Current Affair September 2015

n Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodiawas on 31 August 2015 given the additionalcharge of - the Law Ministry of the city

n Haryana Women and Child DevelopmentMinister Kavita Jain on 31 August 2015inaugurated state’s first One Stop Centre, knownas Sakhi, at – Karnal

n The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 31 August2015 declared State Bank of India (SBI) andICICI Bank as - Domestic SystemicallyImportant Banks (D-SIBs)\

n CSIRO and Imperial College London warned that 99 percent of the world’s seabird species will beingesting plastic by 2050 if - current marinepollution trends continue

n Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants on 30 August 2015 destroyed Palmyra’s ancientTemple of – Bel

n The Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy in the All Indiainvitation cricket tournament was won by –Mumbai

n India on 2 September 2015 won the three-matchcricket test series against Sri Lanka, 2-1 andended a 22-year long drought of a win over SriLanka on - Sri Lankan soil

n Book titled The Duels of the Himalayan Eagle:The first Indo-Pak Air War (1-22 September1965) is authored by - Air Marshal (retd.)Bharat Kumar

n Allahabad High Court on 1 September 2015asked Uttar Pradesh government to ensure flaghoisting ceremony of National Flag on

Independence Day and Republic Day in -Madarsas and other schools all over the state

n The Bihar Government on 1 September 2015decided to give two percent reservation ingovernment jobs to - the grand children offreedom fightersSwachhata Sangraam Abhiyaan was launched in Indore district of MadhyaPradesh on 1 September 2015 aims at - makingentire district open defecation-free by the end ofthe financial year 2015-16

n Four-colour logo of Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games that was scrapped by Games OrganisingCommittee on 1 September 2015 was preparedby - Kenjiro Sano

n The country whose economy entered into the first technical recession in six year in September2015 - Canada

n Union Government on 28 August 2015 notifiedthe merger of commodities market regulatorForward Markets Commission (FMC) withSecurities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI), which will be effective from - 28September 2015

n Country that on 2 September 2015 dismissed aproposal of France asking United NationsSecurity Council (UNSC) permanentmembers to limit the use of the veto power atleast in cases involving mass atrocities thatdemands action - Russia]

n Author of the book, Globalisation,Democratization and Distributive Justice is -Mool Chand Sharma

Current Affair Fact File

n The Maharashtra Government on 1 September2015 gave a nod to an ordinance for amendingthe Maharashtra Prevention of DangerousActivities (MPDA) Act, 1981 to enable thegovernment to put sand mafias behind the bars -without any bail for one year

n 11th session of the India-UAE Joint CommissionMeeting for Technical and EconomicalCooperation was held on 2 September to 3September 2015, in - New Delhi

n Union Government cancelled the registration ofGreenpeace India under the ForeignContribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010because – it violated FCRA by mixing its foreign and domestic contributions

n Haryana on 3 September 2015 bagged theSkoch Order-of-Merit national award forimplementation of - six e-Governance and ITinitiatives in the state

n To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of theIndo-Pak 1965 war, the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) on 3 September 2015 decided to put into circulation - 5 rupees coins minted by UnionGovernment

n High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on 4September 2015 ordered CBI probe into themulti-crore scam in the state’s cricket association that occurred during the tenure of - former ChiefMinister Farooq Abdullah as its President

n Marvan Atapattu on 3 September 2015announced his resignation as head coach of - SriLanka cricket team

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 September2015 released two commemorative coins of 125rupees and 10 rupees in the memory of- formerPresident Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

n Thailand’s Junta-appointed reform council on 6September 2015 shot down - a controversial new constitution drafted after 2014’s coup

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 September2015 inaugurated the extension of Delhi Metroconnecting - Badarpur to Escorts Mujesar inFaridabad

n Indian boxer Vikas Krishan (75kg) on 5September 2015 won the silver medal in the 2015 Asian Boxing Championships after he faceddefeat by the hands of - Bektemir Melikuziev ofUzbekistan

n Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae on 5September 2015 inaugurated the newlyrenovated Bala Tripura Sundari Devi Temple atTripurakot situated - on the bank of glacial riverThuli Bheri in Dolpa district of Nepal

n Australian all-rounder who announced hisretirement from Test cricket on 6 September2015 - Shane Watson

n Indian weightlifters who on 8 September 2015won a gold medal in the 62 kg category of the2015 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG)being held in Apia, Samoa - Deepak Lather

n State that in September 2015 issued a completeban on manufacturing, storage, distribution andsale of gutka, pan masala, flavoured or scentedtobacco, kharra and other similar productscontaining tobacco – Haryana

n Number of Indian philanthropists named in the 9th Forbes Asia’s list of philanthropists – Seven

n The renowned farm expert who was on 8September 2015 appointed as a full-time member of NITI (National Institution for TransformingIndia) Aayog is - Professor Ramesh Chand

n President Pranab Mukherjee on 9 September2015 conferred Gandhi Peace Prize for the year2014 on - Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO)

n Supreme Court of Pakistan on 8 September 2015ordered immediate adoption of a language asofficial language of the country– Urdu

n 2015 World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD)was observed on 10 September with theme -Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and SavingLives

n Union Cabinet on 9 September 2015 approvedhike in Dearness Allowance (DA) to CentralGovernment employees and Dearness Relief(DR) pensioners by - 6 percent

n First Telangana Language Day (TelanganaBhasha Dinosthavam) was observed on 9September 2015 to commemorate the 100th birthanniversary of - noted poet Kaloji Narayana Rao,who was called people’s poet

n First recipient of Kaloji Award is - Dr AmmangiVenugopal

n Bollywood actor who was on 7 September 2015conferred with the Honoured Guest of Texas

Current Affair 2

award for his contribution to the cinema and theworld of art - Anupam Kher

n Houston Mayor Annise Parker in August 2015declared 7 August as- Anupam Kher Day inHouston

n President Pranab Mukherjee on 9 September2015 conferred Gandhi Peace Prize for the year2014 on - Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO)

n The Mumbai Dialogue: Towards a TB-Free Indiawas launched on 10 September 2015 by the USAmbassador to India Richard Verma aims atengaging the corporate sector to furtherstrengthen - the Union Government’s Call toAction for a TB-Free India

n Indian-American women who on 3 September2015 became the first woman postmaster ofSacramento city in California after a span of 166years is - Jagdeep Grewal

n United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on10 September 2015 overwhelmingly approvedthe Resolution on Raising of Flags byNon-Member Observer States, which wasintroduced by - Iraq as the President of the ArabGroup for the month of September 2015

n Virat Kohli, the test cricket captain of India, on 10September 2015 became the co-owner of theUAE Royals, which will be led by - Tennis aceRoger Federer

n The International Premier Tennis League(IPTL), a team tennis league was founded in2013 by - Mahesh Bhupathi

n Rajasthan on 11 September 2015 became thefirst Indian state to submit State Annual ActionPlan under - Atal Mission for Rejuvenation andUrban Transformation (AMRUT)

n We Care Solar on 14 September 2015 won 1million US dollar ‘Powering the Future We Want’grant given by - the United Nations Departmentof Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)

n The Union Government on 14 September 2015decided to increase the number of workdaysunder Mahatma Gandhi National RuralEmployment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)from 100 days to 150 days in—- Drought-hitareas of the country

n United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on14 September 2015 unanimously adopted adocument for reform of - the UN Security Council (UNSC)

n The Constituent Assembly of Nepal on 14September 2015 rejected the proposal to declare Nepal as - a Hindu state and reaffirmed toremain secular

