Mehta won the title by defeating Manan Chandra in
Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Kerala won the 61st National School Athletics
championship held in Kozhikode, Kerala
India achieved a rare 3-0 clean sweep in the T20
International against Australia in Sydney to emerge on
the top of the ICC T20 rankings.
The Indian women’s cricket team made history on Jan
29 by clinching its maiden T20 series win over three-
time world champions Australia in Melbourne.
Fittipaldi of Brazil won the MRF Challenge Formula
2000 race in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN concludes in Melbourne,
Australia. First of the four grand slams of tennis
Men’s Singles: World Number One Novak Djokovic of
Serbia beats Andy Murray of Britain
Women’s Singles: Germany's Angelique Kerber got her
maiden grand slam title by beating defending champion
world no 1, Serena Williams of USA
Men’s Doubles: Jamie Murray of UK and Brazil’s Bruno
Soares won the title
Women’s Doubles: Sania Mirza of India Martina Hingis
of Switzerlandwon the title
Quinton De Kock, batsman from South Africa became
the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10
centuries in ODIs. He notched it up in just 55 innings,
beating the record of Hashim Amla who had notched up
10 tons in 57 innings. He scored his 10th century in
Centurion, SA, playing against England.
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand Skipper has smashed
the fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls, playing
against Australia at Christchurch.
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: won by Sean
Abbott, the bowler from Australia.
ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup: The West Indies
won the cup for the first time, beating three time
champions India in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Badminton Asia Team Championships: China and
Indonesia won the women’s and men’s categories,
respectively, in Hyderabad.
2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted
by Fukuoka city of Japan and by Doha, Qatar in 2023.
The first ever Asia Cup in its T-20 format started from
February 24th in Bangladesh.
The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be
hosted by England in June 2017.
Helmet for Umpires: Concerned about the safety of its
on-field officials, the ICC has decided to provide
specially designed helmets to umpires in the upcoming
World T20 in India to ensure their safety.
DAYS & DATES
APRIL
APRIL 2: WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
Observed across the globe, supported by the UNO. The
theme for this year is "Autism and the 2030 Agenda:
Inclusion and Neurodiversity".
Autism is a serious developmental disorder in children
that impairs their ability to communicate and interact.
APRIL 5: NATIONAL MARITIME DAY
Observed in India to commemorate the sailing of India’s
first steamship Loyalty on April 5, 1919 from Mumbai to
London. All major ports observe this day celebrating
India’s seafaring traditions and journeys.
APRIL 7: WORLD HEALTH DAY
Observed across the globe to disseminate knowledge
and awareness about human health and promoting
healthier living habits across the globe. This year the
theme of the Day is ‘Beat Diabetes’.
APRIL 8: NEW YEAR CELEBRATAIONS
It marked the beginning of the New Year for a number of
communities in India. For Hindus in North India, it was
Vikram Samvat 2073, first day of the month Chaitra,
beginning of the auspicious Navratras.
In Maharashtra, it was observed as ‘Gudi Padwa’
In Andhra and Karnataka; it was observed as ‘Ugadi’.
Sindhis observe this day as Cheti Chand.
APRIL 10: WORLD HOMOEOPATHY DAY
Observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr.
Samuel Hahnemann, a German Physician who
developed system of Homoeopathy.
APRIL 14: FIRE SERVICES DAY
Observed every year in India in memory of the sacrifices
made by the firemen during the devastating fire on SS
Fort Strikine ship in Mumbai Dock in the year 1944.
The theme of this year’s fire services day is ‘prevent fire
accident, promote nation’s development.’

APRIL 14: NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
People in several parts of India celebrated beginning of
their new year on April 14.
In Assam and Northeastern states, it is observed as
Rongali or Bohag Bihu.
In Tamil Nadu side, it is celebrated as Puthandu.
In Kerala, people celebrate Vishu festival.
In North India, it is observed as Baisakhi, a festival of
gaiety to mark the harvesting of wheat crop.
In West Bengal, people celebrate it as their ‘Poila
Baisakh’.
APRIL 17: WORLD HEMOPHILIA DAY
Observed in the memory of Frank Schnabel, the founder
of the World Federation of Hemophilia as this day is his
birth day.
Hemophilia is a rare disorder in which your blood doesn't
clot normally because it lacks sufficient blood-clotting
proteins.
APRIL 18: WORLD HERITAGE DAY
Observed with an aim to create awareness among the
people towards conserve and protect the valuable assets
and cultural heritage across the world.
APRIL 21: "CIVIL SERVICE DAY"
Observed by all Indian Civil Services to re-dedicate and
re-commit themselves to the cause of the people.
On this day in 1947, Sardar Patel, then Home
Minister, addressed the first batch of civil servants in
independent India.
APRIL 22: EARTH DAY
Observed all over the world to demonstrate support for
environmental protection. The theme for this year is
"Trees for the Earth" with the aim of mobilizing nearly
eight billion plantings over the next five years.
APRIL 23: WORLD BOOK DAY
Celebrated all over the world, supported by the UNESCO
to promote the reading, publishing and copyright among
the public worldwide.
APRIL 25: WORLD MALARIA DAY
Observed to create awareness among the people about
this vector borne disease. The theme this year is ‘End
Malaria For Good’.
APRIL 26: WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY
Observed across the world to spread awareness about
the role that intellectual property rights (patents,
trademarks, industrial designs, copyright) play in
encouraging innovation and creativity.
This year’s theme is Digital Creativity: Culture
Reimagined.
MARCH
UNAIDS observed the ‘Zero Discrimination Day’ on
March 1 with various activities to celebrate everyone’s
right to live a full life with dignity regardless of age,
gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin color,
height, weight, profession, education, and beliefs.

UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS
World Wildlife Day was observed on 3 March across
the world. This year’s theme was “The future of wildlife
is in our hands”, with African and Asian elephants being
the main focus of global campaigns.
National Safety Day was observed across India on 4
March. The day is organised annually by the National
Safety Council to commemorate its establishment and
enhance the safety awareness among people.
International Women's Day was observed across the
world on 8 March 2016. This year's theme for the Day is
“Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”.
World Kidney Day was observed globally on March 10
with the theme “Kidney Disease & Children - Act Early to
Prevent It” to enlighten parents and caretakers about the
incidence of kidney ailments in children.
The World Consumer Rights Day was observed on 15
March with the theme ‘Antibiotics off the Menu’ to make
people aware of risk of antibiotics in food items.
March 20 observed as The World Sparrow Day with the
theme Rise for the Sparrow-Experience the power of
one.
March 20 was observed as the United Nations
appointed Red, the leader of the “Angry Birds” mobile
game characters as an envoy to inspire climate action
toward a sustainable and happier future for all.
March 21 was observed as the World Forestry Day
across the world to promote the importance of forests
and trees in our lives. It is also known as UN
International Day of Forests. This year’s theme is
“forests and water”.
March 22 was observed as the World Water Day with
the theme Water and Jobs. It may be noted that three
out of four of the jobs worldwide are water-dependent.
World Meteorological Day was observed on March 23
with the theme “Hotter, Drier, Wetter. Face the Future”.
Climate change is disrupting the natural pattern of the
seasons, and it is increasing the frequency and intensity
of certain extreme weather events, such as heat waves,
droughts and heavy rainfall.
March 23 was celebrated as Shahidi Diwas to pay
homage to great freedom fighters - Bhagat Singh,
Rajguru and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day. It was
on this day in 1931 that they were martyred in Lahore
jail and cremated on the banks of Satluj River at
Hussainiwala in Ferozpur district of Punjab.
March 24 was observed as the World Tuberculosis
Day. Govt launched the new anti-TB drug Bedaquiline
to combat Drug Resistant TB as part of the Revised
National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
ALL THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN SOURCED
FROM VARIOUS NEWS PAPERS AND GOVT. PRESS RELEASES
APRIL
April Fool’s Day 1st April
National Maritime Day 05th April
World Health Day 07th April
World Heritage Day 18th April
Civil Service Day 21st April
World Earth Day 22nd April
World Books Day 23rd April
World Maleria Day 25th April
World Intellectual Property Day 26th April
MAY
World Labour Day, Maharashtra Day 01st May
International Energy Day, World Asthma Day 03rd May
Coal Minor's Day 04th May
World Midwives Day 05th May
World Red Cross and Red Cresent Day 08th May
National Technology Day 11th May
International Family Day 15th May
World Telecom Day 17th May
National Anti Terrorism Day 21st May
World No Tobacco Day 31st May
JUNE
International Children’s Day 01st June
World Naturist Day 03rd June
World Environment Day 05th June
Father’s Day 16th June
International Yoga Day 21st June
International Olympic Day Rath Yatra 23rd June
International Anti-Drugs day 26th June
World Diabetes Day 27th June

NATIONAL NEWS
JANUARY 2016
 President of France, Francois Hollande arrived in
Chandigarh on Jan 24 for a three–day visit to India.
He was the honourable Chief Guest at the
67thRepublic Day Parade at New Delhi. He also
inaugurated the interim secretariat of the
International Solar Alliance - ISA in Gurgaon,
Haryana.
 For the first time, a military contingent of a foreign
country – France took part in the Republic Day
Parade on January 26.
 According to a global CEO survey, the top five
markets most important for overall growth
prospects are USA, China, Germany, UK and India.
 India sends the largest number of engineers and
scientists to the US, about 950,000 of them.
 In the Corruption Perceptions Index -2015 by the
Transparency International, India has been ranked
at 76th position out of 168 countries. The Index is
topped by Denmark, followed by Finland, Sweden
and New Zealand.
 6th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across the
country on Jan 25.
 The Mysuru-Varanasi Express has become the
country’s first blind friendly Braille-embedded
train.
 India’s diaspora population is the largest in the
world with 16 million people from India living
outside their country in 2015.
 The 153rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
on January 12 was observed as National Youth
Day across the country.
 Supreme Court stayed the Central government
notification allowing ‘Jallikattu’ in Tamil Nadu.
 Mumbai has been ranked 22nd and Delhi 24th in the
top-30 list of the world’s most powerful, productive
and connected cities. The list is topped by Tokyo,
followed by New York and London.
 The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of
69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK)
road section of the trilateral highway in Myanmar.
This will facilitate all season movement of goods
from Imphal to Mandlay in Myanmar and further
entering Thailand.
 World Bank will provide a $ 50 million loan for ‘Nai
Manzil'–Education and Skills Training for
Minorities.
 Youth in BPL category in the age group of 17-35
years will be the main beneficiaries of the project.
 The Global Talent Competitiveness Index has placed
India at 89th rank on the basis of ability to attract
talent
 The index is topped by the Switzerland
 A Nuclear Security Index has placed India at 21st
rank among the 24 countries having one kg or more
of the weapon grade nuclear material.
 A four day cultural festival 'Bharat Partv' was held
at the Red Fort lawns in Delhi from Jan 26-29 to
highlight the rich cultural heritage of India
 The World Meteorological Organisation has
nominated India as the Regional Climate Centre to
provide information about El Nino.
 “Make in India Week” was held in Mumbai during
February 13-18, 2016 to hold investors meet for the
manufacturing sector.
 India’s share in IMF has increased to 2.75% making
it the 8th largest shareholder. Its voting rights now
will rise to 2.6% from 2.34%.
 The World Bank will give $ 250 million loan for
Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project
Bullet News
(NOV 2015 – JAN 2016)
For details visit – www.gyanm.in

 India and Armenia signed an amended Double
Taxation Avoidance Treaty (DTAA) to share
information on banking and financial transactions.
 The largest tricolour (66 x 99 feet) in the country
was hoisted atop the Pahari Mandir in Ranchi,
Jharkhand on the tallest pole – standing 293 foot.
 Union Ministry of Finance released the draft report
of Justice R V Easwar (Retd) Committee to simplify
the provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961.
 The child sex ratio in India now stands at 918 (per
thousand male babies), dipping further from 927 in
2001, and reaching the lowest level since 1961.
 Govt has decided to merge the Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs with the Ministry of External Affairs
to avoid duplication of work and to improve
efficiency.
 India-Nepal Bus Service between Banbasa border in
Uttarakhand and Kanchanpur in Nepal started on
4th January, after a gap of 27 years.
 The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held
on 9 January 2016 in New Delhi. It was a limited
edition as now it will be organised once in two
years.
 National Conference on e-Governance held in
Nagpur, Maharashtra.
 India’s first World Music Festival will be held in
Udaipur on Feb 12-13. Over 100 artistes from over
12 countries will take part in the festival.
 103rd Indian Science Congress held at University
of Mysore, Karnataka.
 International Kite Festival held at Sabarmati River
front in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
 The Jaipur Literature Festival held at Hotel Diggi
Palace, Jaipur (Rajasthan) from January 21 to 25.
DECEMBER 2015
 India has ranked a low 97th out of 144 nations on
Forbes' annual list of the best countries for doing
business in 2015
 As per the Human Development Index (HDI)
compiled by the UNDP, India ranked a lowly 130th in
the list of 188 nations.
 Prime Minister Modi visited Russia on Dec 23-24 to
attend the 16th India-Russia annual summit.
 PM Modi visited Afghanistan on Dec 25 to meet
President Ashraf Ghani. He inaugurated the
Parliament building which has been constructed by
India.
 According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR)
2015, the total forest and tree cover is 79.42 million
hectare, which is 24.16 percent of the total
geographical area
 The Supreme Court has directed that acid-attack
victims should be considered under the disabled
quota to enable them to get reservations in govt
jobs.
 The World Bank has approved a $ 1.5 billion loan
for the clean India campaign to ensure all citizens in
rural areas have access to improved sanitation
 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a 3 day
visit to India. He attended Ganga Aarti at
Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi.
 Panos Kammenos, Greek Defence Minister arrived
in India on a three day visit. The two countries
decided to enhance bilateral defence ties.
 National Veda Convention and Vedic Conference
held in Kozhikode, Kerala.
 The Lok Sabha passed the Bureau of Indian
Standards Bill, 2015 to establish the Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS) as a National Standards
Body.
 India and South Korea have inked a new MoU on
suspension of collection of taxes during pendency of
mutual agreement procedure.
 The ICT (information, communication &
technology) Development Index places India a lowly
131st among 167 countries. South Korea tops the
index.
NOVEMBER 2015
 The ‘Constitution Day’ of India was observed on
26th November to spread awareness of Indian
Constitution and its architect Dr. B R Ambedkar.
 P M visited England on November 12 for a three day
trip. He became the first serving Prime Minister of
India to address the UK's Parliament.
 India and Australia have announced the completion
of procedures for bringing the two-nation nuclear
deal into force.
 Li Yuanchao, the Vice-President of China visited
India to review cooperation on better river water
management and cultural exchanges.
 As per the annual report on world's most valuable
nation brands compiled by Brand Finance, India is
world's 7th most valued nation brand.
 The US remains on the top with a valuation of 19.7
billion dollars, followed by China and Germany
 P M Modi has been ranked as the world's ninth most
powerful person by Forbes magazine, Russian
President Vladimir Putin is at no one.
 According to a report, the number of internet users
in India is expected to touch 402 million by
December 2015, a 49 per cent jump over last year.
 India has been ranked 99th in Legatum Prosperity
Index 2015 out of 142 countries.
 7th Central Pay Commission headed by Justice AK
Mathur submitted its report to the Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley on Nov 19.

 It recommended 23.55 percent hike in pay and
allowances of government employees.
 The pay will go up by 16 percent, allowances by 63
percent and pension by 24 percent.
 The pay revision will come into effect from January
2016.
 The Global Gender Gap Report 2015 has ranked
Iceland at top, followed by Norway and Finland.
India ranked low at 108th rank.
 As per the Global Terrorism Index 2015, India ranks
6th in list of 162 nations worst hit by terrorism in
2014. Iraq tops the list, followed by Afghanistan.
 First India International Science Festival was held at
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
 46th International Film Festival of India, IFFI began
in Panaji, Goa with the screening of ‘The Man Who
Knew the Infinity’.
 PM Modi visited Singapore for two days, Nov 23-24
and signed 10 agreements on mutual co-operation.
 Prime Minister Mr. Modi visted Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia to attend Asean-India meet, Asean summit
and the East Asian Summit.
 Hamid Ansari, Vice President visited Indonesia on
Nov 2. Agreements in the field of cultural exchange
and renewable energy were signed with Indonesia.
 Bhutan's PM Tshering Tobgay visited India to
preside over the 'India Ideas Conclave' in Goa.
 The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, ranked
99th in a list of top 100 institutions by the ‘Times
Higher Education Rankings for Engg. & Technology’.
 A report by global consultancy firm KPMG says that
India has emerged as the top country when it comes
to corporate responsibility reporting.
 India re-elected on the United Nations Commission
on International Trade Law for a period of six years.
 Seven Indian celebrities including Asha Bhosle,
Sania Mirza and veteran actress Kamini Kaushal
have made it to BBC's list of 100 most aspirational
women.
 Telephone subscriber base in India reached 102.26
crore at the end of September while fixed line base
continued to fall, as per data compiled by TRAI.
 As per the global Financial Secrecy Index released
by Tax Justice Network of UK, India ranked 45th
among 92 countries in terms of financial
transparency.
 11th National Tribal Crafts Mela ‘Aadishilp’ held in
New Delhi.
 First international film festival for the persons with
disabilities (IFFPD) will be held in Delhi from 1 to 3
December 2015.
 Second World Congress on Disaster Management
was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from
19 to 22 November.
 Global Cancer Summit held at the Indian Institute of
Science, Bengaluru from Nov 18 to 20.
 The 17th Asia Pacific Youth Forum meet was held in
Kozhikode, Kerala to share ideas for the
empowerment of youth to protect the Earth.
 9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (RPBD) was
held at Los Angeles, California, USA on the 14th and
15th November 2015.
 According to a global survey of 26 countries, India is
the fourth most vacation-deprived nation with 65%
saying they feel vacation-deprived.
 Militant outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(Khaplang), declared as a terrorist organization
under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
 The National Milk Day observed on 26 November to
mark 94th birth anniversary of the Father of the
White Revolution-Dr Verghese Kurien.
 The British Govt has selected Pune and Amravati
from Maharashtra and Indore from Madhya Pradesh
for developing them as 'Smart City'.
NEWS FROM STATES
JANUARY 2016
 Mumbai Central has become the first ever railway
station in India to have free high-speed Internet
facility
 Sikkim has become India's first fully organic state
by converting around 75,000 hectares of
agricultural land into sustainable cultivation.
 Nati folk dance of Kullu district has entered the
Guinness Book of World Records as the folk dance
by largest number–9,892 women.
 Govt has launched Ganga Gram Yojana in Uttar
Pradesh to minimize/stop pollution of the river
from 1600 villages on the bank of Ganges.
 For the first time, on camera evidence has been
captured of the endangered Snow Leopard
inhabiting the high mountains of northern Sikkim.
 The 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival
for Documentary, Short and Animation Films was
held in Mumbai from Jan 28 to Feb 03.
 The Ardh Kumbh mela formally started at
Haridwar on Jan 12.
 Kerala has become the first Indian state to achieve
100 per cent primary education (up to class IV) by
implementing the programme ‘Athulyam’.
 World Bank to provide $ 250 million loan for the
Bihar’s Kosi Basin Development Project.

 Bihar government has decided to give 35%
reservation for women in all state government jobs.
 Bihar govt has announced that no one can contest
the panchayat elections scheduled in 2016 in the
state, without having a toilet at their home.
 Telangana has become the first state in the country
to officially accept electronic motor insurance
policies by the name ‘e-Vahan Bima’.
DECEMBER 2015
 Delhi recorded the highest per capita income among
all the states in the country at Rs. 2,40,849 during
financial year 2014-15.
 Green Peace India released the National Air Quality
Index covering top 20 most polluted cities in world
and Delhi was the most polluted city
 The National Green Tribunal has directed that no
new or old diesel vehicle be registered in Delhi till
Jan. 6, with a view to curb pollution in capital.
 The Konark Festival, the five-day festival of
classical dances of India, was held in Konark,
Odisha, in the back drop of the famous Sun Temple.
 The International Sand Art Festival 2015 was held
in Konark, Odisha.
 For the first time, two Indian cities, Varanasi and
Jaipur, have been selected in the Creative City
Network of the UNESCO in the categories - City of
Music and City of Crafts and Folk Art, respectively.
 The Maharashtra legislature becomes the first
legislature to launch an online mechanism for its
members to send questions and move different
motions in the House.
 The Odisha state launched Anwesha scheme to
provide free education to scheduled caste and
scheduled tribe students in the state.
 The Bihar government has banned 15-year-old
diesel vehicles from its capital's roads to control
pollution.
 India’s fourth and North India’s first cable-stayed
bridge was inaugurated at Basohali in Kathua
district of Jammu and Kashmir, over river Ravi.
 West Bengal has approved formation of five new
districts in the state, bringing the total districts to
25.
 Mumbai’s iconic boulevard Marine Drive, also called
the Queen’s Necklace, completed 100 years on Dec
16.
 Maharashtra has started the country's biggest
Wildlife Rescue Centre at Gorewada near Nagpur to
take care of sick, injured and rescued animals.
 Losar, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Festival began
on 12 December 2015 in Ladakh, J&K. The festival
marks the beginning of New Year for Buddhists.
 Uttar Pradesh has launched International festival on
Birds in National Chambal Sanctuary to promote
state as an international bird-watching destination.
 Hornbill Festival held in Kohima, Nagaland from
Dec 1 to 10 to highlight state’s rich cultural heritage.
 Himachal Pradesh has become the first state to
launch Rotavirus vaccination for controlling the
child mortality rate (under 5 years of age) due to
diarrhea.
NOVEMBER 2015
 In Tamil Nadu, heavy rains by north east monsoon
claimed over 102 lives. The rains threw normal life
out of gear in almost all parts of the state
 Mysuru Railway Station in Karnataka has become
the first blind-friendly Railway Station in India.
 South Australia state has signed a historic 'sister-
state agreement' with Rajasthan to pave new ways
to boost export and investment opportunities
 Chhath festival was celebrated in different parts of
the country on Nov 17-18 with great religious
fervour and gaiety.
 Migratory birds mostly from Northern Eurasia,
Siberia, Kazakh and remote areas of Russia and
Southeast Asia have arrived in Chilka Lake, Odisha.
 Annual Hundred Drums Wangala Festival held near
Tura, Meghalaya. It is the thanksgiving post-harvest
festival of the Garo tribes of North East India.
 APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojna launched in
Maharashtra to provide at least one cooked meal for
pregnant and lactating women in the tribal areas.
 The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has
been adjudged the best-maintained international
airport in the country
 Northeast’s first exclusive hospital for elephants has
been established at the Kaziranga National Park,
Assam.
 Norway reopened its Consulate General office in
Mumbai after four decades of closure in 1973.
 Karnataka launched the ‘Tourist Mitra’, a 175-
member friendly force, to reinforce smooth and
secure experiences for tourists.

GOVT INITIATIVES
JANUARY 2016
 Govt. has started a 19 point Start-up Action Plan
with a Rs. 10,000 crore fund for funding of Start-
ups. The new ventures will be exempted from
paying income tax on their profit and visit of
inspectors for 3 years.
 They will enjoy 80 per cent exemption in patent fee.
 Government has launched the “Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana", under which the premium will
be paid by central and state govt.
 Farmers will have to pay only a token premium
of 2% for kharif, 1.5% for rabi and 5% for
commercial crops.
 Govt has approved 33% reservation for women in
Central Armed Police Forces such as CRPF and CISF
at constable–level positions.
 14-15% reservation has been done at the constable
level in BSF, SSB and ITBP.
 Govt has decided that all central ministries and
public sector units will have to float e-tenders for
procuring goods and services exceeding Rs 2 lakh.
 India and Australia have agreed to allow people of
both nations to avail retirement benefits in each
other's country.
 Health Ministry has decided to use the services of
Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), a global NGO
working for promotion of vaccination in poor
countries.
 Operation Green Hunt refers to an all-out
offensive by India’s paramilitary forces against the
Naxalites in the Naxal affected five states.
 River Information System - the first of its kind in
India launched to facilitate safe and accurate
navigation on National Waterway-1 (Ganga River).
 Union Govt and J&K have launched ‘Wattan ko
Jano’ project to familiarize the local youth with the
development of the country in other states.
 Sahaj Scheme launched for online booking of LPG
cylinders through the unified web portal
www.mylpg.in, available in 13 languages.
 Government has decided to institute a new award
category under the National Film Awards titled The
Most Film–Friendly State/UT.
 The Union Ministry of Shipping has started Project
Green Ports to make Major Ports across India
cleaner and greener.
 Eight states have agreed to implement direct benefit
of transfer of subsidy in kerosene in 26 districts
w.e.f. April 1, 2016.
 Finance Ministry to organise the India Investment
Summit from Feb. 4 in New Delhi to attract global
investors to promote Indian infrastructure sector.
 The government has constituted a committee
headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to look
into revamp of Censor Board.
 A new luxury super fast express train 'Mahamana
Express' named after Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya
has been started between Varanasi to Delhi.
DECEMBER 2015
 Govt has launched 4 new Information Technology-
based initiatives to provide citizen-centric health
services. They include three applications:
 Kilkari:An audio-based mobile service that
delivers weekly audio messages to
families about pregnancy, child birth and
child care.
 Mobile Academy: For providing training
services to 9 million ASHA workers.
 M-Cessation: Counselling helpline to help
tobacco users to quit tobacco.
 Toll free number 1800-11–6666 to provide
round the clock counselling and treatment
support services to TB patients
 Government has announced that taxpayers with an
annual income of more than Rs 10 lakh will not get
subsidised LPG cylinders from January, 2016.
 Six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will
be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Jammu, Kerala and Karnataka.
 The government has launched an injectable polio
vaccine – Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) – which
will be administered in addition to oral polio drops
 Lok Sabha passed a bill to develop 101 new
waterways across the country aimed at providing a
cheaper mode of transport
 Govt has made it mandatory for the auditors to
report any suspected corporate fraud of Rs 1 crore
or more to the Corporate Affairs Ministry
 Govt has decided to rename the posts of UDC and
LDC as Senior Secretariat Assistant and Junior
Secretariat Assistant, respectively.
 Date for implementation of the Bharat Stage (BS) V
and VI emission standards for 4 wheelers extended
by 3 years to April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2021,
respectively.
 The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Bill, which lowers the age for trial of
juvenile from 18 to 16 years, has been passed by
parliament.
 Govt has asked the states and UTs to start Operation
Smile-II from 1 to 31 January 2016 to rehabilitate /
rescue the missing children.

 Global Initiative of Academic Networks Scheme
launched to boost the quality of higher education
through international collaboration.
 Central Board of Secondary Education has rolled out
its latest mobile application E-CBSE for providing e-
learning material for students and teachers.
 With a view to provide relief to 3.7 lakh jute mill
workers, the govt has approved mandatory use of
jute packaging material for foodgrains and sugar.
 Union govt. proposes to launch a $1-billion equity
fund, with seed capital from public sector units, to
support renewable energy companies.
NOVEMBER 2015
 The government launched Ujjwal Discom Assurance
Yojna (UDAY) to improve the ability of power
distribution companies (DISCOMs)
 Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
launched 10 schemes for the benefit of disabled
persons.
 Govt has launched the Technology Acquisition and
Development Fund (TADF) to facilitate acquisition
of clean and energy efficient technologies.
 To revamp criminal justice system in the country,
the govt has approved implementation of two
systems –
 CCTNS - Crime and Criminals Tracking Network and
Systems and ICJS - Integrated Criminal Justice System
 Accessible India campaign launched at 27
international airports and 75 railway stations to
make them disabled-friendly.
 Govt has approved State Annual Action Plans
(SAAP) of 81 mission cities in 5 states under
AMRUT for 2015-16.
 National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) and
Swadesh Darshan schemes launched to achieve 1%
share of international tourist arrivals by 2016-17.
 Govt has made it mandatory to use waste plastic in
bituminous mixes for road construction to
overcome the problem of disposal of plastic waste
 Monetary limit to approve foreign investment
proposals of the FIPB hiked to Rs 5,000 cr, from Rs.
3,000 cr at present.
 Govt launched 3 web portals/apps in education
field:
–e-Pathshala: for educational resources,
–Saaransh: for educational improvements, and
–Shala Siddhi: National Programme on School
Standards and Evaluation Framework for online
evaluations.
 The deadline for completion of Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity through
all- weather roads, reduced from 2022 to 2019.
 Agriculture Ministry to launch ‘Blue Revolution:
Integrated Development and Management of
Fisheries’ for growth and development of fisheries.
 Govt has allowed German language to be taught as
additional foreign language in Kendriya Vidyalayas
as per the National Education Policy, 1986.
 From Nov. 12, a railway ticket could be booked
online up to 30 minutes prior to the departure of a
train
 Govt to continue 90% central funding for the core
Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the 8 northeastern
states, while 10% will be borne by the states.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
JANUARY 2016
 The Global Economic Prospect by the World Bank
has projected a robust 7.8 per cent growth for the
Indian economy in the current year based on strong
investor sentiment in India and the positive effect of
the recent fall in oil prices.
 UNCTAD says that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
inflows into India nearly doubled to $ 59 billion in
2015 as against 36 per cent rise at the world level.
DECEMBER 2015
 Global financial analysts Goldman Sachs have said
that India’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.9 per cent
next fiscal driven by rising domestic demand
 Standard & Poor's Ratings Services in its 'India
Credit Spotlight' newsletter has noted that India's
economy will grow at 7.4 per cent in the current
fiscal
 The United Nations World Economic Situation and
Prospects (WESP) 2016 report says that India
would record a 7.3% growth in 2016 and 7.5% in
2017.

