Current Affairs
November 19, 2013
International Affairs
1. India and Australia to hold the 3rd round of civil nuclear talks on 26-27 November to pave the way for early conclusion of the agreement.
2. Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan visits Poland's capital Warsaw today to attend the ministerial level talk on Environment.
3. Kuwait has announced it will give USD1 billion to African countries in the next five years, as dozens of heads of state meet in the country today for the third Arab-African summit.
4. The European Union (EU) is keen on concluding the long-pending negotiations for the Free Trade Pact with India by next year, Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton said today.
National Affairs
4. Prime Minister ManmohanSingh and UPA Chairperson SoniaGandhi to inaugurate India's first all-women Bharatiya Mahila Bank in Mumbai Today. It will provide services predominantly to women and SHGs.
5. The 96th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, IndiraGandhi observed today.
6. National Integration Day to be observed today.
7. Kerala govt to roll out 'She Taxi' today, a 24X7 all-women taxi service as part of its women empowerment prog and to ensure safe journey.
8. Union Railway Minister MallikarjunKharge dedicated the Kadur-Chikmagalur railway line to the people in Udupi today.
9. The 33rd edition of the India International Trade Fair IITF in NewDelhi opened for general public today.
10. Indian scientist Anil Rajvanshi gets Florida varsity award
Distinguished Indian agricultural scientist Anil K. Rajvanshi has been selected for the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the University of Florida, one of America’s leading universities.
Rajvanshi, director of the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) at Phaltan, Maharashtra, is the first Indian to receive the award.
Awards and Honors
12. Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel to be conferred with Indira Gandhi Peace Prize.
13. President PranabMukherjee presents prestigious Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Best University Award, 2012-13 to Mangalore University.
14. Renowned actress WaheedaRehman will be conferred with first Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year 2013 at IFFI2013.
Appointments
15. US President Barack Obama has nominated Indian-American Vivek Murthy for the post of Surgeon General, which a top American lawmaker described as a historic moment for the community across the country.
16. Top Indian industrialist Ratan Tata has returned as a board member of East West Centre, a prominent American think tank.
17. Indian-American actor Kal Penn has been nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama for a key post in his administration to promote arts and humanities.
Business and Economy
18. A South Korean electronics firm has sued leading global banks in New York for manipulating the foreign exchange market as regulators in several countries investigate similar allegations.
19. The Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, RBI and SEBI on a plea seeking its directions to them for a mechanism to regulate Chit Funds.
20. State-run BHEL on Tuesday said it has bagged a Rs. 1,300 crore order from NTPC for supplying equipment to the electricity generator’s Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh besides installation work.
21. Pitching for stringent corporate governance norms, apex auditor CAG today asked public sector companies to ensure that an effective vigilance mechanism is in place to prevent misdoings.
Science and Technology
22. NASA launched its unmanned MAVEN spacecraft toward Mars to study the Red Planet's atmosphere for clues as to why Earth's neighbor lost its warmth and water over time.
QUIZ with Answers
1) 4-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel created which record after he won the U.S. Grand Prix held at Austin, Texas on 17 November, 2013?
He became the first driver in F1 history to win eight consecutive victories in a single season (Vettel’s Australian team mate Mark Webber finished a close third while the second position was claimed by Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus team. The all-time record of nine wins in a row was set by Italian Alberto Ascari but over two seasons in 1952-53)
2) Market regulator SEBI on 18 November, 2013 said that a single Self Regulatory Organisation (SRO) would be put in place for the oversight of for all mutual fund distributors. SRO is expected to be selected from among which three applicants?
Institute of Mutual Fund Intermediaries (IMFI), Organisation of Financial Distributors (OFD) and Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB) (The proposal to set up an SRO to regulate the mutual fund distribution business was mooted in August 2012, while a detailed framework in this regard was approved by the SEBI board in June 2013. The deadline for submitting applications for SRO was 31 July, 2013. The decision to set up an SRO followed concerns about mutual fund distributors not being regulated and complaints against them for mis-selling products. The SRO will assist SEBI and ensure a cordial relationship between mutual fund houses and distributors)
3) Normal life was affected across Kerala by the dawn-to-dusk hartal (strike) called by LDF on 18 November, 2013 to protest the Centre’s move to implement key recommendations of a draft notification issued by the Centre based on the recommendations of a report on Western Ghats conservation. In this report a comprehensive ban on ecologically damaging activities like mining, quarrying and building of thermal power plants and big building complexes was recommended. Which committee gave this report?