n United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on11 September 2015 adopted the resolutions thatproclaims 9 December as International Day ofCommemoration & Dignity of the Victims of theCrime of Genocide and of the Prevention of thisCrime, which was initiated by – Armenia

n Madhya Pradesh government on 15 September2015 constituted a one-member commission toprobe the Petlawad explosion incident in Jhabuadistrict of Madhya Pradesh that will be chairedby - Retired High Court judge Justice AryendraKumar Saxena

n IRRC that was established in January 2015 byPentagon to exclusively focus on advancingDefence Trade and Technology Initiative(DTTI), stands for - India Rapid Reaction Cell

n Indian-origin British Members of ParliamentMPs), who were appointed as to the shadowcabinet of Jeremy Corbyn, the newly-electedleader of Labour Party in the United Kingdom(UK) are - Seema Malhotra and Lisa Nandy

n Country that on 13 September 2015 declared astate of emergency in two southern counties thatshares its border with Serbia to stop migrantsentering illegally - Hungary

n Exhibition named Shauryanjali was inauguratedin New Delhi by Defence Minister ManoharParrikar on 15 September 2015 to celebrates thevictory of India over Pakistan in - 1965 Indo-PakWar

n Railways shot putter who on 16 September 2015shattered an 18-year-old national record en route to a sixth title at the 55th National Open AthleticsChampionship at Kolkata - Manpreet Kaur

n The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 16September 2015 granted in principle approval to10 entities to set up small finance banks that willprovide - basic banking services to small farmersand micro industries

3 Current Affair

n Nepal’s Constituent Assembly on 16 September2015 approved the new Constitution andendorsed the Preamble of the draft Constitutionthat splits the country into - seven federalprovinces

n Article 301 of the Constitution of Nepal definestitle and date of - commencement of theConstitution

n International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 16September 2015 announced name of five citiesas candidates to host the 2024 SummerOlympics and they are - Los Angeles, Hamburg,Paris, Rome and Budapest

n India and Cambodia on 16 September 2015signed two MoUs on - Tourism andMekong-Ganga Cooperation Initiative.

n To manage Godavari’s flood waters which goeswaste into the sea every year, two Rivers namelyGodavari and Krishna were formally linked byreleasing waters from Godavari to Krishan at -Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village near Vijayawada

n To provide aid to farmers to overcome droughtconditions, Actor Nana Patekar in third week ofSeptember 2015 established an organizationnamed - Naam Foundation

n To provide various services and teaching-relatedwork to teacher in a simple and easy way,Madhya Pradesh Government in September2015 launched - M-Shiksha-Mitra mobile app

n Veteran Test cricketer of West Indies who was on 12 September 2015 honoured with the IconAward by the Indo-Caribbean Alliance -Shivnarine Chanderpaul

n Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana(PMKKKY) that was launched on 17September 2015 will transform the lives of –People living in the areas which are affecteddirectly or indirectly by mining

n The Supreme Court (SC) of India on 17September 2015 stayed the implementation ofthe Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment)Act, 2015 that prescribes for - minimumeducational qualifications for contesting in localbodies’ elections

n The Indian monk, who in September 2015 helped restore and renovate a 2000-year-old, lostNangchen Stupa with Lord Buddha relics sent byEmperor Ashoka - Gyalwang Drukpa

n Eminent Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenkawas conferred with 24th Vyaas Samman for theyear 2014 on 22 September 2015 for his work -Premchand ki Kahaniyon ka KaalKramanusaar Adhyayan

n The Executive Chairman of Cisco who on 21September 2015 was elected as the nextChairman of US-India Business Council’s(USIBC) by the Council’s Board of Directors -John T Chambers

n Telangana and Chhattisgarh Governments on 22 September 2015 entered into a power purchaseagreement (PPA) for purchasing - 1000 mw ofpower for the next 12 years

n Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 22September 2015 lowered India’s gross domestic(GDP) growth projections for the fiscal year(FY) 2016 to 7.4 percent from - 7.8 percentprojected in its March 2015 Outlook

n The World Rhino Day observed on 22 September 2015 celebrates all five species, namely - Black,White, Greater one-horned, Sumatran andJavan rhinos

n The 9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas(RPBD) will be held from 14 September to 15November 2015 at - Los Angeles, California,USA

n The Baseball legend and Hall of Fame catcher,who was known for his humorous quotes anddied on 22 September 2015 was - LawrencePeter “Yogi” Berra (Yogi Berra)

n National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) on 22September 2015 released the data of - 68thRound on Status of Education and VocationalTraining in India

n Former Commission for Agricultural Costs andPrices (CACP) chairman T Haque will headthe expert group formed by NITI Aayog on - LandLeasing

n Telenor Group on 23 September 2015announced that it had changed its brand identityalong with legal company name from Uninor, itssubsidiary in India, as - Telenor IndiaCommunications Pvt. Ltd.

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi who on 23September 2015 visited Ireland is the first PrimeMinister of India to visit Ireland in - 59 years.

Current Affair 4

n First and the only Prime Minister to visit Irelandbefore Narendra Modi was - Jawahar Lal Nehruin 1956

n Filmmaker who on 23 September 2015 resignedfrom the Oscar Selection Jury citing differenceswith chairperson of the Jury Amol Palekar -Rahul Rawail

n Senior leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)who was on 23 September 2015 elected asPresident of Bihar Cricket Association (BCA)is – Abdul Bari Siddiqui

n Haryana Government on 23 September 2015constituted a committee to suggest prospects ofpermanent settlement for shelter-less nomadicpeople of the state under the chairmanship of -Haryana BJP Vice President Rajiv Jain

n Mobile application that was launched by Assamgovernment on 24 September 2015 todisseminate information about disastermanagement to the people in need is named as -Disaster Ready Assam

n The Commission which was constituted by theUttar Pradesh government to probe the 2013Muzaffarnagar riots submitted its report toGovernor Ram Naik on 23 September 2015 washeaded by - Justice (retd.) Vishnu Sahai

n ISL franchise FC Pune City on 24 September2015 unveiled its home and away kits andannounced a three-year partnership withsportswear giant - adidas

n Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis on 26 September 2015 won the Guangzhou Open title of tennis bydefeating - the Chinese pair of Xu Shilin and You Xiaodi 6-3, 6-1

n World Tourism Day was observed across theworld on 27 September 2015 with the theme -One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities

n Indian Space Research Orgnaisation (ISRO)on 28 September 2015 launched India’s firstdedicated satellite for astronomy research,named - ASTROSAT

n Indonesian micro-satellite that was launchedalong with India’s first dedicated satellite for

astronomy research, ASTROSAT was -LAPAN-A2

n Maritime monitoring Canadian nano satellite thatwas launched along with India’s first dedicatedsatellite for astronomy research, ASTROSATwas - NLS-14 (Ev9)

n Rocket that was used by Indian Space ResearchOrgnaisation (ISRO) on 28 September 2015to launch India’s first dedicated satellite forastronomy research, ASTROSAT was -PSLV-C30, which was the tenth flight of PSLV in its ‘XL’ Configuration

n Supreme Court (SC) of India on 17 September 2015 directed the Union and Arunachal PradeshGovernments to grant citizenship to two refugeegroups within three months, and they are –Chakmas and Hajongs refugee

n Governor of Meghalaya who was on 28September 2015 as given the additional duties ofManipur after the demise of incumbent Dr. SyedAhmed Khan is - V. Shanmuganathan

n River of Assam’s Kamrup district in which amechanised boat capsized on 28 September2015 - River Koholi

n Rank of India in Global Competitiveness Report2015-16 released on 30 September 2015 – 55th

n China on 30 September 2015 launched a 20thnew generation satellite into orbit to support itsglobal navigation and positioning network called - BeiDou Navigation system

n A Parliamentary panel in September 2015 calledto link Union Government’s Swachch Bharatcampaign with a programme – MGNREGA

n India’s indigenously developed stealth modernwarship unveiled in Mumbai on 30 September2015 – INS Kochi

n This Indian state announced to developed itsown Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) – TamilNadu

n European nation that on 30 September 2015pledged to give 100 miliion euros for refugees –Germany