NOVEMBER 2015
 Moody's Investors Service has said that the Indian
economy would grow at 7.5 per cent in the current
fiscal and improve marginally in the following year.
 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development has said that the Indian economy is
expected to grow by 7.2 per cent this fiscal.
ECONOMY
JANUARY 2016
 India is home to the fourth largest population of
millionaires in the Asia Pacific region, with 2.36 lakh
such high net worth individuals
 The Inland Waterways Authority of India plans to
set up a Waterways Hub at Haldia, West Bengal to
attract more investment in the state.
 3 loss-making subsidiaries of HMT Ltd, (Hindustan
Machines Ltd) namely HMT Watches Ltd, HMT
Chinar Watches Ltd, and HMT Bearings Ltd. Closed.
 Govt has decided to implement strict emission
norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020, by
skipping BS-V altogether.
 World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1071 crore
funding for the Neeranchal National Watershed
Project
 India has overtaken Thailand as the world's largest
rice exporter in 2015, shipping 10.23 million tonnes
as against 9.8 million tonnes by Thailand.
 The Asian Development Bank to extend a $625
million loan for the proposed $840 million
Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor.
DECEMBER 2015
 Cochin Shipyard has become the first shipyard in
India to get the nod to build LNG (liquefied natural
gas) transporting ships, making India 4th such
country
 The government has made it mandatory to quote
PAN for all transactions in excess of Rs.2 lakh to
curb black money.
 During visit of Japan’s Prime Minister, Japan agreed
to support building of India’s first bullet train
network between Mumbai- Ahmadabad
 The average number of days taken for incorporation
of a company has come down to 4.51 days in
November 2015 from 9.57 days in December 2014.
 Singapore airport developer Changi will take up the
operations and management of the Ahmadabad and
Jaipur airports.
 The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd has
become the first oil company from India to join the
global initiative ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’
 The SEBI has released concept paper for issuance of
Green Bonds. In a green bond funds are 'ear-
marked' for use towards financing ‘green’ projects
only.
 World Bank has said that India is the largest
recipient of inward remittances receiving over $ 72
billion in 2014, followed by China at $ 64 billion.
 Singapore has replaced Mauritius as the top source
of foreign direct investment into India during the
first half of the current fiscal.
 Four Asian countries have agreed to start
construction of 1800 kms long Turkmenistan-
Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline
project
 The pipeline will carry natural gas from
Turkmenistan of which India and Pakistan will get
42% each and Afghanistan will get the remaining
16%
 The govt is considering a 'medicines for oil' barter
system with Venezuela where Indian pharma
exporters are facing problems to repatriate their
sales proceeds
 Reliance Jio launched 4G telecom service providing
data services with a speed up to 1 gigabyte per
second
 Bharti Airtel will invest Rs. 60,000 crore over the
next three-years in ‘Project Leap’ to upgrade its
networks
 YouTube has tied up with Whistling Woods Int
owned by Subhash Ghai, to open its first video
production studio called YouTube Spaces in India.
 India received its first uranium consignment for its
nuclear power reactors from Canada, after a gap of
over four decades.
 The first Goa to Mumbai double-decker Shatabdi
train was flagged off from Panjim, Goa on Dec 6.
NOVEMBER 2015
MSP OF RABI CROPS HIKED Rs./Qtl
CROP MSP CROP MSP
Wheat 1525 Rapeseed / Mustard 3350
Barley 1225 Masoor 3325
Safflower 3300 Grams 3425
 The Confederation of All India Traders has launched
an e-commerce portal, ‘e-lala’ to promote interests
of 5.77 crore small businesses
 As per a recent IMF study, India's GDP can expand
by 27 per cent if the number of women workers
increases to the same level as that of men.
 Government has announced the levy of a Swachh
Bharat cess of 0.5% on all services liable for service
tax (14%) from November 15.

 With Cotton production estimated at around 400
lakh bales, India is expected to emerge as the largest
cotton producer in the world in 2015-16.
 35th India International Trade Fair,IITF was held at
Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The theme of the fair
this year is Make in India
 CCEA has approved 10% stake sale in Coal India Ltd
to mop up around Rs 20,000 crore. Govt has
targeted Rs 69,500 crore disinvestment in this
fiscal.
 France has committed to invest over 2 billion Euros
for Smart City projects in India with special focus on
Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry.
 India and Brazil have signed a MoU to cooperate for
raising productivity of cattle and buffaloes
 World Bank granted $75 million loan to the Andhra
Pradesh for its Rural Inclusive Growth project
aimed at enhancing agricultural incomes of small
farmers.
 Asian Development Bank to give $ 273 loan for
improving rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh,
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
BANKING
JANUARY 2016
 RBI introduces new banknotes of 500 rupees and
100 rupees denominations with enhanced security
features.
 Reserve Bank has started the process of issuing
'Master Directions' on various regulatory issues in
its bid to simplify the communication process.
 Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure that every
village with a population over 5,000 should have a
bank branch by March 2017
 RBI has permitted banks to sell India Gold Coins of 5
and 10 grams, minted by Metals and Minerals
Trading Corporation of India (MMTC)
 RBI has advised that the government will pay 2.5%
commission to banks for attracting more gold in the
Gold Monetisation Scheme
 The RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to
Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate to Women Self-
Help Group (SHG)
 RBI has decided to dispense with the requirement
of physically forwarding paid central government
cheques to the departments for clearance.
 From Feb 1, 2016, cheques will be paid
through Cheque Truncation System (CTS), without
their physical movement.
 The Union Cabinet has approved conversion of
MUDRA Ltd, an NBFC, into MUDRA Bank to promote
loans under the MUDRA Yojana.
 MUDRA: Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development
Refinance Agency
 RBI has granted operational freedom to banks to
offer all their products and services through the
ATM channels provided technology permits the
same.
 RBI has hiked its shareholding in National Housing
Bank by contributing Rs 1,000 crore towards the
paid capital, bringing the total capital to Rs 1450
crore.
 RBI has asked banks not to issue such 1000 rupee
notes which, by mistake, were printed without
security thread.
 State Bank of India has become the first public
sector bank to launch wealth management service
‘SBI Exclusif’ to cater to fast-growing affluent
segment of the country.
 The country's largest private sector lender ICICI
Bank became the first private bank to achieve the
milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore in housing loan.
DECEMBER 2015
 The RBI has decided to lower the banks’ investment
in SLR to 20.5% by January 2017 from 21.5% at
present.
 SLR would be cut by 25 basis points to 21.25%
as on April 2, 2016; 21% by July 9, 2016,
20.75% by Oct 1, 2016 to 20.75% and 20.50 %
by Jan 1, 2017.
 The Supreme Court has ruled that the RBI and
commercial banks cannot hide routine information
about the top defaulters, etc.
 RBI has hiked Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms
for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) from 60 per cent at
present to 75 per cent of their total lending
 RBI has said that from April 1 next year, all banks
will have to follow a new and uniform methodology
to calculate base rate as per the marginal cost of
funds.
 All new loans and renewals will now be priced
with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds
based Lending Rate (MCLR)
 Banks will have to publish MCLR of five
maturities every month-overnight rates, one
month, three months, six months and one year.
 Like base rate, banks will not be allowed to lend
below MCLR, except for few categories, like
loans against deposits, loans to bank’s own
employees.

 State Bank of India has become first bank in India to
issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to ensure
enhanced secure transactions.
 EMV stands for Euro–Maestro–Visa.
 Yes Bank has bagged the prestigious 'Bank of the
Year' award conferred by Britain’s 'The Banker'
magazine.
 HSBC (Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation)
announced shutting down of its private banking
business in India
 Tech Mahindra has launched ‘MoboMoney’,
India’s first ‘Tap N Pay’ contactless digital payment
solution in the form of a prepaid wallet
 Axis Bank has partnered with e-Mudhra to
introduce ‘eSign’ – an online electronic signature
service which facilitates an Aadhaar holder to
digitally sign a document at the click of a button.
 Announcing the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy
review on Dec 2, RBI Governor did not change any
of the key policy rates.
 RBI has granted in principle approval to the
National Payments Corporation of India to function
as the Central Unit for Bharat Bill Payment System.
 Banks opened a whopping 19.52 crore accounts
under the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana till the
first week of December, 2015.
 RBI has extended the deadline for exchanging pre-
2005 currency notes by another six months to June
30, 2016. It was to expire on Dec 31, 2015.
 RBI has asked banks to make changes in ATM
switches by March 31, 2016 to help customers
register for mobile banking services from the ATM.
 Govt released two commemorative coins of Rs.125
and Rs.10 as part of the 125th birth anniversary
year celebrations of Babasaheb Bhim Rao
Ambedkar.
 ICICI Bank has tied up with railway’s e-ticketing
platform IRCTC to sell rail tickets through its
website.
NOVEMBER 2015
 3% interest subvention scheme launched to allow
exporters to avail loans from banks at a lower rate.
 RuPay card usage condition of at least one
transaction in 45 days hiked to 90 days for filing a
claim under accident insurance cover in PMJDY
accounts
 State Bank launched the country's first low-income
state infrastructure equity partnership (or the Neev
fund) in London.
 Indian corporates plan to raise fund by issuing
rupee-denominated ‘masala bonds’ in foreign
capital markets.
 Masala bonds are Indian rupee denominated
bonds issued in overseas capital markets by Indian
corporates.
 Sovereign gold bonds were opened for public
subscription from Nov 5-30 for min 2 grams of gold,
up to a maximum of 500 grams.
 RBI has allowed state and district central co-
operative banks to offer ‘view only’ internet
banking to its customers.
 ‘View only’ means that customers can use online
services such as balance enquiry, a/c statement and
request for supply of cheque books.
 RBI has granted an "in-principle" approval to three
companies to set up and operate a new Trade
Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).
 HDFC Bank has become the first Indian bank to
launch Sonic branding (Musical Logo) to be used
across ATMs, phone banking, mobile banking
 RBI has decided to stop the barter system - trading
of goods without exchange of money at the Indo-
Myanmar border, from December 1.
 The RBI has allowed foreign investors to buy default
non-convertible debentures and bonds provided
their maturity is for three years or more.
 RBI has decided that a foreign bank in India can
deploy a max of 4 expatriates for each branch and
not more than 6 for their H O functions.
DEFENCE, SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
JANUARY 2016
 Indigenously designed and built advanced light
helicopter (ALH) — “Rudra” made its debut at the
Republic Day parade.
 Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully test-
fired long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM)
Barak NG developed in collaboration with Israel.
 15th January observed as Army Day. On this day in
1949, Lt.–Gen. Cariappa became the first Indian
Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
 The 15th edition of bilateral exercise by the Indian
Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart began off
the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the Bay of
Bengal.
 The DRDO successfully test-fired Nag anti-tank
missile at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in
Rajasthan.
 INS Kadmatt, the second indigenous stealth Anti-
Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, was inducted
in Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.

 India and France began their eight-day counter-
terrorism and counter-insurgency joint
exercise ‘Shakti-2016’ in Rajasthan.
 India has supplied three Mi-25 gunship helicopters
to Afghan Air Force.
 A new variant of Thrush bird named as the
Himalayan Forest Thrush has been found in the
northeastern India and parts of Tibet, Nepal and
China.
 A class of frogs that grows in tree holes who as
tadpoles feed on eggs laid by their mother, has been
discovered in the north-east region.
 A Bengaluru-based technology startup has
developed India’s first artificial liver tissue with the
help of 3-D printing technology.
 Global streaming pioneer Netflix (of USA) has
launched its service in India, allowing viewers to
access unlimited TV and cinema content online
 The NASA successfully launched Falcon 9 rocket
made by SpaceX Company, from California to place
ocean monitoring satellite Jason-3 in orbit.
 Scientists have discovered the most energetic light
ever detected in the universe from the centre of a
supernova known as ‘Crab pulsar’
 Astronomers have discovered the largest known
solar system, consisting of a large planet that takes
nearly a million years to orbit its star.
 The periodic table of elements in Chemistry has
added four new chemical elements - 113, 115, 117
and 118, discovered by scientists in Japan, Russia
and US.
 Scientists in Singapore have developed a human-
like social robot named ‘Nadine’, with soft skin and
flowing brunette hair
 China successfully launched Gaofen-4 Earth
Observation Satellite from the Xichang Satellite
Launch Centre in Sichuan, China.
DECEMBER 2015
 Unified Commanders Conference, chaired by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi was held on board Navy’s
aircraft carrier - INS Vikramaditya,
 34 Islamic nations have agreed to form a new
“Islamic military alliance” led by Saudi Arabia to
fight terrorism with a joint operations center based
in Riyadh,
 INS Godavari, the country's first indigenously
designed and built warship was decommissioned at
Mumbai on Dec 24 after 32 years of service.
 The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY-15, a joint naval
exercise between Indian and Russian navies, started
off the coast of Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal.
 Israeli military has successfully tested from a ship
an advanced surface-to-air supersonic missile –
Barak 8, co-developed with India. It has a range of
100 kms.
 Govt has approved the purchase of S-400 Triumf air
defence missile systems from Russia.
 Cochin Shipyard Ltd launched the Fast Patrol
Vessel ‘ICGS Atulya’ for induction in Indian Coast
Guard.
 Indian Coast Guard has commissioned interceptor
boat ‘ICGS C-422’ to further enhance its vigil along
Pondicherry and South Tamil Nadu coast.
 Pakistan tested nuclear capable ballistic missile
Shaheen 1A, range of 900 kms & Shaheen-III which
can carry nuclear warheads up to 2,750 kms
 The ISRO launched PSLV-C29 rocket carrying six
satellites of Singapore. They included main satellite
TeLEOS-1 and five mini satellites
 US space company SpaceX created history on Dec 21
when its Falcon 9 rocket landed back on earth
within 10 minutes of its launch from the Cape
Canaveral
 The Atlas V rocket of NASA, carrying the supplies
for the International Space Station, blasted off from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA,
 Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
have discovered a new species of eel named Bengal
moray eel along the Digha coast in West Bengal.
 China launched its first space telescope- the Dark
Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite to study
the mysterious dark matter.
 China has approved commercial production of its
first domestically developed electricity-powered
aircraft known as RX 1E.
NOVEMBER 2015
 The Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM),
jointly developed by the Israel and DRDO
successfully flight tested from the Israel Naval
Platform
 The nuclear-capable ballistic missile Dhanush was
successfully test fired from warship INS Subhadra,
off the Puri coast of Odisha

 Indian Army successfully test-fired the land attack
variant of the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic
cruise missile at the Pokhran test range in
Rajasthan.
 Agni-IV, the nuclear-capable ballistic missile, tested
for a range of 4,000 kms from Abdul Kalam Island
(formerly Wheeler Island), off the Odisha coast.
 India test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear
capable Prithvi-II missile, which has a strike range
of 350 kms from the test range off the Odisha coast.
 The DRDO test-fired an Advanced Air Defence
(AAD) interceptor missile from Abdul Kalam Island
in Odisha’s Balasore district.
 DRDO has developed Advanced Torpedo Defence
System “Maareech” and “Vaarunaastra” for use by
the Indian Navy
 INS Vishwakarma, a premier training establishment
of the Indian Navy for the shipwrights
commissioned in Vishakhapatnam.
 ICGS Arinjay, a Fast Patrol Vessel was
commissioned in Indian Navy at Kochi. ICGS –
Indian Coast Guard Ship
 ‘Indra-2015’, the seventh edition India-Russia Joint
Military Exercise held in Bikaner district of
Rajasthan.
 China has displayed its strongest combat and
reconnaissance drone CH – 5 that can fly with a
weight of 3,000 kg and carry 900 kg of equipment
and weapons.
 India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-15 was
successfully launched by the European Ariane
rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.
 Under its ‘Project Loon’, Google is using big balloons
floating at a height of 20 kms for transmission of
Internet services in India
 Russia launched its first early warning system
satellite named EKS or Integrated Space System. Its
official name is Kosmos 2510 (Tundra 11L).
 China’s Tianhe-2 supercomputer has emerged as
the world’s most powerful supercomputer system
for the sixth consecutive time.
 UK Scientists have developed the world's first
'porous' liquid that can be used to capture and
dissolve large amounts of harmful carbon gas
emissions
 Facebook has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Ltd. (BSNL) to create 100 Wi-Fi hotspots in rural
areas of western and southern India.
 A new species of the Dracula ant, likely to be of
Stigmatomma group of predaceous ants, was
discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
 China's first lunar rover, Yutu, set a record for the
longest stay on the Moon by completing almost two
years stay, landing on moon on Dec 14, 2013.
 China launched a civil communication satellite
ChinaSat-2C from the Xichang space center in
Sichuan province.

INTERNATIONAL
JANUARY 2016
 A monster blizzard named ‘Snowzilla’ paralysed the
entire US East Coast on Jan 24 with hurricane-force
winds and record snow
 In a survey to compile ‘Best Country Report’
Germany was ranked as the best country, followed
closely by Canada. India was placed at the
22nd place.
 The data released by China's the National Bureau of
Statistics shows that China's economy grew 6.9 per
cent in 2015, the slowest pace in last 25 years.
 Countries like Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador are
facing the threat of the highly infectious Zika virus
spread by mosquito bite.
 It is particularly harmful for pregnant ladies as it
affects the foetus growth adversely.
 The Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes species
mosquitoes, which also spread dengue and
chikungunya viruses.
 Crude oil prices plunged to 12 year low at $ 29.93 a
barrel, due to abundant oversupply and the ongoing
row between key producers Iran and Saudi Arabia
 France has announced a Euro 2 billion “state of
economic and social emergency" plan to revive job
creation and catch up with the world’s economy.
 Digital Dividends, a report by World Bank explores
the impact of the internet, mobiles and related
technologies on economic development in the
world.
 A report by U N World Tourism Organization states
that the international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 %
in 2015 to reach a total of 1184 million in 2015.
 The number of international migrants reached 244
million in 2015 for the world as a whole, a 41 per
cent increase compared to 2000.
 World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual
meeting held at Davos, Switzerland, from January
20 to 23.
 The World Health Organization has declared Liberia
free of Ebola virus. Now there is no other country
officially reporting Ebola cases.
 Asia's largest underground railway station, covering
a total area of 147,000 square metres, opened in
Futian in Shenzhen city in south China.
 Toyota continues to be the world’s biggest
automaker selling 10.15 million vehicles in 2015,
closely followed by Volkswagen and General
Motors.
 World Economic Forum’s prestigious annual
meeting held at Davos, Switzerland, from January
20 to 23.
 Star Wars: The Force Awakens became the
world's fastest film to make one billion dollars at
the global box office.
DECEMBER 2015
 The 10th WTO (World Trade Organisation)
Ministerial Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya
from Dec 15 to 19.
 United States has lifted a 40-year ban on oil exports,
marking a historic shift for the booming US oil
industry.
 China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB), ajoin effort of 56 countries, was formally
established in Beijing on Dec 25.
 It has an authorised capital of $100 billion and
subscribed capital of $50 billion
 India holds 8.52 % share in the capital
 It will invest in sectors like energy,
transportation, urban construction, education
and healthcare.
 Zimbabwe plans to adopt the Chinese Yuan as its
currency with a view to cancel the debt worth 40
million dollars from China.
 The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a
resolution to increase sanctions against the Islamic
State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) group and other
terrorist groups.
 In Saudi Arabia, females were allowed to cast votes
and run for office for the first time in the country's
history.
 Nearly 200 nations adopted the first global pact to
fight climate change on Dec 12 at COP 21 meet by
UNFCCC at Le Bourget, France,
COP - Conference of the Parties
UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
 The United Nations has launched a new initiative
titled Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape to build climate
resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries.
 India has initiated the idea of the international solar
alliance to harness solar power as a major step to
mitigate carbon gas emissions.
 World leaders from 20 countries, including India
and global investors lead by Bill Gates, launched
Mission Innovation at the COP21 in Paris
 Mission Innovation aims at accelerating clean
energy revolution across the world and to promote
the use of renewable energy resources.
 Brazil's economy shrank by 1.7% in the third
quarter of the year compared with the second
quarter, deepening the country's worst recession.
 The Federal Reserve of USA hiked interest rates by
25 basis points to 0.50 on Dec 16, for the first time
since 2006, assuming stable growth of U.S.
economy.

 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg pledged to give
away 99% of his company shares worth $45 billion,
to mark the birth of his daughter Maxima
 IMF has decided to include the Chinese currency,
the Yuan, in its Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket
effective from October 1, 2016
 The United Nations General Assembly adopted a
resolution to observe November 5 every year as
World Tsunami Awareness Day
 The World AIDS Day was observed on 1 December
2015 across the world with the theme “Getting to
zero, End AIDS by 2030”.
 2nd World Internet Conference was held at Wuzen
in Eastern China from Dec 16 to 18.
 Mexico has approved the use of the first-ever
vaccine against dengue fever - Dengvaxia,
manufactured by French pharma major Sanofi
Pasteur.
 The Philippines became the first Asian country to
approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue
vaccine, Dengvaxia.
 Gambia, a tiny West African country has decided to
become an Islamic republic because Islam is the
religion of the majority of its citizens.
 The first media summit of countries belonging to
the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS)
grouping held at Beijing on Dec 1.
 Food and Agriculture Organization of UNO launched
International Year of Pulses on 10 November with
the theme ‘nutritious seeds for a sustainable future’.
 New Zealanders chose a new flag design featuring
silver fern and red stars on a black and blue
background. The new design will be confirmed by
vote in March.
NOVEMBER 2015
 In one of the worst gruesome terrorist attacks, over
129 people were killed and more than 300 were
wounded in multiple ISIS terrorists’ shootings in
Paris
 Several persons, including policemen were killed in
Terai region of Nepal due to Madhesi agitation
leading to acute shortage of fuels and medicines
 Madhesis, the Indian-origin inhabitants of the Terai
region, have been protesting against division of
their ancestral homeland in the new Constitution.
 A two day summit of Heads of G-20 nations was
held in Antalaya, Turkey to dwell on inclusive
economic growth and climate change.
 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit
was held in Manila.
 Leaders of the ASEAN group of nations have
declared the establishment of an EU-style regional
economic bloc, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
 For the first time, Oxford Dictionary has chosen an
emoji pictograph, commonly referred to as an
emoticon, as its 2015 Word of the Year
 Russia suspended all its flights to Egypt after one of
its civil aircraft was blown up in mid air by militants
soon after take-off from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
 The International Day for Tolerance observed
globally on 16 November with an aim to educate
people about the need for tolerance
 27th ASEAN summit (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) was held in Kuala Lumpur on November
21.
 The 10th East Asia Summit was held in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov 22, under the theme Our
People, Our Community, Our Vision.
 UNESCO rejected Kosovo's bid for membership as it
failed to receive the support of two-thirds of the
UNESCO’s member nations.
 Islamist militants laid siege to the Radisson Blue
Hotel in Bamako, capital of Mali killing at least 27
persons from different nations.
 The World Health Organisation on 16 November
2015 launched the World Antibiotic Awareness
Week with the theme Antibiotics: handle with care.
 Operation Inherent Resolve is the name of US
military operation against the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.
 The World Meteorological Organisation has said
that global average temperatures this year are likely
to be the warmest on record.
 Young supporters of Hong Kong's democracy
movement, known as 'Umbrella Soldiers', won few
seats in the elections dominated by pro-Beijing
forces.
 Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola-free by the
WHO, prompting nationwide celebrations tinged
with sadness over the loss of 4,000 victims to the
disease.

 Global pharma major Pfizer and Botox maker
Allergan have entered into a $ 160 billion merger
agreement, the biggest ever deal in pharma sector.
 China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba created a new
record in online sales netting $14.33 billion on the
annual Singles Day on Nov 13.
PERSONS IN NEWS
JANUARY 2016
RAGHURAM RAJAN: RBI Governor was named ‘Global
and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year
2015’ by the prestigious UK magazine The Banker
AZIM PREMJI: Chairman of Wipro has been ranked as
the most generous Indian of the year for the third time
in a row with donations worth Rs. 27,514 crore
APARNA KUMAR, IPS: She is the first woman officer of
any All-India Services to scale the Mount Vinson Massif,
the highest peak in the Antarctic sub-continent.
SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR: A prominent Shia cleric,
highly critical of the ruling Al Saud dynasty, was
executed by the Saudi Arabian govt for his alleged
involvement in shooting policemen.
DECEMBER 2015
SHAH RUKH KHAN: has been ranked as the country’s
top-earning celebrity with estimated earnings of Rs.
257.5 crore this year, pushing Salman Khan to the
second position (202.75 crore) in the latest Forbes India
Celebrity List for 2015.
KATY PERRY: Global pop singer from USA is on top of
Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid musicians of
2015, with $135 million in earnings.
ANGELA MERKEL: German Chancellor has been named
as the "Person of the Year" by the Times Magazine for
her role in Europe's refugee crises and Greek debt.
NOVEMBER 2015
PAWAN MUNJAL: Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp,
was the highest paid director with a remuneration of
Rs.43.91 crore during the 2014-15 financial year.
ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA: Chairperson of SBI
remains the most powerful woman in the Indian
business sector, according to Fortune India’s latest
rankings of Indian business women.
LIONEL MESSI: International iconic Football star has
been picked up by the Tata Motors as their global brand
ambassador for their passenger vehicles.
VICTOR PONTA: Romanian Prime Minister was in news
as he announced his resignation bearing moral
responsibility for a nightclub blaze that killed 32 people.
APPOINTMENTS
JANUARY 2016
SAILESH: A senior IAS officer, appointed as the new
Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
AMIT SHAH: Re-elected unopposed as the President of
the Bharatiya Janata Party
ATULESH JINDAL: Appointed as the Chairman of the
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
DINESH SHARMA: Elected to the 12-member board of
directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB).
DEVENDER KUMAR SIKRI: Appointed as Chairman of
fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India
AMITABH KANT: Given additional charge of Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog. He is Industry
Secretary at present.
URJIT PATEL: Reappointed as Deputy Governor of
Reserve Bank of India, for a second three-year term.
Dr. GYANENDRA D BANDGAIYAN: Appointed as the
Director General of the National Centre for Good
Governance.
MARCELO REBELO de SOUSA: Elected as the new
President of Portugal
PAVEL FILIP: Appointed as the Prime Minister of
Moldova, small poorest European country
TSAI ING-WEN: Elected as the new President of Taiwan
GIORGI KVIRIKASHVILI: Elected as the Prime Minister
of Georgia, Europe.
DECEMBER 2015
R.K. MATHUR: Appointed the Chief Information
Commissioner (CIC)

GAUTAM H BAMBAWALE: Appointed as the High
Commissioner of India to the Pakistan
ARUN KUMAR JAIN: Appointed Chairman of Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
SIR VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN: Nobel laureate
in Chemistry, assumed Presidency of the Royal Society
in London for a period of five years.
NOVEMBER 2015
JUSTICE T S THAKUR: New Chief Justice of India
(43rd), succeeding Justice H L Dattu.
NITISH KUMAR: Elected as the new Bihar Chief
Minister
SYED AKBARUDDIN: Permanent Representative of
India to the United Nations at New York.
NAVTEJ SINGH SARNA: Veteran diplomat, an IFS officer
of 1980 batch, has been appointed as India’s next High
Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
VIJAY KESHAV GOKHALE: Senior diplomat has been
appointed as India’s Ambassador to China.
RAGHURAM RAJAN: Governor RBI has been elected
Vice-Chairman of the Bank of International Settlement
(BIS) at Basel, Switzerland.
SUBIR GOKARAN: Former RBI Deputy Governor has
been appointed as an Executive Director on the board of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
MAHESH KUMAR JAIN: MD and CEO of Indian Bank.
R K TAKKAR: MD and CEO UCO Bank
SURESH N PATEL: Appointed as the Managing Director
& Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Bank.
T.S.R. SUBRAMANIAN: Former Cabinet secretary has
been appointed chairperson of a committee set up by
the HRD Ministry to draft the new education policy.
HARSHAVARDHAN NEOTIA: Elected as the President
of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) for the year 2016.
SUNIL KANORIA: Appointed as the President of The
Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India
(ASSOCHAM).
Ms. ZARIN DARUWALA: Appointed as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bank, India.
JUSTICE AJIT PRAKASH SHAH: Appointed as the ethics
officer (ombudsman) of the Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI).
MAURICIO MACRI: elected as the new President of
Argentina.
JOHN POMBE MAGUFULI: Elected as the new
President of Tanzania
AWARDS & HONOURS
JANUARY 2016
PADMA AWARDS ANNOUNCED
India's highest civil awards after Bharat Ratna for the
year 2016 were announced on the eve of Republic Day
(25th January). These awards carry no cash component.
Total 112 awards were announced which included 10
Padma Vibhushans, 19 Padma Bushans and 83 Padma
Sris. Some of the famous winners are given below:-
PADMA VIBHUSHAN - 10
Sr.
No.
Person Field From
1 Tamil Superstar
Rajinikanth,
Art-Cinema Tamil Nadu
2 Founder of the
Reliance empire
late Dhirubhai
Ambani,
— Trade &
Industry —
Maharashtra
3 Art of Living
founder Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar
Others-
Spiritualism
—
Karnataka
4 Cinema baron
Ramoji Rao
Literature &
Education-
Journalism —
Andhra
Pradesh
5 Former Jammu and
Kashmir Governor
Jagmohan,
Public Affairs
—
Delhi
6 Former DRDO chief
VK Aatre,
Science &
Engineering
—
Karnataka
7 Cancer specialist
and chairperson of
Adyar Cancer
Institute Dr V
Shanta
Medicine-
Oncology —
Tamil Nadu
8 Eminent
Bharatnatyam and
Kuchipudi dancer
Yamini
Krishnamurthi
Art-Classical
dance —
Delhi
9 Classical vocalist
Girija Devi
Art-Classical
Vocal —
West Bengal
10 Indian-American
economist Avinash
Dixit
Literature &
Education —
USA