Kasturirangan Committee, led by eminent scientist K. Kasturirangan
4) On 18 November, 2013 which banks were designated by the RBI to collect advance income tax payments?
SBI, ICICI bank, HDFC Bank, PNB, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Bank of Baroda
5) Which country on 17 November, 2013 won the Davis Cup title for 2013 to retain the championship?
The Czech Republic (Czech Republic defeated Serbia by 3-2 after Radek Stepanek defeated Dusan Lajovic in the decisive rubber by 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 (With this win Czech Republic became the first nation to retain the Davis Cup since Spain in 2009. Davis Cup is the most prestigious team championship for men’s tennis)
6) Which automotive team recently claimed the record for crossing the Empty Quarter of the Arabian Peninsula, which is one of the harshest terrains on the planet?
Land Rover Team (Land Rover Team claimed to have crossed 527-mile distance of the Empty Quarter of the Arabian peninsula in 10 hours and 22 minutes, setting a new world record. It’s the second largest desert in the world, with temperatures regularly exceeding 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Spanish driver Moi Torrallardona drove the Range Rover Sport to achieve this feat. What makes the record all the more impressive is that it was undertaken in a showroom-stock vehicle, the Range Rover Sport modified only with a plate to protect the underbody from damage)
7) Two Jamaican athletes were crowned the male and female World Athletes of the Year 2013 on 16 November, 2013. Which athletes are these?
Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (This prestigious award was conferred at a special ceremony of the IAAF held at Monaco. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt had been the World Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, previously. Bolt won 10 out of his 11 100m races and was unbeaten in his five races over 200m. Olympic Sprint Champion, the Fraser-Pryce claimed gold medals in three events in Moscow World Championships
QUIZ:
1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday, 18 November 2013, that it would provide liquidity support to micro and small enterprises to help them tide over difficulties they might face due to the economic slowdown. The central bank will provide the support through the Small Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in the form of refinancing of loans. The refinance will be available against receivables, including export receivables, outstanding as on Nov 14, 2013 onwards. What is the amount which would be provide as a liquidity support to SMEs?
[A] Rs 2000 Crore
[B] Rs 3000 Crore
[C] Rs 4000 Crore
[D] Rs 5000 Crore
2. According to the report on 18 Nov 2013, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority or PEMRA has imposed the fine of 1 crore for airing Indian and foreign content more than the permissible limits on the few entertainment channels and sent them letters, warning them against such practice in the future. How many channels were fined?
[A] 5
[B] 10
[C] 15
[D] 20
3. Which state government is considering adding a lesson on Sachin Tendulkar in school syllabus so that the children are inspired by his life and achievements?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Gujarat
4. On 18th Nov 2013, the Reserve Bank of India fell short of its target on liquidity enhancement as it bought about 77% of the targeted Rs 8,000 crore of bond purchases as it did not accept bids at higher yield levels. RBI bought government securities worth 6,157 crore from total bids of 13,765 crore received from investors through OMO. What is OMO?
[A] Open Market Operations
[B] Opex Market Operations
[C] Open Measurement Operations
[D] Operative Market Offer
5. The first branch of India's first all-women bank - Bharatiya Mahila Bank, will be opened on Tuesday, 19-November-2013. The branch is part of the seven branches across the country that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi via video conferencing from Mumbai. The government has targeted setting up of 25 such branches across the country by March 31, 2014. Where is the first branch getting opened today?
[A] Mumbai
[B] New Delhi
[C] Bhopal
[D] Lucknow
Answers:
1. [D] Rs 5000 Crore
2. [B] 10
3. [C] Maharashtra
4. [A] Open Market Operations
5. [D] Lucknow