5 Current Affair

Current Affair August 2015

n Uttar Pradesh Government on 4 August 2015announced that two films namely Masaan andJaanisaar will be free from the entertainment tax in the state under - Section 11 (1) of the Uttar PradeshEntertainment and Betting Tax Act, 1979.

n Compilation of all schemes of both Union andState governments for Gram Panchayats thatwas launched by Rural Development MinisterChaudhary Birender Singh on 4 August 2015 is -SAMANVAY

n River over which the two trains, KamayaniExpress and Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express,derailed in Harda District of Madhya Pradesh on4 August 2015 is - Machak River.

n Jharkhand Government on 4 August 2015empowered Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) toarrest Minister, MLA and senior civil servantswithout taking permission from the concernedauthorities in cases of - being caught on takingbribes.

n Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet on 4 August 2015approved the UP Zamindari Abolition and LandReform (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to amend -the UP Zamindari Abolition and Land ReformAct 1950

n Amendment of UP Zamindari Abolition and LandReform Act 1950 will allow scheduled caste(SCs) of Uttar Pradesh to - sell their land tonon-dalits

n The Union Cabinet chaired approved theproposal of hiving about 65000 towers into a newcompany of - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL).

n The telescope that can provide detailed study ofthe solar activity including its magnetic field, andwas operationalised at the Udaipur SolarObservatory (USO) of Physical ResearchLaboratory (PRL) is - Multi Application SolarTelescope (MAST).

n Bollywood actors who were named among top 10 Forbes highest-paid actors in the Forbes’s list of2015 World’s Highest-Paid Actors that was

released on 4 August 2015 are - AmitabhBachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar.

n Actor that topped Forbes list of 2015 World’sHighest-Paid Actors - Robert Downey Jr. withearnings of 80 million US dollars.

n Union Government on 5 August 2015 decided todefer the proposed talks between the Chiefnegotiators on - India–European Union (EU)Broad based Investment and Trade Agreement(EU-BTIA).

n The Union Cabinet on 5 August 2015 approvedrelease of wages directly to the accounts of theworkers engaged under - the Mahatma GandhiNational Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA).

n India and Myanmar on 6 August 2015 inked anagreement to set up- Centre of Excellence inSoftware Development and Training (CESDT)in Myanmar.

n Forest Ministers of southern states of India on 6August 2015 decided to set up a Southern ForestMinisters’ Inter-state Coordination Council, which will be headed by Kerala Forest MinisterThiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as its - Presidentfor the first year.

n The 48th ASEAN (Association of SoutheastAsian Nations) Foreign Ministers’ meet washeld between 4 August and 6 August 2015 in -Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

n 70th Hiroshima Day was observed on - 6 August2015.

n 70th Hiroshima Day was marked by adding ofnames of survivors of the explosion called thehibakusha, who died in previous 12 months, on -the cenotaph of the Peace Memorial Park.

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 August 2015inaugurated first National Handloom Day at theCentenary Hall of - Madras University inChennai, Tamil Nadu

n Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notification thatallows banks to shift, merge or close branches, inurban areas, at their own discretion was notifiedon 6 August 2015 under - Section 23 of the

Current Affair 6

Banking Regulation Act, 1949 Relaxations inBranch Authorisation Policy.

n Ethnic tribe of Sikkim that on 9 August 2015celebrated the Tendong Lho Rum Faat (Prayerof the Tendong Mountain), an ancient andnatural festival is - Lepcha tribe

n The Canadian doctor who played a central role inpreventing the drug thalidomide being distributed in the US, died in London, Ontario on 7 August2015 at the age of 101 is - Frances OldhamKelsey

n Typhoon that made its landfall on the east coastof the Taiwanese city of Hualien on 8 August2015 was – Soudelor

n Union Government on 9 August 2015 launchedSuraksha Bandhan drive in a Mission Modethrough participating banks and insurancecompanies to - facilitate enrolment under socialsecurity schemes.

n Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke on 8August 2015 announced his decision to retirefrom International Cricket after playing – the 2015Ashes series.

n Global electronic manufacturing giant that on 8August 2015 signed a MoU with the MaharashtraGovernment to invest 5 billion US dollar in thestate over the next five year - Foxconn

n The 23-year-old culpable homicide convictlodged in Varanasi central jail who was on 8August 2015 awarded with gold medal by theIndira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU) at Banaras Hindu University(BHU) for topping in Diploma in TourismStudies - Ajeet Kumar Saroj

n Union Government and Delhi Government on 8August 2015 agreed to set-up a Special PurposeVehicle (SPV) for - the cleaning-up andrejuvenation of the Yamuna River.

n Union Government on 10 August 2015 launchedthe School Nursery Yojana, an initiative to - bring students under class VI to IX closer to nature.

n Senior India hockey player who was on 10August 2015 suspended for 9 months forindulging in groupism and creating disharmonywithin the team - Gurbaj Singh

n Rajasthan High Court on 10 August 2015 banned the Santhara ritual prevailing in - the JainCommunity.

n International Day of the World’s IndigenousPeoples was observed on 9 August 2015 with the theme - Post 2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenouspeoples’ health and well-being".

n The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 10August 2015 directed the Uttar Pradesh (UP)government to ensure that no unauthorisedconstruction activities are permitted and no treesare cut in - the eco-sensitive zone near the TajMahal.

n Uttar Pradesh Government on 11 August 2015approved the amended guidelines for BegumAkhtar Award and the amendment empower theChief Minister to - make any further amendments to the guidelines.

n Delhi Government on 11 August 2015 decided toconstitute an independent Commission of Inquiry to probe the multi-crore CNG fitness scam ofDelhi, which will be headed by - retired HighCourt judge, Justice SN Agarwal.

n Union Government along with six Indian statesand World Bank on 11 August 2015 signed308.40 million US dollar credit agreement insupport of the second phase of - the NationalCyclone Risk Mitigation Program (NCRMP-II).

n Fresh data from National Tiger ConservationAuthority (NTCA) and TRAFFIC-India, thewildlife trade monitoring network released inAugust 2015 revealed that between January and9 August 2015, India lost about - 41 tigers.

n Maharashtra government on 11 August 2015constituted a cabinet sub-committee to preparean action plan to tackle the impending droughtcrisis. The committee will be headed by - stateAgriculture Minister Eknath Khadse.

n Sudhakar Shetty of Maharashtra was elected asthe president of the Gymnastics Federation ofIndia (GFI) on 12 August 2015 and hesucceeded - Jaspal Singh Kandhari.

n The Union Cabinet on 12 August 2015 gave itsex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) on cooperation toestablish the Pace Setter Fund (PSF) with –the United States.