PADMA BHUSHAN - TOTAL 19
Sr.
No.
Person Field From
1 Anupam Kher Art-Cinema Maharashtra
2 Udit Narayan Jha Art-Playback
Singing
Maharashtra
3 Ram V Sutar Art-Sculpture UP
4 Vinod Rai Civil Service Kerala
5 Dr. Barjinder
Singh Hamdard
Literature &
Education -
Journalism
Punjab
6 Hafeez
Contractor
Others-
Architecture
Maharashtra
7 R C Bhargava Public Affairs UP
8 Ms Saina Nehwal Sports-Badminton Telangana
9 Ms Sania Mirza Sports-Tennis Telangana
10 Pallonji Shapoorji
Mistry (NRI/PIO)
Trade & Industry Ireland
PADMA SRI – TOTAL 83
Sr.
No.
Person Field From
1 Ajay Devgn Art-Cinema Maharashtra
2 Ms Priyanka
Chopra
Art-Cinema Maharashtra
3 S S Rajamouli Art-Film Direction
and Production
Karnataka
4 Madhur
Bhandarkar
Art-Film Direction
and Production
Maharashtra
5 Dhirendra Nath
Bezbaruah
Literature &
Education
Assam
6 Prof Pushpesh
Pant
Literature &
Education-
Journalism
Delhi
7 Piyush Pandey Others-Advertising &
Communication
Maharashtra
8 Ujjwal Nikam Public Affairs Maharashtra
9 Ms Deepika
Kumari
Sports-Archery Jharkhand
10 Dilip Sanghvi Trade & Industry Maharashtra
ASHOKA CHAKRA: Nation's highest peacetime
gallantry award, , has been awarded posthumously to
Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special
Forces) for his acts of most conspicuous gallantry in
eliminating 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down
his life in the line of duty in Sep 2015 in Kupwara sector
of Jammu & Kashmir.
JNANPITH AWARD FOR 2015: Noted Gujarati writer
Raghuveer Chaudhari became the 56th writer to be
conferred with India's highest literary honour. His most
noted works include novels 'Amruta' and 'Uparvas’.
61ST FILMFARE AWARDS DECLARED
Best Actor: Ranveer Singh for Bajirao Mastani
Best Actress: Deepika Padukone for Piku
Best Film: Bajirao Mastani
Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao Mastani
Lifetime Achievement: Moushumi Chatterjee
THE HINDU PRIZE, 2015: (for best novel) won by
Easterine Kire, poet, novelist and children’s writer from
Nagaland, for her novel When the River Sleeps.
DSC Prize for South Asian Literature: Anuradha Roy
for her novel Sleeping on Jupiter.
YASH CHOPRA MEMORIAL AWARD: Given to veteran
actress Rekha for her contribution to the film industry.
KNIGHTHOOD HONOUR IN UK: conferred upon Dr
Harpal Singh Kumar, an Indian-origin cancer research
expert for his influential work on prevention and
treatment of cancer.
Lorenzo Natali Media Prize for 2015 (Asia-Pacific):
Ankita Anand journalist for sensitive portrayal of life for
young women facing the threat of the diktat of khap
panchayats in Haryana.
PEN - Allen Foundation Literary Service Award
(USA): Won by the Harry Potter author J K Rowling for
her support for free expression and charitable causes.
WINNERS OF 73RD GOLDEN GLOBES 2016
Held on Jan 10 at Los Angeles, California, USA
Best Motion Picture (Drama): ‘The Revenant’
Best Actor (Drama): Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘The Revenant’
Best Actress (Drama): Brie Larson for Room
Best Director: Alejandro Inarritu - The Revenant
DECEMBER 2015
THE GOLDEN PEACOCK: Award for best feature film at
the 46th International Film Festival of India won by the
Colombia film ‘Embrace of The Serpent’ directed by Ciro
Guerra. The award carries cash prize of Rs 40 lakh.
GARWOOD AWARD for ‘Outstanding Global Leader
in Open Innovation’: The President of India, Shri
Pranab Mukherjee was conferred this award by the UC
Berkeley-Haas School of Business, California, USA.
NATIONAL SCIENCE MEDAL (USA): Indian-American
tumour scientist Prof. Rakesh Jain has been selected for
this top US science award.
SOUTH EAST ASIA WRITE AWARD: Won by Singapore
based Indian origin writer J M Mali for his contribution
to Tamil literature.
MAILER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE, USA: won by India-
born author Salman Rushdie
QUEEN's YOUNG LEADERS AWARD – 2016: Two
Indians, Kartik Sawhney and Neha Swain, have won this
prestigious award in the United Kingdom for their work
in transforming the lives of others

Miss Universe 2015: Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the
Philippines
Miss International 2015: Edymar
Martínez of Venezuela
Miss Earth 2015: Angelia Ong from Philippines
Miss Intercontinental 2015: Valentina Rasulova from
Russia
Miss World 2015: Mireia Lalaguna from Spain
NOVEMBER 2015
THE INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE,
DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT-2015:
Awarded to the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) for its “immense contributions” in
assisting millions of refugees
KIREN RIJIJU: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs,
was designated as the Disaster Risk Reduction
Champion for the Asia Region by the United Nations
Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
RAMNATH GOENKA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD: Kuldip Nayar, a veteran journalist, columnist
and author for his contribution to journalism.
KALA SHIKHAR AWARD: Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv
Kumar Sharma for lifetime achievement.
NEW YORK GLOBAL LEADERS DIALOGUE
HUMANITARIAN AWARD: Bindeshwar Pathak, Social
Activist and founder of Sulabh International
INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S PEACE PRIZE:
awarded to Abraham Keita (17) of Liberia for his
“tireless campaigning” to end violence against minors.
OBITUARY
JANUARY 2016
MRINALINI SARABHAI: Veteran dancer and Padma
Bhushan recipient passed away in Ahmedabad. She was
97. She was proficient in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and
Mohiniyattam.
Lt–Gen. J F R JACOB (retd): Ex Governor of Goa and
Punjab and war hero of 1971 Bangladesh war, passed
away in New Delhi after a brief illness. He was 92.
GENERAL O P MALHOTRA: Former Punjab Governor
and ex-Chief of Army Staff passed away in Gurgaon due
to old-age complications on Dec 29. He was 93.
V. RAMA RAO: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leader and former Sikkim Governor passed away in
Hyderabad after prolonged illness. He was 80.
RAJESH VIVEK UPADHYAY: Noted film/ TV artist died
in Hyderabad. He was 66. Rajesh was mainly known for
his roles in films like Lagaan (Guran) and Swades.
MUFTI MOHAMMAD SAYEED: Jammu and Kashmir
Chief Minister died in New Delhi. He was 79.
SAROSH HOMI KAPADIA: Former Chief Justice of India,
68, passed away in Mumbai.
A.B. BARDHAN: Veteran Communist Party of India
leader, 92, passed away after a long illness at New
Delhi.
DAVID BOWIE: One of the most influential recording
artists of all time in UK, passed away due to throat
cancer. He was 69.
MARVIN MINSKY: Noted mathematician and the
computer scientist, pioneer of artificial intelligence, died
at the age of 88 in Boston, USA.
NATALIE COLE: Grammy-winning US singer passed
away in Los Angeles. She was 65. She gave super hits
like Our Love and This Will Be.
HASKELL WEXLER: Oscar – winning US
cinematographer died in California. He was 93. He was
one of the America’s most influential cinematographers.
YASUTARO KOIDE: The world’s oldest man died in
Nagoya, Japan at the age of 112
DECEMBER 2015
SADHANA (Shivdasani/Nayer): Veteran actress, who
mesmerised audience in timeless hits like “Hum Dono”,
“Love in Simla” and “Waqt”, died in Mumbai after a brief
illness. She was 74. She will always be remembered for
her iconic fringe hair on forehead, the ‘Sadhna cut’.
SHARAD JOSHI: Renowned agro-economist, founder of
Shetakari Sangthana, crusader for farmers’ rights and a
former Rajya Sabha member, died at Pune at 81.
MAM RAMASWAMY: Industrialist, founder of Chettinad
Group, former parliamentarian passed away in Chennai
at the age of 84 after prolonged illness.
USTAAD SABRI KHAN: Renowned sarangi player died
at age of 88 due to breathing problems. He was
decorated with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
DR. ROBERT L. SPITZER: Veteran psychiatrist who
gave psychiatry its first set of rigorous measuring
standards to describe mental disorders, died in New
York. He was 83.
ELDAR RYAZANOV: Russian legendary film Director
died in Moscow at the age of 88. He directed some of the
most popular and beloved comedies such as Irony of
Fate, The Garage and Office Romance.

NOVEMBER 2015
RAM KRISHNA TRIVEDI: Former Gujarat governor,
Chief Election Commissioner of India and Central
Vigilance Commissioner, passed away at 94.
K. SANKARAN NAIR: Former Chief of the Research and
Analysis Wing (RAW) died in Bengaluru at 94.
ASHOK SINGHAL: Veteran patron of the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) passed away in Gurgaon due to a
prolonged illness. He was 89.
BRIJMOHAN LALL MUNJAL (92): Hero Motocorp Ltd
founder died in Delhi after prolonged illness.
SAEED JAFFREY: Veteran Bollywood actor died in
London. He was 86. He was known for his roles in
movies Gandhi, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Henna and Masoom.
T R GOVINDARAJAN: Senior football administrator and
veteran referee from Tamil Nadu, died after a brief
illness. He was 90.
MAHIP SINGH: Noted writer and journalist passed
away in Gurgaon, after a brief illness. He was 85.
HELMUT SCHMIDT: Former West German Chancellor,
who led the country for eight years (1974-82) at the
height of the Cold War, died at the age of 96.
PLACES IN NEWS
JANUARY 2016
PATHANKOT: A group of 6 suspected Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM) terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air
Force base in Punjab on January 2. All the attackers
were killed, claiming martyrdom of 7 defence personnel
KALIACHAK: A small town 25 kms southwest of Malda
in West Bengal was in news as more than a dozen
policemen were injured and police station was set on
fire in mob fury in an incident of communal violence.
UMAID BHAWAN PALACE: in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has
been adjudged the best hotel in the world based on
reviews and opinions collected by travel site Trip
Advisor for its ‘Travellers’ Choice awards for Hotels'.
CHARSADDA: At least 25 persons were killed and
several other were seriously wounded when Taliban
suicide attackers stormed the prestigious Bacha Khan
University in Charsadda, near Peshawar in Pakistan.
MAZAR-e-SHARIF: City in Afghanistan was in news as
the Indian Consulate there was attacked by the heavily
armed terrorists. An intense 25-hour gun-battle
between security forces and terrorists ended in the
killing of all attackers.
RAMADI: City in Iraq was declared liberated from the
Islamic State group after clinching a landmark victory
against the jihadists. The city was lost to IS in May, 2015.
DECEMBER 2015
KANNUR: Town in Kerala was in news as the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated 35,950
cannon balls at the historic Fort St Angelo there.
SHENZHEN: In China, more than 90 persons were killed
due to a landslide caused by the collapse of a huge
mound of waste construction mud in Shenzhen
industrial area in south China.
SAN BERNARDINO: A city in California, USA was in
news as gunmen opened fire on a holiday party at a
social services agency, killing 14 people and wounding
17 others. Two gunmen were killed later on.
TYPHOON NONA (Melor): Hundreds of thousands of
people were evacuated from the central Philippines as a
typhoon with winds of up to 150 kph made landfall,
causing heavy rains leading to massive flooding and
landslides.
NOVEMBER 2015
MOUNT RINJA: In Indonesia, hundreds of tourists were
stranded for a third day as volcanic ash from eruptions
from Mount Rinja forced the closure of airports in three
Indonesian islands.
SPORTS WORLD
JANUARY 2016
DHANWADE SCORES RECORD 1009 RUNS
Mumbai teenager Pranav Dhanawade scripted history
by becoming the first batsman ever to notch up a four-
figure score by smashing an unbeaten knock of 1009
including 59 sixes and 129 fours in 6 hours 35 minutes.
Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s off-spinner was ranked
as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings for 2015.
PV Sindhu won the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold
Badminton title beating Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour in the
final at Penang, Malaysia.
Jehan Daruvala of India won the New Zealand's most
popular motor race the Lady Wigram Trophy.
Siril Verma, young Indian badminton player was
declared number one in junior men's singles category in
the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings.
APURVI CHANDELA broke the world record on 5
January 2016 to grab a gold medal in the women's 10
metre air rifle event with a score of 211.2 at the Swedish
Cup Grand Prix in Savsjo, Sweden.

Later, she won her second gold in 10 metre tri series
event, thereby also winning the title of ‘Shooter of the
Tournament’
V V S Laxman's classy innings of 281 against Australia
at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001 has been rated
as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years in
an online survey by the ‘Cricket Magazine’.
ONGC won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament
by beating Railways in New Delhi.
Rakhi Haldar and Kavita Devi won gold in their
respective weight categories in the Senior National
Weightlifting Championships held in Patiala, Punjab.
Arunima Sinha, the amputee mountaineer who set a
record by climbing the Mount Everest, conquered Mount
Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain outside
Asia, at 6960.8 metres.
India won the first T20 Asia cup Cricket for
Blind beating Pakistan by 44 runs in the finals held at
Kochi, Kerala.
Delhi International Chess Tournament started in
Delhi on Jan. 9
BCCI ANNUAL HONOURS
'Cricketer of the Year' - Men: Virat Kohli, Indian Test
captain
'Cricketer of the Year' - Women: Mithali Raj, 1st Indian
woman and 2nd in world to complete 5,000 runs in ODI
India beat defending champions Afghanistan 2-1 in the
final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)
Cup in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Chennai Open Tennis: Stanislaus Wawrinka (Swiss)
won the cup for the third time in row, beating Borna
Coric of Croatia.
The 76th All-India Inter-University Athletics
Championship was held in Patiala and the Punjabi
University emerged as the overall champions for the
sixth year in a row.
Senior National Wrestling Championship, New Delhi
Gold won by Bajrang Punia in Men's 65kg and Ritu
Phogat in women's 48kg Freestyle categories.
Priyanka Phogat won the gold in the women’s 55kg
category.
Overall championship was won by Railways in men’s
category and by Haryana in women’s category.
Vijay Merchant (U-16) Trophy: Punjab won the
cricket trophy after beating Mumbai in Bengaluru.
Premier Badminton League: Delhi Acers won the title
by beating Mumbai Rockets in New Delhi.
Indian women boxers won 4 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze
medals at the 5th Amateur International Boxing
Association (AIBA) Nations Cup in Ruma, Serbia.
The 61st National School Athletic Meet held at
Kozhikode, Kerala from Jan 29.
Justice (Retd) R M Lodha committee appointed by the
S C to look into the affairs of BCCI has recommended
sweeping reforms that include a bar on ministers from
occupying positions, putting a cap on the age and tenure
of the office-bearers and legalising betting.
Japan's Izumo Takuto and Hong Kong's Zhu
Chengzhu won the boys' and girls' table tennis titles,
respectively, in the 11Even Sports 2015 ITTF World
Junior Circuit Finals in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
FIFA Ballon d'Or award: Lionel Messi of Argentina
won the World Player of the Year Award for the fifth
time.
FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli
Lloyd, US midfielder claimed her first award.
INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION
ANNUAL AWARDS 2015
Player of the Year (men): Robert Van der Horst, The
Netherlands
Player of the Year (women): Lidewij Welten, The
Netherlands
World champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the
Qatar Masters Open Chess Tournament.
Ronnie O'Sullivan of Britain won his sixth World
Snooker Masters title after defeating Barry Hawkins in
London.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: The West Indies batsman
announced his retirement from international cricket
Veteran tennis star Marat Safin became the first
Russian player to enter the prestigious International
Tennis Hall of Fame, USA.
2015 BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL Tennis Tournament
at Brisbane, Australia.
Men’s Singles: Milos Raonic of Canada defeated Roger
Federer
Women’s Singles: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beats A
Kerber
Men’s Doubles: Henri Kontinen & John Peers
Women’s doubles: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis
Australia has declined to take part in forthcoming
Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh citing
security reasons.
DECEMBER 2015
P V Sindhu has won the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold
Badminton tournament for the third consecutive time,
beating Minatsu Mitani of Japan.

Thakur Anoop Singh won the Mr. World title in the
World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in
Bangkok, Thailand.
Deborah Herold has become the first Indian female
cyclist to be ranked fourth in the World Elite Women
Ranking for the 500m time trial event.
Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy won the doubles
title in the Mexico Open Grand Prix Badminton
tournament in Mexico City.
Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Syed
Kirmani, India's former wicket-keeper batsman who
played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs
Gujarat won their maiden Vijay Hazare Cricket
Trophy by beating Delhi in the finals played in
Bengaluru.
18th Asian Luge Championship: Shiva Keshavan of
Manali, HP won a silver medal at Nagano, Japan.
Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton
tournament: India’s K Srikanth suffered a very narrow
defeat from Tommy Sugiarto who won the finals in
Malang, Indonesia.
59th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi.
Vijay Kumar, Olympic medalist won gold in the men's
25-metre centre fire pistol
Apurvi Chandela won Gold medal in the 10-metre Air
Rifle event
Chain Singh won the Gold in the 50-metre Rifle event
Elizabeth Susan Koshy won Women's 50m Rifle Gold
The 68th National Track Cycling Championship held
at Ludhiana, Punjab.
The 22nd National Cricket Tournament for the
visually impaired was held in New Delhi.
2nd Indian Super League Football tournament:
Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa in the finals played in
Goa.
Commonwealth Table-Tennis Championships were
held in Surat, Gujarat. India topped the medal tally with
16 medals.
All India Football Federation has named midfielder
Eugeneson Lyngdoh and striker Bala Devi as the Player-
of-the-Year and woman Footballer - of - the - Year,
respectively.
Senior National Weightlifting Championships,
Patiala: Haryana's Deepak Lather won gold medal in
the men's 62kg category and set a new national record.
Vikas Thakur of Services created a new national record as
he won the gold medal in the 85kg category.
12th National Ice-Skating Championship held in
Gulmarg, J&K from Dec 30 to Jan 03, 2016.
Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) awarded
Player of the Year title for the PGTI Order of Merit to
Bengaluru’s S Chikkarangappa as he won the McLeod
Russel Tour Championship at Kolkata.
India won four-match Test series against South Africa,
3-0, played in India.
Pro Wrestling League: Mumbai Garuda outclassed
Haryana Hammers to clinch the inaugural title in New
Delhi.
Two new teams, Pune and Rajkot have become the
new franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a
period of two years, replacing the suspended teams of
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Hockey World League: Australia defeated Belgium to
lift the title at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium, Raipur,
Madhya Pradesh.
Robert Lewandowski, Polish professional footballer’s
nine-minute, five-goal haul for German Football Club
Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg earned him Guinness
World Record for fastest three, four and five goals.
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the 2015 Formula
1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu
Dhabi, UAE.
Underdog Tyson Fury shocked the boxing world by
giving a stunning defeat to the reigning world heavy
weight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine
on Nov 28, becoming the first Briton to hold a world
heavyweight crown since 2011.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 award won
by tennis star Andy Murray of UK
Dan Carter, winner of Rugby World Cup from New
Zealand, has been named 2015 Sports Personality of the
Year.
Chen Long of China and Carolina Marin of England
were declared Male and Female Player of the Year,
respectively, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF)
in Dubai.
CRICKETER OF THE YEAR - 2015: Australian batsman
Steve Smith has been selected for this prestigious award
by the ICC. He was also named ‘Test Cricketer of the
Year.
ODI Cricketer of the Year 2015: South Africa's ODI
captain batsman AB de Villiers
FIFA Club World Cup: Barcelona (Spain) won the cup
by beating River Plate (USA) in finals played in
Yokohama, Japan.

The International Tennis Federation announced
following rankings for 2015:
Men’s World Champion - Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Women’s World Champion - Serena Williams (the USA)
Men’s Doubles World Champions - Jean-Julien Rojer &
Horia Tecau
Women’s Doubles World Champions: Sania Mirza and
Martina Hingis
Great Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time
since 1936 after the British Andy Murray beat
Belgium's David Goffin in Ghent, Belgium.
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand cricket captain
announced on Dec 22 his retirement from all forms of
international cricket.
NOVEMBER 2015
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis lifted their ninth
trophy of the season, winning BNP Paribas WTA Finals
in Singapore
Pankaj Advani, India's most successful cueist won the
record 15th world title by winning the IBSF World
Snooker Championship in Egypt, defeating Zhua Xintong
of China.
Heena Sidhu has won Gold in 10 metre Air Pistol event
at 13th Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. Jitu
Rai won silver medal
Shiva Thapa, top Indian boxer was ranked number 2 in
the latest international rankings in the 56 kg category.
Siril Verma, 16 year old shuttler from India won the
silver medal at the BWF World Junior Championships
held in Lima, Peru.
8th Men’s Junior Asia Hockey Cup: India’s junior
men’s team won the cup at Kuantan, Malaysia by
defeating Pakistan.
69th senior National Aquatic Championships 2015:
Mana Patel (women) and Virdhawal Khade (men) were
declared the best swimmers, at Rajkot, Gujarat.
Surjit Hockey Tournament: Railways defeated Indian
Oil in the finals played in Jalandhar.
Wasim Jaffer became the first player in Ranji Trophy
history to notch up 10,000 runs. He reached the
milestone playing against Bengal in Kolkata.
Anju Bobby George, former long jump world champion
has been appointed as the chairperson of the Target
Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
Shashank Manohar, BCCI President was authorised to
represent BCCI in ICC (International Cricket Council) as
its Chairman.
China Open Superseries Premier Badminton
tournament: Xuerui Li of China beats Saina Nehwal to
win the Women's Singles title at Fuzhou, China.
World number one Novak Djokovic has become the
first player to win the season-ending ATP World Tour
Finals for the fourth consecutive time by beating Roger
Federer in the finals played in London.
Swiss Indoors Basel Tennis title: Won by Roger
Federer by defeating Rafael Nadal
Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, won the BNP Paribas
WTA Finals title at Singapore, beating Petra Kvitova
Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Mexican Grand Prix
F1 championship in Mexico City and the Brazilian
Formula One Grand Prix at Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Czech Republic won the prestigious women’s team
tennis trophy - Fed Cup after beating Russia in final
played in Prague, capital of Czech Republic.
FIFA Under 17 Football World Cup: Nigeria defeated
Mali to win the championship held in Chile.
The Rugby World Cup: New Zealand lifted the cup
beating Australia in the Final played in London
Mitchell Johnson, Australia’s most devastating fast
bowler of his era, retired from all international cricket
on Nov 17.
The first ever day-night Test match in the history of
cricket started as the third Test between Australia and
New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in Australia.
Belgium moved to the top of the FIFA world ranking
list in football for the first time, leaving behind giants
like Argentina and world champions Germany. India
ranks pretty low at 172nd place.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
BOOK AUTHOR
‘Azad Bachpan ki Aur’ Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel
Peace prize winner
The Turbulent Years – 1980-
1996
Pranab Mukherjee,
President of India
India’s Foreign Policy Muchkund Dubey, a
former Indian Foreign
Secretary
The Z Factor: My Journey as
the Wrong Man at the Right
Time
an autobiography of
Subhash Chandra, media
moughal, founder of Zee
TV.
Maru Bharat Saru
Bharat (My India Noble
Jain Acharya
Ratnasundersuriswarji

India) written Maharaj. This is the
300th book written by
Maharaj ji.
A God in Ruins Kate Atkinson - The book
won the novel-of-the-year
prize at Britain's Costa
Book Awards 2015.
Go Set a Watchman, the
second novel
Harper Lee, topped the US
bestseller list in 2015,
selling 1.6 million copies.
'Anything But Khamosh' –
biography of Shatrughan
Sinha written
Bharathi S Pradhan.
The Bose Brothers and
Indian Independence – An
Insider’s Account
Madhuri Bose, the grand-
niece of Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose.
On My Terms: From the
Grassroots to the Corridors
of Power
an autobiography of
Sharad Pawar
This Unquiet Land Barkha Dutt
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Jeff Kinney
See Me Nicholas Sparks
Rogue Lawyer John Grisham
Combating Hunger and
Achieving Food Security
M.S. Swaminathan
Chronicles of Time and
Chance
Raymond Francis Isar
Because We Say So Noam Chomsky
Why India Is Not A Great
Power (Yet)
Bharat Karnad
My Gita Devidutt Pattnaik
The Mare's Trap Wendy Doniger.
What Happened to Netaji Anuj Dhar
Rebooting India: Realizing a
Billion Aspirations
Nandan Nilekani and Viral
Shah
India-Myanmar Relations Rajiv Bhatia
The Clintons' War on
Women
Roger Stone and Robert
Morrow
Mrs Funnybones Twinkle Khanna
To the Brink and Back:
India’s 1991 Story
Jairam Ramesh.
A Children’s History of India Subhadra Sen Gupta.
The Country of First Boys Amartya Sen
Baat Niklegi toh Phir Sathya Saran
Dreaming Big: My Journey to
Connect India
– an autobiography of
Sam Pitroda, noted
technocrat who brought
telecom revolution in
India.
The Chinar Leaves veteran Congress leader
and close aide of the
Gandhi family M L
Fotedar
Neither a Hawk nor a Dove:
An Insider’s Account of
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri,
ex Foreign Minister of
Pakistan.
The Courage to Act - A
Memoir of a Crisis and Its
Aftermath by
Ben S. Bernanke. The
author is the ex governor
of the Federal Reserve of
USA and the book is about
the lessons learnt from
the recessions like 2008
Financial Crisis.
The Outsider: My Life in
Intrigue
an autobiography of
Frederick Forsyth, noted
thriller novelist.
Two Years Eight Months and
Twenty Eight Days
Salman Rushdie.
The Monsoon War: Young
Officers Reminisce 1965
India-Pakistan'
Capt Amarinder Singh
and Lt. Gen. Tajindar
Shergill
The Curse of Surya Dev Prasad.
Hubris: Why Economists
Failed to Predict the Crisis
and How to Avoid the Next
One
Meghnad Desai.
The Power of Meow David Michie
Muslim Cosmopolitanism in
the Age of Empire
Seema Alavi
Portrait of a Serial Killer Khushwant Singh (edited
by Mala Dayal)
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APRIL GK TEST – 01
1. The Uri-I and Dulhasti power projects are located
in
A. Jammu & Kashmir B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand D. Punjab
E. Haryana
2. Bedaquiline, a drug newly launched by the Health
Ministry, is related to
A. Zika Virus B. Tuberculosis
C. Ebola
D. Swine flu E. Kala Azar
3. Haldhar Nag, who was recently honoured with the
Padma Shri award, writes poetry in
A. Malayalam B. Bengali
C. Kosli D. Odia
E. Maithili
4. Who has authored the book “Standing Guard --- A
Year in Opposition”?
A. Arun Shourie B. Raghuram Rajan
C. P. Chidambaram
D. Suzanna Arundhati Roy
E. Kapil Sibal
5. The Prime Minister of __________ recently resigned
after his name was revealed in the Panama Papers
leaks.
A. Iceland B. Kenya
C. Mexico D. Bulgaria
E. Lichtenstin
6. Effective from April this year, the Reserve Bank has
begun a new system to help the banks calculate the
interest rates on bank loans. The new regime is
called
A. Base Rate B. MCLR
C. Floor Rate D. Discount Rate
E. PLR
7. The marginal productivity of labour in case of
disguised unemployment is
A. Slightly positive B. Always negative
C. Positive D. Positive or negative
E. Zero
8. Stand Up India and Start Up India are meant for
…….…. and …………. . respectively.
A. young entrepreneurs, SC/ST/ women
B. SC/ST/ women, young entrepreneurs
C. SC/ST/ women, entrepreneurs
D. entrepreneurs, SC/ST/ women
E. women, entrepreneurs
9. What was the theme of the 2016 World Health Day
(WHD)?
A. Healthy heart beat, Healthy blood pressure
B. Beat Diabetes
C. Healthy blood pressure
D. Save lives: Make hospitals safe in emergencies
E. Antibiotic Resistance
10. The 2016 International Conference on “Zero” was
recently hosted by which country?
A. Russia B. Vietnam
C. France D. Brazil
E. India
11. Who has been appointed the new chairman of
NASSCOM?
A. Parasmal Parekh B. CP Gurnani
C. Raman Roy D. BVR Mohan Reddy
E. C. Ramachandra
12. The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is held in
A. Pakistan B. Malaysia
C. India D. Indonesia
E. Saudi Arabia
13. Mossack Fonseca & Co., which was recently in
news, is a company from
A. Britain B. Panama
C. Iceland D. The U.S.A
E. The UK
14. The world’s first mass dengue vaccination
programme has been launched by which country?
A. Israel B. Philippines
C. United States D. Russia E. India
15. Who is the newly elected President of Vietnam?
A. Tran Dai Quang B. Truong Tan Sang
C. Nguyen Phu Trong D. Nguyen Huu Vinh
E. Htyn Kwa
16. Which mobile app has been recently launched by
the Union Government to empower the common
man to demand 24×7 Power?
A. Vidyut 24×7 B. Vidyut Sangam
C. Vidyut Power D. Vidyut Pravah
E. Gamini
17. Which Indian personality was recently bestowed
with the Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour
“King Abdulaziz Sash”?
A. Pranab Mukherjee B. Sushma Swaraj
C. Narendra Modi D. Dalbir Singh Suhag
E. Chandi Prasad Bhatt
18. Who has won the 2016 Miami Open Men’s singles
title?
A. Rafael Nadal B. Novak Djokovic
C. David Ferrer D. Kei Nishikori
E. Roger Federer
19. According to the HIS report, what is the India’s
position in defence spending worldwide?
A. First B. Second
C. Third D. Fourth E. Fifth

20. Study the following news item, which was recently
published in newspapers.
“The eight core industries’ output grew at the
fastest pace in 15 months, clocking a 5.7 per cent
growth in February”.
Which of the following is NOT one of the core
industries?
A. Fertilizers B. Crude Oil
C. Electricity D. Pulp & Paper
E. Cement
21. Who is the incumbent head of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees?
A. Filippo Grandi B. Ruud Lubbers
C. Sadako Ogata D. Peter Maurer
E. Christine Lagarde
22. Pick the odd one out.
A. Margin money B. Loan To Value Ratio
C. Nomination D. Sub-standard assets
E. Hypothecation
23. The average life expectancy in a country is NOT a
function of
A. Food habits
B. Vaccination facilities
C. Malnutrition levels D. Lifestyle
E. Prevailing Sex ratio
24. The Olive Ridley turtles, which face the risk of
extinction, mate annually on the
A. Malabar islands B. Kerala coast
C. Andaman islands D. Odisha coast
E. Andhra coast
25. The “Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday” scheme was
launched to commemorate the birth anniversary of
A. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
B. Vinoba Bhave
C. Dr. BR Ambedkar D. Jaiprakash Narain
E. Mahatma Gandhi
26. A massive fire tragedy struck a temple in ……….. in
Kerala, killing 108 people and injuring hundreds of
other people.
A. Trivandrum B. Kollam
C. Vylavur D. Perimabdur
E. Kumarkom
27. The NAV of a mutual fund refers to
A. The total market price of all units on a particular day
B. The market price of a unit on a particular day
C. The market price of a unit + applicable fee on a
particular day
D. The issue price of the unit during a New Fund Offer
E. None of these
28. Which Syrian city was recaptured from the ISIS by
the security forces, marking their biggest victory
against it?
A. Palmyra B. Damascus
C. Machu D. Gaza
E. Kryghiz
29. Window-dressing in the context of banking would
imply
A. Making the branch premises look appealing
B. Improving the facilities enjoyed by the customers
C. Both A and B
D. Overstating the profits/receivables and understating
the losses/ liabilities
E. None of these
30. Out of these, which one was the Best Hindi movie at
the National Film Awards this year?
A. Dam Laga Ke Hai Shaa B. Bajirao Mastani
C. Bajrangi Bhaijaan
D. Tanu Weds Manu Returns
E. Bahubali
31. As per the data for 2014-15, which of the following
is the correct order of states w.r.t. their Gross State
Domestic Product (GSDP)?
A. Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > West Bengal >
Gujarat
B. Gujarat > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > West
Bengal
C. Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra > West Bengal >
Gujarat
D. Maharashtra > Gujarat > Uttar Pradesh > West
Bengal
E. None of these
32. Who has been crowned as the FBB Femina Miss
India World 2016?
A. Namrata Sharma
B. Priyadarshini Chatterjee
C. Pankhuri Gidwani
D. Sushruthi Krishna
E. Jhatlekha Chaterjee
33. Who has won the 2016 Global Indian of the Year
award?
A. Shahrukh Khan
B. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
C. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
D. Priyanka Chopra E. Irrfan Khan
34. Which new interface has been launched by
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for
next-generation mobile banking?
A. Unique Payments Interface
B. Unified Payments Interface
C. Universal Payments Interface
D. Unicellular Payments Interface
E. Union Payments Interface
35. Which country recently tendered an official
apology for the infamous Kama Gatamaru incident,
which had happened during India’s freedom
struggle?
A. South Africa B. Canada
C. Germany D. USA
E. England
36. With total inflows of $ 69 billion, India was the
_________ recipient of foreign remittances during
2015-16.
A. largest B. second largest
C. fourth largest D. fifth largest
E. third largest
37. The term Open General License refers to
A. Foreign direct investment
B. Industrial production
C. Imports D. Banking E. Exports
A. RBI B. PFRDA
C. SEBI D. TRAI E. IRDAI
39. The UNO, for the first time ever, celebrated
recently the birth anniversary of
A. Jawahar Lal Nehru B. Mother Teresa
C. Mahatma Gandhi D. Bhagat Singh
E. Dr. BR Ambedkar

40. The Supreme Court recently overturned its own
2013 judgment in the
A. President’s rule case B. Triple talaq case
C. NEET case
D. Right to expression case E. Right to death case
41. The term moratorium is applied to
A. Savings accounts B. Bank loans
C. Fixed deposits D. Bank mergers E. B and D
42. The proposed TAPI gas pipeline will NOT pass
through
A. Tazakhistan B. Poland
C. Pakistan D. India E. Afghanistan
43. Chit Chette is a literary creation, which grabbed
headlines recently for
A. Its winning the Saraswati Samman for its authoress
B. Its winning the Jnanpeeth Samman for its authoress
C. A legal case filed against it in the apex court
D. A recently released movie based on this book
E. Getting banned
44. The proposed $ 100 billion merger between two
gaint pharma cos. has been called off owing to
regulatory hurdles. Can you identify the right pair?
A. Daaichi Sankyo- Pfizer B. Allergen-Novartis
C. Pfizer- Ranbaxy D. Allergen-Pfizer
E. Novartis AG- Bayer
45. CGI is a technology employed in
A. Cosmetic surgery B. Banking
C. Supercomputers D. Films E. 3D Printing
46. A top-level Nuclear Safety Summit was attended by
PM Narender Modi in
A. Paris B. Washington
C. Lima D. Moscow E. Brussels
47. The only place, where the one-horned deer are
found in India, is
A. Manas sanctuary B. Simplipal sanctuary
C. Sariska sanctuary D. Bharatpur sanctuary
E. Dachigam sanctuary
48. Which movie won the honour for the Best Movie on
National Integration this year?
A. Shobho Aichha B. Vellam Kollam
C. Nanak Shah Faqir D. Chaar Sahibzaade
E. Bahubali
49. For small banks, the ratio of priority sector loans to
total loans has been fixed at
A. 50% B. 100% C. 60% D. 75% E. 40%
50. Which of the following is a term NOT related to
banking?
A. Foreclosure B. Fiscal buoyancy
C. Assignment D. Ledger balance
E. Average Quarterly Balance
ANSWER KEY TEST - 1
Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 A
6 B 7 E 8 B 9 B 10 C
11 B 12 B 13 B 14 B 15 A
16 D 17 C 18 B 19 D 20 D
21 A 22 C 23 E 24 D 25 C
26 B 27 B 28 A 29 D 30 A
31 A 32 B 33 B 34 B 35 B
36 A 37 C 38 D 39 E 40 C
41 E 42 A 43 A 44 D 45 D
46 B 47 E 48 C 49 D 50 B
APRIL GK TEST – 02
1. “DEEP” web portal has been launched for the
acquisition of short-term power by DISCOMs. What
does ‘DEEP’ stand for?
A. Discovery of Efficacy Electricity Price B. Discovery of
Effective Electricity Price
C. Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price D. Discovery
of Effable Electricity Price
E. Distribution of Efficient Electrical Power
2. Which Indian Air Force base has been renamed
after former IAF chief Arjan Singh?
A. Udhampur B. Panagarh
C. Darbhanga D. Port Blair
E. Adampur
3. The Supercomputer “Param Kanchenjunga” was
launched in which state of India?
A. Sikkim B. Kerala
C. Gujarat D. Odisha
E. Maharashtra
4. Who has topped the TIME poll of 100 most
influential people?
A. Aung San Suu Kyi B. Narendra Modi
C. Bernie Sanders D. Hillary Clinton
E. Barack Obama
5. Which country has become the 189th member of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Bank?
A. Senegal B. Chad
C. Nauru D. Grenada
E. South Sudan
6. Burj Khalifa is situated in
A. Doha B. Manama
C. Dubai D. Abu Dhabi
E. Iraq
7. The Saraswati Samman for the year 2015 has been
conferred upon
A. Sugathakumari B. Govind Mishra
C. Padma Sachdev D. M Veerappa Moily
E. Kedar Nath Singh
8. The RBI and National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI) have recently launched the ____________
to encourage electronic payment systems for a
cashless economy in India.
A. Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
B. Aadhar Payment System
C. Cashless Payment System
D. Hassle-free Payment System
E. Integrated Payment Interface
9. Who has broken the world record for the longest
dance performance by dancing continuously for
123 hours and 30 minutes?
A. Birju Maharaj
B. Kumudini Lakhiya
C. Shovana Narayan
D. Sona Chaurasia
E. Mrinalini Sarabahi
10. In order to promote entrepreneurship, PM Modi
launched the “Stand up India scheme” in
A. Varanasi B. Kanpur
C. Noida D. Lucknow
E. Rajnandgaon

11. The Union Finance Ministry has extended which
duty on import of some steel products?
A. Customs duty B. Countervailing duty
C. Safeguard duty D. Excise duty
E. Anti- dumping duty
12. The Triyambakeshwar Temple is situated in
A. West Bengal B. Rajasthan
C. Maharashtra D. Karnataka
E. Madhya Pradesh
13. PM Narendra Modi recently launched a National
Agriculture Market portal called
A. e- Agri Market B. e- Agro
C. e- NAM D. e- NaMp
E. e-Farm
14. Gurgaon will now be known as
A. Gurdham B. Goregram
C. Dronagram D. Gurugram
E. Gurushaala
15. _________ and _________ plan to build a bridge over the
Red Sea.
A. Germany and Egypt B. USA and Egypt
C. Pakistan and Egypt
D. Saudi Arabia and Egypt
E. Turkey and Egypt
16. The five-time world chess champion of India, who
was conferred with Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award
2016, is
A. Viswanathan Anand B. Bhagyshri Thipse
C. Deepa Karmakar D. Tanya Scahdev
E. None of these
17. Which of the following has/have been integrated
into the Core Banking System recently?
A. India Post B. Exim Bank
C. Regional Rural Banks D. Grameen Banks
E. ICICI Bank
18. What is the full form of ‘ULIP’, a term which was in
news recently?
A. Universal Life & Investment Plan
B. Unit Loan & Investment Plan
C. Unit Linked Insurance Plan
D. Uniformly Loaded Investment Plan
E. None of these
19. Which of the following is NOT a banking-related
term?
A. Radiation
B. Outstanding Amount
C. Guarantee
D. Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR)
E. One Time Password (OTP)
20. The insurance policies sold by various banks come
under
A. Investment banking
B. Portfolio management
C. Merchant banking
D. Bancassurance
E. Wealth Management
21. Which of the following does NOT happen when the
interest rates in an economy go up?
A. Savings increase
B. Lending decreases
C. Cost of production increases
D. Return on capital increases
E. All these are correct statements
22. The Open Market Operations of the RBI refer to the
buying and selling of
A. Commercial bills B. Foreign exchange
C. Gold D. Government bonds
E. Old and new notes
23. The popular term Green Banking means
A. Development of forestry by the banks
B. Financing of environmental friendly projects by the
banks
C. Financing of irrigation projects by the banks
D. Financing of solar-powered projects by the banks
E. None of the above
24. Which one of the following is NOT a quantitative
credit control technique?
A. Bank Rate
B. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
C. Increase in interest rates payable on savings
deposits
D. Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
E. Repo rate
25. A team of Chinese inventors have unveiled an
interactive, human-like robot resembling a living
woman with facial expressions. What name has
been given to this humanoid robot?
A. Mia Mia B. Li Li
C. Jia Jia D. Xia Xia
E. Hia Hia
26. __________ is a new super strong material which is
stronger than even Graphene, which is currently
considered to be the strongest material.
A. Zorbyne B. Stephyne
C. Carbyne D. Delbyne
E. Terene
27. New York City declared 14th April 2016 as the
‘Bindeshwar Pathak Day’ in recognition of the
contributions of Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of
__________ in improving the lives of people working in
the most dehumanising conditions.
A. Sulabh International B. Suvidha International
C. Suraksha International D. Safai International
E. Swachh International
28. Name the Indo-American (CEO of MasterCard), who
has been appointed a member of the Commission
on Enhancing National Cyber security by US
President.
A. Ajay Banga B. Ajay Ahuja
C. Vijay Banga D. Vijay Ahuja
E. Rajat Gupta
29. Dilma Rousseff, the President of ____________ was
recently impeached by a parliamentary vote.
A. Brazil B. South Africa
C. France D. Italy
E. South Korea
30. The oldest stock exchange in Asia is the
A. Hong Kong Stock Market
B. Bombay Stock Exchange
C. Japanese Stock Market
D. South Korean Stock Market
E. Kolkata Stock Exchange
31. “No one is absolute, not even the President or the
Courts. Anybody can go terribly wrong.”
These scathing comments against the central
government were made by the _________ in the
__________ case.

A. Uttrakhand High Court, flood relief
B. Uttrakhand High Court, President’s rule
C. Uttrakhand High Court, temple entry
D. Arunachal Pradesh High Court, President’s rule
E. Punjab and Haryana High Court, Jat reservation stir
32. The term ‘first class securities’ is applied to
A. Bonds with AAA+ rating
B. Government securities with AAA+ rating
C. Government securities with AAA or better rating
D. Government securities
E. Bonds issued by financial institutions like NABARD,
GIC etc.
A. Par Value B. OTCEI
C. Underwriting D. Futures & Options
E. ARCIL
34. The first Indian woman player to qualify for an
individual Olympic event in the past half a century,
is
A. Deepa Karmakar B. Saina Nehwal
C. Krishna Punia D. Sania Mirza
E. Deepika Pallikal
35. Which of the following institutions is NOT headed
by a woman?
A. State Bank of India B. ICICI Bank
C. HDFC Bank D. Axis Bank
E. All these are headed by women CEOs
36. The Indian Army’s battle exercise ‘Shatrujeet’ was
conducted in
A. Bikaner B. Vadodara
C. Meerut D. Jaisalmer
E. Sanganer
37. CAPART is an organization related to
A. politics B. computers
C. self-employment
D. pharmaceutical research
E. rural development
38. Assertion (A): India’s trade deficit has been falling
for the past few months.
Reasoning (R): The prices of commodities and crude
oil are showing a downward trend.
A. Both A and R are correct and R correctly explains A.
B. Both A and R are correct but R does not correctly
explain A.
C. A is correct but R is wrong.
D. R is correct but A is wrong.
E. Both A and R are wrong
39. Which of the following acronyms/ terms is NOT
related to inflation in India?
A. Primary articles B. IIP
C. Consumption basket D. WPI
E. CPI
40. A Red Herring Prospectus is issued by a company
desiring to
A. Diversify its operations
B. Raise debt from the public
C. Collaborate with other companies
D. Disinvest its equity capital
E. Have an IPO
41. Who has been appointed India’s goodwill
ambassador for the Rio Olympics contingent?
A. Sachin Tendulkar B. Yogeshwar Dutt
C. Salman Khan D. Aamir Khan
E. Milkha Singh
42. The National Honour for the Best Director went to
A. Anand L Rai for Piku
B. Anand L Rai for Tanu Weds Manu Returns
C. Manish Sharma for Tanu Weds Manu Returns
D. Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao Mastani
E. Shoojit Sircar for Piku
43. The agency which insures an IPO against under-
subscription is called
A. Merchant Banker B. Broker
C. Registrar D. Advisor
E. Underwriter
44. Which of these countries tops the Press Freedom
Index rankings for 2016?
A. Sweden B. Finland
C. Denmark D. Singapore
E. The USA
45. Which of these fuels is added to petrol for blending
purposes?
A. Pentene B. Ethyl Mercaptan
C. Ethanol D. Methanol
E. Octane
46. In a controversial move, the government has
recently notified that the pictorial warnings on
cigarette and other tobacco products’ packaging
should cover at least _________% of the total pack
size.
A. 70 B. 85
C. 50 D. 60 E. 30
47. Hedging is a technique commonly used in
A. Banking B. Insurance
C. Psychology D. Stock markets
E. Computing
48. The ________ committee had recommended
liberalization of the banking sector in India.
A. Shivaraman B. Narsimhan
C. R Malhotra D. Gadgil
E. R Gandhi
49. The SAWEN network, which India has joined
recently, is designed to
A. Fight malnutrition B. Protect wildlife
C. Fight preventable diseases among children
D. Safeguard intellectual property
E. None of these
50. Prince Williams and Kate Middleton, the ________ and
________ of Cambridge came to India on a goodwill
tour.
A. Duke, Duchess B. Prince, Princess
C. King, Queen D. Earl, Earless
E. His Highness, Her Majesty
ANSWER KEY TEST - 2
Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.
1 C 2 B 3 A 4 C 5 C
6 C 7 C 8 A 9 D 10 C
11 C 12 C 13 C 14 D 15 D
16 A 17 A 18 C 19 A 20 D
21 D 22 D 23 B 24 C 25 C
26 C 27 A 28 A 29 A 30 B
31 B 32 D 33 E 34 A 35 C
36 A 37 E 38 A 39 B 40 E
41 C 42 D 43 E 44 B 45 C
46 B 47 D 48 B 49 B 50 A

SSC CORNER
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Historic Milestones
6th century BC: Ancient Indian ayurvedic
physician Sushruta described how vital fluids
circulate in the body.
1628 AD: William Harvey, a Britisher, first
described blood circulation.
1903 AD: Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven
invented the electrocardiograph.
1952 AD: The first successful open heart
surgery by F. John Lewis, an American surgeon.
1967 AD: South African Dr. Christian Barnard
performed the first transplant of a human
heart
1982 AD: American physician Robert Jarvik
designed the first artificial heart
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
The circulatory system is a vast network responsible for
the flow of blood, nutrients, hormones, oxygen and
other gases to and from cells. Without it, the body would
be unable to fight disease or maintain a stable internal
environment — such as proper temperature and pH —
known as homeostasis.
It is made up of three independent systems that work
together: the heart (cardiovascular); lungs (pulmonary);
and arteries, veins, coronary and portal vessels
(systemic). In an average human, about 7,572 liters of
blood travel daily through about 96,560 kilometers of
blood vessels. An average adult has 4.7 to 5.6 liters of
blood. Besides, the circulatory system moves lymph, a
clear fluid to help rid the body of unwanted material.
The passage of lymph takes much longer than that of
blood.
BLOOD
Blood is a fluid consisting of plasma, red blood cells,
white blood cells, and platelets circulated by the heart
through the vascular system, carrying oxygen and
nutrients to and waste materials away from tissues.
Lymph is recycled excess blood plasma after it has been
filtered from the interstitial fluid (between cells) and
returned to the lymphatic system. The cardiovascular
system comprises the blood, heart, and blood vessels.
The lymph, lymph nodes, and lymph vessels form the
lymphatic system, which returns filtered plasma from
the interstitial fluid as lymph.
ARTERIES
Oxygenated blood enters the systemic circulation when
leaving the left ventricle. The first part of the systemic
circulation is the aorta, a massive and thick-walled
artery. The aorta arches and branches into major
arteries to the upper body before passing through the
diaphragm, where it branches into arteries which
supply the lower parts of the body.
CAPILLARIES
Arteries branch into small passages called arterioles and
into the capillaries. The capillaries merge to bring blood
into the venous system.
VEINS
After their passage through tissues, capillaries merge
again into venules, which merge into veins. They finally
converge into two major veins: the superior vena cava
(draining the areas above the heart) and the inferior
vena cava (from areas below the heart). These two great
vessels empty into the right atrium of the heart.
CORONARY VESSELS
The heart itself is supplied oxygen and nutrients via a
small "loop" of the systemic circulation.
HEART
The heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body and
deoxygenated blood to the lungs. In the human heart,
there is one atrium and one ventricle for each

circulation, and with both a systemic and a pulmonary
circulation there are four chambers in total: left atrium,
left ventricle, right atrium and right ventricle. The right
atrium is the upper chamber of the right side of the
heart. The blood that is returned to the right atrium is
deoxygenated (poor in oxygen) and passed into the
right ventricle to be pumped through the pulmonary
artery to the lungs for re-oxygenation and removal of
carbon dioxide. The left atrium receives newly
oxygenated blood from the lungs and the pulmonary
vein, which goes into the strong left ventricle to be
pumped through the aorta to the different organs of the
body.
The coronary circulation system provides blood supply
to the heart muscle itself. The coronary circulation
begins near the origin of the aorta by two arteries: the
right coronary artery and the left coronary artery. After
nourishing the heart muscle, blood returns through the
coronary veins into the coronary sinus and from this
one into the right atrium. Back flow of blood through its
opening during atrial systole is prevented by the
Thebesian valve. The smallest cardiac veins drain
directly into the heart chambers.
LUNGS
The circulatory system of the lungs is a part of the
cardiovascular system, in which the oxygen-depleted
blood is pumped away from the heart, via the
pulmonary artery, to the lungs and returned,
oxygenated, to the heart via the pulmonary vein.
The oxygen-deprived blood from the superior and
inferior vena cava enters the right atrium of the heart
and flows through the tricuspid valve into the right
ventricle, from where it is pumped through the
pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary artery to
the lungs. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs, whereby
CO2 is released from the blood, and oxygen is absorbed.
The pulmonary vein returns the now oxygen-rich blood
to the left atrium.
BLOOD & OXYGEN TRANSPORT
About 98.5% of the oxygen in arterial blood in a healthy
human is chemically combined with hemoglobin
molecules, the primary transporter of oxygen.
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Many such diseases are "lifestyle diseases" as they
develop over time due to exercise habits, diet, smoking,
and other lifestyle choices.
Atherosclerosis is the precursor to many diseases,
wherein small plaques build up in the walls of arteries.
This may eventually grow or rupture to occlude the
arteries. It is a risk factor for acute coronary syndromes,
marked by a sudden deficit of oxygenated blood to the
heart.
Another major cardiovascular disease involves the
creation of a clot, called a "thrombus". These can
originate in veins or arteries. Deep venous thrombosis,
which mostly occurs in the legs, is one cause of clots in
the veins of the legs, particularly when a person has
been stationary for a long time. These clots may travel
to another location. It may cause pulmonary embolus,
transient ischaemic attacks, or stroke.
SELF-QUIZ
1. Define homeostasis.
2. What are the major parts of the human heart?
3. Differentiate arteries from veins.
4. Describe the major components of blood.
5. Oxygen-depleted blood is carried from the
heart to the lungs by the …………
6. Oxygen-rich blood is carried from the lungs to
the heart by the …………
7. How much average volume of blood does an
adult human have?
8. Who discovered the circulation of blood?

GYANM QUIZ - 13
How much do you know about the world around you?
Take the quiz below to find out for yourself and WIN
some exciting prizes as rewards.
1. Tripitaka is a major religious book in
A. Hinduism B. Buddhism
C. Jainism D. Islam
2. The process of human digestion starts in the
A. Pancreas B. Mouth
C. Stomach D. Intestine
3. Kangaroo is the national animal of
A. Denmark B. Australia
C. Canada D. New Zeland
4. “Patriotism is the last resort of a scoundrel”
was said by
A. Oscar Wilde
B. William Shakespeare
C. Dr. Samuel Johnson D. Alexander Pope
5. Which Mughal king was most well-known for
erecting beautiful monuments?
A. Humayun B. Akbar
C. Jahangir D. Shahjehan
6. One can open a self-operated savings bank
account in India at a minimum of
A. 18 years B. 21 years
C. 14 years D. 10 years
7. Which of the following countries shares its
day of independence with India?
A. Singapore B. Taiwan
C. Hong Kong D. None of these
8. The number of Lok Sabha seats is determined
on the basis of the …….…. census.
A. 2001 B. 1971
C. 1991 D. 2011
9. The moon lacks an atmosphere due to
A. More friction
B. Its magnetic properties
C. Its distance from the Sun
D. Lesser gravitational pull
10. Which of the following was the first truly
Indian set up in British India?
A. Reserve Bank of India
B. Punjab National Bank
C. Allahabad Bank
D. Hindustan Commercial Bank
Heartiest congratulations to the winners of Gyanm
Quiz-12!
1. Monika Chauhan– Bengalore
2. Sharika – Panipat
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Address: ____________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
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My answers to Gyanm Quiz - 13 are:
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4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
10.
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your COMPLETE ADDRESS and PIN CODE, by 25th
May, 2016. The responses can be sent
By e-mail to gynam.college@gmail.com OR
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By post to Gyanm College of Competitions,
SCO 13-15, 2nd Floor, Above Domino’s, Sector 34-A,
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BINDING on all the participants.
6. The winners’ names shall be announced in the July,
2016 issue.

Profit And Pleasure
ON PERSONALITIES
1. The famous economist and former American
ambassador to India once described India as a
“functioning anarchy”. Can you recall his name?
2. He never won the Nobel Prize for his most famous
contribution i.e. the Theory of Relativity which only
two people in the world could understand when it
was announced. He got it for another scientific
contribution, which is very little known in the world.
Can you name this man and his contribution?
3. The Chipko Movement is frequently associated with
Sunder Lal Bahuguna, who did great work against
illegal tree felling in the hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh.
But the movement had originated with some
villagers sticking to the trees, which the tree mafia
wanted to axe for profit. Can you name the simple
village woman who started it?
4. This man was called the Ambassador of Hindu
Muslim Unity by Sarojini Naidu in undivided India.
Ironically, he did the most for the creation of a
separate Pakistan. Whom are we talking about?
5. This man, who brought about a revolution in milk
output in India, never drank milk himself as he did
not like it. He, after returning from the USA, set up
the cooperative model for milk production, which
improved the dairy framers’ incomes and
transformed their lives, so beautifully captured in
the 1970s Smita Patil- starrer Manthan. Can you
name this revolutionary man?
6. Besides Gulzar, he is the only other lyricist to get the
prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Prize for overall
cinematic contributions. Initially, he was a hakim but
discovered his true calling in Bollywood. He teamed
up with the iconic RD Burman for some of his most
glorious songs, which are popular till date. Do you
remember him?
7. The Pakistanis lovingly call him Father Teresa on
account of his humanitarian work, which covers
rescue and relief work during calamities. His
foundation has a vast fleet of ambulances and relief
vans to help people in any kind of distress situation.
What is his real name?
8. He is the man regarding whom it is said that he knew
infinity. He worked as a clerk in the Madras Port
Trust but his mathematical genius was spotted by a
British professor, who brought him to England on a
scholarship. Unfortunately, he died young due to TB
but left behind a rich legacy of contributions to the
Number Theory. In fact, the number 1729 is named
after him but can you name him?
9. No modern book on psychology is complete without
repeated references to this Austria-born psychiatrist,
who explored the unconscious mind and its
workings. The Father of Psychoanalysis wrote
extensively on dreams and what they mean. Though
his ideas on the human instincts of violence and sex
sparked great controversy, his seminal contributions
have greatly impacted modern psychiatry, parenting
and education in general. Can you identify him?
10. The movie A Beautiful Mind portrays the life and
work of this great mathematician, who struggled
with schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder. His
contributions to the Game Theory are well-
recognized and find applications in many fields. Can
you identify him?
KEY
1. JK Galbraith
2. Albert Einstein
3. Gauri Devi
4. Mohammed Ali Jinnah
5. Dr. Verghese Kurien
6. Majrooh Sultanpuri
7. Abdus Sattar Eidhi
8. Ramanujan
9. Sigmund Freud
10. John Nash

How much well-equipped are you with vocabulary to
express yourself in different situations? Take the quiz
below to find out for yourself and also learn some
new words as a BONUS!
Directions: Given below are certain words printed in
BOLD letters, followed by four choices in each case. Find
out the choice which best conveys the meaning of the
word in question. You will find the detailed solution to this
exercise in this issue only.
1. PONDERING
A. Shining B. Praiseworthy
C. Thoughtful D. Reckless
2. PERSEVERING
A. Persistent B. Dirty
C. Interesting D. Worthy of hatred
3. INDUSTRIOUS
A. Hardworking B. Lazy
C. Sensible D. Urgent
4. VIVACIOUS
A. Swaying B. Confused
C. Likely D. Lively
5. PERTINENT
A. Smooth B. Relevant
C. Handsome D. From Germany
6. SHRILL
A. Through voice B. Critical
C. In disagreement D. Loud and sharp
7. DUMB
A. Stay at a place B. Silent
C. Closed
D. Change dramatically
8. CHATTER BOX
A. Aged B. Abusive
C. Excessive talker D. Fond of writing
9. TACITURN
A. Speaking little B. Decent
C. Connected D. Related to eyes
10. BELLICOSE
A. Trigger-happy B. Roundabout way
C. Peace-loving D. Pungent
11. SPECTACUALR
A. Horrible
B. Looking like a terrorist
C. Worthy of being seen
D. Highly commendable
12. TRICKLE
A. Going deep into a river
B. A bunch of some objects
C. Flexibility D. Drop
13. PACIFIST
A. Broker B. Full of love
C. Peace-loving D. Related to oceans
14. LEGEND
A. Related to mythology B. Historical
C. Of heights D. Unproven
15. DEBONAIR
A. Sophisticated B. Having holes
C. Well-educated D. Practical
MY SCORE RATING
0-3 Get going!
4-7 Work hard!
8-11 Great, you’re almost there!
12-15 Wow!
SOLUTION
1. Pondering: adjective: serious, in a thinking
mood
Popular synonyms: thoughtful, pondering,
cogitative
Examples: Newton sat pondering under a tree as
an apple fell into his lap.
2. Persevering: adjective: hardworking, persistent
Popular synonyms: sedulous
Examples: A. Every successful person needs to
have a persevering attitude in the face of
difficulties.
B. The mantra of success is getting up after every
failure and persevere to overcome weaknesses.