7 Current Affair

n The CCEA on 12 August 2015 approved the 300-crore rupees package to save - standing kharifagriculture and horticulture crops from weakmonsoon.

n Person who was sworn-in as the 27th GovernorGovernor of the Himachal Pradesh on 12 August2015 - Acharya Dev Vrat.

n Prime Minister of Libya who on 12 August 2015announced his resignation during a live telecast,hours after fraught peace talks between thecountry’s rival factions restarted - Abdullahal-Thani.

Current Affair July 2015

n Darshan Jain, an Indian-American teacher fromIllinois, US in July 2015 was named for prestigiousPresidential Award for – Excellence inMathematics and Science Teaching

n The Union Ministry of Women and ChildDevelopment on 1 July 2015 adopted Jalgaon’s‘Digital Guddi-Gudda Board’ as a Best Practiceunder - Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme

n Anisa Rasouli was on 30 June 2015 nominatedas the first ever female Supreme Court judgeof -Afghanistan

n The products in 2-minute Maggi noodles made inIndia found to be within safe limits by the UnitedKingdom’s Food Standards Agency (UK FSA)on 1 July 2015 – Lead, Monosodium Glutamate(MSG)

n The Food Standards Agency (FSA) of UnitedKingdom (UK) on 1 July 2015 released testresults of Nestle’s 2-minute Maggi noodlesmanufactured in India and said that levels of leadin the product are well within - European Unionpermissible levels

n World Bank on 1 July 2015 approved a loanamount of 650 million US dollars for development of a freight corridor – Eastern Dedicated FreightCorridor (EDFC)

n The country’s largest public sector lender StateBank of India (SBI) on 3 July 2015 launchedProject Tatkal, that is an initiative to provide -doorstep services and expedite Home LoanApplication (HLA) process.

n Indian American Professor Emeritus R. PaulSingh on 24 June 2015 was named for - theGCHERA World Agriculture Prize 2015.

n The National Award for Rag Pickers that includes a cash prize of 1.5 lakh rupees will be conferredon - three best rag-pickers and three associations for their contribution to keep India clean.

n To provide security to those devotees taking partin the 59-day-long annual Amarnath Yatra inJammu and Kashmir, Indian Army in first week ofJuly 2015 launched - Operation Shiva.

n Software major Microsoft in first week of July2015 agreed to develop Smart MIDC (industrialcolony) and support Digital Village in -Maharashtra.

n India on 6 July 2015 won the South Asian Basketball(SABA) Championship title played at the KanteeravaStadium in Bengaluru, Karanataka after defeating -Sri Lanka

n Japan on 4 July 2015 said that it would extendaround 6 billion dollars (750 billion yen) indevelopment aid to - Mekong region countries(Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand andVietnam)

n People of Greece rejected the creditor’s demandfor more austerity in exchange of extension ofbailout package (15.5 billion Euros) in ahistoric referendum on - 5 July 2015.

n Chile on 4 July 2015 won its first Copa AmericaCup football tournament in the final played at theEstadio Nacional (national stadium) inSantiago, Chile by defeating - Argentina 4-1through penalties shootout.

n United States of America (USA) on 6 July2015 won the FIFA Women’s World Cup for thethird time at Vancouver, Canada by defeating -Japan

Current Affair 8

n The Supreme Court of India on 6 July 2015 ruledthat an unwed mother can be the sole legalguardian of a child without - the consent of thefather.

n The layout of ‘Nakshatra Vatika’ has beendeveloped in various geometrical combinationscorresponding to - the Sree Chakra of Vedicastrology

n Nine-dash line was in news in July 2015 after theInternational Criminal Court (ICC) beganhearing a case brought by the Philippinesagainst - China on territorial claims in the SouthChina Sea.

n Book 37 Bridges and Other Stories authored by anoted Pakistani author Aamer Hussein book is - a new collection of his stories.

n HDFC Bank, the country’s second largest privatesector bank, in the first week of July 2015became first bank to launch - Watch Bankingapplication in India.

n India and Uzbekistan on 7 July 2015 signed three agreements to - deepen bilateral cooperationbetween the two nations.

n Floyd Mayweather Jr on 7 July 2015 was stripped of the Welterweight title which he won bydefeating Manny Pacquiao on 3 May 2015 by -World Boxing Organization (WBO)

n Book titled India Central Asia Relations: TheEconomic Dimension authored by AmiyaChandra came in news during the visit of PrimeMinister Narendra Modi to central Asiancountries focuses on - the economic dimensionsof the ties

n India and United States on 9 July 2015 signedInter Governmental Agreement (IGA) toimplement - the Foreign Account TaxCompliance Act (FATCA)

n To boost cooperation within the members of theBRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and SouthAfrica), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 July2015 proposed a 10 point initiative named as -‘Dus Kadam: 10 Steps for the Future’

n Head of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, Chinaand South Africa) nations on 9 July 2015released - the Ufa Declaration

n The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 9 July2015 released the final guidelines on - Prepaid

Payment Instruments for Mass Transit System(PPI-MTS).

n Former Indian Amateur Boxing FederationSecretary General Brig. PK Muralidharan Rajaon 8 July 2015 launched - the Indian BoxingCouncil (IBC).

n World Population Day was observed on 11 July2015 with theme - Vulnerable Populations inEmergencies.

n A new species of tiny butterfly species calledBanded Tit (Hypolycaena Narada) discovered in the green forests of - the Changlang district inArunachal Pradesh

n India and Pakistan on 10 July 2015 wereaccepted as the full members of - the ShanghaiCooperation Organisation (SCO), a six-memberregional grouping]

n Former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalamon 9 July 2015 launched - the RashtriyaAvishkar Abhiyan (RAA) in New Delhi.

n The US National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA) on 9 July 2015selected four astronauts to provide crewtransportation services to and from - theInternational Space Station.

n Union Government on 13 July 2015 launchedGPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation(GAGAN) system, which would make airlineoperations - more efficient and reduce costs.

n Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘Buddha in a TrafficJam’ won the Best Original Screenplay award inthe Foreign Language Category at - the MadridInternational Film Festival, Spain.

n The Income Tax (IT) Department on 13 July2015 launched - One Time Password (OTP)based e-filing verification system for taxpayers.

n Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on13 July 2015 suspended Mumbai Ranji cricketerHiken Shah with immediate effect after he wasfound guilty of breaching - BCCI’sAnti-Corruption Code for participants.

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 January2015 returned to India after his six-nation tour ofRussia and five Central Asian countries namely -Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

9 Current Affair

n Union Government on 14 July 2015 decided tocap the subsidy payout on kerosene at 12 rupeesper litre, as it has devised the formula formeeting - under-recovery or revenue loss.

n United States (US) Department of Defense(DoD) on 13 July 2015 decided to set up aworking group to study the policy and readinessimplications of allowing - transgender persons toserve in the military of the nation.

n To empower citizens to avail their rights instipulated time with less efforts and cost,Maharashtra assembly on 14 July 2015 passed -the Maharashtra Rights to Public Services Bill.

n Union Ministry of Urban Development on 14 July2015 approved the Transit OrientedDevelopment (TOD) Policy for Delhi as part ofreview of - Master Plan for Delhi – 2021.

n A team of scientists at the on 14 July 2015announced discovery of a new class of exoticsubatomic particles called - pentaquarks.

n RBI on 15 July 2015 constituted a committeeunder Deepak Mohanty to chart out amedium-term path for – Financial Inclusion.