3. Industrious: adjective: persevering, hardworking
Popular synonyms: diligent, sedulous
Derivation: Industry
Examples: A. Her industrious attitude was finally
recognized by her boss with a promotion.
B. One may be extremely intelligent, but without
industrious application of mind, one cannot get
success.
4. Vivacious: adjective: lively
Popular synonyms: sprightly, animated
Examples: Her vivacious manners turned every
party into a super hit event.
5. Pertinent: adjective: related, relevant, to the
point
Popular synonym: germane
Examples: A. Your ideas were rejected as they
were not pertinent to the discussions going on.
B. All the issues pertinent to Indo-Pak relations
will be taken up at the summit-level talks.
6. Shrill: adjective: loud, vocal, forceful
Popular synonyms: voluble, strident
Examples: A. The MPs made a shrill demand for
the minister’s resignation over the scandal.
B. There is shrill opposition to the proposal to
make the Aadhar card compulsory.
7. Dumb: adjective: silent, unable to speak
Popular synonym: mute
Examples: A. We cannot become dumb
spectators to this murder of democracy.
B. I went to a special school for the deaf and
dumb yesterday.
8. Chatterbox: excessive talker
Popular synonyms: vocal, voluble
Example: The chatterbox politician did not sotp
even for a second and talked non-stop.
9. Taciturn: adjective: silent, speaking very little
Popular synonym: reticent
Examples: A. Many people are taciturn at social
gatherings but you will find them very vocal with
their friends.
B. To become a public speaker, you need to get
rid of your taciturn nature.
10. Bellicose: adjective: fighting, contentious
Popular synonyms: belligerent, pugnacious
Examples: A. Bellicose nations like North Korea
always keep global tensions alive with their
nuclear threats.
B. The bellicose attitude she carried to the
meeting did not let reach a compromise with
others.
11. Spectacular: adjective: must-see, great
Example: Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s spectacular
acting helped the movie become a super hit.
12. Trickle: noun: drop, small quantity
Example: The college got only a trickle of
applications for admissions this year.
13. Pacifist: adjective: related to peace, peace-loving
Popular synonyms: peaceful, pacifist
Examples: The pacifist leader used to make
peace between the warring parties in her college.
14. Legend: noun: story of doubtful origin, unproven
Popular synonym: unsubstantiated, apocryphal
Example: Several legends about the freedom
struggle are quite popular but most historians do
not accept them.
15. Debonair: adjective: sophisticated, well-bred
Popular synonym: suave
Example: The girl’s debonair nature greatly
helped her bag the job of an airhostess.
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Model Test Paper
SBI-CLERK PRELIM
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Directions (Q.1–10): Read the following passage carefully
and answer the questions given below it. Certain words
are printed in bold in the passage to help you locate them
while answering some of the questions.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken an unusually
aggressive stance on the issue of non-performing assets
(NPAs), which is proving to be an extremely serious problem,
particularly for public sector banks. In a scenario in which
these banks will have to mobilize significant amounts of
capital over the next four years, the last thing they need is the
drain from internal accruals that providing for NPAs calls for.
Further, raising capital from the market is going to be
extremely challenging. Potential investors will view these
banks as leaky buckets, with the bad assets significantly
diluting their returns. Against this backdrop, the RBI's
reported intention to impose constraints on the lending
activities of banks with high levels of NPAs and restructured
assets, which many analysts treat as NPAs, indicates a resolve
to at least prevent the problem from getting worse. Coming on
the heels of this were RBI Governor’s views on the default
problems that banks face and the nefarious role that large
and politically connected borrowers play in this.
However, while the hardening of the stance and the explicit
condemnation of large defaulters misusing privilege and
connections are very welcome, they do not in and of
themselves provide a solution. The reality is that the asset
quality problems of public sector banks are the consequence
of several fundamental organizational and governance
problems, which measures like restricting lending are not
going to fix. On the organizational side, antiquated practices
and processes, an inability to attract the best talent because of
limits on compensation and attrition of talent for the same
reason are critical challenges to creating competitive
businesses. On the governance front, the constant pressure
from "higher powers" to lend to specific sectors and
individuals and to show tolerance for the kind of behavior that
the RBI governor criticised, the dodgy nominations of
independent directors and the general inability of boards to
exercise any meaningful oversight on the management - all
point to massive inadequacies in the framework.
As things stand, the only available channel for new capital
infusion is for the government itself to provide it. If the asset
quality problems are not fixed, this will become an endless
fiscal drain. On the other hand, if capital is not enhanced, the
ability of a large segment of the banking system to lend to
businesses will be undermined, thus threatening the nascent
recovery. For the government, this is indeed a "damned if you
do, damned if you don't" situation. Only a comprehensive
reform of the system, tackling both organisational and
governance issues simultaneously, will work. Three steps can
be immediately signaled. One, the top tiers of bank
managements must be selected by open competition, in which
insiders will also be considered. Their compensation can be at
levels that are currently offered to regulators. Two, say, five of
the best banks must immediately raise capital from the
markets, even to the extent of the government giving up its
majority. This will preserve the system's capacity to lend.
Three, there must be special scrutiny of large accounts, to
ensure that patronage does not buy them leniency. Boards and
their committees need to be strengthened and empowered to
do this. Many more actions are required, of course. The threat
of a hobbled banking system is very real.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is
true?
1) RBI has decided to help the Private Sector Banks.
2) Government has decided to change the guidelines
for private Sector Banks.
3) RBI has restricted the issuance of NPAs.
4) Private Sector Banks have flourished in the recent
years.
5) None of these.
2. According to the passage, which of the following is
one of the consequences of the action taken by RBI?
1) Banks are going to store the funds for a longer
period of duration than before.
2) Raising money from the market is going to be
difficult for NPAs.
3) Banks are going to earn profit at a very fast pace.
4) Market is going to get stabilized by the actions of
RBI.
5) None of these.
3. Several asset quality problems of Public Sector
Banks are the result of?
1) Misuse of funds by the banks.
2) Liquidation of assets by the banks.
3) Restrictions of the RBI imposed on the banks.
4) Fundamental organizational and governance
problems.
5) None of these.
4. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning as
the word "nefarious" as used in the passage.
1) wicked 2) supreme
3) cunning 4) scrupulous
5) None of these.

5. Which of the following problems has not been
mentioned in the passage?
1) World Bank interference 2) Mobilizing of funds.
3) Organisational 4) Governance
5) Fund Security
6. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in
meaning of the word 'infusion' as used in the
passage.
1) Division 2) Addition
3) Extraction 4) Hindrance
5) Seclusion
7. The most appropriate title of the above passage
may be ...........
1) Chaos in the Market
2) The Dwindling State of Private Banks.
3) Era of Difficulties for RBI.
4) The role of Money in the Market.
5) None of these.
8. What was the factor, according to the passage, that
forced RBI to take this decision?
1) Deteriorating state of the Private Banks.
2) Falling World Economy.
3) Decisions of the Government
4) Some people being educated and other illiterate.
5) None of these.
9. Only what, according to the passage, can rectify this
situation?
1) Change the guidelines of RBI.
2) RBI and Government work together.
3) Comprehensive change in the system.
4) Increase the interest rates.
5) None of these.
10. Which of the following is true, according to the
passage?
1) RBI is lenient towards Private Banks.
2) Banks interfere in political affairs.
3) The threat of Failing Bank system is real.
4) Banks borrow money from their competitors.
5) None of these.
DIRECTIONS (11-15): In the following passage, there are
some blanks, each of which has been numbered. These
numbers are printed below the passage and against each,
five words have been suggested. Out of the five words
given, one fits the blank appropriately. Select the
appropriate words to fill up the blanks so that a
meaningful passage can be formed.
Capital punishment should not be 11 from the Indian legal
system because in our civilized society there is no place for
12 . In fact, the human race is distinct from rest of the ___13__
kingdom because of its rationality and 14 . Therefore, 15
murderers deserve elimination from this world as no one has
the right to kill a fellow human being unless it is done in an
exceptional situation.
11. 1) abolished 2) branded
3) excused 4) given
5) pursued
12. 1) offenders 2) criminals
3) murderers 4) crooks
5) goons
13. 1) plant 2) animal
3) living 4) bird
5) space
14. 1) faith 2) love
3) sympathy 4) compassion
5) hatred
15. 1) convicted 2) blamed
3) acquitted 4) accused
5) prosecutor
(16-20)Rearrangement the following sentences to choose
the most logical order of arrangement of these sentences
to form a meaningful, coherent paragraph.
1) Because a protein’s conformation – its folding and
physical shape – determines its biological activity
2) A prion protein is not a foreign protein, but a variant
conformation of protein normally produced by cells.
3) Instead prion proteins replicates themselves by
catalyzing the conversion of normal copies of the
protein into the prion conformation,
4) The prion protein no longer servers its normal purpose
5) And they may also alter the synthesis of new protein to
favour that conformation
16) Which of these is the 1st sentence of the passage?
1) 1 2) 2
3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
17) Which of these is the 3rd sentence of the passage?
1) 1 2) 2
3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
18) Which of these is the 5th sentence of the passage?
1) 1 2) 2
3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
19) Which of these is the 4th sentence of the passage?
1) 1 2) 2
3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
20) Which of these is the 2nd sentence of the passage?
1) 1 2) 2
3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
(21-25): Replace the bold phrase to make the sentence
grammatically correct and meaningful. If the sentence is
correct as it is and no correction is required, the answer is
(e).
21. The number of vultures have dwindled because the
encroachments of human on their territory have
caused them to shun their customary breeding places.
1) have had dwindled 2) had dwindled
3) has dwindled 4) have been dwindled
5) no improvement
22. The major suspected that the Jawan was malingering in
order to going around on the arduous march
scheduled in that morning.
1) march scheduled for that morning
2) march schedule for that morning
3) march scheduled on that morning
4)march scheduling for that morning
5) no improvement
23. The opossum is impervious with the venom of snakes
in the rattle snake subfamily and thus views the
reptiles not as lethal enemies but as a food source.
1) impervious into 2) impervious to
3) impervious for 4)impervious as
5) no improvement

24. If the authorities adopt the principle whole heartedly,
the strategies cannot become successful.
1) until the authorities 2) unless the authorities
3) should the authorities
4)whether the authorities
5) no improvement
25. It’s high time we had started our journey.
1) we started 2) we should start
3) we must start 4)we can start
5) no improvement
(26-30): Read each sentence to find out whether there is
any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error,
if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that
part is the answer. If there is no error; the answer is (e).
(Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)
26) Prime Minister had distributed (1)/ a total 5100 e-
rickshaws (2)/ of which a thousand each (3)/ is meant
for Noida and Bihar. (4)/ No error (5)
27) She has been sharing (1)/ screen space with (2)/ the
cricketers (3)/ for the first time? (4)/ No error (5)
28) I have told you (1)/ I was living (2)/ with him (3)/ for
some time now? (4)/ No error (5)
29) For trading, the company (1)/ will have to produce
(2)/ a trade certificate (3)/ that is mandatory. (4)/ No
error (5)
30) The President said on Friday (1)/ he will quit (2)/ if
the judicial commission (3)/ finds evidence. (4)/ No
error (5)
QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE
Directions – (Q. 31-35): What should come in place of
question mark (?) in the following questions?
31) 






5
8
8
5
54
63
81
42
9
1)
12
219 2)
40
399
3)
37
812 4)
38
499
5) None of these
32) ?
3
8
4
5
5
2
3
3
1
2 











1)
12
47
2)
13
44
3)
17
38
4)
13
54
5) None of these
33) 3
9261262447056 
1) 658 2) 613
3) 548 4) 718
5) None of these
34) (24% of 825) + (40% of 805) + (75% of 644) =
1) 2003 2) 1003
3) 1073 4) 2013
5) 1413
35) If P X Q = 1833 and A X B = 4161, then find the
value of (AXP) + (BXQ)
1) 8645 2) 7899
3) 8941 4) 8423
5) None of these
Directions (Q. 36-40): What approximate value should
come in place of question mark (?) in the following
questions? (you are not expected to calculate the exact
value)
36) 99999 = ?
1) 540 2) 470
3) 320 4) 390
5) 410
37) (65.32)2 = ?
1) 2030 2) 3340
3) 1550 4) 3760
5) 4270
38) 87324 x 77 = ? x 55567
1) 98 2) 120
3) 145 4) 180
5) 210
39) (886 % of 333) + 1230 = ?
1) 5550 2) 4920
3) 3350 4) 5230
5) 4180
40) (9238 + 2387 + 1101)  (926 + 243 + 611) =?
1) 13 2) 18
3) 3 4) 26
5) 7
Directions – (Q. 41–45): What should come in place of
question mark (?) in the following number series?
41) 5, 6, 14, 45, 184, ?
1) 1110 2) 741
3) 885 4) 1236
5) 925
42) 180, 181, 208, 333, 676, ?
1) 1676 2) 1019
3) 757 4) 1405
5) 1188
43) 4, 9, 25, 49, 121, 169, ?
1) 219 2) 229
3) 319 4) 289
5) None of these
44) 1, 27, 125, 343, 729, 1331, ?
1) 2190 2) 2197
3) 3195 4) 1326
5) None of these
45) 7, 8, 6, 9, 5, 10, ?
1) 1 2) 2
3) 7 4) 4
5) None of these
46) Which number should replace both the question
marks in the following equation?
304
?
=
?
19
1) 74 2) 76
3) 78 4) 82 5) 84

47) What would be the simple interest obtained on an
amount of Rs. 8,500 at the rate of 11 p. c. p. a. For 7
years ?
1) Rs. 6,545 2) Rs. 7,140
3) Rs. 6,842 4) Rs, 7,437
5) None of these
48) The difference between two numbers is 43 and
their product is 1344. What is the sum of the
numbers?
1) 85 2) 88
3) 92 4) Cannot be determined
5) None of these
49) The cost of 18 pens and 12 scissors is Rs. 756. What
is the cost of 6 pens and 4 scissors?
1) Rs. 252 2) Rs. 189
3) Rs. 378 4) Cannot be determined
5) None of these
50) A number is increased consecutively two times by
25% each. The original number is actually
increased by what percent?
1) 50 2) 37.5
3) 56.25 4) 62.5
5) None of these
51) In a field 832 plants are planted in 26 rows with
equal number of plants in each row. How many
plants are there in each row?
1) 44 2) 36
3) 28 4) 32
5) None of these
52) 54 chocolates are distributed among some boys
and girls. If each boy gets 3 then each girl gets 5.
But if each boy gets 5 and each girls gets 3, 4 more
chocolates are needed. What is the number of girls?
1) 8 2) 10
3) 6 4) 12
5) None of these
53) In the Annual Examination Ramit scored 64
percent marks and Sangeet scored 634 marks. The
maximum marks of the examination are 850. What
are the average marks scored by Ramit and
Sangeet together?
1) 544 2) 567
3) 589 4) 591
5) None of these
54) The average marks in Hindi subject of a class of 54
students is 76. If the marks of two students were
misread as 60 and 77 but the actual marks were 36
and 47 respectively, then what would be the
correct average?
1) 75.5 2) 77
3) 75 4) 76.5
5) None of these
55) The average age of a woman and her daughter is 46
years. The ratio of their present age is 15 : 8
respectively. What is the daughter’s age?
1) 30 years 2) 32 years
3) 34 years 4) 36 years
5) None of these
Directions – (Q. 56–60) Study the information carefully to
answer the questions that follow–
In a college there are 800 students studying four different
courses viz. Marketing, Finance, Accounts and Retail. 20% of
the total number of students are studying Marketing. One
fourth of the total number of students are studying Accounts.
There are 210 students in Finance, remaining students are
studying Retail. Three fifth of the number of students in Retail
are girls. There are 50 boys in Marketing. 60% of the number
of students in Accounts are boys. There are 150 girls in
finance.
56) What is the total number of boys in Accounts and
number of girls in Finance together?
1) 180 2) 410
3) 230 4) 170
5) None of these
57) Number of girls in Finance is what percent of the
total number of students in Retail? (rounded off to
two digits after decimal)
1) 72.74 2) 81.65
3) 53.88 4) 65.22
5) None of these
58) In which stream is the difference between the
number of boys and girls the lowest?
1) Marketing 2) Finance
3) Accounts 4) Retail
5) Marketing and Finance
59) What is the difference between the number of boys
in Marketing and the number of girls in Accounts?
1) 20 2) 40
3) 60 4) 80
5) None of these
60) What is the respective ratio of total number of boys
to the total number of girls?
1) 18 : 23 2) 161 : 239
3) 239 : 161 4) 27 : 19
5) None of these
Directions – (Q. 61–65) Study the following graph
carefully to answer the questions that follow–
Number of Students Enrolled in Three Different Disciplines in
five Different Colleges
0
100
200
300
400
500
P Q R S T
210
360
380 400
310
345 275
300
375 410
380 350
260
450
315
B.A B.Com B.Sc.

61) Number of students studying B.A. in College S
forms what percent of total number of students
studying all the disciplines together in that
college? (rounded off to two digits after
decimal)
1) 38.64 2) 42.55
3) 40.42 4) 32.65
5) None of these
62) Number of students studying B.A. in College T
forms approximately what percent of the total
number of students studying B.A. in all the
College together?
1) 19 2) 28
3) 67 4) 77
5) 91
63) What is the respective ratio of total number of
students studying B.Sc. in Colleges S and T
together to those studying B.Com. in the
Colleges P and Q together?
1) 4:5 2) 14:13
3) 41:51 4) 153:124
5) None of these
64) What is the respective ratio of total number of
students studying B.A., B.Com. and B.Sc. in
College S ?
1)19 : 18 : 16 2) 16 : 15 : 18
3) 16 : 15: 13 4) 19 : 16 : 13
5) None of these
65) What is Total number of students studying B.Sc.
in the College P,R and T together?
1) 1755 2) 1155
3) 955 4) 1555
5) None of these
REASONING ABILITY
66. In a certain code language, ‘TULIP’ is written as
‘WVORK’. How will ‘LOTUS’ be written in that code
language?
1) QNWUW 2) QNSUW
3) QUSUW 4) WUGNQ
5) NQAUW
67. How many meaningful, English words can be
formed by using the letters E, D, R and A exactly
once? If only one word can be formed, mark P as
your answer. If no such word can be formed, mark
Q as your answer. If only two such words can be
formed mark R as your answer. If only three such
words can be formed, mark S as your answer. And
if more than three such words can be formed, mark
T as your answer.
1) P 2) Q
3) R 4) S
5) T
68. Rashmi started from her home and went 50m
towards north and then took a left turn and went
20m. Then she took a right turn and travelled
another 10m to reach Rajni’s home. What is the
distance between Rajni’s and Rashmi’s home?
1) m102 2) 80 m
3) m1020 4) m220
5) None of these
69. In a certain code language, ‘FRANCE’ is coded as
‘*%$@’ and ‘ROME’ is coded as ‘+&’. How will
‘MANNER’ be written in that code language?
1) &%$$ 2) &%$$
3) %&$$ 4) $&%$$
5) &$$%
70. How many pairs of letters are there in the word
‘BANKING’, each of which has as many letters
between them as in the English alphabet? (if
counted in both forward and backward direction)
1) One 2) Two
3) Three 4) Four
5) None of these
71. In a row of boys, Anil is fifteenth from the left end
and his brother Sunil is eighteenth from the right
end. If both of them interchange their places, Anil
becomes twenty-ninth from the left end. How many
boys are there in the row?
1) 47 2) 48
3) 46 4) None of these
5) Can’t be determined
72. If the given expression ‘A > B = C  D < E < F = G’ is
true, which of the following expressions is/are
definitely false?
1) A > D 2) B  D
3) G > E 4) All are false
5) None of these
73. Consider the following expression:
‘P < Q ? R > S > T ? V’
Which of the following symbols can be put in place of
question mark in order to make ‘P < R ‘ and ‘V < S’
definitely true?
1)  2) 
3) > 4) < 5) =
Directions (Q. 74-79): In each question below are given
two/three statements followed by two conclusions
numbered I and II. You have to take the given statements
to be true even if they seem to be at variance with
commonly known facts. Read all the conclusions and then
decide which of the given conclusion logically follows
from the given statements, disregarding commonly
known facts. Give answer
1) If only conclusion I follows
2) If only conclusion II follows
3) If either conclusion I or II follows
4) If neither conclusion I nor II follows
5) If both conclusions I and II follow
74. Statements: All boats are berries.
No brake is a belt.
All belts are boats.
Conclusions: I. No brake is a boat.
II. Some berries are belts.
75. Conclusions: I. All berries being belts is a possibility.
II. All boats being brakes is a possibility.
76. Statements: Some tables are tasty.
Some toasters are toys.
Some tables are not toys.
Conclusions: I. Some toasters are tables.
II. All tables being toasters is a possibility.

77. Statements: All coffee is cold.
Some cold are cups.
Conclusions: I. Some cups being coffee is a
possibility.
II. All cups being cold is a possibility.
78. Statements: No rack is a rod.
Some rats are red.
All red are racks.
Conclusions: I. Some red are not rods.
II. All rats are racks.
79. Statements: Some parrots are pigeons.
Some pigeons are penguins.
No parrot is pink.
Conclusions: I. No pigeon is pink.
II. Some pink are pigeons.
Directions (Q. 80-82): Read the following information
carefully and answer the questions that follow.
There are five friends – A, B, C, D and E – living on five
different floors of an apartment with the lowermost floor as
floor 1 and so on. Further, some more information is also
given:
 C cannot live on an odd-numbered floor and B cannot live
on an even-numbered floor.
 E lives on the floor which is immediately above the floor
on which D lives.
 There is only one person who lives on the floor between
D’s and A’s floor. A lives neither at the bottom nor on the
top floor.
80. Who among the following lives on the fifth floor?
1) A 2) E
3) D 4) B
81. A lives on which of the following floors?
1) Second 2) Third
3) Fourth 4) Fifth
5) None of these
82. How many floors are there between the floor on
which B and E live?
1) Four 2) Three
3) Two 4) One
5) None of these
Directions (Q. 83-87): Read the following information
carefully and answer the questions that follow:
There are eight members of a family – A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
All of them are sitting around a circular table facing the centre.
They belong to three different generations and there are three
married couples among them. Also, four of them are males and
four of them are of the opposite gender (though not
necessarily in the same order.) Further, some more
information is also given.
 The son-in-law and grandson of H are immediate
neighbours. G cannot be an immediate neighbour of her
sister-in-law.
 B, a spinster, is sitting second to the right of her
grandfather E. A and his sibling D can’t sit together.
 There are only three persons sitting between B an her
aunt D. C, a married male, cannot be an immediate
neighbour of either E or B.
 F and B are not siblings. There is only one person sitting
between C and his brother-in-law.
83. What is the relationship of C with E?
1) Father-in-law 2) Son
3) Son-in-law 4) Brother-in-law
84. What is the position of H with respect to her
granddaughter?
1) Second to the left 2) Third to the left
3) Fourth to the right 4) Third to the right
5) None of these
85. Who among the following is definitely the group of
females?
1) H G F B 2) G D B A
3) B H D C 4) G D B H
5) G D C H
86. Who among the following is sitting exactly between
G’s daughter and C’s son?
1) A’s father 2) D’s son
3) H’s husband 4) B’s father
87. How many persons are sitting between G and her
brother-in-law?
1) One 2) Two
3) Three 4) Four
88. If all the eight persons are seated in the English
alphabetical order starting with A, the position of
how many of them will remain unchanged
(excluding A), if counted in anticlockwise direction
starting from A?
1) One 2) Two
3) Three 4) Four
5) None of these
89) The positions of the first and the fourth letters of
the word PLANET are interchanged, similarly, the
positions of the second and fifth letters and the
third and sixth letters are interchanged. In the new
arrangement thus formed, how many letters are
there between the letter which is second from the
right and the letter which is fourth from the left
according to the English alphabetical order?
1) None 2) One
3) Two 4) Three
5) Four
90) The positions of how many alphabet will remain
unchanged if each of the alphabets in the word
WORTHY is arranged in alphabetical order from
left to right?
1) None 2) One
3) Two 4) Three
5) More than three
91) How many such pairs of letters are there in the
word REASON, each of which has as many letters
between them in the word (in both forward and
backward directions) as they have between them
in the English alphabetical series?
1) None 2) One
3) Two 4) Three
5) More than three
92) Writing is related to Pen in the same way as _______?
1) ‘Singing’ is related to ‘Music’
2) ‘Stitching’ is related to ‘needle’
3) ‘Dancing’ is related to ‘Exercise’
4) ‘Carpenter’ is related to ‘tools’
5) ‘Paper’ is related to ‘book’
93) If it is possible to make only one meaningful word
with the second, third, eighth and ninth letters of
the word ‘CONFLICTED’, which would be the second

letter of the word from the left? If more than one
such word can be formed, give ‘A’ as the answer. If
no such word can be formed, give ‘Z’ as your
answer.
1) A 2) T
3) O 4) N 5) Z
94) In which of the following expression will the
expression P < M be definitely true?
1) M < R > P  S 2) M  S = P < F
3) Q < M < F = P 4) P = A < R < M
5) None of these
95) In a class of 42 children, Joseph’s rank is 16th from
the top. Kevin is 7ranks below Joseph. What is
Kevin’s rank from the bottom?
1) 22nd 2) 20th
3) 19th 4) 23rd
5) 25th
96-100) Study the following information and answer the
questions given below:
Eight people S, N, R, L, M , T, O and P are sitting in a
circle facing the centre. All eight belong to different
professions – reporter, doctor, cricketer, teacher, accountant,
shopkeeper, painter and supervisor. They are not necessarily
seated in the mentioned order.
M is sitting third to the left of O. The doctor is to the
immediate right of M and M is not reporter. R is sitting fourth
to the right of P. Neither R nor P is an immediate neighbor of
M. T is a teacher and is sitting third to the right of the doctor.
The shopkeeper is sitting second to the left of the teacher. The
painter is sitting second to the left of M. S, the cricketer is
sitting exactly between T and P. The accountant is sitting
second to the right of cricketer. N is sitting third to the left of T.
96) Who amongst the following is a reporter?
1) O 2) L
3) N 4) R
5) None of these
97) What is S’s position with respect of R?
1) Third to the right 2) Second to the right
3) Third to the left 4) Second to the left
5) Fourth to the right
98) How many people are sitting between P and N
when counted in an anti clockwise direction from
N?
1) One 2) Two
3) Three 4) Four
5) None
99) Four of the following five pairs are alike in a
certain way based on their positions in the above
arrangement and so form a group. Which of the
following does not belong to the group.
1) Teacher – Painter
2) Supervisor-Shopkeeper
3) Cricketer – Reporter
4) Doctor – Accountant 5) Shopkeeper-Doctor
100) Which one of the following statements is false
according to the above mentioned arrangement?
1) N is to the immediate right of the supervisor.
2) The cricketer is third to the right of the shopkeeper
3) The doctor is sitting exactly between the supervisor
and the accountant
4) L is neither a teacher nor a supervisor
5) There are only three people between S and N
ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATION
Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.
1 C 2 B 3 D 4 A 5 A
6 D 7 B 8 A 9 C 10 C
11 A 12 C 13 B 14 D 15 A
16 B 17 D 18 E 19 C 20 A
21 C 22 A 23 B 24 B 25 A
26 D 27 A 28 B 29 D 30 B
31 B 32 A 33 E 34 E 35 C
36 C 37 E 38 B 39 E 40 E
41 E 42 D 43 D 44 B 45 D
46 B 47 A 48 A 49 A 50 C
51 D 52 C 53 C 54 C 55 B
56 E 57 D 58 C 59 E 60 B
61 D 62 A 63 E 64 B 65 C
66 A 67 D 68 C 69 B 70 B
71 C 72 E 73 E 74 B 75 A
76 B 77 E 78 A 79 C 80 D
81 B 82 C 83 C 84 B 85 D
86 D 87 C 88 C 89 D 90 E
91 B 92 B 93 A 94 D 95 B
96 A 97 A 98 B 99 E 100 C
26) Replace “is” by “were”.
27) Replace “has been” by “will be”
28) Replace “was living” by “have been living”
29) Replace “that” by “which”
30) Replace “will” by “would”
31)
40
399
5
8
8
5
9
5
8
8
5
54X
81
63
X
42
9

32)
12
47
3
8
4
17
3
7
3
8
4
5
X
5
17
3
7

33)
3
926126244X7056 
= 84 X 162  21 = 4 X 162 = 648
34) (24% OF 825) + (40% OF 805) + (75% OF 644)
= 198 + 322 + 483 = 1003
35) 1833 and 4161 are odd so their factors will also be
odd. Hence, A, B, P, Q all are odd and thus (AXP) +
(BXQ) cannot be odd. So answer is an even no.
Hence, none of these
36) )Approx(1000099999 
= 10100 = 320 approximate
37) 65.32 x 65.32 = 65.3 x 65.3 (approx)
= 4270 (approx)
38) x = )approx(120
55567
7787324


39) (886% of 333) + 1230 = ?
2950.38 + 1230 = 4180
40) (9238 + 2387 + 1101)  (926+ 243 + 611) = x
12726  1780 = 7.14
41) x 1 + 1, x2 + 2, x3 + 3, x4 + 4, x5 + 5
So answer is 925
42) Difference is (1)3, (3)3, (5)3, (7)3, (9)3
So answer is 676 + 729 = 1405

43) Squares of prime numbers
So answer is (17)2 = 289
44) Cubes of odd numbers
So answer is 133 = 2197
45) +1, –2, +3, –4, +5
So answer is 10 – 6 = 4
46)
304
x
=
x
19
X = 7619304 
47) P = 8500, r = 11%, t = 7 yrs
SI = 6545
100
7118500


48) x – y = 43
xy = 1344
numbers are 64 and 21
64 + 21 = 85
49) 18p + 12s = 756
6p + 4s = 252
3
756

50) 25 + 25 +
100
)25)(25(
50 + 6.25 = 56.25
51) 32
26
832

52) 5G + 3B = 54
Using options, we get G = 6 and B = 8
53) 64% of 850 + 634 = Total
Average
2
634544


So average = 589
54) 60  36  –24
–54
77  47  –30
So new average = 76 –
54
54
= 75
55) Ratio is W : D and total 92
15 : 8
23  92
1  4
So W = 15 x 4 = 60
D = 8 x 4 = 32
Qs. 56 – 60)
Boys Girls Total
Marketing 50 110 160
Finance 60 150 210
Accounts 120 80 200
Retail 92 138 230
56) 120 + 150
= 270
57) %22.65
230
150

58) By observing table carefully we can find the lowest
difference i.e. accounts.
59) 80 – 50 = 30
60) B : G B : G
322 : 478 so 161 : 239
61) %65.32100
1225
400

62) )approx(%19100
1660
310

63)
124
153
620
765
)QP(Com.B
)TS(.Sc.B



64) B.A (S) : B.Com (S) : B.Sc.(S)
400 : 375 : 450
16 : 15 : 18
65) B.Sc. (P) + B.Sc. (R) + B.Sc. (T)
380 + 260 + 315 = 955
66)
67) Read, Dare, Dear.
68)
4003600)20()60( 22

4000
102010400 
69)
F R A N C E R O M E
© % $ @  © + & 
M A N N E R
& % $ $  ©
70)

71)
29 + 18 – 1 = 46
72) A > B = C ≥ D < E < F = G
73)
74)
1. x
2. 
75)
1. 
2. x
76)
1. x
2. 
77)
1. 
2. 
78)
1.  2. x
79)
1. x
2. x
Q. 80– 82):
5th Floor – B
4th Floor – C
3rd Floor – A
2nd Floor – E
1st Floor – D
83– 88)
89)
P L A N E T L M N O P
N E T P L A 12 16
89) W O R T H Y
H O R T W Y
91)
R E A S O N
18 5 1 19 15 14
92) “Stitching is related to Needle”
93)
C O N F L I C T E D
NOTE, TONE
94) P = A < R < M
95) 20th
16th Top Joseph
23th Top Kevin
Kevin’s Rank from bottom = Total + 1 – Top
= 42 + 1 – 23 = 20
Q 96– 100

Latest G.K. Bytes
APRIL – 2016
1) A massive leak of 11.5 million documents from a law
firm in which country revealed how the world's
current rich people, politicians and celebrities hide
their money: Panama
2) Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr has been appointed as the
new Prime Minister of which country: Yemen
3) Where in India World’s maiden white tiger safari
was opened up: Mukundpur, Madhya Pradesh
4) ____________elected as the first woman Chief Minister
of Jammu and Kashmir: Mehbooba Mufti
5) Which famous temple of Lord Shiva in Nashik
recently decided to ban the entry of even men
devotees in the sanctum sanctorum:
Trimbakeshwar
6) India has been ranked ______ among the world's Top-
Ten largest manufacturing countries: Sixth
7) In terms of manufacturing level, which country is
ranked no. one in world: China
8) Name the country that lifted the World T-20 title in
both the men's and women's section: No country, it
was won by West Indies team which is a group of
Caribbean countries
9) Name the cricketer who was named as Player of the
tournament in the world T-20: Virat kohli
10) Who is Dr. Karan Singh, author of the book 'The
Mountain of Shiva': He is a member of Rajya Sabha
11) IAF aircrafts will take part in the prestigious 'Red
Flag' air exercise alongwith which forces: NATO
12) Where in world the prestigious 'Red Flag' air
exercise was held: Alaska
13) Where in India the Army has raised a new Gorkha
battalion comprising entirely of Gorkha troops of
Indian domicile: Sabathu, Himachal Pradesh
14) Pratyusha Banerjee, TV actress who was in news
due to her suicide, was famous for which role:
Anandi in Balika Vadhu
15) Imre Kertesz, veteran author, 2002 Nobel Literature
Prize winner, died aged 86 in Budapest. He was from
which country: Hungary
16) Popular Tennis Tournament 'Miami Open' is hosted
in which country: USA
17) ________ won the men's title in Miami Open 2016:
Novak Djokovic
18) ________ won the women's title in Miami Open 2016:
Victoria Azarenka
19) Growth of the core sector comprising of ______ infra
industries, rose to a 15-month high of 5.7% in
February: Eight
20) Which Indian State has set matriculation as
minimum qualification for contesting urban local
bodies elections: Haryana
21) The government has launched a portal ‘The Indian IP
Panorama’ to act as a single window interface for
providing information on which subject:
Intellectual property maters
22) This portal is a customised version of IP Panorama
Multimedia toolkit, developed by WIPO. What is
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
23) Germany’s Development Bank KfW has agreed to
provide loan assistance of 3750 crore rupees for the
development of metro system for which Indian city:
Nagpur
24) Heads of about 53 countries took part in the
4th Nuclear Security Summit held in ____________ USA:
Washington
25) World Autism Awareness Day was observed across
the globe on April 2. What is Autism: A serious
developmental disorder in children that impairs the
ability to communicate and interact.
26) The government has issued a new set of income tax
return (ITR) forms that require people with an
income of Rs. ______lakh and above per annum to
disclose their assets: 50 lakh
27) Which stock exchange has launched a new index
Nifty MidSmallcap 400 representing 150 midcap and
250 small cap companies: National Stock Exchange
28) The Airports Authority of India has signed an MoU
with ________ to provide scientific parameters for
construction of airports across the country: ISRO
29) Name the new interest mechanism that requires
banks to set rates based on their marginal cost of
funds rather than their average cost of funds:
marginal cost of funds-based lending rate
(MCLR)
30) India has become the world’s _______ largest spender
on defence, following a 13.1% increase in its 2016-
17 defence budget: Fourth
31) Which country is the largest spender on defence in
world: USA
32) Zaha Hadid, renowned Iraq-born British __________
passed away due to heart attack: Architect
33) Name the campaign that was launched on April 14 to
strengthen Panchayati Raj in villages, empowerment
of women and upliftment of farmers: Gram Uday Se
Bharat Uday Abhiyan
34) As per a global study, India ranks third among
countries with high number of financial Trojan
infections. What is Trojan infection: Transactions
where cybercriminals defraud customers of

online banking services
35) UNICEF launched a series of animated films, called
Unfairy Tales to create awareness about which
group of people: Refugees
36) P Susheela Mohan, renowned playback singer has
been recognized by the Guinness World Records for
which achievement: For singing the most number
of songs in Indian languages - 17,695
37) Where in India Asia's biggest telescope has been
launched: Devasthal, Nanital
38) The European Investment Bank has agreed to give
Euro 450 million towards constructing the metro
rail line in which Indian city: Lucknow
39) Faustin Archange Touadera, has been elected as the
new President of which African country: Central
African Republic
40) Name the India's first semi high speed train
launched on April 5: The Nizamuddin-Agra
Gatimaan Express
41) Which country conferred its highest civilian honour-
the king Abdulaziz Sash on the Prime Minister Modi:
Saudi Arabia
42) Govt has launched the mobile application 'Vidyut
Pravah' for what purpose: for information on 24x7
power from The States
43) The HRD ministry released first-of-its-kind NIRF for
ranking the higher education institutions. What is
NIRF: National Institutional Ranking Framework
44) As per NIRF _______ has been declared as the no. 1
management institute in the country: IIM
Bangalore
45) The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has been
placed at No. 1 in which category by NIRF: Best
University
46) As per NIRF rankings, which is the top engineering
institute of India: IIT Chennai
47) Where in India a company of Vedanta Resources set
the Guinness World Record for planting
2,08,751 saplings at a single location in less than an
hour: Mansa, Punjab
48) Nico Rosberg is associated with which sports:
Formula 1 car racing
49) Tran Dai Quang has been elected as the new
__________ of Vietnam: President
50) With which country India signed an agreement for a
new Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory (LIGO) project in India: USA
51) India’s first indigenous composite sonar dome was
launched at Goa. What is its function: It acts as
ship’s underwater eyes and ears
52) The RBI announced a 25 basis cut in which of its
policy rates: Repo Rate
53) What is the new repo rate after April 5: 6.50%
54) On April 5, RBI hiked the reverse repo rate by 25
basis points to _______ per cent: 6%
55) W.E.F. April 5, RBI has revised Marginal Standing
Facility and Bank Rate to ______ per cent: 7%
56) What is the likely impact of recent lowering of repo
rate on the rate of interest on bank loans: They may
be reduced
57) What is the likely impact of recent lowering of repo
rate on the growth prospects of the economy: Likely
to go up
58) In one of the largest private equity deals in the
industry, Blackstone Company of USA acquired a
60.5 per cent stake in Indian company Mphasis. We
are talking about which field of industry:
Information Technology
59) With a view to protect which Indian industry, the
government has extended safeguard duty of 20 per
cent on import of this product till March 2018: Steel
60) Companies with a net worth of Rs. 500 crore or
more will have to follow new Ind AS from April 1.
What is Ind AS: Indian Accounting Standards
61) With which international bank India has signed an
$100 million loan agreement to facilitate exports to
Islamic countries: Islamic Development Bank
62) World Bank has agreed to provide a $1.5 billion loan
for implementation of which national level mission:
Swachh Bharat Mission
63) Which bank has launched 'NO Queue' Mobile app to
save its customers time to avail banking services:
State Bank of India
64) Under Stand-up India scheme banks have been
asked to provide loans up to _____ crore rupees to
SC/ST and women entrepreneurs: One
65) The loans under Stand-up India may be provided
without collateral. What is collateral: No need to
offer land or building or any other security
66) Britain's Royal Mail has launched a set of special
postage stamps to mark the 400th death anniversary
of which great playwright: William Shakespeare
67) Which coal field has become the number one coal
producer in the country by producing a record
137.90 million tonne of coal in 2015-16: The
Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.
68) Which railway zone has topped in terms of largest
Freight Loading in 2015-16: The East Coast
Railway
69) Bihar has become the _________ state in the country to
ban sale and consumption of liquor: Fourth
70) In one of the largest environmental settlement in the
US history, which oil and gas company has been
asked to pay over $20 billion towards damages:
British Petroleum
71) Prime Minister of which country resigned reportedly
after his name figured in the Panama papers leak:
Iceland
72) _________ April is observed as the National Maritime
Day of India: 5th
73) The world’s first public dengue vaccination
programme was launched recently in which country:
Philippines
74) World Health Day is observed on which date: April
07
75) World Health day this year shall be focusing on

control of with disease: Diabetes
76) Nguyen Xuan Phuc has been elected as the new
Prime Minister of which country: Vietnam
77) Asian Nations Cup Chess tournament was held at
which place: Abu Dhabi
78) Name the team that won the Asian Nations Cup
Chess tournament: India
79) Govt has constituted a high-level committee headed
by former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta for what
purpose: to suggest ways to strengthen the
border protection along the border with
Pakistan
80) Govt has launched a low cost micro solar
device, Surya Jyoti for what purpose: To meet
lighting needs in areas without electricity
81) International conference on zero was hosted by
which European city: Paris
82) According to Arvind Panagariya India is close to
achieving 8% GDP growth on the back of satisfactory
progress in infrastructure development. Who is he:
Vice Chairman at Niti Aayog, India
83) Name the lady who has been named the most
powerful businesswoman in Asia by Forbes
Magazine: Nita Ambani
84) Which global body has revised its 2016 global trade
forecast downward by more than one percentage
point to 2.8 per cent: WTO-World Trade
Organization
85) Who has been elected as the new Chairman of the
National Association of Software and Services
Companies (Nasscom) for 2016-17: C P Gurnani
86) C P Gurnani is the MD and CEO of which IT company:
Tech Mahindra
87) Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson has been elected as the
new _____________ of Iceland: Prime Minister
88) The Union Health Ministry launched third phase of
Mission Indradhanush for what purpose: Universal
Vaccination Programme
89) Mission Indradhanush covers how many vaccine
preventable diseases: Seven
90) Justice (retd.) Permod Kohli has been appointed as
the new Chairman of which national level body for
employees: Central Administrative Tribunal
91) 25 Ministries and Departments of the Union
Government have joined IMPacting Research
INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) for what
purpose: To establish a single window
mechanism to shortlist research projects
92) Name the country’s first train with CCTV cameras in
all coaches: Shan-E-Punjab Express
93) Hindus in north India observed April 8 as the
beginning of their traditional new year. Can you
name the year: Vikram Samvat 2073
94) In Andhra and Karnataka, April 8 was observed as
________ festival: Ugadi
95) In which Indian state April 8 was observed as Gudi
Padwa: Maharashtra
96) The first ever two day North East-ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business
Summit was hosted by which city: Imphal, Manipur
97) Name the author of the book 'A State in Denial': B G
Verghese
98) Govt has launched a tablet-based application
‘ANMOL’ that allows ANMs to enter and update data
for the beneficiaries. What is ANM: Auxiliary Nurse
Midwife
99) The Supreme Court has allowed the holding of the
NEET for medical courses across the country. What
NEET: National Eligibility Entrance Test
100) Which city hosted the first National Tribal Carnival
in India: Delhi
101) Which temple was in news due to a worst-ever
pyrotechnics tragedy claiming over 110 lives:
Puttingal Devi Temple near Kollam, Kerala
102) Govt plans to construct five lakh irrigation ponds
under which scheme: Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchai Yojana
103) Summit of the foreign ministers of the G-7 countries
was held at ______________ Japan: Hiroshima
104) Britain's Anthony Joshua created history in which
field by holding the Olympic super-heavyweight
crown (2012) and a version of the world
heavyweight title simultaneously: Boxing
105) Malaysian Open Badminton title was won by Lee
Chong Wei of which country: Malaysia
106) "Advantage India - From Challenge to Opportunity"
is a book written by one of the ex-Presidents of
India. Can you name him: APJ Abdul Kalam
107) 9th season of the popular Indian Premier League
opened on April 9 in __________ in Mumbai:
Wankhede Stadium
108) Name the winner of the FBB Femina Miss India
World 2016 contest: Priyadarshini Chaterjee
109) In the abbreviation FBB Miss India World, FBB
stands for what: Fashion at Big Bazaar
110) Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of which country
was in news as he resigned from his post: Ukrainian
111) Name the Indian city which hosted National
Badminton Championship: Chandigarh
112) 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on the Tiger
Conservation was held in __________on April 12: New
Delhi
113) For which city in Maharashtra, in a first in the
history, a train was used to supply 25 lac liters of
water: Latur
114) A portal was launched in New Delhi for for
registration and allotment of ISBN. What is the full
form of ISBN: International Standard Book
Number
115) __________ has become the first state to pass land title
bill for verification of land records: Rajasthan
116) A statue of which Indian Maharaja will be installed
in France's Saint-Tropez town in September this
year: Maharaja Ranjit Singh
117) Who has been named as the brand ambassador of
the Skill India Campaign: Sachin Tendulkar

118) Danny Willett who won the US Masters Golf
Championship for the year 2016 is from which
country: Britain
119) Why World Homoeopathy Day is observed on 10th
April: It is the birthday of Dr. Samuel
Hahnemann, a German Physician who developed
system of Homoeopathy
120) To which country India has offered to invest up to
$20 billion in new petrochemicals, fertiliser and LNG
facilities and sought land and cheaper natural gas for
this: Iran
121) Saraswati Sammaan is given for excellence in
literature in which language: Any language
recognized by Indian constitution
122) Poet and novelist Padma Sachdev won Saraswati
Sammaan for her autobiography ‘Chitt-Chete’
written in which language: Dogri
123) Union government plans to lay more emphasis on
promoting MICE tourism in India. What is MICE:
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events
124) Asian Kho-Kho championship was held at which
place in India: Indore, Madhya Pradesh
125) Which country won both, men’s and women’s title of
Asian Kho-Kho championship: India
126) The First Maritime India Summit was hosted by
which city in India: Mumbai
127) For the first time, United Nations observed the birth
anniversary of which great Indian leader at its
headquarters: Dr. B R Ambedkar
128) Which European country has offered to help in
‘Namami Gange’ project for cleaning of Ganges like
their rivers Rhine and Danube: Germany
129) The fire services day is observed on which day of
April: 14th
130) In Tamil Nadu side, April _____ is celebrated as
Puthandu: 14th
131) In which state people celebrate Vishu festival on
April 14th to mark beginning of their new year:
Kerala
132) As per a recent World Bank report, which country
received largest amount of inward remittances in
2015: India
133) Which country conferred its highest civilian honour
upon Former Army Chief General(retd) J J Singh:
France
134) A study of 50 nations for investment and
deployment of Information and Communications
Technology has placed which country at top: USA
135) India has successfully tested its K-4 ballistic missile.
What is the launch pad of this missile: Submarine
136) India has decided to become a formal member of the
regional group SAWEN for what purpose: For
combating wildlife crime and illegal trade
137) What is the full form of SAWEN: South Asia Wildlife
Enforcement Network
138) Airtel M Commerce Services Limited (AMSL) has
been granted the India’s first _________ bank license
by RBI: Payment
139) Which National Institute of Technology in India has
developed the fastest super computer 'Param
Kanchenjunga': Sikkim
140) The recently launched E-National Agriculture
Market covers agriculture markets from how many
states: Eight
141) Volodymyr Groysman has been elected as the new
Prime Minister of which country: Ukraine
142) Which tiny South Pacific island nation has become
the 189th member of the IMF and the World Bank:
Nauru
143) India has finalised the deal to purchase 36 ________
fighter jets from Dassault Aviation of France: Rafale
144) Jharkhand govt launched the Bhimrao Ambedkar
Awas Yojana for construction of houses for which
category of persons: Widows
145) Which town in south-western island of Kyushu in
Japan was devastated by several rounds of
earthquake tremors:
Kumamoto
146) Which country in South America continent was
shaken by several rounds of severe earthquake,
claiming over 654 lives: Ecuador
147) Monte Carlo Masters championship is associated
with which sports: Tennis
148) Monte Carlo Masters 2016 was won by which tennis
star: Rafael Nadal
149) Adil Jal Darukhanawala, a veteran automobile
enthusiast has written a coffee table book recently
about which famous auto company: Mercedes -
Benz
150) Friends in Wild Places is a recent book written by
which famous author: Ruskin Bond
151) Which Indian bank got the first loan of $ 250 million
from the newly established BRICS New Development
Bank: Canara Bank
152) In a study of 50 cities conducted by the IT firm Dell -
‘Future-Ready Economies Model’, city of San Jose
was ranked no. 1. Where is this city: California, USA
153) Which wing of Indian forces conducted its major war
exercise named ‘Shatrujeet’ (winning the enemy):
Army
154) Where in India the army conducted its war exercise
'Shatrujeet': Thar Desert of Rajasthan
155) Satyanand Munjal, a great philanthropist and
industrialist, passed away in Ludhiana, Punjab at the
age of 99. He was the co-founder of which industrial
group: Hero Cycles
156) The annual Spring Meeting of the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank was held at
which city in USA: Washington DC
157) World Hemophilia Day is observed on April 17.
Hemophilia is what type of ailment: Non-clotting of
blood
158) Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is associated with which
sports: Hockey
159) City of Ipoh hosted the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in
which country: Malaysia

160) What was the rank of India in Sultan Azlan Shah
Cup: Second
161) Which country won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup by
beating India: Australia
162) Name the girl from Agartala, Tripura who created
history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to
qualify for the Olympics: Dipa Karmakar
163) Name the gymnastic feat preformed by Dipa
Karmakar as it is one of the extremely difficult and
most dangerous form: Produnova vault
164) ________ of Germany won the Formula One Chinese
Grand Prix in Shanghai: Nico Rosberg
165) Women's title at the Singapore Open Badminton
Championship was won by Ratchanok Intanon. She
is from which country: Thailand
166) Men's title at the Singapore Open Badminton
Championship was won by Sony Dwi Kuncoro of
which country: Indonesia
167) The Forbes list of top 30 Global Game Changers is
topped by Marcs Benioff. Who is he: CEO of
Salesforce.com
168) Name the Indian who has been ranked third in the
Forbes list of top 30 Global Game Changers: Rahul
Bhatia of Inter Globe Enterprises
169) Which Indian IT major has been slapped a $940
million fine by a US grand jury: Tata Consultancy
Services (TCS)
170) World Heritage Day is observed all over the world
on which date: 18 April
171) Govt has released a Commemorative Coin of 200
rupees and a Circulation Coin of 10 rupees to mark
the 200th Martyrdom Day of Tatya Tope. Who was
he: A war hero of 1857 war of Independence
172) The 13th Islamic Summit Conference was held
in________, Turkey: Istanbul
173) IMF and world bank have joined hands with the
United Nations and OECD for improvement of tax
systems world over. What is OECD: Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development
174) ________ has been declared the Laureus Best
Sportsman of the year: Novak Djokovic, Serbia
175) ________ has been declared the Laureus Best
Sportswoman of the year: Serena Williams, USA
176) Which sports team won the Laureus Best Sports
Team of The Year Award: New Zealand's Rugby
World Cup-winning team
177) Name the Silicon Valley’s veteran adviser, mentored
of Steve Jobs, Larry Page, who died recently: Bill
Campbell
178) India, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed for joint
work on development of Chabahar port in which
country: Iran
179) With which country India has signed an MoU on
cooperation in the field of traditional system of
medicine and Homoeopathy: Mauritius
180) The ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ programme has been
extended to additional 61 low CSR districts. The
term CSR stands for what: Child Sex Ratio
181) Doris Roberts, the popular TV actress of the popular
TV soap Everybody Loves Raymond, died at the age of
90. She was from which country: USA
182) On which issue High Court of Uttrakhand made a
terse observation, “People can go wrong, be it the
President or the judges.”: Imposition of President
Rule in the Uttrakhand state.
183) Which famous temple was in news for depositing
1,311 kg of gold in a public sector bank under Gold
Monetisation Scheme?: Tirupati Balaji Temple,
Andhra Pradesh
184) As per the 2016 ‘World Press Freedom Index’, which
country enjoys the number one position for the
functioning of journalist: Finland
185) As per the 2016 ‘World Press Freedom Index’, what
was the rank of India: 133rd
186) Scientists have reported that over 90 per cent of the
Great Barrier Reef has been damaged by mass
bleaching. It is in which country: off the Australian
coast
187) Name the East Asian country where both, new
President and the Prime Minister were elected
recently: Laos
188) Government has decided to merge the Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Abhiyan with which other programme: ‘Khelo
India’
189) Rahul Johri has been appointed as the first Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of which major Indian sports
body: BCCI- Board of Control for Cricket in India
190) Which international organization has released the
World Development Indicators aimed at measuring
the performance of the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) set by UNO: World Bank
191) As per the latest World Malaria Report from WHO,
________ has become the world’s first region to wipe
out malaria with zero cases reported last year:
Europe
192) Idriss Deby was elected for the 5th time as the
President of Chad. Where is this country: Central
Africa
193) Which day is observed as the Earth Day all over the
world: April 22
194) What is the theme for the Earth Day this year: Trees
for the Earth
195) Victoria Wood, popular comedian, singer and writer
died at 62 after “a short but brave” battle with
cancer. She hailed from which country: United
Kingdom
196) Name the leading Bollywood actress who has been
named by Time magazine in its list of the '100 Most
Influential People in the World': Priyanka Chopra
197) Civil servants all over India observe April 21 as
________ day to re-dedicate and re-commit themselves
to the cause of the people: Civil Service Day
198) Why April 21 has been selected as the Civil Service
Day: On this day in 1947, Sardar Patel addressed
the first batch of Indian civil servants
199) The Olympic Torch for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics
was ceremoniously lighted at the Temple of Hera in

which place: Ancient Olympia, Greece
200) The Rio Olympics beginning on August 5 will be the
____ edition of modern Olympic games: 31st
201) A statement by Amitabh Kant says that India will be
free of BPL population by 2032, attaining a growth
of 10%. Who is he: CEO of Niti Aayog
202) Rogers Nelson, pop music superstar, popularly
known as _________ in USA, died aged 57: Prince
203) Which Indian city is the host for the popular
religious event Simhastha Kumbh: Ujjain, Madhya
Pradesh
204) Simhastha Kumbh is being held in Ujjain on the
banks of which river: Kshipra
205) As per a report by The Financial Times Limited,
which country in world received highest FDI in
2015: India
206) Where in world, representatives of 175 nations
signed the historic Paris Climate Agreement: New
York
207) The Paris Climate Agreement aims at limiting global
temperature rise to well below ____ degrees Celsius,
and to strive for ______ degrees Celsius: 2, 1.5
208) How many prominent persons were recently
nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President: Six
209) Name the famous Malayalam actor who has been
nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP: Suresh Gopi
210) England and several other parts of the world are
celebrating 400th death anniversary of a legendary
playwright. Can you name him: William
Shakespeare
211) What is the popular other name for the William
Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon
212) Name any two famous master pieces written by
William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet
and Hamlet
213) Name the world’s oldest-serving royal and the
longest lived monarch who turned 90 on April 21:
Queen Elizabeth II
214) The Department of Disinvestment has been renamed
as Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management or 'Dipam'. It is in which ministry:
Union Finance Ministry
215) Name the veteran British movie director, director of
four hugely popular James Bond films, who passed
away at the age of 93: Guy Hamilton
216) Clement Mouamba has been appointed as the new
Prime Minister of which African country: Republic
of Congo
217) Barcelona Open Tennis Championship was held in
which country: Spain
218) Name the tennis star who won the Barcelona Open
Tennis Championship: Rafael Nadal
219) With which country India launched a $1 trillion
Potential Solar Programme under the International
Solar Alliance: France
220) Name the India’s first online interactive heritage
portal launched recently: Sahapedia
221) Which UN agency organizes activities for promotion
of World Book Day on April 23: UNESCO
222) Japan has become fourth country in world to
successfully test its first stealth fighter jet – X 2.
What is stealth technology: Ability to avoid
detection by Radar
223) Poornimaben Pakvasa, great social worker
from________, known for her exceptional work
towards educating tribal girls, passed away at the
age of 103: Gujarat
224) Which city has been selected for hosting 2018
Commonwealth Judo Championships in India:
Jaipur
225) An Economist in the Real World is a book written by
Kaushik Basu. Who is he: Chief Economist at World
Bank
226) Govt has lowered the interest rates on EPF for 2015-
16 to ______ per cent: 8.7
227) On which day of April the World Malaria Day is
observed across the world: 25th April
228) With which country Indian navy held a joint exercise
named CORPAT - 2016: Thailand
229) What is the full form of the word CORPAT:
Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai)
230) Which global organization supports the celebration
of the World Intellectual Property Day on April 26:
WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization
231) The joint army training exercise, titled ‘Nomadic
Elephant - 2016’ was held between which two
countries: India and Mongolia
232) Scientists at which Indian organization have
developed the world's lightest ever synthetic
material called ‘silica aerogel’: Vikram Sarabhai
Space Centre
233) Govt. has decided to increase minimum wages of
contract workers to Rs. _________ at the national level:
10,000/-
234) ADB has agreed to give a loan of $300 million for
upgradation of 400 kms of major district roads in
which state: Uttar Pradesh
235) Which country has ordered a two-day working week
for public sector workers as a temporary measure to
help it overcome a serious energy crisis: Venezuela
236) Government has decided to sell 11.36% shares in
NHPC Ltd to raise about Rs 2,700 crore. Write full
form of NHPC: National Hydroelectric Power
Corporation
237) ICGS Shoor is what type of ship inducted in the
Indian coast guard: Offshore patrol vessel
238) Union Sports Ministry has decided to provide one
lakh rupees per month to sportspersons preparing
for Olympics under TOP Scheme. TOP stands for
what: Target Olympic Podium
239) Govt has set up a committee headed by Ashok
Dalwai, for what purpose: To suggest ways to
double farm incomes by 2022
240) The government has made it mandatory that no
mobile can be sold in India without an in-built
________button, starting January 1, 2017: Panic