n On demand of people of the state, ManipurLegislative Assembly on 15 July 2015unanimously resolved to withdraw - the ManipurRegulation of Visitors, Tenants and MigrantWorkers (MRVTMW) Bill, 2015

n Supreme Court of India (SC) on 15 July 2015termed the National Pharmaceutical PricingPolicy, 2012 and the Drug Price Control order(DRCO) 2013 as - unreasonable andirrational.

n World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 6 July2015 released new Guidelines withrecommended practices for several aspects of -anti-doping programming.

n Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singhon 15 July 2015 launched 3 web portals namely -Soil Health Card portal, Fertiliser Quality ControlSystem (FQCS) portal and ParticipatoryGuarantee System (PGS) – India portal.

n The Union Cabinet on 16 July 2015 gave itsapproval for redevelopment of 400 railwaystations (‘A-1’ and ‘A’ category), which will beredeveloped by adopting - the Swiss Challengemethod.

n The Union Cabinet on 16 July 2015 gave itsapproval for signing and ratification of anInter-Governmental agreement between Indiaand Armenia, on - cooperation in the field ofAgriculture.

n The Union Cabinet on 16 July 2015 gave itsapproval to set up an expert group chaired byArvind Panagariya to classify the Caste namesreturned in - the Socio Economic and CasteCensus (SECC), 2011.

n The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) on 16 July 2015 approved thecreation of an intra state transmission system in -seven states of the country

n The Competition Commission of India (CCI)on 17 July 2015 imposed penalty of 671.05 crorerupees upon - four Public Sector InsuranceCompanies.

n Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 16 July 2015directed banks to ensure that their overall directlending to farmers should not fall below theaverage of - last three years.

n The Reserve Bank of India on 17 July 2015signed a Special Currency Swap Agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, under which SriLanka can draw up to - 1.1 billion US dollar for amaximum period of six months.

n Kutchi New Year in the Kutch region in Gujaratthat was observed on 18 July 2015 is observedby - Kutchi community.

n 2nd Sohra Marathon-2015 was held on 17 July 2015in - Meghalaya.

n The High Court that on 17 July 2015 ruled that awoman, who is in government service and has achild through surrogacy, is also entitled tomaternity leave is - Delhi High Court.

n Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 19 July2015 inaugurated the first ‘Aam Aadmi Clinic’ at -Peeragarhi Relief Camp in West Delhi.

n A team of researchers led by CN Sunil reporteddiscovery of two new plant species christenedas - Vellithumpa (silver flower) and Eriocaulonmanoharanii.

n Former number one tennis player of France,Amelie Mauresmo who on 18 July 2015 wasinducted into the International Tennis Hall of

Current Affair 10

Fame is the first woman to coach a top maletennis player and coaches - Andy Murray.

n Amelie Mauresmo, the two-time Grand Slamwinner and former number one tennis player ofFrance, was on 18 July 2015 inducted into - theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame.

n Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project(MHP) on 18 July 2015 bagged the 2015Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) awardin - the ‘Heritage & Culture’ category.

n American actor best known for his role as MoeGreene in crime drama The Godfather, AlexRocco died on 18 July 2015 received the Emmyaward (1990) as Best Supporting Actor in aComedy Series for his role in sitcom - TheFamous Teddy Z.

n Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)on 16 July 2015 successfully tested India’s firstindigenously designed and developed HighThrust cryogenic rocket engine generating anominal thrust of 19 tonnes at - ISRO PropulsionComplex, Mahendragiri.

n Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on20 July 2015 constituted a working group to study the verdict of the Supreme Court appointed RMLodha Committee relating to - the IPL 2013scandal.

n United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on20 July 2015 unanimously adopted a resolution2231 (2015) that establishes - a monitoringsystem for Iran’s nuclear programme.

n Film-maker Benoy Behl in fourth week of July2015 won the Best Documentary Producer award at Madrid International Film Festival forproducing and directing a documentary filmtitled - Indian Roots of Tibetan Buddhism.

n The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI)on 21 July 2015 announced venues for the Menand Women ICC World Twenty20 that will behosted by India from - 11 March to 3 April 2016.

n A new species of cyprinid fish christened asPuntius Dolichopterus was discovered from asmall water stream in - Alappuzha district’sKayamkulam city of Kerala.

n Union Cabinet approved a Central AgriculturalUniversity at - Samastipur in Bihar

n State Government of Manipur on 22 July 2015constituted a five-member committee to draft abill for the protection of indigenous people of thestate. The committee will be headed by - StateLaw Minister Thoudam Debendra Singh.

n Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister NarendraModi on 21 July 2015 approved a Home Ministryproposal to extend the deadline forimplementation of - Crime and CriminalsTracking network and Systems (CCTNS)project till March 2017.

n Soyuz TMA 17M rocket with three astronautsaboard was successfully launched towards theInternational Space Station (ISS) on 23 July2015 from - Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome inthe barren Kazakh steppe.

n Super 30 initiative of mathematician AnandKumar was in news in July 2015 as it will nowfeature in a 90-minute film The Big Day made by - French director Pascal Plisson.

n Book titled Ghosts of Calcutta that was releasedon 23 July 2015 is authored by - Sebastian Ortiz.

n With the total power generation from nuclearreactors at 5308 MWe, India is ranked 12th in theworld in terms of - power generation fromnuclear sources.

n Three women who are the part of first All WomenTrans Continental Road Expedition from Delhi toLondon that was flagged off on 23 July 2015 are -Nidhi Tiwari, Rashmi Koppar and SoumayaGoel.

n Maharashtra Cabinet on 23 July 2015 approvedShyamaprasad Mukherjee Jan Van VikasScheme that aims at creation of comprehensivedevelopment of villages in - the buffer zones oftiger reserves and around them.

n Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on23 July 2015 announced a Haryanvi film to befree from tax is - ‘Pagdi: The Honour’.

n The world’s first malaria vaccine called RTS,S orMosquirix on 24 July 2015 got approval fromEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) for beingused on - babies aged between 6 weeks and 17months in Africa.

n Nobel Prize winner Professor Peter Higgs on 20July 2015 won the world’s oldest scientific prize,the Royal Society’s Copley Medal and joined the

11 Current Affair

ranks of - Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein andStephen Hawking.

Current Affair June 2015

n Winner of three Wimbledon titles in a day, who died on 29 May 2015 at the age of 89 - Doris Hart

n Person who was sworn-in as 19th Governor ofArunachal Pradesh on 1 June 2015 - JyotiPrasad Rajkhowa

n Former cricketers who were inducted into theBCCI’s newly-constituted cricket advisorycommittee on 1 June 2015 - Sachin Tendulkar,Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman

n Football club that on 30 May 2015 won Copa delRey also known as Spanish King’s Cup bydefeating Athletic Bilbao, 3-1 - Barcelona

n Person who was appointed as the newChancellor of the Nalanda University, Bihar on 30 May 2015 - George Yeo, the former ForeignMinister of Singapore

n The women, who on 1 June 2015 was designated as the new President of the Indian Ocean islandnation, Mauritius by its government - AmeenahGurib-Fakim

n India and Sweden on 1 June 2015 signed 6agreements to boost ties and restart the bilateralstrategic dialogue in presence of - PresidentPranab Mukherjee, who was on a state visit toSweden

n One of the founders of India’s InformationTechnology (IT) industry and chairman ofHinditron Group who died on 1 June 2015 -Hemant Sonawala

n 92 year 65 days old cancer survivor, who on 31May 2015 became the oldest woman to finish amarathon at San Diego’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathonof 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) - HarrietteThompson

n President of FIFA who resigned on 2 June 2015amid the corruption scandal that has engulfed the football’s governing body - Sepp Blatter

n To attract investment of 1 lakh crore rupeesMaharashtra Cabinet on 2 June 2015 approved -

a Composite Renewable Energy Policy worth4156.43 crore rupees

n Scientists claimed that some female members ofa critically endangered species of sawfish arereproducing in the wild without sex, that is, by -Parthenogenesis

n US President Barack Obama on 2 June 2015signed the USA FREEDOM Act 2015 in law forUniting and Strengthening America by - Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline OverMonitoring Act of 2015.