MARCH – 2016
241) Indigo —Selected Stories is a collection of stories by
which famous film maker: Satyajit Ray
242) 88TH Oscar Awards, 2016 were held in which city of
USA: Los Angeles
243) The Oscar for the best director was won by the film
‘The Revenant’. Name the director: Alejandro
Iñárritu
244) Film ____________ won the 2016 Oscar for the best
feature film: Spotlight
245) The Oscar for the best actor has been won by
___________ for the film ‘The Revenant’: Leonardo
DiCaprio
246) Gurmeet Singh and Khushbir Kaur won the gold in
the national championship for which event: Race
Walking
247) The National Race Walking Championships was held
at which place: Jaipur
248) According to Forbes’ annual ranking of billionaires,
__________ has been ranked at No. 1 in the world with
a net worth of $75 billion: Bill Gates
249) __________ has been declared as the world’s number
one airport in its category by the Airports Council
International: Indira Gandhi International
Airport, Delhi
250) Hashim Thaci has been elected as the President of
Kosovo. Where is Kosovo: In southeastern Europe
251) Rahul Sachdev recently won the all India
championship in which event: Snooker
252) Defence Ministry has issued an order worth Rs
22,000 crores for purchase of Chinook and Apache
helicopters from which country: USA
253) What type of helicopter is CH-47 Chinook: Heavy
transport
254) What type of helicopter is AH-64 Apache: Multirole
Attack
255) Vinod Rai, Former Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) was in news recently for what reasons: He
has been appointed as the first Chairman of
Banks Board Bureau
256) What is the basic objective of the newly formed
organization Banks Board Bureau: To approve the
appointment of banks’ top executives and
improve their governance
257) Stanislas Wawrinka of ___________won the Dubai
Tennis Championships title: Switzerland
258) Kumarimuthu, famous Tamil ______ actor died in
Chennai: Comedy
259) On which date we celebrate National Science Day:
Feb 28
260) The National Science Day is observed on Feb 28 as
on this day discovery of __________ was made in 1928:
Raman Effect
261) Name the Indian scientist who won the Nobel prize
for discovery of Raman Effect: Sir C. V. Raman
262) ________ has been declared as the first digital state of
India for achieving digital connectivity of all villages
and panchayats: Kerala
263) India’s largest heritage conservation project -
Muziris Heritage Project is located at which place:
Trissur, Kerala
264) Martin Crowe, one of the greatest batsman of New
Zealand was in news for what reasons: He passed
away
265) Govt. has launched _________ project to make all
national highways free of railway crossings by 2019:
Setubharatam
266) The UGC has asked varsities and colleges to launch a
special page on their websites for checking
discrimination against which category of students:
SC/ST students
267) RBI has plans to start new kind of Account
Aggregator NBFC for what purpose: to help people
view their accounts across financial institutions
in a common format
268) Name the former Lok Sabha Speaker and co-founder
of the Nationalist Congress Party who passed away
recently: P A Sangma
269) Which Indian car has achieved cumulative sales of
three million units in the Indian market: Maruti
Alto
270) What was the name given to the two day meet of
public sector banks and insurance companies and
other financial institutions with the government
officials held at Gurgaon: Gyan Sangam
271) Which Union Ministry organized The Raisina
Dialogue, a project to explore prospects and
opportunities for Asian integration: Ministry of
External Affairs
272) Name the mega military exercise that was held
jointly by Indian and armies of ASEAN countries:
Force 18
273) Mega military exercise Force 18 was held at which
place: Pune, Maharashtra
274) World Bank has agreed to grant $ 300 million loan
for the Higher Education Quality Improvement
Project in which state: Madhya Pradesh
275) In a recent study of energy effectiveness of the
countries, India was placed at 90th rank. Which was
the best country: Switzerland
276) Name the veteran actor and film maker who has
been awarded Dada Saheb Phalke Award – 2015:
Manoj Kumar
277) Manoj Kumar is popularly famous as _______ Kumar:
Bharat
278) What is the amount of cash prize given to the winner
of Dada Saheb Phalke Award: Rs. 10 lac
279) Col C K Nayudu Trophy is associated with which
sports: Cricket
280) ___________ won the 2016 C K Nayudu trophy:
Mumbai
281) Finals of C K Nayudu trophy were held in ___________,
Madhya Pradesh: Indore
282) ____________ hosted the UCI Track Cycling
Championship 2016 : London
283) Assembly elections will be held in April and May in

_______ States and _____ UT: Four, One
284) Name the only UT in which Assembly elections will
be held in April: Puducherry
285) Out of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal
and Assam, in which state Assembly elections have
not been announced: Karnataka
286) Indian shooter ___________clinched the 50m pistol
gold at the ISSF World Cup in Bangkok,Thailand: Jitu
Rai
287) World’s costliest railway station was opened to
public on March 3 in which city: New York
288) ‘Who Was Shivaji’ is a book written by which author:
Govind Pansare
289) The United Nations has decided to set up 20 ‘Blue
Dots’ in Europe for what purpose: As child and
family support hubs for refugees
290) Which two UN organizations have been given the
task of lookin after of ‘Blue dots’: UNHCR and
UNICEF
291) On March 03 we celebrate which day associated
with the wild animals: World Wildlife Day
292) Which animal is the main focus of 2016 World
Wildlife Day: Elephant
293) Which UN body organizes the Zero Discrimination
Day on March 1 across the world: UNAIDS
294) What is the full form of UNAIDS: The Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
295) P K Nair, a noted film scholar died on March 4. He
was specialist in which field: Film Archivist
296) India observes National Safety Day on March 04 to
promote which aspect of life: Safety awareness
among people
297) Uridashi Masala Bonds are issued in which country:
Japan
298) Which Indian state has taken first of its kind
initiative by launching the Air Ambulance in the
state: Kerala
299) Ray Tomlinson, a veteran IT expert of USA passed
away recently. He is known for invention of which IT
application: E-mail
300) ___________ in Malaysia hosted the World Table Tennis
Team championship: Kuala Lumpur
301) Which country won the both, men’s and women’s
category in the World Table Tennis Team
championship: China
302) __________ won the Asia Cup T20 trophy for a record
sixth time: India
303) Pat Conroy, a popular novelist who died recently
was from which country: USA
304) National Conference of Women Legislators held
in___________ from March 5 to 6: New Delhi
305) Which country has agreed to promote three Indian
as smart cities: Germany
306) Germany has assured help for promoting which 3
cities as smart city in India: Kochi, Bhubaneswar
and Coimbatore
307) Air India on March 6 flew the “world’s longest” all-
women operated and supported flight, nonstop,
from New Delhi to____________, USA: San Francisco
308) In terms of women occupying top positions in
business in 36 countries, what was India’s rank: 34th
309) __________ occupies the top spot in terms of women
occupying top positions in business: Russia
310) Name the former world number one tennis star who
failed a drugs test at the Australian Open: Maria
Sharapova
311) Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur is one of the top
civil honour of which country: France
312) Name the Indian industrialist who has been
honoured with Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur:
Anand Mahindra, CMD
313) Pro Kabaddi League Season 3 was won by
_________beating the U Mumba team: Patna Pirates
314) International Women's Day was observed across the
world on which date: 8 March
315) _________ is the first bank to get the licence for the
small finance bank: Capital Local Area Bank Ltd.
316) India’s first Small Finance Bank-Local Area Bank Ltd.
is based in which part of India: Jalandhar, Punjab
317) Govt has launched the new ____ colour scheme for re-
classification of industries based on the Pollution
Index (PI) scores: Four
318) In the context of score on pollution index, ______
colour shows the highest level of pollution: Red
319) In the context of score on pollution index, ______
colour shows the lowest level of pollution: White
320) In a recent survey of 133 cities for cost of living,
which two Indian cities figure among the most in
expensive cities: Bengaluru and Mumbai
321) ___________won the Asian Billiards Championship held
at Colombo, Sri Lanka: Dhruv Sitwala
322) The RBI has signed a pact with Bank of __________ for
exchange of information pertaining to banking
supervision: Israel
323) Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the Enemy
Property Act, 1968. It relates to properties of which
persons: People who became Chinese or
Pakistani nationals, after leaving India in the
wake of wars fought with these countries
324) ISRO launched IRNSS – 1 F satellite for what
purpose: To provide GPS facility
325) Indian GPS system-IRNSS is a setup of _________
satellites: Seven
326) India signed its biggest ever overseas credit line,
extending $2 billion loan facility to which country:
Bangladesh
327) Which Indian bank will look after the $2 billion loan
line to Bangladesh: Exim Bank
328) Scott Kelly who returned to earth on March 1,
completing 340 days stay in space, created which
record: American with longest stay in space
329) As per new rules, unreserved train ticket for
travelling upto 199 kms will no longer be valid after
_____ hours of purchase of the ticket: Three
330) India has signed an agreement with ________for
avoiding double taxation of income from

international air transport: Maldives
331) The first-ever auction of a gold mine in the country
was held in Baghmara. It is in which state:
Chhattisgarh
332) India’s first gender park has been started in which
state to promote the participation of women in
development: Kerala
333) __________ has become the first state in the country to
launch the HPV vaccine as a public health
programme for school children: Delhi
334) What is the full form of HPV: Human Papilloma
Virus
335) March ___ is commemorated as National Security
Day to praise the work of security forces: 4
336) Ahmed Abul Gheit, veteran Egyptian diplomat has
been named as new Secretary General of which
international body: The Arab League
337) Irani Cup is associated with which sports: Cricket
338) Irani Cup 2016 was lifted by __________ team by
beating Mumbai: Rest of India
339) Govt. has launched Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana
for what purpose: To provide free LPG
connections to women in BPL households
340) Justice __________ Chauhan has been appointed as the
chairperson of the 21st Law Commission: Balbir
Singh
341) What is the purpose of setting up the law
commission: To review the existing laws for
improvement
342) India signed a MoU with ___________on cooperation for
prevention of human trafficking: Bahrain
343) Govt has announced the ________ scheme for the LED
based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme: Ujala
344) What is full form of UJALA: Unnat Jyoti by
Affordable LEDs for All
345) High Court of which state is celebrating 150 years of
its existence: Uttar Pradesh
346) __________ High Court is celebrating 150 years of its
existence: Allahabad
347) India hosted a three-day conference in ____________
with International Monetary Fund from March 12 to
14: New Delhi
348) Lok Sabha passed the Aadhaar Bill on March 11 with
what objective: To provide a legal back up to the
usage of Aadhaar card for various social welfare
schemes
349) The government has decided to invest Rs 69,575
crore towards increasing India’s quota in which
international organization: IMF-International
Monetary Fund
350) Garuda Shakti was the joint army training exercise
between ________ and India: Indonesia
351) Garuda Shakti joint military exercise was hosted by
which country: Indonesia
352) Govt. has started which new technological initiative
for primary health care in four states: Healthcare
ATMs
353) George Henry Martin, popular as the "Fifth Beatle",
passed away in England. He was a prominent figure
from which field: Music
354) Name the bill recently passed by the Parliament that
aims to protect house buyers from the widely
prevalent opaque and fraudulent practices in the
real estate sector: Real Estate (Regulation and
Development) Bill, 2015
355) What is the name of the online service launched by
the railways to facilitate passengers for cleaning of
their coaches: Clean My Coach
356) Railways have signed a contract to supply 18 Meter
Gauge 1350 HP Diesel Electric Locomotives to which
country: Myanmar
357) The one million dollar prize for innovative teaching-
Global Teacher Prize has been won by Hanan Al
Hroub. She is from which country: Palestine
358) Santosh trophy is associated with which sports:
Football
359) Santosh Trophy 2016 was won by _________ team:
Services
360) All England Open Badminton Championship was
hosted by which city in UK: Birmingham
361) ___________ of China won the All England Open
Badminton Championship: Lin Dan
362) Government has recently allowed women to be
inducted as officers in combat roles into which
paramilitary force: ITBP
363) What is the full form of ITBP: Indo-Tibetan Border
Police
364) SEBI has disallowed which type of borrowers from
making a public issue or acquiring another listed
entity: Willful defaulters
365) Indian army successfully test-fired indigenously
built nuclear-capable Agni-I ballistic missile. What is
its range: 700 kms
366) Golden City Gate Award is given for excellence in
which field: Tourism
367) Which Indian body won the Golden City Gate Award-
2016: Kerala Tourism
368) Union Ministry of _________ will host ‘Maritime India
Summit’ at Mumbai from 14 to 16 April: Shipping
369) 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves was held
at Lima in ______from 14-17 March: Peru
370) Union Ministry of Tourism has launched the
‘Paryatak Mitra’ (tourist’s friend) programme to
enroll which category of persons: NCC/NSS College
Students
371) ________ elected as the first civilian President of
Myanmar to lead the country after 53 years of
military rule: Htin Kyaw
372) ExoMars 2016, an unmanned spacecraft has been
launched jointly by Europe and Russia for what
purpose: To study the Mars' atmosphere
373) FSSAI has launched the 'Clean Street Food Project' in
Delhi to sensitise the street food vendors about
health and hygiene aspects of food. What is FSSAI:
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
374) World's first fully electric double decker bus service

has been launched in which international metro:
London
375) Governor of the Central Bank of which country
recently resigned as the bank's account in USA were
hacked causing a loss of over $100 million:
Bangladesh
376) In which country an Indian-origin Sikh has become
the Police Commissioner of its capital: Malaysia
377) Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography is a book
written by which author: Pramod Kapoor
378) Chameli Devi Jain Award are given for excellence in
which field: Journalism by women
379) Which bank has launched a contactless mobile
payment solution ‘Touch & Pay’: ICICI Bank
380) What was the theme of this year's World Consumer
Rights Day: Antibiotics off the Menu
381) The World Consumer Rights Day is observed across
the globe in March on which date: 15
382) World Kidney Day is observed globally on which
date: March 10
383) The 59th Session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs
was held in________, Austria: Vienna
384) Which global prize is famous as Nobel for
Mathematics: Abel Prize
385) Abel prize is given by which country: Norway
386) In a study of 156 nations in the World Happiness
Report 2016, India has been ranked as ________ place:
118th
387) As per the World Happiness Report 2016 which
country is the happiest in the world: Denmark
388) Indian Air Force conducted its biggest fire power
combat exercise at Pokhran in Rajasthan on March
18. What was its name: Iron Fist 2016
389) The Pope Francis, religious chief of Christians, has
announced to confer Sainthood on the social worker
who spent 45 years serving the poor and sick on the
streets of Kolkata. Name her: Mother Teresa
390) Name the hospital that bagged the top government
award ‘Kayakalp’ for best hospital cleanliness and
infection control, winning a prize money of Rs. 5
crore: PGIMER, Chandigarh
391) Michelle Yeoh has been appointed as United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill
Ambassador. Who is she: Famous action heroine of
Malaysia-China
392) Name the American actor and activist who has been
appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the
UNFPA: Ashley Judd
393) What is the full form of UNFPA: United Nations
Population Fund
394) The India Aviation 2016, an international exhibition
and conference on civil aviation was held in_______,
Telangana: Hyderabad
395) Which Indian city hosted the first meet of World Sufi
Forum: New Delhi
396) Which railway station has stood first in India in
terms of cleanliness, as per a survey conducted by
the Ministry of Railways: Surat, Gujarat
397) The Time Magazine recently described which Indian
leader as ‘Internet star’ who often uses social media
to conduct diplomacy: Narendra Modi
398) The government has reduced interest rates payable
on small savings w.e.f. April 01, 2016. Name two
small savings schemes: Public Provident Fund,
National Savings Certificate
399) __________Airport in Singapore has been voted the
World’s Best Airport for the fourth year in a row at
the 2016 World Airport Awards: Changi
400) Railways have tied up with which organization to
leverage the space technology for providing the
passenger information in all trains: ISRO
401) Name the city that hosted the 6th National
Community Radio Sammelan: New Delhi
402) Which Union Minister has been honoured with
Skoch Lifetime Achievement Award: M Venkaiah
Naidu, Union Urban Development Minister
403) Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan, eminent
_________exponent died in Kolkata at the age of 77:
Shehnai
404) Parsi Zoroastrians of India celebrated their
___________festival on March 21to mark beginning of
their new year: Navroz
405) Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament
was held at ________, Switzerland: Basel
406) Name the Indian badminton star who won the Swiss
Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Tournament: H S
Prannoy
407) Who created history by becoming the first Indian
athlete to clinch a gold medal in the Asian 20 km
Race Walk Championships: Gurmeet Singh
408) Name the ace Indian golfer who won the European
Tour Hero Indian Open title in Delhi: S S P
Chawrasia
409) UNESCO has included Agasthyamala biosphere
reserve in its World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Where is it in India: In the Western Ghats
410) Which Bank has become the first bank to commence
the sale of Indian Gold Coin (IGC) in the domestic
market: Indian Overseas Bank
411) What are the three weight categories in which India
Gold Coins are available: 5, 10 and 20 gram
412) With which country India has signed an agreement
to avoid double social security contribution:
Australia
413) US President Barack Obama scripted history by
becoming first US President by visiting which
country after 88 years of strained relations: Cuba
414) March ___________ was observed as the International
Day of Happiness: 20
415) The United Nations appointed 'Red' as an envoy to
inspire climate action toward a sustainable and
happier future for all. Who is 'Red': Leader of the
"Angry Birds" mobile game characters
416) The government has relaxed FDI norms for the
insurance sector to allow overseas companies to buy
________percent stake in domestic insurance

companies without prior approval: 49
417) March 21 was observed as the ___________ day across
the world to promote the importance of forests and
trees in our lives: World Forestry Day
418) BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament was held in
California, USA. What is BNP Paribas: A
multinational bank based in France
419) March 22 was observed as the __________ day with the
theme Water and Jobs: World Water Day
420) The World Sparrow Day is observed across the
world on which date: March 20
421) Which European capital city recently was rocked by
a series of bombings at its airport and metro station:
Brussels
422) The World Meteorological day is observed on March
23 for what purpose: To spread awareness about
climate change
423) ____________reelected as the President Niger for a
second term: Mahamadou Issoufou
424) 9th International Abilympics started at Bordeaux in
France. Who are the participants in this: Skilled
persons with disabilities
425) Which Indian city will host the eighth annual summit
of BRICS from October 15-16: Goa
426) Which flower has been selected in a symbolic form
as the logo for the 8th Brics Summit: Lotus
427) _________ won the Krishi Karman Award for its
landmark achievement in showing highest
production of food grains in year 2014-15:
Himachal Pradesh
428) The government has formally withdrawn the
recognition of which Stock Exchange after it was de
recognised by SEBI: Delhi
429) Govt has launched the new drug Bedaquiline to
combat drug resistant form of which disease:
Tuberculosis (TB)
430) _______was observed as the World Tuberculosis day:
March 24
431) Subrata Roy Sahara, promoter of Sahara Group who
is in Tihad Jail, has written a book about his
experiences. What is the name of this book: Life
Mantras
432) The Girl on the Train is a famous novel written by
___________: Paula Hawkins
433) ICGS Arnvesh the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) was
recently inducted in which defence force of India:
Indian Coast Guard
434) Which country signed a MoU for construction of six
nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra: France
435) Name the govt. scheme that aims to achieve the
objective of ‘Housing for All’: Pradhan Mantri
Awaas Yojana
436) A financial assistance of Rs.__________ lakh will be
provided for construction of pucca houses to
homeless families in plain areas: 1.20
437) A financial assistance of Rs.__________ lakh will be
provided for construction of pucca houses to
homeless families in hilly and difficult area: 1.30
438) RBI has asked banks to pay interest on savings
accounts on a ______basis or a shorter duration:
Quarterly
439) Rate of interest on savings bank accounts in banks in
India is decided by which authority: Banks
themselves
440) India’s number one tractor producer, Mahindra&
Mahindra plans to launch Trringo – a digital app for
what purpose: To start online tractor rental
business
441) Which country has made a law to jail the parents
who fail to vaccinate their children: Uganda
442) Who is the only Indian leader in the world’s 50
greatest leaders list compiled by Fortune magazine:
Arvind Kejriwal
443) Name the Netherland's soccer legend who died
of lung cancer in Barcelona, Spain: Johan Cruyff
444) RuPay, the domestic card payment service provider
by NPCI plans to issue which new type of card:
Credit Card
445) Which Indian state was put under President's rule in
last week of March, 2016: Uttarakhand
446) Name the famous ancient city of Syria that was
recently recaptured by Syrian troops: Palmyra
447) ISRO has establish world's second largest
Ionospheric Radar at which place in Andhra
Pradesh: Gadanki
448) Who is the director of the film 'Baahubali' that won
the national award for best feature film: S S
Rajamouli
449) The film Bajrangi Bhaijaan won the national award
for best film in which category: Most popular film
450) Name the three countries visited by prime minister
modi in the last week of march: Belgium, USA and
Saudi Arabia
451) India has started a new direct shipping service to
Chittagong in Bangladesh from which port in India:
Krishnapatnam in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
452) The World Bank has agreed to provide $250 million
loan for improving the performance of electricity
distribution in which state: Rajasthan
453) H Deep Saini, noted Indian scholar and plant
physiologist has been appointed as the Vice
Chancellor of which global university: University of
Canberra, Australia
454) Which bank has announced an initiative called
iWork@home that uses technology to enable women
employees to work from home for an extended
period: ICICI Bank
455) The first World Culture Festival, a three-day event
celebrating cultural diversity was held on the bank
of which river: Yamuna
456) The World Cultural Festival was organized by which
organization: Art of Living
457) Lloyd S. Shapley, veteran Mathematician from USA,
winner of Nobel Prize in Economics died recently.
He was famous for which theory: Game Theory
458) Which e-retailer has been ranked as the most

trusted online shopping brand in India: Amazon
459) According to the latest figures released by the
Geneva-based World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO), ___________ is the top most
country in filling patents: USA
460) Deepika and PR Sreejesh won the Dhruv Batra
Player of the Year Award for Women and Men,
respectively, in which sports: Hockey
461) The Telecom Commission has approved which
number as a common number for emergencies such
as police, fire, ambulance, etc. all over India: 112
462) The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) and the Asian Development Bank have
signed a MoU to provide $ 848 million for which
purpose: To develop solar parks across India
FEBRUARY – 2016
463) Name the two South East Asian countries recently
visited by our Vice President: Brunei and Thailand
464) First Grand Slam of Tennis 2016 was held at which
place: Melbourne, Australia
465) _____________ won the Men’s Singles title of Australian
Open: Novak Djokovic
466) _____________ won the Women’s Singles title of
Australian Open: Angelique Kerber
467) Angelique Kerber, winner of Women’s title in
Australian Open, is from which country: Germany
468) Which Union Ministry has decided to reduce the
threshold for coverage of firms under the EPFO:
Labour Ministry
469) What is the full form of EPFO: Employees’
Provident Fund Organization
470) The threshold for coverage of firms under the EPFO
has been reduced to _________ workers from 20 at
present: 10
471) ICC has decided upon what new measures for the
safety of the umpires: They will be provided by
specially designed helmets
472) The Indian women’s cricket team made history by
clinching its maiden T20 series against which
country: Australia
473) Name the author of the book Why we love the way
we do: Preeti Shenoy
474) Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin is a
book written by which author: Anup Sardesai
475) What is the name of the book by Former President
APJ Abdul Kalam based on his spiritual experiences
with Pramukh Swami Maharaj: Transendence
476) What is the name of the indigenously developed
Light Combat Aircraft which is about to replace the
MiG fighters: Tejas Mark 1-A
477) The GDP growth for 2014-15 has been scaled down
to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.3%, by which
Government organization: Central Statistics Office
(CSO)
478) As per latest CSO data, per capita income during
2015-16 is likely to be above ________ thousand
rupees: 77
479) As per a list compiled by Wealth-X in collaboration
with Business Insider, _______ is the 2nd richest
person in India: Ajim Premji
480) Central government has selected how many cities in
the first phase for development as smart cities: 20
481) ADB will provide a $80 million loan for improving
the infrastructure in which two North-Eastern cities:
Agartala and Aizawl
482) Henri Tiphagne, founder of NGO People’s Watch was
recently awarded which international honour:
Human Rights Award
483) Human Rights Award is given by which global
organization: Amnesty International, Germany
484) A commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a
circulation coin of 10 rupees was released on the
occasion of 150th birth anniversary of which great
freedom fighter: Lala Lajpat Rai
485) 34th Senior National Rowing Championship was held
at Hussainsagar Lake in which city: Hyderabad
486) Anti-Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January in the
honour of which national leader: Mahatma Gandhi
487) Name the player who won the 83rd Senior National
Snooker Championship: Aditya Mehta
488) Which city hosted the 83rd Senior National Snooker
Championship: Indore, MP
489) Gurdeep Singh has been appointed as the Chairman
and Managing Director (CMD) of which Maharatna
company: NTPC Ltd.
490) What is the full form of NTPC Ltd: National
Thermal Power Corporation Ltd.
491) Indian railways, for the first time, has exported six
metro coaches to which country: Australia
492) Which country has produced the fifth-generation
stealth fighter jet- X-2-‘Shinshin’: Japan
493) Growth of core sector was mere 0.9% December,
2015. How many industries are there in core sector:
Eight
494) Which paramilitary force of India has appointed, for
the first time a woman as its Director General:
Sahastra Seema Bal
495) Name the newly appointed Director General of
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Archana
Ramasundaram
496) Sahastra Seema Bal looks after the security of which
part of border of India: Nepal and Bhutan
497) K Durga Prasad, a senior IPS officer has been
appointed Director General of which paramilitary
force: CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force)
498) __________ has been appointed as the Director General
of Border Security Force: K K Sharma
499) Which global social networking application recently
crossed the one billion user milestone: WhatsApp
500) Which of India’s neighbour country has agreed to
allow visa-free travel for diplomatic passport
holders of India: Afghanistan
501) MPs led by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, took
their seats in the parliament, marking end to the
military rule since 1962 in which country: Myanmar
502) President of India recently conferred the honorary

rank of General of the Indian Army to Chief of Army
of which country: Nepal
503) 61st National School Athletics championship were
hosted by which city: Kozhikode, Kerala
504) Which state won the 61st National School Athletics
championship: Kerala
505) Dial D for Don is a book written by former Police
Commissioner of Delhi. Name him: Neeraj Kumar
506) Ancestral Affairs is a book written by which author:
Keki Daruwalla
507) World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared
Public Health Emergency of International Concern
over the explosive spread of which disease: Zika
Virus
508) As per recent market reports, which is the largest
company of the world in terms of market
capitalization: Alphabet
509) 2021 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted
by _______city of Japan: Fukuoka
510) Which company has launched a 150-cc bike named
‘V’ that contains metal sourced from India’s first
aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant: Bajaj Auto
511) Men’s Singles Title in the Syed Modi International
Badminton Championships was won by which
player: Kidambi Srikanth
512) Name the veteran wildlife filmmaker who won the V
Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award: Naresh
Bedi
513) Name the Indian film that won the Best First Foreign
Film Award given by the French Syndicate of Cinema
Critics: Titli
514) D J Pandian, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat has
been appointed vice-president and chief investment
officer of which newly formed global financial
institution: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
515) Which govt organization has launched the country's
first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34 for
Diabetes type 2 patients: Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR)
516) For what purpose the Government has decided to
infuse about 5,000 crore rupees capital in the public
sector banks: To strengthen their balance sheet
for compliance of Basel III capital norms
517) Hyderabad-based biotechnology research company
Bharat Biotech has announced that it has developed
the world’s first vaccine against which major
disease: Zika Virus
518) Name the major employment scheme run by govt.
that completed 10 years in February: Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA)
519) Name the state that won the Dr BC Roy Trophy for
the National Junior Football Championship: Punjab
520) The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, led by ______, one
of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in
New Zealand on Feb 4: USA
521) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
has barred telecom service providers from charging
differential rates for data services. This is in
promotion of which concept: Net neutrality
522) Indian President and the Prime Minister inspected
one of the largest maritime events in the recent past
– the International Fleet Review 2016 at which
place: Off the Visakhapatnam coast
523) The eighth Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi to
discuss politico-security, economic and socio-
cultural engagement between the ________ and India:
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
524) Name the former UN Secretary General, the Egyptian
diplomat who became the first Secretary General
from Africa in 1992: Boutros Boutros-Ghali
525) Reserve Bank has decided to undertake which step
to check handling of customer complaints and how
banks have implemented Charter of Customer
Rights: Incognito visits to bank branches
526) Which country won the highest number of medals in
the 12th South Asian Games: India
527) India emerged number one in the 12th South Asian
Games by winning total _______ medals: 308
528) Name the ace Indian Shooter who won record six
medals in the 12th South Asian Games: Chain Singh
529) 13th SAG will be hosted by Nepal in Kathmandu in
which year: 2019
530) As per Swachh Survekshan-2016 conducted by the
Quality Council of India to rank the Indian cities on
the basis of cleanliness, _________ has been ranked no.
one: Mysuru
531) Central Bank of which major economy has imposed,
for the first time, a negative interest rate of minus
0.1 per cent for certain bank deposits placed with it:
Japan
532) BAFTA awards 2016 were given away in London on
Feb 14. What is the full form of BAFTA: British
Academy of Film and Television Awards
533) Which film won the BAFTA award for the best film:
The Revenant
534) Name the iconic football player from Brazil was in
news as Courts in Brazil issued warrants to freeze
his assets worth almost $ 50 million: Neymar
535) Supreme court has directed RBI to submit a list of
defaulter companies whose bank dues are more than
Rs. ___________ crorers: 500
536) World’s longest train route, running for 10,400 kms,
starts from and ends at which place: Yiwu (China)
and Bander Abbas (Iran)
537) What is the formal name given to this 10,400 kms
rail route: Belt and Road connectivity initiative
538) Prime Minister Mr. Modi inaugurated the Make in
India Week on Feb 13 in which city: Mumbai
539) Mr. Modi has been highlighting the 4D blessings of
Indian economy. What are these 4Ds: Democracy,
Demography, Demand and Deregulation
540) World famous Grammy Awards are given for
excellence in which field: Music
541) 58th Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 15th
February at which place: Los Angeles, USA