n The former cricket captain of Indian team, whowas on 2 June 2015 re-appointed as the Directorof Indian cricket team for the Bangladesh tour -Ravi Shastri

n Sixth city in the country to have metro services;other cities are Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai,Bangalore, and Kolkata is – Jaipur

n Indian shot putter who on 3 June 2015 won goldmedal in men’s shot put event in the 21st AsianAthletics Championships - Inderjeet Singh

n India and Belarus on 3 June 2015 inked sixagreements to boost ties and relationship basedon - friendship and mutual benefit

n Jharkhand Cabinet on 3 June 2015 approvedJharkhand Special Courts Ordinance, 2015 tomake Jharkhand - rid of corruption

n Person who for his contribution towards thedevelopment of athletics in Asian continent waswas conferred with the Asian AthleticsAssociation (AAA) President’s award on 2June 2015 - Suresh Kalmadi

n World Bank Board approved $250 Million support to Jammu and Kashmir for - Jhelum and TawiFlood Recovery Project

n Name the legendary Telugu writer who died inHyderabad on 8 June 2015, after a brief illness -Dasaradhi Rangacharya

Current Affair 12

n Name the Cyclonic storm that was developedover the Arabian Sea on 8 June 2015 -ASHOBAA

n Three districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh that were included in National Capital Region on 9June 2015 are - Jind, Karnal andMuzaffarnagar

n ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, on 9 June 2015 appointed a person as thenon-executive chairman for a period of five yearsis - Mahendra Kumar Sharma

n City that who’s Municipal Corporation (AMC)on 9 June 2015 announced USE and GET PAIDscheme, under which people will be paid onerupees for using public toilets – Ahmadabad

n Person who was on 10 June 2015 conferred withthe prestigious 14th Sant Namdev NationalAward 2015 at a function in Pune, Maharashtra -Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal

n Former Indian cricketer who died after aprolonged illness on 9 June 2015 at his residence in Pune, Maharashtra - Hemant Kanitkar

n Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman who was on 10June 2015 named as the new Law Minister ofDelhi - Kapil Mishra

n Researchers discovered a trio of mud statuettesinside a reed basket in a building, an importantarchaeological site, in the ancient city of Vichama in northern Peru is believed to be created about3800 years ago by - the ancient Caralcivilization.

n HDFC Bank on 10 June 2015 launched a mobileapp as a complete digital payment and purchasesolution – PayZapp

n The United Nations (UN) envoy in Burundicrisis, who stepped down from his role asmediator of the crisis on 11 June 2015 after being accused of being biased - Said Djinnit

n Union Government on 11 June 2015 scrappedcustoms import duties for drugs and test kits used to treat – AIDS

n Four Indian languages included in the books ofRoads and Transport Authority (RTA) of UAEwhich can be chosen while appearing for drivingtests here in the UAE from September 2015includes - Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Bengali

n Cricketer who on 14 July 2015 became the ninthall-time highest Test wicket-takers by claiming416 wickets in 102 matches is - Indian off-spincricketer Harbhajan Singh

n Person elected as the President of UnitedNations General Assembly’s 70th session -Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark

n China on 12 June 2015 unveiled 800-year-oldBuddha statue (Qianshou Guanyin) famousfor its 1000 hands in - Dazu County in Sichunprovince

n First Indian footballer to score 50 internationalgoals - Sunil Chhetri

n India’s first 100 percent visually-challengedperson to be inducted into the Indian ForeignServices (IFS) is - Beno Zephine

n The International Boxing Association (AIBA)on 16 June 2015 constituted a five-memberad-hoc committee to manage the process offinding a group to organise and run boxing inIndia will be chaired by - Kishan Narsi

n It is a documentary film on Test Cricket that waspremiered at the Sheffield InternationalDocumentary Festival on 8 June 2015 - Death ofa Gentleman

n Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)that on 17 June 2015 launched the country’s firstconsumer complaint mobile app namedASCIonline is a - self regulatory body for contentin Indian advertising

n IPS officer of 1980-batch of Tamil Nadu cadrewho was appointed as the Director of NationalCrime Records Bureau (NCRB) - ArchanaRamasundaram

n The Union Government on 17 June 2015 decided to increase the number of workdays underMahatma Gandhi National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Act (MGNREGA) from 100 days to150 days in- Drought-hit areas

n Parliament of Japan (Diet) on 17 June 2015passed a bill to lower the voting age from - 20 to18.

n Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singhon 18 June 2015 launched a weather alertservice named - NOWCAST.

n Journalist and writer Aakar Patel appointed asExecutive Director of Amnesty International

13 Current Affair

(AI) India on 18 June 2015 and see its Indiaoperations and its efforts to end human rightsabuses - India and worldwide.

n Legislators of Legislative Council Hong Kong on18 June 2015 rejected - Beijing-backed electionreform package.

n Keith Vaz who on 18 June 2015 was re-electedas chairman of Parliaments Home Affairs SelectCommittee for the third time is - Britain’slongest-serving Indian-origin MP

n France on 18 June 2015 announced a ban onwearing earphones while driving a vehicle andriding a cycle with an aim - to reduce deaths dueto accidents

n Name the state who’s Chief Minister on 19 June2015 banned sale of thermocol plates incomplete state with an aim to promote leaf platesand generate employment – Jharkhand

n India and Tanzania on 19 June 2015 signed sixMoUs in the field of tourism, education andhydrography to deepen bilateral cooperationduring India visit of - President of TanzaniaJakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

n Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) celebrated the 350th foundation dayof Shri Anandpur Sahib at - Takht Sri KesgarhSahib located in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.

n India’s largest central air-conditioning companythat on 20 June 2015 launched first-everlocally-developed-and-produced VRF (variablerefrigerant flow) ACs in India - Blue Star

n Scientists in third week of June 2015 named anewly discovered galaxy after Portuguesefootball player Cristiano Ronald and labeled isas - CR7 (COSMOS Redshift 7).

n Former Indian women hockey captain who diedalong with her son in a road accident at theRopar-Nawanshahr-Phagwara area of NationalHighway 344-A in Punjab on 21 June 2015 -Shashi Bala

n First International Yoga Day celebration inRajpath, New Delhi on 21 June 2015 helped India to create two Guinness World Records(GWRs) and they are - participation of mostindividuals and individuals from the largestnumber of nationalities performing asanas at asingle venue.

n Andy Murray who won his fourth title at theQueen’s Club joined an illustrious list ofchampions - John McEnroe, Lleyton Hewitt,Boris Becker and Andy Roddick

n Sanjay Subrahmanyam who was selected for theSangitha Kalanidhi award of the Madras MusicAcademy for the year 2015 on 21 June 2015 is arenowned – carnatic vocalist

n The Ministry that will implement Bharat Malaproject of linking borders and coastal areas withroad network – Union Ministry of RoadsTransport & Highways

n Pitcairn Island, the world’s smallest country bypopulation of 48 people was in news as itlegalised - same-sex marriage

n The European Union (EU) on 22 June 2015launched a naval operation to stop humantraffickers from bringing migrants across - theMediterranean to Europe

n The European Union (EU) on 22 June 2015launched a naval operation to stop humantraffickers from bringing migrants across theMediterranean to Europe – EU NAVFOR Med

n The four border points through which India willallow the movement of vehicles imported from athird country into Nepal after amending thebilateral Treaty of Transit are - Raxaul-Birgunj,Jogbani-Biratnagar, Sunauli-Bhairahawa andNepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj border

n India will be the partner country for RussianIndustrial Trade Fair INNOPROM 2016 to be held in - Yekaterinburg

n Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) wasdeclared as the state butterfly by – MaharashtraGovernment

n Bhuvan Ganga app was launched by UnionGovernment on 23 June 2015 to aid - NationalMission for Clean Ganga

n Zoo that was renamed as Nawab Wajid Ali ShahPrani Udyan, Lucknow on 23 June 2015 was -Lucknow Prani Udyan, popularly known asLucknow zoo,

n Bird Sanctuary of Unnao district was named asShaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad Pakshi Vihar,Nawabganj was - Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

Current Affair 14

n Scientific name of Snake bird after which KeralaGovernment announced 22 June as a Snake Bird Day - darter-Anhinga melanogaster

n Maharashtra’s state cabinet on 23 June 2015approved the proposal to amend theMaharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities(MPDA) Act, 1981 to include criminal activities related to - sand mafia and black marketing

n German Tennis legend Steffi Graf was appointedas Kerala’s Ayurveda brand ambassador topromote - Visit Kerala Scheme

n National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)on 24 June 2015 commissioned the first 250 MWunit of Bongaigaon project of which state -Assam.

n Australia on 24 June 2015 decided to joinChina-led Asian Infrastructure InvestmentBank(AIIB) as a founding member with aninvestment of - 930 million Australian dollars(718.5million US dollars)

n Four scholars selected for the Bhasha Sammanon 24 June 2015 for their contribution to classicaland medieval literature in various languages –Acharya Munishwar Jha, K MeenakshiSundaram, Charu Chandra Pande,Mathuradutt Mathpal

n Mustafizur Rahman was awarded Man of theSeries award in – 3-day ODI series against India

n The online poll in which Sachin Tendulkar wasvoted as the Best Test Player of the 21st century - Top-100 Test players’ list since 2000

n Hemis festival is celebrated in largest monasteryof Ladakh Hemis Gompa (monastery) ofJammu and Kashmir is celebrated to mark thebirth anniversary of - Guru Padmasambhava

n Union Government on 25 June 2015 requestedthe Chief Ministers of Bihar, Tamil Nadu andRajasthan to encourage supply of free milk in -the Mid-Day Meal scheme

n Revdanda coast of Alibaug, Maharashtra cameinto news on 24 June 2015 after death of - a42-foot-long blue whale weighing 20 tonnes

n The four-day long Mela at Kamakhaya Devitemple at Guwahati, Assam that concluded on 26 June 2015 is known as – Ambubachi Mela

n Two local entrepreneurs, who in fourth week of June2015 signed agreements with several civic bodies inAssam to do away with the plastic hazards under asolid-waste management project, are - SatyakiSaikia and Pulak Roy

n President Pranab Mukharjee on 26 June 2015conferred Punyabhushan Award on - PratapraoPawar, Chairman of Sakal Media Group (SMG)

n The place where first species of Yeti Crab namedKiwa tyleri was found - Antarctica

n Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappaon 28 June 2015 won the first title of the 2015season – Canada Open Badminton tournament

n An unmanned American SpaceX rocket thatbroke apart in flames minutes after lifting off fromCape Canaveral in Florida on 29 June 2015 wasdubbed as - Falcon-9

n Authors of the book Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji are - Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam & Arun Tiwari

n Book titled Dealing with China: An InsiderUnmasks the New Economic Superpower isauthored by - Henry M. Paulson

n The place where first species of Yeti Crab namedKiwa tyleri was found - Antarctica]

n Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappaon 28 June 2015 won the first title of the 2015season – Canada Open Badminton tournament

n The district to win the prestigious United NationsPublic Service Award 2015 in June 2015—Nadiaof West Bengal

n The prestigious professional basketball league of North America in which Satnam Singh Bhamaraof Punjab became the first Indian national tojoin— National Basketball Association (NBA)

n The 10-km stretch of Chennai Metro Rail servicelaunched on 29 June 2015 will cover the distance between – Alandur to Koyabedu

n The Chinese-initiated multilateral lending bankestablished in June 2015— Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

15 Current Affair

Current Affair May 2015

n City whose Municipal Corporation on 30 April 2015banned production, storage, transportation and usage of low quality plastic cups, bags, pan-masala packingwrappers across the city - Ahmedabad

n North and South America became the firstregions of the world to eradicate rubella, alsoknown as - German measles

n Argentine parliament passed a law tocompensate the victims of an attack on - AMIAJewish cultural centre in Buenos Aires

n The first meeting of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministerson Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) held on 30 April2015 at NITI Aayog in New Delhi was chaired by -Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh NChandrababu Naidu

n The legendary Russian ballerinas who died on 2May 2015 in Munich, Germany at the age of 89 -Maya Plisetskaya

n Unified World Welterweight title termed as Fightof the Century held at iconic MGM Grand, LasVegas, Nevada was won by - American boxerFloyd Mayweather Jr.

n Team that won the 5th Senior Women’s NationalHockey championship 2015 on 3 May 2015 -Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB)

n The 47th Science Museum of India was openedby Union Minister of State for Culture andTourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma at - Puducherry

n Third India-Tunisia Foreign Office Consultations(FOC) was held in Tunis from 29 April to 2 May 2015 after a gap of - 12 years

n The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on 5 May 2015 approved the119th Constitutional Amendment Bill on - LandBoundary Agreement (LBA) between India andBangladesh.

n Haryana government on 4 May 2015 notified 163 services with a view to provide time bound andhassle-free services to the citizens under -Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014

n World Asthma Day was absorbed globally on 5May 2015, the first Tuesday of May 2015 withtheme - You Can Control Your Asthma

n Rajasthan Government signed a Memorandumof Understanding (MoU) with National HealthMission (NHM), UNICEF and GAIN (GlobalAlliance for Improved Nutrition) in Jaipur to -tackle the severe problem of malnourishment ofthe state.

n The Chinese diplomat who oversaw Hong Kong’s transition from British to Chinese sovereignty in1997, died in Beijing on 3 May 2015 - Lu Ping

n The French Parliament on 5 May 2015 approveda surveillance law that strengthens theintelligence services of the country aimed to -prevent terrorist attacks.

n United States on 5 May 2015 authorised settingup of commercial ferries run between Florida andCuba for the first time in more than - 50 years.

n Bollywood actor Salman Khan was in news wassentenced to five years imprisonment by Mumbai Sessions Court for his - 28 September 2002 hitand run case

n Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on 6 May 2015 launched the state level - ‘Beti Bachao BetiPadhao Scheme’ in Panaji

n The last known surviving member of the Germanengineering team that designed the rocket thattook US astronauts to the Moon died in Alabamaon 5 May 2015 - Oscar Holderer

n The Canadian House of Commons on 6 May2015 approved the Bill C-51, Anti-Terror Act,2015 that empowers - the country’s spy agency

n India and Iran on 6 May 2015 signed aninter-Governmental Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) for the development ofthe strategically important - Chabahar Port inIran.