542) Grammy for Record of the Year was won by Uptown
Funk by which artist: Mark Ronson
543) Taylor Swift won the Grammy for the Album of the
Year. What is the name of the Album: 1989 Taylor
Swift
544) 36th National Chess team Championship was won by
the _____________in Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Indian
Railways
545) ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’ is one of the
highest civilian award of which country: France
546) Name the Indian fashion designer who was
conferred above award in February 2016: Manish
Arora
547) Lamitye 2016, the 7th joint military exercise was
conducted by Indian army with which other
country’s army: Seychelles
548) Which country hosted the ICC under–19 Cricket
World Cup-2016 : Bangladesh
549) ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup-2016 was won by
which country: West Indies
550) The three day annual World Government Summit
was hosted by which city: Dubai
551) In a survey of top 38 countries to assess the
protection of IPR, India ranked 37th. What is the full
form of IPR: Intellectual Property Rights
552) In a recent survey of countries for assessing
protection of IPRs, which country was placed at top:
USA
553) What is the title of the latest book written by Shyam
Bhatia, noted journalist: Bullets and Bylines
554) Leading gun-maker BAE Systems, the UK based
multinational company has selected which Indian
corporate as their partner for manufacturing M777
howitzers in India: Mahindra’s
555) M777 howitzer guns will be used as major weapon
by which proposed army formation: Mountain
Strike Corps
556) Govt. proposes to assign the security of which
border area to Mountain Strike Corps: Mountainous
borders with China
557) Which Indian bank has launched an exclusive ‘Japan
Desk’ as a single nodal point for Japanese
corporates: State Bank of India
558) National Arogya Fair was organized to showcase and
promote the strengths, efficacy and affordability of
the AYUSH. What is the full form of AYUSH:
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
and Homoeopathy
559) First phase of world’s largest solar power plant, with
a capacity to produce 580 mw was started in which
country on Feb 4: Morocco
560) Name the batsman from South Africa who became
the quickest and the youngest batsmen to score 10
centuries in ODIs: Quinton De Kock
561) Which global organization has released a report
called 'One Humanity: Shared Responsibility': UNO
562) India observed the first National Deworming Day on
which date: Feb 10
563) What is the objective of the National Deworming
Day: To combat parasitic worm infections among
children
564) Which deworming tablet is provided free to school
and pre-schools children who fight worm infections:
Albendezole
565) The Reserve Bank of India has released the Report of
the Working Group (Chairperson: Prof. P.G. Apte) on
which topic: Introduction of Interest Rate Options
in India
566) Name the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier which is
destined to be decommissioned in June, 2016: INS
Viraat
567) Which state has decided to convert INS Viraat into a
luxury hotel for promotion of tourism in the State:
Andhra Pradesh
568) What is the name of the 9th edition of India-Nepal
Combined Military Exercise: Surya Kiran IX
569) Surya Kiran IX military exercise was held in which
area: Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand
570) Indian and Chinese troops held their first joint
tactical exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016’’ for
what purpose: For joint operation on
humanitarian aid and disaster relief
571) Sino-India Cooperation 2016 - joint tactical exercise
was held in which part of China border: Ladakh
572) Which ministry has launched the 24x7 Toll Free
Tourist Infoline in 12 International Languages to
facilitate tourists: Union Ministry of Tourism
573) ______________ has become the first country in the
world to legally ban supermarkets from throwing
away or destroying unsold food, forcing them
instead to donate it to charities and food banks:
France
574) As per the National Air Quality Indices for 24 cities
by Central Pollution Control Board, __________ is the
city with worst air quality: Varanasi
575) Government has launched ____________for prevention
of AIDS in the 20 districts of eight North-Eastern
states: Project Sunrise
576) Indian Oil Corporation’s latest oil refinery started
production in Paradip in which state: Odisha
577) Government has decided to set up the National
Organic Farming Research Institute in which state:
Sikkim
578) Indian Army participated in the ‘Cobra Gold
2016’– the biggest multilateral military exercise. It
was hosted by which country: Thailand
579) Golden Conch Award is given for excellence in which
field: Documentary Films
580) Golden Conch Award is given at which film festival:
Mumbai International Film Festival
581) World Cancer Day was observed across the world on
which date: 4th February
582) What was this year’s theme for the World Cancer
Day: We can, I can
583) In a global survey by Brand Finance for brand
power, which Indian firm has been rated as the

World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services: TCS –
Tata Consultancy Services
584) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
has launched the BGR-34, country's first ayurvedic
drug for treatment of which major disease: Diabetes
type - II
585) In the anti-diabetic drug, acronym BGR stands for
what: Blood Glucose Regulator
586) Aruna Sethi has been appointed as the first women
head of the which all India administrative service:
Indian Cost Accounts Services
587) Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for
2015-2016 was conferred on Pandit Ram Narayan.
He is a master player of which instrument: Sarangi
588) Parameshwaran Iyer, a World Bank’s water and
sanitation specialist has been selected by the Indian
govt. to head which major national mission: Swachh
Bharat Mission
589) Which union ministry has launched its official
YouTube channel with a view to disseminate
information to the public on a real-time basis:
Finance Ministry
590) The app myCAMS has been launched for what
purpose in context of mutual fund business: To
facilitate paperless eKYC
591) Edgar Mitchell, a NASA astronaut passed away in
February in USA. What was his special achievement:
He was the sixth man to walk on the Moon.
592) National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has raised
a special squad of which animal to boost its rescue
efforts in earthquake hit areas: Dogs
593) Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai has
issued ‘Geographical Indication’ tag for which item
to 7 states in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Basmati Rice
594) The first ever Petrochemical project in entire North
East India was started in February in Dibrugarh in
which state: Assam
595) The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 will be
hosted by ________________ in June 2017: England
596) The Indian government has finally sanctioned
Rs.580 crore for the vital Agartala-Akhaura rail link
with which country: Bangladesh
597) India’s first-ever Aviation Park will come up near
Bagodara village in which state: Gujarat
598) What is the objective of setting up aviation park: To
promote special units to manufacture spare
parts for aircrafts
599) The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031 has
been unveiled by which ministry: The environment
ministry
600) __________________, India’s top golfer has been voted as
the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Year by fans in an
online poll: Anirban Lahiri
601) _______________________founded by Freedom fighter Pt
Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13th
February 2016: Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
602) World Radio Day is observed globally on 13th
February by which UN organization: UNESCO
603) What was the theme of this year’s World Radio Day:
’Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’
604) Scientists have detected for the first time, signals of
________________waves emanating from two merging
black holes 1.3 billion light years away:
Gravitational
605) Prediction about gravitational waves was made
about 100 years ago by which great scientist: Albert
Einstein
606) The gravitational waves have been discovered after
decades of research by scientists at LIGO, USA.
Expand LIGO: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-
wave Observatory
607) CEO and MD of which corporate entity have been
selected as the E&Y ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
2015 from India: Lupin Ltd.
608) U K Sinha, the Chairman of Securities and Exchange
Board of India (Sebi) was in news for what reasons:
He has been given extension for one year
609) Name the India’s first indigenously developed
lightest revolver weighing just 250 gms: Nidar
610) Name the Bollywood’s popular lyricist who made
into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing
the most number–3524 of songs for Bollywood
films: Sameer Anjaan
611) Government has launched a Rs. 10,000-crore
Electronic Development Fund for what purpose: To
promote manufacturing in the electronics sector
612) Which country launched a massive military exercise
– ‘North Thunder’ that included troops from 20
nations: Saudi Arabia
613) _____________ has been appointed as the new Chief
Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Kalikho Pul
614) Scientists have discovered five new planets having
characteristics similar to which planet in our solar
system: Jupiter
615) Name the America's celebrated novelist whose 1960
masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" was read by
millions worldwide: Harper Lee
616) Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the
International Monetary Fund was in news recently
for what reasons: She has been re-appointed for a
second five-year term
617) Amit Mitra has been appointed as the new chairman
of the Empowered Committee of State Finance
Ministers on GST. Who is he: West Bengal Finance
Minister
618) Name the New Zealand cricketer who smashed the
fastest ever Test century in just 54 balls: Brendon
McCullum
619) _____________, ace sprinter set a new national record in
the 60m dash in 7.28 seconds at the 7th Asian Indoor
Athletics Championships in Doha: Dutee Chand
620) _____________, has been appointed as the new Director
of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai:
K N Vyas
621) What is the title of the recent book by Jhumpa Lahiri:
In Other Words

622) An Economist in the Real World is a book written by
the Chief Economist of the World Bank. Name him:
Kaushik Basu
623) Who has been elected new President of Uganda, for
the fifth time: Yoweri Museveni
624) Crystal Bear Award is given for excellence in which
field: Children’s films
625) Crystal Bear Award is given in which international
film festival: Berlin Film Festival
626) Name the Indian film that won the 2016 Crystal Bear
Award: Ottaal (The trap)
627) Berlin Film Festivals top prize for the best feature
film is named as ______________: Golden Bear Award
628) The Golden Bear Award for 2016 was won by an
Italian film. What was its name: Fuocoammare
(Fire at sea)
629) The term ‘Brexit’ is very much in news these days,
particularly in Europe. What does this mean:
Britain’s Exit from the European Union
630) The women’s and men’s title in the Badminton Asia
Team Championships were won by which country:
China and Indonesia, respectively
631) The Mahamaham festival, celebrated once in 12
years, also known as Kumbh Mela of South is held at
which place: Kumbakonam
632) Kumbakonam is located in which state: Tamil Nadu
633) The book ‘Playing It My Way’ has entered the Limca
Book of Records in the category of best-selling
books, with 1,50,289 copies sold. This is the
autobiography of which person: Sachin Tendulkar
634) The Khajuraho Dance Festival, a world famous
annual classical dance festival is held in which state:
Madhya Pradesh
635) Government has launched a device developed by the
CSIR –CEERI, Pilani, Rajasthan, named ‘Ksheer-
Scanner’ for what purpose: To detect adulteration
in milk
636) The Road to Resilience, a survey of the entire Indian
coastline for promoting six coastal disaster
management projects is an initiative of which global
organization: World Bank
637) The survey of 230 cities for assessing quality of life
by the global consulting firm Mercer has placed
_____________at the top: Austria’s capital Vienna
638) Top Indian city in the Mercer survey was _______
placed at 142nd rank: New Delhi
639) Name the former Chief Justice of India who has been
appointed as the Chairman of the National Human
Rights Commission: Justice H L Dattu
640) Mobile app ‘Swachh Paryatan’ has been launched by
which ministry to promote cleanliness of prime
tourist destinations: Ministry of Tourism
641) As per a global study, India is the top importer of
arms. Which is at the 2nd rank: China
642) Parliament of ___________ has become the world’s first
parliament to run fully on solar power: Pakistan
643) RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap
arrangement to __________nations till mid-November
2017 to enhance economic cooperation: SAARC
644) The fifth edition of 'Exercise IBSAMAR' was
conducted between the navies of India and which
two other countries: Brazil and South Africa
645) What is the full form of the term IBSAMAR: India,
Brazil, South Africa Maritime
646) Government raised about Rs 5,030 crore from sale of
its 5% stake in which Maharatna PSU: National
Thermal Power Corporation-NTPC
647) Govt has decided to extend ___________visa facility to
37 more countries from Feb 26: E-Tourist
648) The Indian Navy's first locally developed nuclear
submarine _____________is now ready for full fledged
operations: INS Arihant
649) Who has been appointed as the new Director
General of the Indian Coast Guard: Rajendra Singh
650) Aryabhata award 2013, the prestigious honour by
Astronautical Society of India has been conferred
upon which scientist: Dr. Avinash Chander, former
chief of DRDO
651) Goverdhan Mehta, renowned researcher in
Chemical Sciences, has been honoured with the
prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit by which
country: Germany
652) Which Indian bank has won the Green Bond Pioneer
Award for promoting Green Infrastructure Bonds:
Yes Bank
653) _________ has been elected as the new President of
world Football body –FIFA: Gianni Infantino
654) __________won the prestigious Ranji trophy cricket
championship defeating Saurashtra: Mumbai
655) The Indian women's cricket team lead by Mithali Raj
won the three-match Twenty20 International series
3-0 against which team: Sri Lanka
656) Government plans to set up a dedicated, cross
functional team called Special Unit for
Transportation Research and Analytics (Sutra) for
improvement in which area: Railway
657) The innovative team Sutra is proposed to be headed
by which person: Ratan Tata
658) The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of
AIM and SETU in which organization to encourage
innovations and entrepreneurship in the country:
NITI Aayog
659) The acronyms of AIM and SETU stands for: Atal
Innovation Mission and Self Employment and
Talent Utilisation
JANUARY – 2016
660) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in which field:
Literature
661) Jnanpith Award is given for excellence in literature
in which language: All 22 Indian languages
approved by the Constitution
662) Name the winner of the Jnanpith Award 2015:
Raghuveer Chaudhary
663) Shri Raghuveer Chaudhary is a noted novelist of
which language: Gujarati
664) Vijay Hazare Trophy is associated with which sports:

Cricket
665) Name the team that won the Vijay Hazare Trophy for
2015: Gujarat
666) Government has announced that taxpayers with an
annual income of more than Rs. ______ lakh will not
get subsidised LPG cylinders from January, 2016:
Ten
667) Dr. Harpal Singh Kumar was conferred with
Knighthood Honour in UK for what achievement:
For his influential work on prevention and
treatment of cancer
668) Senior National Wrestling Championship was held at
which place: New Delhi
669) Bajrang Punia, Ritu Phogat and Priyanka Phogat are
the prominent players of which sports: Wrestling
670) Which is the last country to be declared free of
deadly Ebola disease by WHO: Liberia
671) Who has been named as the 'Cricketer of the Year' -
Men for 2015 by the BCCI: Virat Kohali
672) Who has been named as the 'Cricketer of the Year' -
Women for 2015 by the BCCI: Mithali Raj
673) Scientists in which country have developed a
human-like social robot named ‘Nadine’, with soft
skin and flowing brunette hair: Singapore
674) _____________ has been named as the new Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog: Amitabh
Kant
675) Haskell Wexler, an Oscar winning cinema celebrity
from USA died recently. He was from which field of
cinema: Photography
676) Which country recently launched Gaofen-4 Earth
Observation Satellite: China
677) The government has approved the signing of the
Raptor MoU for what purpose: To conserve and
reverse the decline of birds of prey such as
vultures, eagles etc
678) Dr. Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan has been appointed as
the Director General of which national organization:
National Centre for Good Governance
679) Giorgi Kvirikashvili has been elected as the Prime
Minister of which European country: Georgia
680) Rakhi Haldar and Kavita Devi won gold in their
respective weight categories at the National level in
which sports: Weight lifting
681) RBI has notified that from Feb 1, 2016 all govt
cheques will be paid through ________________system:
Cheque Truncation System
682) Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure that every
village with a population over __________ should have
a bank branch by March 2017: 5,000
683) RBI has asked SLBCs to ensure that every village
with a population over 5,000 should have a bank
branch by March 2017. What is SLBCs: State Level
Bankers Committees
684) The government has constituted a committee
headed by noted film-maker ____________ to look into
revamp of Censor Board: Shyam Benegal
685) World Bank has agreed to provide a $ 50 million
loan funding of ‘Nai Manzil' project for what
purpose: Education and Skills Training for
Minorities in BPL category
686) Name the India’s star off-spinner who was ranked as
the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings for 2015:
R. Ashwin
687) World champion Magnus Carlsen won the Qatar
Masters Open Chess Tournament. He is from which
country: Norway
688) Name the Mumbai boy who created cricket history
by scoring 1009 runs not out: Pranav Dhanawade
689) Reserve Bank has started the process of issuing
composite instructions under the title _________ on
various regulatory issues in its bid to simplify the
communication process: Master Directions
690) South Asian Football Federation Cup was won by
India by defeating which country: Afghanistan
691) South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup was
hosted by which Indian city: Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala
692) Name the important document of Chemistry which
now has its seventh row completed with the
introduction of four new chemical elements: The
periodic table of elements
693) Name the veteran Communist Party of India leader
who passed away after a long illness at New Delhi: A.
B. Bardhan
694) Which university won the overall trophy in the 76th
All-India Inter-University Athletics Championship:
Punjabi University
695) 'Anything But Khamosh' is an autobiography of
which prominent celebrity politician: Shatrughan
Sinha
696) A classy performance by which Indian cricketer in
2001 has been rated as the greatest Test
performance of the last 50 years: VVS Laxman's
697) Name the famous novel by Harper Lee that topped
the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million
copies: Go Set a Watchman
698) Bidali Neemuchwala has been appointed new Chief
Executive Officer of which IT corporate: Wipro
699) Which educational institute hosted the 103rd Indian
Science Congress: University of Mysore,
Karnataka
700) Apurvi Chandela broke the world record by earning
highest ever score of 211.2 in which event: 10
meter air rifle shooting
701) Name the indigenous stealth Anti-Submarine
Warfare (ASW) Corvette that was recently inducted
in Indian Navy: INS Kadmatt
702) _________________became the fastest film to take one
billion dollars at the global box office: Star Wars the
Force Awakens
703) Name the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister who
breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical
Sciences in New Delhi: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
704) Govt has decided to implement norms of Bharat
Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020 for what purpose:

To minimize the air pollution from vehicles
705) The counter-insurgency joint exercise ‘Shakti-2016’
was held at which place: Rajasthan Desert
706) Shakti 2016 - joint military exercise was held by
which two countries: India and France
707) Name the Indian badminton player who was
declared number one in junior men's singles
category in the Badminton World Federation (BWF)
rankings: Siril Verma
708) Which country was in news for conducting a
powerful Hydrogen bomb test in a defiant and
surprising move as there is a UN ban on testing and
development of nuclear weapons: North Korea
709) As per the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015,
_____________ has been ranked as the most generous
Indian of the year: Azim Premji
710) Golden Globe Awards are given in which country:
USA
711) Golden Globe Awards are given for excellence in
which field: Cinema
712) The Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama)
was won by which movie: The Revenant
713) With which country India has signed an agreement
for enabling people of both nations to avail
retirement benefits in each other's country:
Australia
714) International Kite Festival was held at which city in
India: Ahmadabad, Gujarat
715) India will host a joint military exercise with 18
members countries of East Asian Summit in March,
2016 at which place: Pune, Maharashtra
716) Eight Indian states have agreed to implement direct
benefit of transfer of subsidy in _________in 26
districts w.e.f. April 1, 2016: Kerosene
717) _____________has become the first state in the country
to officially accept electronic motor insurance
policies by the name ‘e-Vahan Bima’: Telangana
718) Justice (Retd) R M Lodha committee was appointed
by the Supreme Court for what purpose : To look
into the affairs of BCCI
719) Name the amputee Indian mountaineer who
conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the
highest mountain outside Asia: Arunima Sinha
720) The novel 'A God in Ruins' which won the novel of
the year prize in Britain is written by whom: Kate
Atkinson
721) ______________won the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey
tournament by beating Railways in New Delhi:
ONGC
722) From which place in India, a bus service for Nepal
was started after a gap of 27 years: Banbasa border
in Uttarakhand
723) Stand Up India Scheme has been approved by the
Union Cabinet for what purpose: To promote
entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women
entrepreneurs by facilitating easy bank finance
for them
724) Which country declined to take part in forthcoming
Under-19 World Cup Tournament in Bangladesh
citing security reasons: Australia
725) National Waterway-1 has been developed on which
river: Ganga
726) In which state an initiative ‘Wattan ko Jano’ has been
launched to familiarize the local youth with the
development of the country in other states: Jammu
& Kashmir
727) Raghuram Rajan, RBI Governor was named ‘Global
and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year
2015’ by the prestigious magazine The Banker in
which country: Britain
728) Name the senior IAS officer who has been appointed
as the new Registrar General and Census
Commissioner of India: Sailesh
729) _________________appointed as Chairman of fair-trade
regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Devender Kumar Sikri
730) 'Operation Green Hunt' refers to an all-out offensive
by India’s paramilitary forces against which group:
Naxalites
731) Govt has decided to merge the Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs with which bigger ministry: Ministry
of External Affairs
732) The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was held
on 9 January 2016 in which city: New Delhi
733) Govt has decided to change the frequency of hosting
the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to what interval: Once
in two years
734) The 11th World Hindi Day was celebrated on
__________ January 2016 in all Indian embassies
around the world to promote the usage of Hindi as
official language: 10
735) The world's largest blue star sapphire that weighs
1404.49 carats was discovered recently in which
country: Sri Lanka
736) Govt has launched Ganga Gram Yojana for what
purpose involving 1600 villages of UP situated along
the banks of river Ganga: To minimize / stop
pollution of the river from these villages
737) 'Maru Bharat Saru Bharat' is a book written by a
noted Saint of which religion: Jainism
738) RBI imposed a one crore penalty on a bank for non
reporting of data to CRILC. Write the full form of
CRILC: Central Repository of Information on
Large Credits
739) Name the star football player who won the World
Player of the Year Award - FIFA Ballon d'Or for the
fifth time: Lionel Messi
740) Name the US mid fielder who won the FIFA
Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli Lloyd
741) Naya Raipur is the capital city of which state:
Chhattisgarh
742) Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is
celebrated in India as which day: National Youth
Day
743) What was the theme of this year's National Youth

Festival: India Youth for Skill, Development and
Harmony
744) In Himachal Pradesh, the ______folk dance of Kullu
district has made a world record for the folk dance
by largest number: Nati
745) Name the new crop insurance scheme for farmers
under which the premium will be paid by Central
and state govt: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
746) As per the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana,
Farmers have to pay a token premium of ____ per
cent for Kharif, ____per cent for Rabi and _____ per
cent for commercial crops: 2, 1.5, 5
747) ___________ has become the first Indian state to
achieve 100 percent primary education (up to class
iv): Kerala
748) ____________ has become India's first fully organic
state by converting around 75,000 hectares of
agricultural land into sustainable cultivation:
Sikkim
749) __________________has become the first public sector
bank to launch wealth management service ‘SBI
Exclusif’: State Bank of India
750) As per a recent report, India sends the largest
number of engineers and scientists to which
country: USA
751) As per a UN study, people from which country are
the largest community living outside their country:
India (16 million)
752) Tsai Ing-Wen has been elected as the new President
of which country: Taiwan
753) The coveted The Hindu Prize, 2015 for best novel
has been won by Easterine Kire for which novel:
When the River Sleeps
754) Noted novelist Anuradha Roy won which prize for
her novel 'Sleeping on Jupiter': DSC Prize for South
Asian Literature
755) 'Flood of Fire' is a book written by which author:
Amitav Ghosh
756) Name the famous footballer from Britain who won
the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award
recently: David Beckham
757) Naval exercise named 'Sahyog-Kaijin 2016' was held
jointly by which two countries: India and Japan
758) World Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1071 crore
funding for the Neeranchal National Watershed
Project for what purpose: For augmentation of
various irrigation projects across the country
759) The 2015 Filmfare Award for best actor was won by
which artist: Ranveer Singh for Bajirao Mastani
760) Which film won the 2015 Filmfare award for the
best film: Bajirao Mastani
761) Name the newly launched mobile based programme
which aims to deliver 72 free weekly audio
messages about pregnancy and child care to the
beneficiary: Kilkari
762) Union Ministry of Health has launched mobile based
programme M-Cessation to help which target group:
Persons willing to quit tobacco use, through SMS
support
763) Name the anti-tank missile recently successfully test
fired by the DRDO: Nag
764) Why Army Day is observed on January 15: On this
day in 1949, Lt. Gen. (later Field Marshal) K M
Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-
Chief of the Indian Army
765) Name the rocket developed by the SpaceX company
of USA which is capable of landing back on earth:
Falcon 9
766) RBI has contributed Rs. 1000 crores for the equity of
which of its organization: National Housing Bank
767) Which is the first private sector bank to achieve the
milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore in housing loan: ICICI
768) Union Ministry of Finance released the draft report
of Justice R V Easwar (Retd) Committee for what
purpose: To simplify the provisions of Income-tax
Act, 1961
769) What is the main function of IRNSS: To provide
navigation, tracking and mapping services to the
Indian sub continent
770) The Union Ministry of Shipping has started Project
Green Ports for what purpose: To make Major
Ports across India cleaner and greener
771) What is the rank of India in the Global Talent
Competitiveness Index: 89th
772) The World Tourism Barometer report is released by
which international organization: UN World
Tourism Organization
773) Government has decided to institute which new
award category under the National Film Awards:
The Most Film Friendly State/UT
774) Name the Indian who won the New Zealand's most
popular motor race the Lady Wigram Trophy: Jehan
Daruvala
775) As per the annual global CEO survey done by PwC
for growth prospects in countries, India has been
placed at which rank: 5th
776) As per recent data release by NASA, year _______ has
been declared as the warmest year since 1880: 2015
777) In context of rising global warming, experts say the
record temperatures are due to a combination of
______ and_______: El Niño, human-induced warming
778) RBI has advised that the government will pay ______
commission to banks for attracting more gold in the
Gold Monetisation Scheme: 2.5%
779) What is the name of the new luxury super fast
express train started between Varanasi to Delhi:
'Mahamana Express'
780) Government has decided to extend the Beti Bachao
Beti Padhao scheme to 61 more districts this year.
On what basis these districts have been selected:
Districts with poor sex ratio (of girl child)
781) The dreaded Zika virus is spread by which animal:
Aedes mosquito

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782) Countries in which part of the globe have recently
suffered wide spread attack of Zika virus: Latin
America
783) The RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to Rs
3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate to which category of
self help groups: Women Self-Help Group (SHG)
784) Name the public sector undertaking responsible for
minting the India gold coins: Metals and Minerals
Trading Corporation of India - MMTC
785) What is the full form of UNCTAD: United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development
786) ________ has been appointed as the Chairman of the
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT): Atulesh
Jindal
787) Name the two major components of Direct Taxes:
Corporate Tax and Income Tax
788) The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the
Right Time - an autobiography of which noted
personality of Indian media: Subhash Chandra,
founder of Zee TV group
789) A Nuclear Security Index compiled by the Nuclear
Threat Initiative of USA for 176 countries ranks
India at which place: 21st
790) In a recent global survey, which Indian hotel has
been adjudged as the best hotel in the world: Umaid
Bhawan, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
791) A new Thrush bird found in northeast India has been
named 'Zoothera Salimalii' scientifically after which
great Indian ornithologist: Salim Ali
792) World Bank will provide $ 250 million loan to which
Indian State for the Kosi Basin Development Project:
Bihar
793) Which global report has said that India will be the
world's fastest growing large economy at 7.3 per
cent in 2016: United Nations World Economy
Report
794) ___________ has become the first ever railway station
in India to have free high-speed Internet facility:
Mumbai Central
795) Indian Railway’s telecom arm, RailTel is
collaborating with which IT giant company to
provide free wifi services in railway stations: Google
796) RBI plans to introduce new banknotes of which
denominations with enhanced security features: Rs.
100 & Rs. 500
797) Which city hosted the National Conference on e-
Governance: Nagpur, Maharashtra
798) As per a recent 'Best Country Report', _________ has
been ranked as no. 1 country: Germany
799) France has signed MoU with India for the
development of which three Indian cities as Smart
City: Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry
800) Headquarters of global body International Solar
Alliance are to be located at which place in India:
Gurgaon, Haryana
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Gyanm general awareness_JUNE_2016

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Gyanm general awareness_JUNE_2016