n The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on 6 May 2015 approvedamendments in - the Whistle Blowers ProtectionAct, 2011.

n High Court of Gujarat on 6 May 2015 orderedshutting down of 67 sand mining units in - the GirForest Sanctuary, the only adobe of Asiatic lions

Current Affair 16

n The former Chief Secretary of Gujarat, who on 7May 2015 was appointed as the ElectionCommissioner of India - Achal Kumar Jyoti

n State Bank of India on 7 May 2015 launchedState Bank RuPay Platinum debit card inassociation with - National PaymentCorporation of India (NPCI).

n Underwater explorers in Madagascar on 7 May2015 said that they have discovered treasurebelonging to the notorious 17th Century Scottishpirate - Captain William Kidd

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 May 2015released a commemorative coin to mark the birthcentenary of - Swami Chinmayananda in NewDelhi

n National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 8 May 2015 ordered that every household in Delhi will have to pay a monthly environmental compensation - Toclean up Yamuna River

n State Government of Haryana on 9 May 2015included Deaflympics in its Sports Policy toenable Deaflympian medalists to get - cashrewards, jobs and other benefits.

n To add attractions to its tourism portfolio, StateGovernment of Goa on 9 May 2015 launched -hot air balloon and amphibious vehicles in thepicturesque state of beaches

n Book titled Unbelievable – Delhi to Islamabadthat was released on 8 May 2015 by VicePresident M Hamid Ansari in New Delhi isauthored by - senior Advocate Prof. Bhim Singh

n Novak Djokovic of Serbia on 17 May 2015 wonhis fourth Rome Masters Tennis title bydefeating - Roger Federer of Switzerland 6-4,6-3.

n The Australian wicketkeeper batsman on 17 May2015 retired from One Day International (ODI)cricket - Brad Haddin

n The Union Government on 17 May 2015 allocated5000 crore rupees for the growth of Department ofAYUSH, which comprises - Ayurveda, Yoga andNaturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy

n Theme for the 10th World Hindi Conference willbe - Hindi Jagat: Vistar avm sambhavnai

n The nurse of KEM Hospital, Mumbai whose storybecame a cornerstone for euthanasia debate in

India, who died on 18 May 2015 after being invegetative state for 42 years - Aruna Shanbaug

n An Indian-American policeman in third week ofMay 2015 won the prestigious Top CivilianSupervisor of the Year - Harkeert Singh Saini

n Himachal Pradesh will host the Paragliding World Cup from 23 October to 31 October 2015 at -BirBilling in Kangra valley

n President Barack Obama on 18 May 2105banned the US government from giving certainkinds of military-style equipment to - local policeforces

n The professional cricketers of England on 18 May 2015 were named as England men’s andwomen’s cricketers of the year 2014-15 - JoeRoot and Charlotte Edwards, respectively

n Nepal Government on 18 May 2015 imposed atwo-month ban on the construction work of newbuilding projects, the ban would remain in effectuntil - 16 July 2015.

n To promote sports for all age groups in thenational capital, the state government of Delhi on19 May 2015 decided to launch a Scheme at thedesignated stadiums or sports complexes - Pay& Play

n Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 May 2015returned to India after completing his tour to three nations namely - China, Mongolia and SouthKorea.

n The European Union (EU) on 18 May 2015approved a plan that empowers naval force tocombat smugglers operating from - Libya andtackle illegal migration in its territory.

n The United Nations (UN) on 19 May 2015released an update that highlighted that worldeconomy continues to grow at a modest pace is -Mid-2015 World Economic Situation andProspects (WESP) update.

n Hungarian writer who on 19 May 2015 won theprestigious Man Booker International Prize for2015 - Laszlo Krasznahorkai

n To allow women employees to work in nightshifts, State Government of Maharashtra on 20May 2015 decided to amend - Section 66(1)(c) ofthe Factories Act, 1948

17 Current Affair

n Person who on 20 May 2015 was sworn in as15th Governor of Meghalaya at the Raj Bhawanin Shillong - V Shanmuganthan

n Temple of Mumbai that on 20 May 2015 receivedInternational Organization for Standardization(ISO) 9001-2008 certification for best qualitypractices - Siddhivinayak temple

n Anti-Terrorism Day was observed across Indiaon 21 May 2015 to mark the death anniversary ofseventh Prime Minister - Rajiv Gandhi

n The ancient Syrian city that was captured by theISIS militant groups on 21 May 2015 - Palmyra

n Researchers from the Konkan CetaceanPopulation Study (CPS) team between Marchand May 2015 spotted two Blue Whales(mother-calf pair) and four Bryde’s whalesnear Kunkeshwar - off the Sindhudurg coast inMaharashtra.

n Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvamresigned on 21 May 2015 by tendering hisresignation to - the Governor Konijeti Rosaiah.

n Eighth edition of the Indian Premier League(IPL) was won by - Mumbai Indians (MI)

n Indian film that won the Promizing Future Prize atthe Cannes Film Festival 2015 held on 24 May2015 - Masaan

n The mathematician who shared 1994 NobelMemorial Prize in Economic Sciences for workthat greatly extended the reach and power ofmodern economic theory, who died on 23 May2015 in New Jersey - John Forbes Nash Jr.

n Country that on 23 May 2015 voted to make it thefirst country to legalise gay (same-sex)marriage through a referendum - Ireland

n Expert committee on Health Insurance of IRDAchaired by M Ramaprasad in its report hassuggested changing the wordings of disclaimer in advertisements of insurance companies to -Before buying, know the conditions andexclusions, to make a well-informed decision

n First bank to launch Voice Recognition Service(VRS), which authenticates customers basedon their speech patterns in India - ICICI Bank,India’s largest private sector bank

n Bangladesh Government on 25 May 2015banned an Islamist militant outfit for its militantand anti-state activities under the country’sAnti-Terrorism Act, 2013 - Ansarullah BanglaTeam (ABT)

n Author of the boo k The Complete Story of IndianReforms: 2G, Power & Private Enterprise: APractitioner’s Diary - Pradip Baijal, the FormerTelecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)chairman

n Person who was appointed as the head coach ofEngland cricket team on 26 May 2015 - TrevorBayliss

n State that has set up the satellite tracking systemto check the forest fire incidents during summerseason - Himachal Pradesh

n NATO on 26 May 2015 launched the ArcticChallenge Exercise based in - the north ofNorway, Sweden and Finland

n Forum for Human Rights and Justice (FHRJ)on 27 May 2015 organised a run for protectingunborn girl in Himachal Pradesh was named as -Ajanmi Beti Ke liye Daud

n State that on 27 May 2015 decided to withdrawthe Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act(AFSPA), 1958 from the remaining areas ofthe state with immediate effect - Tripura

n The US state that on 27 May 2015 abolisheddeath penalty after a veto override was passedthrough the its legislature - Nebraska

n Person who was appointed as the DirectorGeneral of the Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation (DRDO) on 28May 2015 - Dr. S Christopher

n Person who was appointed as the ScientificAdvisor to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar -Dr. GS Reddy

n Fourth Indian shooter who on 28 May 2015 won a berth for 2016 Rio Olympic in men’s air rifleevent - India’s only individual Olympic goldmedalist Abhinav Bindra

n Event that will be celebrated in more than 100 US cities on 21 June 2015, the first InternationalYoga Day to spread the awareness about Yoga -Yogathon

Current Affair 18